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 8 December you can visit the Gingerbread Town at Sentralbadet.
The Gingerbread Town normaly close on 31 December, but this year they will stay open a bit longer due to restrictions in number of people being able to visit at the same time.
The large Bergen Christmas Market at Festplassen is unfortunately cancelled in 2020 due to corona restrictions. However, the Christmas Market at Munkebryggen is well worth a visit, only 5 -10 minutes walk from the Tourist Information. Lots of delicious local delicacies from Farmers Market Bergen combined with creative crafts from various participants. Open during weekends before Christmas.
At SUNDT department store in the city center, you can also visit the SUNDT Mini-Christmas Market. Located at the top floor you'll find a variety of local produce perfect for Christmas gifts.
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.
Throughout December Bergen offers a large selection of Christmas concerts that are sure to get you in the right Christmas spirit!
Bergen city center decorated for Christmas. Photo: Visit Bergen / Robin Strand - visitBergen.com
Bergen also marks Advent with the traditional lighting of candles on Mount Fløyen every Sunday leading up to Christmas. If there is enough snow, you can get down to the center of Bergen from Mount Fløyen with sledges. The Fløibanen funicular offers special sledging tickets, and you can sleigh down from Mount Fløyen all day. The road and the paths are lit during the evening.
Mount Fløyen. Photo: Robin Strand, Norphoto AS
(Stengt = closed)
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.
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.
NB: We have not yet confirmed how the public New Years Eve celebrations will be in Bergen in 2020. We will update as soon as this has been decided.
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)
Strandgaten decorated for Christmas. Photo: Visit Bergen / Robin Strand - visitBergen.com
Due to the current restrictions in place in Bergen for preventing the spread of corona virus, the church service for Christmas has been changed. This year the services only have a limited amount of seats available for each service and guests have to register electronically beforehand. You can register here for services at Bergen Cathedral, St Johns Church, St Mary's Church and Nykirken, all in the city center. For other churches, please check their homepage.
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Other Sites
Visit Bergen / Bergen Tourist Board
Strandkaien 3 - Postboks 977 Sentrum
5808 Bergen, Norge
© Visit Bergen 2021
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