Bergen is situated on the west coast of Norway in Vestland county. Bergen is the second largest city in Norway (second to Oslo) with roughly 285,900 people. Seen as the gateway to the fjords, Bergen was founded in 1070 by King Olav Kyrre and the port city has been the center of Norway’s commercial activity ever since.
Not only is Bergen the busiest port city in Norway- the port sees over 300 cruise ship calls a year and handles 68 million tons of cargo a year, but it is considered the rainiest place in Europe. On average, there is rainfall in Bergen on 239 days of the year.
To add even more amazing stats on Bergen- it is an international city jam packed with history and tradition. It contains over two dozen museums ranging from the city’s history in trade and fisheries, contemporary art, architecture and musical arts.
Travel to Bergen Norway
Bergen Flesland Airport (BGO) is an international airport that sits south of the city. If you are visiting Norway on a longer holiday trip, you can find direct domestic flights to Bergen from any major city.
Flying into Bergen from outside Norway? There are direct flights from Aberedeen, Amsterdam, Berlin, Frankfurt, Gdansk, Gothenburg, Helsinki, Krakow, London, Manchester, Paris, Riga, and Stockholm.
Some exciting news:
United Airlines will start with direct flights between New York (Newark) and Bergen from 21 May 2022.
Lübeck Air starts with direct flights between Lübeck in northern Germany to Bergen in the period 23 May to 24 October 2022.
Looking to take the scenic route?
If you are driving to Bergen, it is about a 4 hour drive from Stavanger, Norway.
You can get to Bergen by the Oslo to Bergen train (Bergensbanen). It typically takes about 6.5- 7 hours and will cost you about €100. Checkout time tables and ticket pricing here. This is a great opportunity to relax and view the beauty of Norway from the comfort of your seat.
Weather in Bergen Norway
Bergen is considered the rainiest place in Europe. On average, there is rainfall in Bergen on 239 days of the year. Weather can change rapidly anywhere in Norway so be sure to pack for anything- especially rain! Below is a packing list of items we brought to Bergen.
Packing list
- Rain Jacket
- Waterproof rain pants (you can slip these on over your jeans as you walk around the city and easily take them off when you get inside somewhere).
- Rain boots/waterproof shoes
- Waterproof gloves (if you’re walking around Bergen in the fall/winter or spring- your hands may get cold, good to have some waterproof gloves in your pocket to slip on your hands when you need!)
- Umbrella (I haven’t typically seen Norwegians carry umbrellas with them. Usually their rain jackets are what they wear- except in Bergen! I saw everyone dressed to the nines in rain gear AND carry an umbrella).
- Waterproof cover for your backpack ( if you are going to be carrying a backpack around with you or if you are going hiking- be sure to have a raincover to keep your pack dry).
- If you have a stroller to wheel your kids around the city- bring your stroller’s rain cover!
Where to stay in Bergen
Hotels in the center of Bergen
AirBnBs
Things to do in Bergen Norway
If you haven’t considered visiting Bergen before- add it to your travel list now. Whether you have a brief stop to visit Bergen or can spend a week- there is soooo much to do in Bergen! We only spent 48 hours here, so we unfortunately didn’t get to experience everything.
But you can still see some of the main highlights the city has to offer. Below are some main attractions and sights to see and do in Bergen for a weekend visit.
Visit the Bergenhus Fortress and Håkon’s Hall
This is one of Norway’s oldest and best preserved fortifications. Building began in the early 1500s and reached complete state around 1700. It was in use during the Second World War and was the German occupying force western headquarters. Today, it is the place of work for approximately 220 military and civilian personnel.
Håkon’s Hall was built by King Håkon Håkonsson as a royal residence and banqueting hall between 1247 and 1261. At the time, Bergen was Norway’s largest and most important town and this hall was the site of major national events. This is where Norway’s first complete set of laws were drawn up.
Visit the World Heritage Site Bryggen
Bryggen has a long history with the earliest pier constructions dating to around 1110. Bergen has experienced many fires throughout history due to houses made from wood. So, as of today, only around a quarter of the Bryggen structures were built after 1702. The rest consists of younger structures.
Bryggen was a Medieval office for commercial trade throughout Northern Europe. Stockfish that was caught in Northern Norway was the main export and business out of Bergen. And the Bryggen warehouses were used to store the stockfish caught in the Lofoten Islands. In 1754 operations of the Hanseatic office stopped and all properties were transferred to Norwegian citizens.
Today small shops, artist studios and galleries line the interiors of the spaces in the Bryggen. You can spend a great deal of time shopping for jewelry, paintings, or Norwegian wool sweaters!
