Art in Bergen

Bergen is known for so many things: Cobbled streets, picturesque wooden houses, rain and Edvard Grieg are just a few. Perhaps less known is that Bergen is an excellent city to visit for art lovers. Check out what you can see in just one day!

Whether you are considering traveling to Bergen, or if you live here and just want to spend a day in your own city, it is good to know what Bergen has to offer. We have gathered a bunch of art experiences you should not miss - and made it into a day trip.

KODE - Art Museums and Composer Homes

When we talk about art in Bergen, KODE comes first to mind. In four buildings in the city center you will find treasures from around the world and varying exhibitions, ranging from the classic to the modern.

At KODE you will find, among other things, the world's third largest collection by Edvard Munch. Enjoy his famous work like with main works such as "Sjalusi", "Aften på Karl Johan" and "Damene på broen".

If you love nature, we can recommend the Norwegian painting J.C. Dahl. With magnificent paintings of the Norwegian landscape and mountains, he helped to define what we see as the typical Norwegian. You can also see highlights from the careers of artists such as Hans Gude, Christian Krohg and Harriet Backer.

Edvard Grieg Museum Troldhaugen is also part of KODE - Art Museums and Composers Home, and is located just outside Bergen city center. Here you will find some musical treasures that are well worth seeing. Edvard Grieg's Troldhaugen is a beautiful place filled with musical history and memories of the world-famous composer.

Something for the kids!

For families with children, there are several activities in the museum that children and adults can do together, such as treasure hunts and audio guides.

If you get hungry for more than art experiences, it's nice to know that good food is easily accessible close by. The Lysverket restaurant is located in this area- known for their modern, Nordic dishes based on fresh seafood.

Gold, silver and pizza

Are you fond of all things that sparkle? Then we can recommend one of the exhibitions at KODE 1.  Here you will find the Silver Treasure - a permanent exhibition with the finest of historic jewellery created by goldsmiths in Bergen. This exhibition includes art and utility objects such as jugs, spoons and jewelry, in both gold and silver.

If you need a lunch break along the way, we can recommend a visit to Bien Centro. They are located inside the art museum, and serve real Neapolitan pizza - perfect for lunch.

Experience the Middle Ages at Bryggens Museum

At Bryggens Museum you can see the fantastic finds from the Middle Ages that archaeologists have dug up in the excavations at Bryggen. These finds include thousands of objects that tell the story of how people lived in the medieval city of Bergen. Runic inscriptions with gossip, poems and incantations testifying to faith and love, and ceramics from Europe and the Middle East that show a large and international trade network are just a few examples. The exhibition also houses the unique Guddal costume - a nearly thousand-year-old find that is one of the very few relatively intact garments we have in Norway from the Middle Ages.

Art galleries in Bergen

In Bergen you will also find a large selection of art galleries. Bergen Kunsthall is located in the same area as KODE, and focuses on exhibitions in contemporary art by international artists. Kunsthall 3,14 is a center for artistic groundbreaking work. 3.14 works actively to increase the breadth of artistic practices in order to allow the audience to experience a wider range of works of art.

From museums and galleries to the street

Don’t limit yourself to a visit to a museum or gallery if you want to enjoy art in Bergen. Have a stroll along the streets and see real Bergen street art. Can you find "The Mother" - a colorful piece of art that covers an entire wall right near Media City Bergen? In Skostredet you have to keep a lookout for the visual satire "Laugh". Get out and discover Bergen's graffiti and street art gems!

Are you ready to call it a day? Hopefully you have at least one more day to spend in our city. Bergen's bustling art scene has much more to offer than the highlights we have given you in this article. Check out more attractions in Bergen here.