10 Best Bergen Attractions

If you’re planning an escape to Bergen, Norway sometime soon these are the 10 best Bergen attractions you don’t want to miss during your visit.

I recently visited Bergen just a few weeks ago and have been raving about it ever since. I chose to visit Bergen because United Airlines had recently added a flight there, and I was heading to Europe anyway.

What I found when I arrived in Bergen was a picturesque city that seemed like it came straight out of a storybook.

The city is surrounded by nature with mountains and waterways in all directions and bright colorful wooden homes dotting its hillsides. If all that weren’t enough, Bergen is also jam packed with historic sites, museums, and cultural attractions.

I was genuinely surprised by how much there was to do here, and I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised too.

In this guide to the best Bergen attractions I’m going to share all the best things to do in Bergen Norway to help you plan your upcoming trip. You’re going to have such a great time.

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Bergen Attractions

Bergen is located on Norway’s southwestern coast about 7 hours west of the capital Oslo. It’s also the second largest city in the country, with Oslo being the first.

Bergen is known for its seven mountains surrounding the city, its majestic fjords along the nearby waterways, and its brightly painted buildings in the historic center.

While in Bergen you’ll want to visit the historic sites and museums, but you’ll also get to spend time outdoors immersing yourself in the natural beauty of the region.

One of my most important travel tips for visiting Bergen is to not miss your chance to see the fjords. This was one of the highlights of my trip and I wouldn’t skip, especially if this will be your first visit to Norway.

Bryggen

Bryggen in Bergen’s historic harbor district which also happens to be an UNESCO World Heritage site.

This is one of North Europe’s oldest port cities and was established as a major center of trade by the 12th century. Bryggen was also home to one of just four Hanseatic Offices, run by the Hanseatic League.

The Hanseatic League dates back to Medieval times and was a defensive confederation of merchant guilds and market towns in Central and Northern Europe.

The Bryggen storefronts along the water are incredibly photogenic making them a popular tourist attraction and one of the best places to get photos of the city.

I visited Bryggen in the early morning just after sunrise to get photos without the crowds, but this is a fun area to visit any time of day.

Many of the buildings in the Bryggen historic district have fallen victim to fires over the years, so most have been rebuilt in the last century. Fortunately, the buildings were rebuilt in the original style in order to preserve the history of the area.

Most of the buildings and wooden houses behind me are home to local gift shops. There are also a few cafes and restaurants with outdoor seating.

In my opinion, the Bryggen Hanseatic Wharf area makes a great place to pick up lunch or a pastry. You can grab a seat outside and just enjoy the view.

Bergen Fish Market

The Fish Market is one one of the most popular Bergen sights to see during your visit.

The Bergen fish market has been around since the 1200s and is an important part of the city’s culture and heritage.

Visitors to the Bergen fish market can visit both the indoor and outdoor market. You’ll find all different kinds of seafood for sale and even a few restaurants serving fresh fish.

I have a shellfish allergy so I didn’t try anything, but I’m told the restaurants here are very good.

The fish market is open daily. The outdoor market area is closed in the wintertime but the indoor market is open year round.

Bergenhus Fortress

Bergenhus Fortress is a historic Medieval fortress made up of multiple structures and fortification walls. Certain sections of the fortress date back as far as the year 1240.

Pictured above is Haakon’s Hall, a medieval stone hall located within the fortress. The hall dates back to the13th century. It is currently the largest secular medieval building in Norway.

The Bergenhus Fortress remains under the control of the Royal Norwegian Navy with approximately 150 military personnel currently stationed there.

Despite it’s ongoing military use, visitors are welcome to tour the fortress. Bergenhus Fortress is located just a short walk from Bryggen.

Bergen Museums

Bergen is home to dozens of unique and interesting museums, many of which offer a glimpse of what life was like in the region over the past few centuries.

Depending on how long you plan to stay in Bergen, I recommend visiting as many of the local museums as possible. If you’ll be in town a while you may also want to pick up the Bergen City Card which offers discounts at many of the museums below including other major attractions.

Below are some of best museums in Bergen:

• Old Bergen Museum: This museum consists of a reconstructed wooden city with homes from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries.
• Leprosy Museum: The Leprosy Museum is located in a preserved 18th century hospital complex previously used to treat and house those with Leprosy. The museum shares the history of the disease, it’s impact on the local area, and what life was like for those living with Leprosy.
• Hanseatic Musuem: This museum illustrates how Hanseatic merchants lived, worked, and impacted the city of Bergen for over 400 years.
• Bergen Maritime Museum: This museum tells the story of Norwegian seafaring over thousands of years.
• Norwegian Fisheries Museum: This museum shares the history of the local fishing industry.
• Edvard Grieg Museum: A museum about the famous Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg.

I have only listed a few of Bergen’s most popular museums here, but there are many others. You can find a complete list of Bergen museums here.

