Enjoy the festive season
The Gingerbread Town and a large number of Christmas concert and other events will get you in the right Christmas spirit.
The Gingerbread Town (Pepperkakebyen) is the World’s largest town of its kind. In November, half of Bergen’s citizens make their own contributions to this tasteful, magical town. Houses, churches, castles, rockets, and even oil platforms are some of the edible artwork you can find – the creativity is amazing. The result of it all is a mind-blowing fairytale town among mountains, fjords, snow and atmospheric light. You can also have a taste of Bergen’s own gingerbread hearts at the end of the tour. Every day from 19 November 2022 you can visit the Gingerbread Town.
The Gingerbread Town is open until 15:00 on 31 December.
Photo: Visit Bergen / Casper Steinsland – visitBergen.com
This is an event not to be missed! If you are in Bergen on the 19 November, join thousands of Bergensers as they celebrate the start of the Christmas season by lighting torches, watching the Christmas decorations around the lake Lille Lungegårdsvann being lit and enjoy entertainment from the stage. The Festival of Lights is finished off with a nice firework display.
Photo: Visit Bergen / Robin Strand – visitBergen.com
Bergen Christmas Market will this year be held on Festplassen square, right in the heart of the city. Here you will find lots of delicious delicacies from local food suppliers combined with creative crafts from various participants. Open from 25 November until 22 December 2022.
Photo: Visit Bergen / Robin Strand – visitBergen.com
We also recommend a visit to Bryggen. If you like markets, you will love the atmosphere at Bryggen! Beautifully decorated for Christmas with a large selection of local artists, designers and cafes.
In Bergen city center at Bergenhus Fortress you can experience more than 40 unique and spectacular light installations. Lumagica is a magical experience for all ages available from 18 November. After the visit you can enjoy a nice meal from food trucks supplied by various restaurants from Bergen.
Foto: Visit Bergen / Casper Steinsland - visitBergen.com
Throughout December Bergen offers a large selection of Christmas concerts that are sure to get you in the right Christmas spirit!
Please note that the lists are updated on a regular basis up until Christmas.
Bergen also marks Advent with the traditional lighting of candles on Mount Fløyen every Sunday leading up to Christmas. If there is snow, bring a sledge, and you have a fun way of getting back down!
Photo: Sverre Hjørnevik
In Norway, the most important celebration happens on Christmas Eve, 24 December. This is when Norwegian families come together for a big meal. After dinner, it is time to unwrap the presents.
Norwegian Christmas food traditions vary across the regions, but Christmas dinner in Bergen is usually mutton ribs (called Pinnekjøtt), fish, or pork ribs, with all the traditional trimmings, such as sauerkraut, swede, gravy and the ubiquitous boiled potatoes.
If you want to bring the Bergen Christmas feeling home, head to Julehuset at Bryggen to get nisser and other Christmas decorations. In November and December, the shop has two floors of Christmas products.
If you want to learn more about Christmas traditions in Bergen and what's on during the holiday season, check out the podcast "Christmas in Bergen".
The last day of the year is usually spent in one of many restaurants, night clubs, pubs and bars or at home with family and friends. The city is buzzing with life and people in festive spirit! At midnight there is fireworks that can be seen from all over the city center. To get you safely home after the celebrations, there is an extensive public transport service if you are staying outside the city center. Night busses and Bergen Light Rail are running all night.
On New Years Even you can also enjoy some beautiful organ music in St Mary's Church at 17:00.
From Thursday December 10 to (and including) December 23, most shops in the city centre are open the following hours:
Monday to Friday: Open until 8PM (malls until 9PM)
Saturday: Open until 6PM
Sunday: Open until 2PM or 7PM
Christmas Eve: Open until 1PM (with some exceptions)
Christmas Day and Boxing Day: Closed
New Year’s Eve: Open until 4PM (with some exceptions)
Photo: Maverix Media - Visitnorway.com
24th December 2022:
Bergen Cathedral at 14:30 and 16:00
St John's Church at 16:00
St Mary's Church: at 14:30
25th December 2022:
Bergen Cathedral at 11:00
St John's Church at 12:00
Please note that the masses are in Norwegian.
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