The best starting point for fjord tours and cruises.
Things to do in Bergen
Explore Bryggen - an Unesco World Heritage Site
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Plan & Book
Things To Do in Bergen
Looking for things to do in Bergen? As a European City of Culture and World Heritage City, Bergen offers world-class experiences and culture. Being the Gateway to the Fjords of Norway, Bergen has the ideal combination of nature, culture and interesting urban attractions. Pick and choose of a great range of things to do in Bergen – all year round.
Without any further ado, lets dive right in: Here are the five most popular things to do in Bergen:
See the fjords!
Visit Bryggen World Heritage Site
Hike at one of Bergen's seven mountains
Visit the Fish Market and eat some famous Norwegian seafood
Stroll amongst the old wooden houses and narrow alleyways in Nordnes or Sandviken
On top of the list of popular things to do, is of course the fjords. Bergen is surrounded by one of the most popular attractions in the world, the Norwegian fjords, which have been inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List and voted the world’s most unspoiled tourist destination by National Geographic. These magnificent natural wonders are truly worth a visit. No matter what season you choose for your visit to Bergen, you will always find tours to that create lifelong memories.
Aurlandsfjorden. (Which is a part of Sognefjorden). Photo: Sverre Hjørnevik / www.fjordnorway.com
Bryggen World Heritage Site. Photo: Visit Bergen / Endre Knudsen - visitBergen.com
At Bryggen you will find plenty of things to do, and you can literally travel back to the hanseatic times when Bergen dominated trade for about 400 years. Stroll through the narrow alleyways and experience life back in the 1300’s, a sense of drudgery, feast and celebration. An important part of Bergen’s history can be experienced in this area, where a lot of the arcitechture is preserved or rebuilt as it was in the Middle Ages.
Bergen has many museums, some with unique art treasures and others that show the breadth of the city’s historical heritage. The Hanseatic Museum or Bryggens Museum presents a unique historical insight to the history of Bergen.
Art collections in Bergen:
At KODE Art Museums and Composer Homes you'll find the third largest colleaction of Edvard Munch paintings. Besides the masterpieces by Edvard Munch you'll find art by Nikolai Astrup, Pablo Picasso, Paul Klee, J. C. Dahl as well as the beautiful collection "the Silver Treasure".
Hiking on the seven mountains surrounding Bergen:
Take a trip up to Mt. Fløyen or Mt. Ulriken and enjoy the view of the city, the fjord and the ocean. With the Ulriken cable car or Fløibanen funicular you can get to the top of the mountains within a few minutes. There are plenty of things to do on top of the mountains, like guided hiking tours, bike rental, zipline and other activities. During the summer months you can also hike from Mount Fløyen to Mount Ulriken (or the other way around). The hike across Vidden takes about five hours and offers beautiful views of the city and surrounding fjords and island.
Mount Fløyen and the Fløibanen Funicular. Photo: Visit Bergen / Endre Knudsen - visitBergen.com
Bergen is also a main startpoint for hiking to Trolltunga. Even if the start of the hike is 3 hours drive from Bergen, most people will fly to Bergen where you find the closest airport. Spend a few days in Bergen before making your way to Odda and start the hike early the following morning. (the hike is about 12 hours). Please note that this hike is extremely tough and only recommended for experienced hikers.
Bergen for kids:
Bergen is perfect for kids. There are plenty of fun things to do in Bergen for kids in all ages. See seals, penguins, crocodiles and snakes close up at the Bergen Aquarium and explore the world of science and technology with your family at VilVite science centre. Check out this useful article with top five things to do with kids in Bergen. If you're simply looking for a playground, you'll find a real treasure on top of mount Fløyen! With slides, trolls and a climbing park, the kids will be entertained for hours!
Bergen is a proud UNESCO city of gastronomy, and Bergen bursts with restaurants and café’s with traditional Norwegian delicacies. Round off the day with a meal and a cultural event at one of the city’s many venues, like Cornelius Sjømatrestaurant, Colonialen or Lysverket.
Bergen is famous for its unique charm and atmosphere – exploring the city is a must. We hear the same thing every year. Visitors from all over the world have just one complaint when they leave: that their stay didn’t last longer!