The city of Bergen is rich in history and natural beauty and offers a variety of attractions that cater to visitors with accessibility needs.
Whether you’re exploring as a family, on your own, or with a group, here are 10 accessible activities to enjoy in Bergen.
1. Fløibanen funicular
The Fløibanen Funicular is a must-see attraction for many visitors to Bergen, offering stunning views of the city and its surroundings. The funicular is fully wheelchair accessible, featuring spacious cabins and easy access at both the lower and upper stations. By using the elevator, visitors can bypass the stairs and directly enter the upper cabin of the funicular.
Photo: Fløyen
At the top, you’ll find a restaurant, a café, and a souvenir shop, all connected by paved paths. Additionally, there is a large viewpoint designed with accessibility in mind. Parts of the viewpoint are not accessible such as the short viewpoint “walkway”. Both the Fløistuen shop & café as well as the restaurant are adapted for wheelchair users, and there is an accessible toilet available.
Photo: Fløyen
Mount Fløyen also features short and long trails into the mountain; however, these gravel roads include small hills that might be challenging for some wheelchair users. A sturdy electric wheelchair is recommended. The trail to Skomakerdiket takes approximately 10-15 minutes and ends at a small café (mostly open during weekends), which is easily accessible.The trails are not suitable for wheelchair users when there is snow or freezing temperatures, as this can create slippery surfaces.
How to get here:
The bottom station of the Fløibanen funicular is located about 5 minutes walk from the Fish Market in Bergen city center. However, the road is quite steep and has several pavement obstructions. In winter this road can be slippery if the temperatures are low, and in case of snow not recommended for wheelchair users.
Read more about wheelchairs, strollers and dogs at Mount Fløyen here.
2. Ulriken Cable Car
The Ulriken Cable Car, that was new in 2021, offers breathtaking panoramic views of Bergen from the city’s highest mountain. The cable car is wheelchair accessible, and staff are available to assist passengers with mobility needs. The embarking and disembarking from the cable are with level access to the platform.
At the top, a paved path leads to a great viewpoint over Bergen and the surroundings. Here you will find a restaurant, a new plateau with 250 seats, a bar, a café, a terrasse, and restrooms designed for accessibility.
For those looking to explore further, there are trails of varying difficulty, but they are not wheelchair-friendly.
Photo: Ulriken643
How to get there:
From April to the end of September, the Ulriken Shuttle Express bus runs every half hour from a stop just around the corner from the Tourist Information. The journey to the cable car entrance takes 10-15 minutes. Manual wheelchairs can be stored at the back of the bus, but passengers must be able to board without using their wheelchair. The shuttle bus is not accessible for electric wheelchairs.
If you are traveling by public transport, you can take the Bergen Light Rail (Bybanen) line 2 to Haukeland Sykehus, which is also the name of the exit you choose at the station. Once outside, it is only a 5-10 minute walk to the cable car. However, the road is very steep and not recommended during winter as it might be slippery when temperatures are low, or icy if snowfall. Even during the summer the steep road might be challenging unless you have an electric wheelchair.
If you arrive by car you can embark right outside the entrance, then the car can be parked in the big garage under Haukeland Sykehus (the hospital in Bergen), about 5-10 minutes walk from the the cable car. With taxi, you can embark right outside the cable car.
3. Bergen Aquarium
Bergen Aquarium is a great attraction for visitors of all ages, and offers an up-close look at marine life. The entire facility, except for the roof terrace, is wheelchair accessible and includes elevators and ramps for easy navigation. Highlights include penguins, crocodiles, seals, and a variety of fascinating sea creatures.
Entrance with a ramp at Bergen Aquarium. Photo: Akvariet i Bergen
How to get here:
The aquarium is located in the city center, about a 15-minute walk from the Tourist Information at the Fish Market. However, the scenic route includes cobblestone streets, which can be challenging for wheelchair users. Alternatively, taking the car route provides pavements, though some sections may pose difficulties in accessing and exiting the pavement, similar to other parts of the city center.
If you arrive by car or taxi, you can be dropped off right in front of the stair-free entrance. Navigating during winter when the roads might have snow and ice are not recommended.
