If you’re visiting Bergen for the first time, this guide has everything you need to plan the perfect stay and feel less overwhelmed. We’re answering all your questions about Bergen, Norway and sharing helpful tips for first-timers!
Surrounded by mountains and fjords, Bergen is one of those rare places that feels both storybook-pretty and also totally hip.
With its colorful harbor, historic charm, and access to jaw-dropping nature, it’s no wonder this city is a favorite stop on many Norway itineraries.
In this Bergen travel guide, we’re sharing everything you need to know—what to see, what to eat, and how to make the most of your time in Norway’s most charming city.
Bergen Travel Guide
- Best time to visit
- Top things to do
- Perfect Bergen itinerary
- Bergen map
- How to get there
- Tips for visiting
- Where to eat
- Where to stay
Our experience in Bergen
Funny story: When we lived in Chiang Mai, we rented an apartment with a wall hanging above the bed of a beautiful city… It took us a few months to figure out that city was Bergen! We vowed then that someday we would travel there.
When planning our Norway road trip, we knew we had to include at least one day in Bergen. Instead of camping nearby and driving into the city and back out at night, we decided to splurge on a (reasonably-priced!) Airbnb. It was the day of our 11th wedding anniversary, after all!
While we were planning our trip to Norway, I can’t tell you how many people reached out saying Bergen was one of their favorite places in Norway. I even received two messages from separate people saying a family member of theirs named their child Bergen as an homage to their love for this city.
So I guess you can say we had high expectations for Bergen, and even still, we left saying, “I could live here!”
Best time to visit Bergen
Bergen is beautiful year-round, but the best time to visit depends on your travel style.
Summer (June–August) is the most popular, with long daylight hours, lively festivals, and mild weather—though it’s also the busiest (and priciest) season.
Spring and fall bring fewer crowds and vibrant scenery, but pack a rain jacket—Bergen is known as one of Europe’s rainiest cities.
Winter is quiet and cozy, with a festive vibe around the holidays and access to nearby ski areas, though many attractions have limited hours.
We visited Bergen in September and had gorgeous weather! Temperatures were in the mid-70s (24 °C)—which is warm for that time of year, and the sun was out the whole time, which made our visit extra enjoyable.
Funny enough, our team member Amanda also visited Bergen in June one year and said she had sunny skies and great weather as well. Must be travel bloggers luck! (Is that a thing?)
Top things to do in Bergen
Bergen may be known for its rain, but don’t let the forecast fool you—this coastal city is full of charm and unforgettable experiences.
From colorful harbor views and mountaintop panoramas to cozy cafés and rooftop cocktails, here are our favorite things to do in Bergen that will make you fall in love with Norway’s most picturesque city…
Our favorite things to do in Bergen
(in no particular order)
- Walk around Bryggen Harbor and historic wharf
- Take the funicular up to Mount Floyen
- Try reindeer sausage
- Walk around the pretty streets on the Nordnes Peninsula
- Splurge on rooftop cocktails
- Sip the best hot chocolate of your life
See our Bergen itinerary (below) for more information on how to go about doing these fun Bergen activities.
We have an entire article dedicated to all the fun things to do in Bergen where we share details and tips for first-time visitors.
Perfect Bergen itinerary
Wondering how to fit in all these great recommendations but only have 24 hours? We’ve been-there-done-that and came up with what we think is the perfect 1-day Bergen itinerary.
Custom Bergen map
Click on the map and enter your email to gain access to our interactive Bergen Itinerary map. It’s filled with our custom pins of all our favorite activities, plus where to eat, where to stay and more!
How to get to Bergen
You can get to Bergen via train or self-driving (or as part of a tour).
Our advice: Personally, we think driving in Norway is the best way to see this country!
→ Psst! You will likely be flying in and out of Oslo, so be sure to check out our Oslo travel guide before your trip!
A note on ferries
Additionally, depending on the route you take, there’s a chance you’ll need to take a ferry. Look at the timetable ahead of time so you know when the ferry departs. We accidentally missed our ferry by about 3 minutes and had to wait there for 45 more minutes until the next ferry.
Getting around in Bergen
Once you’re in Bergen, you should plan to walk everywhere because not only is the city relatively compact and walkable, but parking is tricky (see our note about parking in the tips below).
Tips for visiting Bergen (know before you go!)
Before you arrive in this city, there are a few things you should know about Bergen…
1. It’s very hilly!
Be prepared for some steep strolls, especially if you plan to explore a bit outside of the central tourist area.
2. This area is known for getting lots of rain
When we told an Oslo local about our plan to go to Bergen, she quickly told us, “It is always raining there.”
And data backs up her claim, with September – January averaging more than 10 inches per month. Even the summer months, which see less rainfall, have a fair bit of rain and overcast days.
