10 Best Beaches in Bergen

Austrevågen is a small beach on Krokeide south of Bergen, which is particularly suitable for families with small children.. This is a lovely sandy beach with plenty of opportunities to look for crabs and other insects. Vågen is warm, which means the water is relatively warm too.

There are benches and a seating area set up around a campfire on the grassy slope opposite the beach, but on hot summer days it's best to just roll out your towels on the grass and let the kids play. Parking is quite a distance away, on Krokeide ferry quay. The bus stop is closer, on Krokeideveien, just 500 metres from the beach.

Gamlehaugen is the king's official residence in Bergen, and is surrounded by a beautiful park area with a beach zone. The royals have largely been absent since the Crown Prince used the castle as a dormitory when he studied in Bergen in the 1990s, and the park and beach are therefore open to the public.

The bathing area is located in the innermost part of Nordåsvannet, which is actually a fjord arm, but has little water exchange and therefore quickly gets a nice bathing temperature in good weather. Gamlehaugen has a small area with a pebble beach and otherwise flat boulders that make it easy to get out and on land again. The very best thing about the Gamlehaugen is the lawns on the slope between the castle and the water's edge, with plenty of space, lovely views and green surroundings with magnificent vegetation.

Grønevika is a popular bathing area adjacent to the Arboretum at Milde. It is well-organised with various facilities and an exceptionally beautiful local area. The location inside the arboretum means a bit of a walk from the car park, but in return, the car park is big, and the walk to the beach is beautiful through extremely peaceful surroundings.

The beach benefits from facilities such as toilets, tables and benches, a barbecue area and a place to dispose of any disposable BBQs and other waste. People with reduced mobility will appreciate the ramp with railings leading down to the water. On a small headland at the entrance to the bay there is a diving board and boulders that also make a great place to settle for an afternoon. The small grassy hill by the beach fills up quickly, but inwards in the Arboretum there is plenty of space.

The Helleneset outdoor area sticks out in the middle of the Byfjord between the mainland and Askøy, and offers excellent facilities and a lovely view of the shipping lane. Good bathing conditions and a relatively central location only a 15-minute bus ride from the centre make this a very popular area, and it gets crowded on hot summer days.

There is a small, sheltered sandy beach and a pool for the little ones, but also boulders and diving boards for the more experiences swimmers. There are toilet and shower facilities and a kiosk selling refreshments. Climbing enthusiasts can combine swimming with bouldering or climbing in bolted routes, including routes suitable for beginners and children.

Haukelandsvatnet is a small lake in the centre of the Bergen Peninsula, between Arna and Nesttun. Some fly fishermen try their luck at fishing here, and there are a couple of campsites right by the water. With its remote location and few buildings, the water is a good quality, and the bathing area is located by a closed small round cove at the southern end of the lake, where the temperature rises faster than in other parts of the water.

The beach area itself is quite small, and the facilities are limited to benches and lifebuoys. It is worth remembering that there are no toilet facilities here. Parking is limited here too, and the nearest bus stop is around 500 metres outside Hardangervegen.

Tømmervågen is a bathing place by Eidsvågen north of Bergen city centre, with a shallow beach and large grassy slopes at the forest edge along the sea. The bathing conditions here are highly suited to young children, who can splash around safely, try swimming a few strokes and hunt for sea creatures under the rocks.

There is parking, toilet facilities and seating areas. The large grassy areas are perfect for all kinds of play, and also ensure that there is always plenty of space to roll out a towel. The knolls on the edge of the water have some good spots for fishing from on-land with a rod. Part of the area is managed by a local rowing and kayaking club, and Tømmervågen is an excellent starting point for a paddle trip.

Kyrkjetangen is the first choice for swimming in the summer among Bergen residents as it offers plenty of space, good conditions for children and warm water. This public are has a great location on Bøneset by Nordåsvannet south of Bergen city centre, with a large parking area, good bus services and cycle paths in all directions.

The area benefits from large grasslands and a lovely selection of small coves with a sandy beach and boulders. There are several barbecue areas with benches and tables, and toilet facilities on the outskirts. There is a lot of boat traffic here in summer, but the swimming area is protected by bathing buoys. Popularity is the only downside - on sunny days during public holidays, traffic jams between the main road and the car park are guaranteed, so use your bike or legs if you can.