Bergen Aquarium. Photo: Visit Bergen / Espen Bakketun - visitBergen.com
4. Bergen Science Centre Vilvite
For an interactive and educational experience, head to the VilVite Science Center. This family-friendly attraction is designed to be inclusive, with exhibits and activities that are accessible to visitors with mobility challenges. The center also provides sensory-friendly options for those with additional needs.
Handicap parking spaces both outdoors and in parking garages.
- Good access via sidewalks, etc.
- Ground-level entrance.
- The majority of the exhibition is located on one level.
- Café and restroom on the same level.
- Handicap restroom
- Elevator available for accessing other floors if needed.
Photo: SYNK Media
How to get there:
To get to VilVite from the Tourist Information at the Fish Market it will take you 15 minutes to walk. The road is fairly level, but you will meet some general difficulties with pavements. Alternatively, take the Bergen Light Rail (Bybanen) to the stop called Florida. From here it takes you 5 minutes to VilVite. Bybanen is wheelchair-friendly, with level access from the platform and ample space for wheelchairs.
Read more about accessibility at VilVite here.
5. The Art museums Rasmus Meyer Collection and Permanenten at KODE
The KODE Art Museums house an impressive collection of art and design across several buildings. Both Rasmus Meyer Collection and Permanenten accommodate disabled visitors by direct access via either ramp or wheelchair lift. There are reserved parking spots right outside the Rasmus Meyer collections. Both buildings have accessible toilets.
How to get there:
The art museums are beautifully situated along the Lille Lungegårdsvann lake in the city center. At this part of the city the ground is quite level with no cobble stones.
Read about accessibility at Kode here.
6. Bergen Maritime Museum
Dive into Bergen’s rich maritime history at this museum, which is fully wheelchair accessible and equipped with ramps and elevators. The main entrance is step-free, and an accessible toilet is available on the ground floor. The exhibitions include ship models, historical artifacts, and interactive displays, making it a fascinating visit for all.
Photo: Jan M.Lillebø
Read more about accessibility at Bergen Maritime Museum here.
How to get there:
Bergen Maritime Museum is centrally located, approximately a 10-minute walk from the Tourist Information. However, due to Bergen's hilly terrain, the museum is situated on an incline. The easiest and flattest route to the museum with a wheelchair takes just slightly longer than the fastest one, which has stairs.
7. Bryggens Museum
Bryggens Museum is an archelogical museum comprising thousands of items that provide an interesting insight into everyday life during the Middle Ages. The building is equipped with accessible entrances ensuring that all visitors can enjoy the exhibits Below Ground and temporary exhibitions.
Foto: Bryggens Museum
- Wheelchair Access: Full access throughout the museum. A wheelchair is available for lending.
- Hearing Impairments: The auditorium at Bryggens Museum is equipped with a hearing loop and high-quality microphones for enhanced audio. QR codes are available to download audio files from exhibits.
- Additional Amenities: Free Wi-Fi is provided. The museum shop and café are located on the same level and are fully accessible.
- Facilities: Handicap restroom available.
- Entrance and Parking: Ground-level entrance. Handicap parking is available in a nearby parking garage.
How to get there:
From the Tourist Information Center, walk past the Fish Market towards Bryggen. The route is on flat terrain. Bryggens Museum is located at the end of the wooden houses, next to the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel. The walking distance from the Tourist Information Center is approximately 10 minutes.
Bryggen World Heritage Site:
The museum is ideally located in the heart of Bergen, at the World Heritage Site Bryggen. Whilst the museum, situated at the end of the colorful buildings, offers modern, step-free entrance on the ground floor, Bryggen itself is only partially accessible for wheelchair users.
The cobblestone surfaces can pose challenges for lighter wheelchairs, while the narrow wooden pathways on Bryggen are more wheelchair-friendly.
UNESCO World Heritage Site Bryggen. Photo: Christine Baglo - Visit Norway
However, most galleries and shops in this area are unfortunately not accessible due to narrow doors, uneven surfaces, tight spaces, and steps. Additionally, there are no toilet facilities on Bryggen.
