10 Best Things to Do in Bergen

Bryggen is the really old part of the modern city of Bergen. It was built in its current form after a major fire in 1702, but has existed since the 12th century. The area flourished in its role as a major North Sea trading port and economic hub. The narrow, cobbled alleys and colourful wooden buildings north of the harbour are now a cultural hub and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

In your exploration of this fascinating area, you’ll find plenty of shops selling traditional crafts, as well as a great choice of local restaurants and cafés. If you want to learn more about the history of the city, check out Bryggens Museum, Theta Museum and the Hanseatic Museum.

Old Bergen Museum is a dynamic museum and an important part of the city. In large parts of Bergen city centre, the old wooden buildings remain so well-preserved that you might think it unnecessary to dedicate a separate museum to this type of urban environment. But Old Bergen features a much more complete building collection than the city's districts, with stables, town halls, gazebos and boathouses.

Not to mention that the old days are brought to life through open-air entertainment and theatre performances. Old Bergen consists of a total of 50+ wooden houses from the 17th, 18th and 20th centuries, some of them with activities that reflect what happened there in the past. The old bakery is a great example of this, where goods are still baked for sale during the season.

Norway is famous for its beautiful fjords, so you should definitely not miss the chance to explore a couple while you’re in Bergen. The city itself is in a fjord and is a fantastic starting point for further exploring. Several companies offer cruises through the stunning landscape, with perhaps the most popular being a half-day tour to the Mostraumen strait. The Sognefjorden – the ‘King of the Fjords’ is also near to Bergen, and is the largest and deepest fjord in Norway. For a longer adventure, the Hurtigruten coastal ferry service sails from Bergen, right up the Norwegian coastline, to Kirkenes.

Of the 7 mountains surrounding Bergen, Fløyen is the most popular, mostly because it’s the easiest to reach the top of. The Fløibanen funicular will take you to the top in about 8 minutes, giving you fantastic views to the south-east, across Bryggen and Bergen Harbour. There’s a local restaurant at the summit, as well as a zipline park, plenty of hiking trails and a herd of friendly cashmere goats which keeps the greenery trimmed. The funicular departs from the station at the end of Vetrlidsallmenningen, near Bryggen.

Torgalmenningen Square is right in the middle of Bergen’s bustling city centre, a short walk away from the train station and close to the harbour. It was once the city’s main market square, and it is still used for major events like the Bergen Game Festival. At the northern end of the square is the Sjømannsmonumentet or Sailor’s Monument, which commemorates all of the many Norwegian contributions to seafaring since the Vikings. Not only is the square a generally popular place to meet up with friends, but it is surrounded by shops, restaurants and cafés.

Bergenhus Fortress is one of the oldest fortifications in Norway, with some buildings dating back to the 1240s, while others were built as recently as the Second World War. As one of the main harbour defences in Bergen, it played a role in the Battle of Vågen in 1665 and continues to be an active military base to this day. It was also once a royal palace, when Bergen was the capital of Norway. It’s now open to the public and is often used for exhibitions and live music concerts. Be sure to check out the Bergenhus Fortress Museum and walk the fortress trail for a look at the history and nature in the area. Visit on special national holidays to watch the dramatic gun salutes.

KODE is among Scandinavia’s largest art museums, spanning across 4 main buildings near Bergen train station. They host a collection of about 50,000 items, including paintings, drawings, sculptures, installations, musical instruments, works of fine craft and more. You’ll find famous works by JC Dahl in KODE 2, Edvard Munch’s work in KODE 3, and Nikolai Astrup’s in KODE 4, as well as a dedicated section for kids – the KunstLab. Entry costs around 120 kr for adults, but group discounts are available. Under 18s get in free.

The cobbled Strandgaten street runs along the southern side of the harbour for about 1.4 km, with a great choice of shops along the way. The choice ranges from big department stores to little local boutiques. Expect to find great examples of typically Scandinavian minimalist fashion design, as well as some excellent restaurants, mostly housed in elegant historical buildings. Be sure to check out the Kløverhuset Shopping Centre, near the eastern end of the street.

Troldhaugen was once the home of composer Edvard Grieg. The villa south of Bergen was built in 1885 and Grieg called it his “best opus so far”. It’s a justified boast as the buildings, their surroundings and the interiors all have an undeniable beauty and charm. Now a museum to the musician’s life, you can explore most of the house, Edvard’s mancave (called ‘the composer’s hut’) and the tomb of the man himself, with his wife Nina at rest beside him. Regular performances are held on site, in the 200-seat concert hall. Admission costs 100 kr for adults and is free for under-16s.

Bergen has excellent nightlife options, partially thanks to its large student population. Many of the best venues are clustered around the harbour, at the northern end of the city centre. Among them are No Stress, which was named the best bar in Norway in 2015, not least for its exceptional cocktail menu. BarKollektiv has a more upmarket feel, but still offers cheap beer and good times, particularly with the shuffleboard. For a bit of local flavour, head for Bergenhus Bryggeri and try some of the many microbrews available.