Location: Bergen
Top Things to do in Bergen
- 1. Stoltzekleiven
- 2. Mount Floyen and the Funicular (Floibanen)
- 3. Hardanger Fjord
- 4. Troldhaugen Edvard Grieg Museum
- 5. Vidden Trail between Mt. Floyen and Mt. Ulriken
- 6. Mount Ulriken
- 7. Bryggen Hanseatic Wharf
- 8. VilVite Bergen Science Center
- 9. Det Hanseatiske Museum og Schoetstuene
- 10. KODE Art Museums of Bergen
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10 Things to Do in Bergen That You Shouldn't Miss
The colorful Norwegian city of Bergen is also a gateway to majestic fjords. Bryggen Hanseatic Wharf will give you a sense of the local culture – take some time to snap photos of the Hanseatic commercial buildings, which look like scenery from a movie set. Don’t breathe too deeply when you visit the outdoor fish market, a reminder of the city’s role in early fish trade. Ferry across a fjord to Lysøen, where the former villa of 19th-century composer Ole Bull will captivate you with fairytale charm.
Restaurants in Bergen
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 381 reviews
Reviewed By Coralie B - London, United Kingdom
My friend and I did this short hike in the end of September as a way to kill a couple of hours being in the area and stuck outside of Bergen because of the cycling races.
We read that it was short and steep hike on google maps and thought that we would give it a try given that we were intending on hiking Trolltunga a couple of days later.
Unfortunately it was raining that day so we were not very lucky with the weather that day and perhaps we would have had a better experience on a sunny day.
I found this trek to be rather difficult - we were not wearing the correct gear and climbed up the 800 or so steps in 50 minutes.
We were being overtaken by several groups of runners whom we later learned were training for an annual race up and down these steps.
We would have perhaps thought that we were doing good timing if not for the constant overtaking!
Once at the top, the trek is very rewarding, the view is beautiful! It was a shame because we got a lot of fog and rain so our pictures probably didn’t come out as well as they would have on a good day.
To go down we took the back road which is a concrete road down (rather than steps again) and got to see a lot more of the forest an several water spots which made for incredible photographic opportunities.
Go prepared - this wasn’t as easy as we’d read!!!
2. Mount Floyen and the Funicular (Floibanen)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 8 reviews
Fløyen is a must do while in Bergen. Fløibanen, the funicular brings you up the hillside, from Bergen city centre to the top of the mountain in 6 minutes. At Mount Fløyen you will find beautiful views of Bergen, the nearby Islands, fjords and Mountains surrounding Bergen. Fløyen is a great destination for hiking, mountain biking and soft adventures. We are surrounded by hillsides, Mountains, Forests, nice little lakes and numerous trails. We offer daily guided hikes “Hiking Mount Fløyen" and Mountain bike rental from mid June until mid August. We love children, and the children love Fløyen. Let the kids explore our playground, Fløysletten climbing playground, the Troll forest. Try out canoe paddling at lake Skomakerdiket (mid June - mid August), feel the adrenalin rush in FløyenKids ziplinepark and get at kiss from our lovely goats at Fløyen. Fløistuen shop and cafè have souvenirs, perfect gifts and memories from Bergen and Norway. We offer local food as “Fløyenbollen", the cinnamon-bun and our organic soup “Fløyensuppen". Fløien Folkerestaurant is open daily from May until September.
Reviewed By Amy R
I have been to Bergen three times now and always make a point to go up Mount Floyen on the funicular. The views are amazing - you can see across the city and are even level with some of the Mountains.
The funicular itself is a good experience and a fun way to see the city. It’s always clean and run very efficiently. At around 100NOK return it’s quite affordable too. The service is very regular and there are indoor waiting areas on each end so you don’t get cold waiting. There is a separate carriage for families with buggies or for wheelchair access.
Walking around Mount Floyen there are forested areas where children can play, but watch out for trolls ;)
There are several viewing platforms which provide great opportunities for those holiday snaps too. There are also cafes, a souvenir shop and toilets. I always see a mix of couples, solo travellers and families there so it seems like a good option for all.
I would definitely recommend this to anyone visiting the city.
3. Hardanger Fjord
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 634 reviews
Reviewed By Jack Mikkel R - Norway
Been through here a couple of times and Hardanger fjord is great! I would reccommend visiting during summer, it get's chilly the rest of the year :)
4. Troldhaugen Edvard Grieg Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 847 reviews
Enchanting residence of the composer Edvard Grieg and his wife, who lived there every summer from 1885 to 1907. The museum also comprises the chamber music hall, Troldsalen, where daily Concerts are held during the summer season. Museum building with shop, exhibition and cafeteria.
Reviewed By 811michael - United Kingdom
Troldhaugen is the stunningly beautiful home of the great Norwegian composer and pianist Edvard Grieg and his wife Nina. He wrote most of his piano works at this place during the summer months, and travelled around the world giving Concerts during the winter months. The Troldhaugen is a really fascinating museum with a chamber music hall, where daily Concerts are held during the summer season, a gift shop, exhibition and a cafeteria. Troldhaugen is an enchanting museum, and we learnt a lot about the works and wonderful music of the extraordinary pianist and composer Edvard Grieg. Me and the wife thoroughly enjoyed our visit to this nice museum and highly recommend it.
