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Step into the Historic Heart of Bergen – the UNESCO World Heritage Site Bryggen!
Explore Bryggen, Bergen’s UNESCO World Heritage site, with our knowledgeable guides. This 90-minute walking tour takes you through the heart of Bergen’s history, from its infancy in the Middle Ages to the present day and includes entry to fascinating museums, historic buildings and ruins.
The walking tour begins at Bryggen Museum, home to the world’s largest collection of rune sticks, uncovered during excavations at Bryggen in the 1950s and 60s. These excavations revealed an incredible array of artefacts and the remains of ancient buildings, offering a unique insight into the city’s vibrant commercial and social life during the Middle Ages. You’ll also learn how Bryggen has weathered numerous devastating fires over the centuries, which have shaped its architecture and layout. Despite these challenges, Bryggen has been rebuilt time and time again, showing the resilience of the city and its people.
The rune sticks, inscribed with everything from trade letters to personal messages, offer fascinating stories about medieval international trade and daily life. Alongside these, you’ll see other intriguing finds, including pottery shards, game pieces, and tools. Together, they highlight Bryggen’s vital role as a thriving trade hub and provide a deeper understanding of Bergen’s rich medieval heritage.
Next, we head outside to admire St Mary’s Church and its surrounding medieval ruins. Afterward, we walk through Bryggen’s iconic wooden buildings, dating back to the 1700s, when Bryggen was rebuilt following the catastrophic fire of 1702. These charming buildings are now part of a UNESCO World Heritage site and stand as a testament to the enduring spirit of Bergen’s people.
We then visit the ruins of the city’s medieval wine cellar, now hidden beneath a modern parking garage. This cellar, once part of the town hall, was a key social gathering spot where wine was served. It also served as a vital space for conducting business during the Middle Ages, where merchants and townspeople would meet and exchange goods.
The tour concludes at Schøtstuene, the Hanseatic assembly rooms, where you’ll discover how the Hanseatic League left an indelible mark on Bergen. The German merchants who belonged to this powerful trade network controlled vital commodities like fish, timber, and grain, making Bergen one of Europe’s most important trading ports. The Schøtstuene were the heart of their community, where they would socialise, conduct business, and train apprentices, all of which were essential to Bergen’s development as a thriving centre of commerce.
The walking our is in English and lasts approximately 90 minutes.
Your ticket includes extended entry to Bryggen Museum and Schøtstuene on the same day.
Present your ticket at the museum shops and you will have a 10% discount at Bryggen Museum and Museum Vest.
Practical Information: This tour is best suited for adults. As part of the tour is outdoors, please dress for the weather. Due to cobblestone streets and limited access, it may not be suitable for those with mobility challenges or strollers. Dogs are not allowed except guide dogs.
The walking tour is a collaboration between Museum Vest and Bymuseet i Bergen.
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