Bergen has a wide range of museums in all varieties. Many of these are located in the city center, but there are also several interesting museums outside the city center and the 7 mountains. Here, we present some of them, all of which are well worth a visit.
Please note that many of these museums are only open during the summer, so be sure to check their opening hours before planning your visit.
1. The Heathland Centre - The Museum Centre in Hordaland (Lyngheisenteret)
Experience the open coastal heathlands facing the Atlantic Ocean! Coastal heathlands are a type of landscape that is gradually disappearing, and Lyngheisenteret is the only place in Europe where you can experience authentic heathlands arranged for visitors.
Photo: Lyngheisenteret på Lygra - Museumssenteret i Hordaland
Here, you can, among other things, hike the trails in the heathlands, watch a film, and learn more about the heathlands through the exhibits in the information building, visit a farm (by appointment), rent a bike or fishing rod, and swim in the protected Lurefjord.
There is also abundant wildlife at Lygra, and if you're lucky, you might spot both eagles and wild sheep during your trip. You can also spend the night at Lygra. See information on muho.no .
Lyngheisenteret is located at Lygra, about a 1-hour drive from Bergen. It is also possible to travel by bus or boat to Lygra.
2. Havrå at Osterøy
At Osterøy, just half an hour from Bergen, lies the clustered farmstead Havrå – a beautiful place with a rich history. The museum can only be visited through guided tours, but it is well worth a visit. The farm is run in the traditional way using old tools. During the tour, you will gain insight into food production and how local resources are utilized.
Photo: Visit Bergen / Espen Bakketun - visitBergen.com
3. Oleana Économusée
At Oleana Économusée, you have the opportunity to follow the process from yarn to finished product. Norway has a long and rich tradition of textile production and patterned wool knitting. Oleana has chosen to keep production in Norway to preserve traditions and knowledge.
Photo: Oleana Économusée
Join a tour through the textile factory where you can see both people and machines at work. The factory also has a shop where you can purchase garments from Oleana's latest collection, as well as find treasures from previous collections.
Oleana Économusée is located in Ytre Arna, about a 20-minute drive from Bergen city center.
4. Horda Museum - Bymuseet i Bergen
Hordamuseet is located at Stend, by Fanafjord, and is a folk museum with a focus on industries such as fishing, agriculture, handicrafts, craftsmanship, and sustainable traditions. The museum can be visited by appointment, but the outdoor area is accessible year-round. There are good parking facilities.
Photo: Hordamuseet
On the museum grounds, you can see, among other things, burial mounds, a large stone circle, and a 34-meter-long boathouse from the Roman era, which are clear traces of people who lived here in the past. At Stend and Fanafjellet, the museum has also recreated several old houses from North and Mid-Hordaland. These houses tell the story of ways of life in earlier times, construction techniques, craftsmanship, and knowledge developed over hundreds of years.
The main building of the museum hosts both permanent and changing exhibitions with many interesting themes. In the Boathouse Hall you can learn more about how fundamentally important boats have been to people living along the coast.
Hordamuseet is located about a 20-minute drive from Bergen city center.
5. The Old Voss Steam Railway Museum
The Old Voss Railway operates the 18-kilometer stretch between Garnes station and Midttun station, with departures every Sunday from mid-June to mid-September. Join a train journey back in time aboard beautifully restored teak railway carriages from the 1920s and 1930s, pulled by a genuine steam locomotive built in 1913.
Photo: Vossebanen
The line opened in 1883 as a narrow-gauge railway between Bergen and Voss before being converted to standard gauge for the opening of the Bergen Railway to Oslo. The line served as part of the Bergen Railway until the 1960s, where the great express trains to Oslo ran, led by majestic steam locomotives from a bygone era.
Along the way, you can also experience our classic dining car from 1937 – the last one still in regular service in Norway. Take a journey back to a bygone time with white tablecloths, white porcelain, waiters in crisp uniforms, and exquisite dining experiences.
Garnes station is about a 30-minute drive from Bergen city center.
6. Herdla Museum - Museum Vest
There is no shortage of things to do in Bergen. If you'd like to combine a museum visit with outdoor activities, we recommend a trip to Herdla Museum. The museum is located in a beautiful new building with panoramic views of the Herdla Nature Reserve. From here, you have the perfect starting point to learn more about the history of World War II, visit the German fortress on the island, or go birdwatching in the bird reserve. Herdla is the richest and most important bird area in the region.
Photo: Herdla museum - Museum Vest
The museum features both permanent and changing exhibits related to the history of war as well as nature and the environment. You can also join a guided tour of the Herdla torpedo battery, which was once a top-secret defense facility.
The drive from Bergen city center to Herdla Museum takes about 45 minutes.
7. Western Norwegian Emigration Center - Museum Center in Hordaland
Learn about life in America for Norwegian emigrants! At the Western Norwegian Emigration Center, you will find a real American prairie village. The buildings, which were constructed in America by Norwegian Americans in Minnesota and Dakota between 1860 and 1920, have been dismantled and moved to Sletta in Radøy, Nordhordland, to show what life was like in America. In the prairie village, you will find, among other things, pioneer homes, a teacher's residence, a school, a doctor's office, a town hall with a jail, and a church.
Photo: Vestnorsk Utvandringssenter - Museumssenteret i Hordaland
In addition to the exhibits, there is also a café and museum shop, a cultural trail, and a children's activity trail on the premises. During the summer season, you can also take guided tours and participate in a variety of other activities.
Bonus tip: Take a day trip to Baroniet Rosendal
Rosendal is a beautiful small village, about a 2.5-hour drive from Bergen. You can also take the Hardangerfjord Express from Bergen city center to Rosendal town center, and from there, walk up to the Baroniet, which is open to visitors during the summer season. (The garden is open year-round).
Photo: Laura Moberg
Explore the impressive Renaissance garden, take a stroll through the beautiful surroundings, and visit the historic manor house from 1665. Enjoy a delicious lunch at Rosendal Havecafè and Drivhus before returning to Bergen. Baroniet.
Here you will find an overview of all the museums, regardless of their location in Bergen. If you're planning to take the kids to a museum, be sure to read the article Top 7 Museums for Children in Bergen. You’re sure to find some great tips for museums your children will love.
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