Location: Bergen
Top Things to do in Bergen
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Top 10 Budget-friendly Things to do in Bergen, Western Norway
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
1. Det Hanseatiske Museum og Schoetstuene
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,042 reviews
This wooden building is furnished in 18th-century style and gives visitors a feel of what Bergen was like in its medieval trading days. During a couple of years now, the City of Bergen is implementing a major restoration work. We tell you the Hanseatic story from Schøtstuene and Bryggen. Join us at Schøtstuene!
Reviewed By JeanneJ739
As the main merchant’s building where their exhibit hall is housed is closed for 6 years for renovations, this museum provides a guided walking tour of the Bryggen Wharf area and a building where the Germans gathered and several schoetstuene have been recreated. The fee for the tour includes entry to the Norwegian Fisheries Museum and a shuttle to and from it. The walking tour goes back through the tenements where the Germans lived and worked, and describes the living conditions at the time as well as the political and economic aspects. The Hanseatic League negotiated with the Norwegians for favored trading status and exchanged their grain for dried cod. They also brought in luxury goods such as furs, jewelry, marzipan. Their enclave on Bryggen Wharf was surrounded by a fence and no women were allowed inside. Only approved Norwegian traders were admitted. German boys came as apprentices at 12 or 13 for 6 years of training and did all the housekeeping and cooking as well as loading and storing goods. Our guide was excellent, a pleasant German woman with very clear English. She was quite knowledgeable, gave an overview as well as details and welcomed questions. The tour ended in the Schoetstuene where we were free to wander on our own through the building with its meeting rooms and kitchens.
2. Mount Ulriken and the cable car
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,516 reviews
Ulriken Cable Car is currently closed due to construction work in relation to building a brand new cable car, cable car stations and restaurant at the mountain top. We welcome all guest back on the cable car for summer 2021. The trails and sherpa stairs to the top are always open.
Reviewed By jobenn9936 - Murrells Inlet, United States
This is a great way to see a great view of the City of Bergen and the surrounding coastal mountain and fjord region. You can get tickets at the Tourist Information Center near the fish market; they include a bus trip up to the cable car and back, so you also get a good close up look at the city.The views at the top are very nice. There is a cafe up there so you can grab a light bite and cocktail and enjoy the view. There are also opportunities to hike into the mountains from easy children's hike to challenging trek, if you are so inclined. If visiting Bergen, this is a must see stop.
3. Mount Floyen and the Funicular
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 11,937 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 VidhyaSriram - Singapore, Singapore
It is just a few minutes walk from the "Bryggen".The short 5 to 6 mins funicular ride took us to Mt Floyen, a fantastic area on earth with beautiful natural surroundings and walking/hiking paths. Amazing views from the top of Mt Floyen.
4. Troldhaugen Edvard Grieg Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,145 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 PerthRetireds
What a beautiful tour - from Thomas greeting us on the sidewalk outside the Visitor Centre, his very knowledgeable talk, the little gem of a house with the amazingly concealed concert hall. The acoustics were excellent, the performance top notch, and the tour was very good value. To listen to Grieg under these excellent conditions AND take in the same view he enjoyed while composing - very special indeed. Thanks to everyone and especially Thomas.
5. Bryggen Hanseatic Wharf
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5,820 reviews
Reviewed By lobstaluva - Springfield, United States
We spent a couple of days in Bergen and loved every minute of this charming city. The colorful facades of the wooden buildings facing the water are first to catch your eye. They are shops, restaurants and cafes (excellent ice cream shop). Between some of these buildings are narrow alleyways that lead you back to interesting places. Here you will see artisans at work, odd architecture, crafts to purchase. Continue walking along the water past these colorful buildings and you will come to the Bryggen Museum and St Mary’s church up a small hill on the right. Walk around the end of the harbor and to the other side to see the fish market section. There is every kind of edible sea creature imaginable, some uniquely displayed. There are several open air restaurants..... we ate at Fish Me and had delicious king crab. There is a visitor center, lots of boats to check out, shops, cafes and activity. Plan to spend a couple of hours just walking around soaking up the culture.