5. Vidden Trail between Mt. Floyen and Mt. Ulriken
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 297 reviews
Reviewed By JanSmithSchneider - Norway
To go over Vidden (plateau) in Bergen, is a must for everybody who consider themselves as a hiker or naturelover. You can take it from both sides (Start Ulriken or Fløyen). I would suggest to take it from Ulriken. Dont use the Cable Car, use your legs and go up this wonderful highest mountain around Bergen. You will cross several times the supercross downhill biketrack. Wow. Crazy to see, what these guy risk. When you are up, you take a nice hot chocolate in the souvenirshop and start the ca. 5-6hour hike, depends on your fitness. Edvard Grieg took this trail aswell to relax and enjoy nature. On the trail there are huts aswell, which sometimes are open, amazing for a drink in there at a fireplace (f.e. Vikinghytten) The hike itself is not really exhausting in my opinion. You will go over the plateau and then down behind a waterreservoir of Bergen. When you are behind that, you will see an ancient skijump (Bergensbakken), not in use anymore, build before the WW2 and left behind since 1948. You have to go up over the Mountains to get down to fløyen, but toatlly worth it, even in wintertime epic. Just always remeber hot tea in a thermos or water in a camelbak. See you on the trail.
6. Mount Ulriken
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1 reviews
Ulriken643 Panorama Tour will take you to the top of the mountain by cable car. The breathtaking scenery on the top of the mountain will give you a full view of beautiful Bergen surrounded by sea, fjords and hills with all its glory.
Reviewed By Mita_London - London
You dont have to have skiing gear with you to go to the top of the mountain. There was snow when we visited but even with jeans and good hiking shoes we manages to spend a few hours strolling around and following different routes. The cafe is closed in January but the views are stunning. It gives you a great feel of the Norwegian way of living.
7. Bryggen Hanseatic Wharf
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4 reviews
Reviewed By Jean Y - Oakland, California, United States
The Bryggen Hanseatic Wharf is a photographer's paradise with its view of the old wooden houses, some of which sit at a slant. Very colorful area of Bergen.
8. VilVite Bergen Science Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 250 reviews
Come to VilVite - Bergen Science Center - to explore and enjoy science!
Reviewed By FroekenPetrell - Bergen, Norway
We visited the Vilvite science center a rainy day in Bergen and was very impressed by the interactiv games and entertainment for the kids. We brought two families with different ages and interest (5-12 years) and ended up with a fun day trying to bicycle...MoreThank you for sharing your experiences from VilVite. We are pleased to hear that you enjoyed the visit on a rainy day, though it is just as exiting on a sunny day as well. Welcome back! Greetings from Svein Anders Dahl, general manager
9. Det Hanseatiske Museum og Schoetstuene
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 867 reviews
This wooden building is furnished in 16th-century style and gives visitors a feel of what Bergen was like in its medieval trading days.
Reviewed By stevebkennedy - Newville, Pennsylvania
The presence of German-based Hanseatic traders during the Middle Ages is so integral to the development, and even the identity, of Bergen that this museum is probably the one absolutely essential cultural-historical sight to see. Most European cities have a castle or fortress, a Cathedral or big church, and some old streets, but this is really distinctive to Bergen, and probably unique in Norway. The site has two parts – the main museum, right at the corner of the wharf, and the Schøtstuene, or meeting rooms, a couple of blocks away. They're both included in your ticket, but at least when when we were there in January, the latter part was open only for a few hours on Sundays, so be aware. (You can go to the main part one day and go back to the Schøtstuene when it's open if you keep your ticket/receipt.) They both tell the story of this fascinating era of Bergen's history and connection to the Hanseatic League. You get a real sense of what life was like for the traders, journeymen, and apprentices in this closed society, a pretty much self-contained city within a city, with everything from the austere sleeping quarters to original desks and ledgers to meeting halls. Fortunately I knew a little about the Hanseatic League beforehand, having lived in the Hanseatic city of Hamburg for a while. If it's new to you, it would be good to look it up beforehand or peruse the visitor material before setting off through the museum rooms so their significance is more meaningful.
10. KODE Art Museums of Bergen
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 561 reviews
KODE is one of Scandinavia's largest museums for art and music. It has a unique combination of art museums and composers' homes, of visual art, historical objects, Concerts and parklands. KODE stewards almost 50,000 objects that can be experienced in four museum buildings in Bergen city centre, KODE 1-4, and in the homes of the composers Ole Bull, Harald Saeverud and Edvard Grieg. Welcome to KODE!
Reviewed By attillathehun - New York City, New York
The museums that make up the Kode are well worth a visit...they are historic structures. The collections provide an overview of Norwegian art from the 18th century onwards plus some of the rooms are decorated with period furniture providing a glimpse of life in Bergen at an earlier period. The Munchen rooms are outstanding with works arranged from various periods of his life. There are some surprising good 'native'/'rustic' artists on display. There are also some good examples of modern, European art. The close ties between Norway artists and Germany art schools & art movements is interesting.
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