Go on Hike- Mount Fløyen
There are seven mountains surrounding Bergen and Mount Fløyen has the best view of the Bergen peninsula that makes it a MUST visit for any tourist. The mountain has a funicular system called the Fløibanen that easily transports visitors from the center of Bergen to the top of Mount Fløyen. You can view hours of operation and ticket prices here: https://www.floyen.no/en/floibanen/.
At the top of the mountain there are multiple hikes to choose from, biking trails, canoeing and paddle boarding opportunities and multiple playgrounds for children of all ages!
You can easily spend a full day on Mount Fløyen exploring all the outdoor activities. And when you get hungry, there are multiple restaurant and cafe options to feed your appetite: https://www.floyen.no/en/food-and-drink/.
But don’t forget to take a moment to stop and admire the Bergen peninsula from up top. You can watch the bustle of the busy streets below and watch the boats cruise in and out of the harbor.
Bergen Fish Market
The fish market in Bergen has been in existence since the 1200s, and is one of the most visited outdoor markets in all of Bergen!
Historically, merchants would also sell fish from their boats along the quay. Fishermen who lived outside the city would row to the Fish Market to sell their catch of the day before rowing back home the same day.
The indoor Mathallen is a row of permanent restaurants and shops where you can eat indoors or out on their patios.
Museums in Bergen
Bergen has over two dozen museums to visit covering Bergen’s history in trade and fisheries, contemporary art, composers, and architecture. You will find a complete list of museums to visit here: https://en.visitbergen.com/things-to-do/attractions/museums.
You definitely don’t want to miss out on Bergen’s KODE museum, one of the largest museums for art, craft, design and music in the Nordic countries. KODE consists of seven museum buildings: Edvard Grieg Museum Troldhaugen, Harald Sæverud Museum Siljustøl, Ole Bull Museum Lysøen, and the long-established Bergen Art Museum.
KODE 3
We also visited KODE 3 which showcases Munch and The Rasmus Meyer Collection. This houses the third largest collection of Edvard Munch’s art. Rasmus Meyer purchased and collected masterpieces throughout Munch’s oeuvre; therefore, you can find masterpieces such as “Jealousy”, “Melancholy”, “The Woman in Three Stages” and “Evening on Karl Johan”.
In addition to Munch, you will find the evolution of Norwegian art in KODE 3; highlighting some of the paintings from the Golden Age of Norwegian art, as well as historical interiors from the Bergen area. The presentation includes highlights from the careers of Norwegian artists such as J.C. Dahl, Harriet Backer, Erik Werenskiold and Gerhard Munthe.
Edward Grieg Museum
While we were in Bergen we visited the Edvard Grieg Museum to learn more about Norway’s most famous composer. The beautiful home showcases the life and music of Edvard Grieg, and you get stunning views of the surrounding hills and sea.
Bergen Aquarium
For those traveling with kids, the Bergen Aquarium is a must! Our 2 little ones had so much fun viewing all the fish and animals. The Bergen Aquarium is actually the largest aquarium in Norway and has activities for young and old.
Fantoft Stave Church
The original Fantoft stave church was built in Fortun in Sogn in 1150 and moved to Fantoft in 1883. The church was completely damaged by fire June 6, 1992, has been rebuilt as it was before the fire.
Day Trips from Bergen
Bergen is called the “Gateway to the Fjords” and if you have some time to take a day trip or two from Bergen, there are many activities and things to do a couple hours from Bergen: https://en.visitbergen.com/things-to-do/day-trips.
One of the most popular tours is a boat tour from Bergen to Flåm, Norway. You can also take the scenic train from Bergen to Flåm. Want to know what you can do once you’re in Flåm? Check out my blogpost on: things to do around Flåm.
For those looking to explore another beautiful fjord in Norway, checkout my blogpost on Nordfjord: One of the Best Fjords in Norway. This is about a 4 hour drive from Bergen where you can drive through beautiful fjord country and spend about 2 days sightseeing.
Restaurants in Bergen
You will absolutely want a meal (or two) at the historic fish market and Mathallen.
For those willing to travel for food, you will need to make a reservation at Cornelius Sjomatrestaurant. Located on an island outside of Bergen, the menu is inspired by the weather of the day and the raw beauty of the local fjords.
Bryggeloftet is the oldest restaurant in Bergen and boasts great views of the harbor.
Restaurant 1877 has a menu that is inspired by Western Norway’s agricultural traditions and Bergen’s wet climate. They also offer a champagne lunch and afternoon tea!