6. KODE Art Museums of Bergen
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 745 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 kay186370 - Reykjavik, Iceland
There were 4 galleries that were open, including KODE KUNSTALL (1 gallery out of the 5 was closed), and each had a different feel, from ecclectic and modern to landsacpes, Edvard Munch and Picasso - just wonderful. My advice is to use your Bergen Card when you buy a ticket, but when you consider how much you see this is truly great value for money, with or without the Bergen Card discount. The galleries are situated in the centre of town around the lake with serene and beautiful views. Even with the covid requirements and restrictions visiting the galleries was such a lovely and peaceful experience. The staff were so welcoming and helpful too. If you have ever wondered what to do on one of Bergen's wet days - go to the galleries! You need three hours to take your time in all of them, more if you want to stop in the café and still go at a leisurely pace.
7. Gamle Bergen Museum - Bymuseet i Bergen
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 292 reviews
In the 1800s Bergen was Europe’s biggest wooden city, a distinctive city environment with closely spaced wooden buildings, busy streets, markets and alleys. At old Bergen open air Museum you can experience some of this atmosphere, with houses from the eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth centuries. What did it look like? What did people talk about? In beautiful natural surroundings you can meet both masters and servants from the past. Museumshop. 40 min walk, 15 min by bicycle, 7 min by bus.
Reviewed By Kato122 - Cambridge, United Kingdom
A short boat ride from the centre of Bergen, this lovely museum is worth a visit. The wonderful old collection of houses is certainly special and the displays are good. The entertainment is amusing as is the display of the ‘Penny Farthing’ bicycle! Lovely views across to Bergen and beyond.
8. Lysoen and Ole Bull's Villa
9. Hardangerfjord
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 774 reviews
NFT is Bergen's No 1 ranked Private Tour & Guide supplier with a reputation of having the best local Guides that are born and raised in the Fjords they travel. NFT Do not employ low-cost seasonal guides from East Europe, as we believe your best experience is having real insight from real locals. We operate 4 Zodiac boats, 1 Grand Banks Yach and 9 Mercedes van's in our fleet of boats and vehicles.
Reviewed By 559kathrynl
I did this as Hardanger in a Nutshell tour, so all travel was sorted. First a train from Bergen to Voss a bus to Ulvik passing an awesome rainbow shrouded waterfall, then onto the fjord cruise ????. Seamlessly timed to perfection. The Vøringsfoss Waterfall and Maagdal Canyon were beautiful. The trip to Hardanger Nature Centre wasn’t as great a success- if you’re prone to vertigo or sea sickness, you might want to skip the move as the aerial swooping over 5 shaped screens apparently affects quite a few people, myself included. Have a coffee or lunch instead or check out the gift shop. Back on the boat and a bus back to Bergen, all through beautiful scenery.A great day and good value
10. Vidden Trail between Mt. Floyen and Mt. Ulriken
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 381 reviews
Reviewed By sa7tn - Epsom, United Kingdom
We started our hike from Mt. Ulriken by taking cart up the mountain. A night before it snowed a lot. Lots of fresh snow covered the trail. Which was great! We were the first people following the trail which is easy to navigate as every few hundred meters you have a pole showing you the way! It took us considerable time to cover 13km in knee deep (sometimes waist deep) new snow. But it was a great sunny day, quite amazing day. Later in a day and closer to Mt. Floyen we met a lot of people skiing. Amazing hike. But do consider the following, if you have Bergen card it is 20% off the cart at Mt. Ulriken. You cannot get free ticket down Mt. Floyen with a card as the only way they can be issued is downstairs at the office. This one is strange one, how come owning a bergen card you only can get free or discounted ticket at the bottom of the mountain is beyond me. The hike is hard as you do alot of up and downs. Some basic fitness needed. Highly recommend it! Also, you can find a trail to follow on different apps like alltrails dot com and so on, if you are worried to get lost.