8. Fjord tours and cruises: Sognefjord in a Nutshell™
Seeing the fjords is one of the most popular activities for international visitors to Bergen. The city offers a wide variety of fjord tours throughout the year. However, many of these tours involve multiple modes of transportation, which can pose accessibility challenges.
A great option for a day trip from Bergen is the "Sognefjord in a Nutshell™" tour. This journey begins with a boat departing from the Bergen city center, conveniently located near the Tourist Information Center. The boat ride to Flåm in the Sognefjord takes approximately five hours.
This tour utilizes public transport, which in Norway is generally accessible for wheelchair users.
Boarding the boat:
The boat between Bergen and Flåm is equipped with a ramp for easy boarding.
In Flåm:
After disembarking, you will transfer to the Flåm Railway, which takes you to Myrdal. The town center in Flåm is small and flat, making it easy to navigate from the boat to the train within a few minutes. At Myrdal you will change trains to return to Bergen. The train station in Bergen is wheelchair-friendly, with level ground allowing easy exit.
Photo: Eivind Senneseth
Facilities:
Accessible toilets are available throughout the journey, including on the boat, the Flåm Railway, Myrdal station, and the train from Myrdal to Bergen.
Booking Information:
When booking the tour, inform the tour operator Fjord Tours in advance if you are traveling with an electric wheelchair. This will ensure proper seat arrangements on the boat, the Flåm Railway, and the Vy train. (No need to inform about manual wheelchairs)
Myrdal train station. Photo: Visit Bergen / Casper Steinsland - visitBergen.com
Getting here:
The tour starts at the "Strandkaiterminalen" boat terminal next to the Tourist Information Center in Bergen. The terminal is easily accessible with no steps and direct access from the road.
9. Half day tour Fjordcruise Bergen - Mostraumen
The Fjordcruise Bergen - Mostraumen departs and returns to the same place, just next to the Fish Market in the city center. The boat tour takes around 4 hours. When booking this trip you have to let them know you have a wheelchair, so they can provide a correct ramp for boarding.
Due to frequent changes from high to low tide in Bergen, it is more challenging for boarding and disembarkation for wheelchair users. This requires that the wheelchair user have the mobility to walk on and off the boat, and up and down stairs. Front deck and top deck is not accessible with a wheelchair.
Companions travel for free upon presentation of documentation. Select the number of companions in the booking.
How to get there:
The departure point is right next to the Tourist Information at the Fish Market. The pier itself offers level-ground access with no pavement obstructions.
10. Easy shopping at Bergens shopping centers
As the streets in Bergen can be challenging with cobblestones, hills, and varying weather conditions, indoor shopping at Lagunen or Bergen Storsenter provides a stress-free experience for wheelchair users.
Bergen Storsenter is located in the city center, in the same building as the bus station and right next to the train station. The center has elevator access to all floors and offers a variety of shops, including clothing, shoes, groceries, and electronics, as well as a few dining options.
Bergen Storsenter shopping center. Photo: Fredrik Geving Bedsvaag
Lagunen, the largest shopping center in western Norway, can be reached by taking the Bergen Light Rail (Bybanen) line 1 from the city center to the stop called Lagunen. The trip takes about 30 minutes, with the train arriving right outside the shopping center entrance. Bybanen is wheelchair-friendly, with level access from the platform and ample space for wheelchairs, strollers, and luggage by the double doors.
At Lagunen, you’ll find approximately 65 fashion stores, several eateries, and an environment that accommodates wheelchairs of all sizes and types.
Additional accessible Bergen attractions:
We encourage visitors with mobility needs to plan their visit in advance to make the most of their stay in Bergen. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to visit the Tourist Information Center or contact the attractions directly.
The Tourist Information Center is wheelchair accessible, with an elevator providing easy access from street level at the Fish Market.
Photo: Eder Biesel Arkitekter
In general, airlines, trains, buses, ferries and shops in Norway are accessible for everyone. But some advance planning will still make it easier for you to get around. Read more about travelling with disabillities in Norway.
You can also use wheelmap.org for finding wheelchair accessible places in Bergen.
to add an item to your Itinerary basket.