Ulriken Cablecar

The Ulriken Cablecar is another activity you don’t want to skip when visiting Bergen.

The cablecar takes visitors from Bergen city all the way up to the top of Mount Ulriken for incredible views of the surrounding waterways and fjords, and nearby mountains off in the distance.

The cablecar ride itself lasts just 5 minutes but offers 365 degree views as you make your way up to the top of the mountain.

Once at the top of Mount Ulriken you can admire the expansive view from the many viewing platforms, hike one of several mountain trails, or dine at one of the mountaintop restaurants.

To get to the Ulriken Cablecar you can take a 10 minute express bus from the city center, or hop in a taxi or Uber.

A round trip ticket to the top of Mount Ulriken is 345 NOK (about $34.00 USD) and can be purchased onsite via one of the ticket vending machines.

Bergen Funicular

The Floibanen is a funicular railway similar to a trolley car, that takes riders from the Bergen city center up to the top of nearby Mount Fløyen.

This is one of Bergen’s most popular tourist attractions and definitely one you don’t want to miss. Riding the funicular up to Mount Floyen was one of my favorite activities during my visit to Bergen.

Once at the top of Mount Floyen you’ll have a bird’s eye view of the Bergen city center down below along with the waterfront.

Up at the top you’ll also find multiple viewing platforms, hiking trails, and a cafe.

Once you’ve finished taking in the views from atop Mount Floyen you can either take the funicular back down to the city center, or opt to walk back down.

There is a very scenic paved walkway that winds back down the mountain and ends right in the historic center. The walk down takes about 45 minutes to one hour.

The Floibanen funicular costs 105.00 NOK (about $10.50 USD) for adults and takes just a few minutes to ride from the city center up to the top of Mount Floyen. Tickets can be purchased on site when you arrive.

The Floibanen funicular is open daily year round. Hours vary depending on day of the week and season.

Bergen Fjord Tour

Getting out on the water and seeing the beautiful Norwegian fjords was one of my favorite Bergen sightseeing activities during my trip.

A Bergen fjord cruise lasts about 3 and a half hours and begins and ends near the fish market in the Bergen Market Square. Yes, the tickets are a bit pricey, but it’s worth it.

I recommend bringing a jacket with you on the boat. It can get pretty chilly once the boat gets moving.

The scenery is absolutely beautiful, especially if you’ve never seen the Norwegian fjords before. I found a quiet spot in the back of the boat and just enjoyed the view.

Also, don’t forget your camera for this activity, you’ll definitely want pictures.

Bergen Street Art

If you’d like to see some exceptional Norwegian street art just take a walk around the city of Bergen. You’ll find murals and paintings all around you.

The Norwegian street art scene has gained international attention in recent years due to the country’s abundance of talented street artists, many of whom live in Bergen.

While I was unable to find any local street art tours, you can find a map showing the location of all the best street art in Bergen here.

Honestly, you’ll see plenty of great street art when you’re out exploring the city, but the map will show you where to find some very cool murals.

Best Bars in Bergen

In between visiting all the Bergen tourist attractions, be sure to leave time to just relax and enjoy being in a new place.

After a long day spent sightseeing around town I headed out to find a cocktail at a local restaurant, bar or pub. I ended up finding some fun places for drinks around the city.

Here are a few Bergen bars and restaurants I recommend for cocktails:

• Dark and Stormy: This was my favorite bar in Bergen. It’s a tiki themed bar with excellent cocktails and incredibly friendly staff. This is the place pictured above.
• No Stress Bar: This is a fun place with some very creative cocktails.
• Apollon Plate Bar: This is a record store turned local pub with an extensive selection of beers.
• Skipperstuen: This is one of Bergen’s oldest pubs. They have affordable drinks and often serve a more mature crowd. By “mature crowd” I mean this is more of a “30s and up” kind of place.

Best Restaurants in Bergen

The restaurant scene in Bergen is seriously impressive. During my recent visit I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of food and how much I enjoyed my meals here.

You’ll find restaurants in Bergen serving cuisine from all over the world including local Nordic cuisine, Mexican, Italian, and more.

Below are a few restaurants I recommend sampling in between visiting all the Bergen attractions:

• Pingvinen: They serve local Nordic cuisine including the meatballs and lingonberry pictured above. This meal was my favorite in the city.
• Ostra: Ostra serves authentic Mexican cuisine. Order the tacos and a mini quesadilla then grab a seat outside to enjoy your food with a view.
• Trekroneren: Famous local hot dog stand in Bergen with many different varieties of hot dogs and sausages.
• Godt Brod: This is the perfect place to grab a cappuccino and a pastry for breakfast.

While these were a few of my favorites, I also recommend asking locals where their favorite spots are. It’s a great way to find very good food anywhere in the world. Locals always know the best spots.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this guide to the best Bergen attractions and that I’ve inspired you to plan a visit of your own. As always, thanks for reading.