We personally got incredibly lucky and had perfectly clear, sunny days where the temperatures stayed in the mid-70s (24ºC) during the day. But I think that was the exception.
I’ll cross my fingers that you have great weather in Bergen too, but don’t be too disappointed if you see rain in the forecast because that’s the norm.
Insider tip: Even if it’s warm during the day, it can cool off quite a bit in the evening, so carry a warm layer with you as you’re out and about.
3. It is a popular cruise ship stop
Like many beautiful places in Norway, Bergen is a popular stop on Norwegian cruises.
This means that some areas, like the historic Bryggen and fish market, tend to be very busy during the day. There are also some restaurants that cater to cruise passengers, making them very crowded (we’ll share our personal experience later in this article).
The good news is that there are many places outside the main touristy area that few cruise ship passengers will make it to. If you come with realistic expectations and follow our itinerary, we can assure you that the cruise ships won’t impact your travel too much.
Insider tip: Go to this website and click on your date to see if there are cruise ships scheduled to be in Bergen while you’ll be there. It should tell you the time the ship(s) will be docked as well as how many passengers to expect. You can use this site for any other towns in Norway you plan to visit. The website is not the prettiest, but it gives you the info you need!
4. Parking can be tricky
Bergen is a very walkable city, so you won’t need to drive in town to get around. That said, if you are on a Norway road trip and are driving a rental car or campervan, you will need to find parking once you get to town.
If you are spending the night, we’d recommend parking near your accommodation so that you don’t have to move your vehicle. Alternatively, there is a public parking lot that is somewhat centrally located, which could be another option.
Good to know: All the street parking we saw in Bergen was paid. We were warned that parking fees are strictly enforced, and tickets are typically NOK 700 ($65). If you are parked in an area where there is no sign indicating you can park, you may be towed at your own expense, so make sure you are in a spot where parking is allowed (there should be signs clearly marking it). You can pay at the machines on the street, or by an app (which you need a Norwegian phone number to do).
Our personal experience: We ended up staying at our parking meter longer than we had paid for, but we were too far away to add more money to the physical machine. Thankfully, our Airbnb host kindly offered to add time for us. Learn from our mistake and try not to cut it too close with time on your parking meter so you don’t have to stress.
5. Come with a plan
While we love a good spontaneous wander, Bergen is a city you’ll want to visit with somewhat of a plan (especially if you have limited time!).
The best restaurants in town require reservations, and there are certain spots you’ll want to be at a particular time (whether for good lighting or to avoid cruise ship crowds).
Also, if you just have one day in Bergen (like we did), we don’t want you to miss out on some hidden gems that will be easy to miss if you just show up with no route in mind.
The good news is that this article will walk you through the perfect plan for your time in Bergen so you get the most out of your visit.
Where to eat in Bergen
We’ve suggested our top picks throughout this itinerary, but if you’re looking for alternative options, this is our personal list of places we have saved.
Breakfast & coffee
- Det Lille Kaffekompaniet: oldest coffee shop in Bergen, known for having excellent carrot cake (as if you need an excuse to have cake for breakfast!)
- Kaf Kafe Bryggen: cozy coffee shop nestled in the historic Bryggen wharf area and serving classic Norwegian sweets like waffles (try them topped with brunost) and cinnamon buns
- Løvetann Café & Bistro: cute cafe for brunch or lunch; recommended dishes are the “Hand of Fatima” and Turkish eggs
- Solros cafe and Bakery: tiny little cafe with coffee and pastries
- Godt Brød Korskirken: this is a chain and you’ll find a few locations around the city. It can be a good option for a quick morning bite. Try the skolebolle here.
- Skg.Vinkafé: excellent coffee with a cool, local atmosphere, though they don’t open until at least 10 a.m. They are open into the evening on some nights and serve wine.
Lunch
- Daily pot: cute, budget-friendly cafe with healthy veggie-packed bowls and soups (which is honestly kind of hard to find in Norway!)
- Klee Kaffe: cozy restaurant with a rotating menu of elevated dishes as well as cakes and coffee. It is a little off the beaten path and feels like a hidden gem in a city full of touristy restaurants. They are open for both lunch and dinner and have jazz music on some nights.
- The Hagelin Sisters: cafeteria-style spot known for fish dishes; a good pick if you’re looking for a fast, no-frills lunch. Popular items are their fish stew and a variety of fish cakes ranging from NOK 20-45 each ($1.85-$4.20). You can grab lunch here, or do what we did and just get a couple of fish cakes to go in order to sample this regional dish on the go.
- Pygmalion Ecocafe & Gallery: good vegetarian options
- Dirty Vegan Bergen: popular vegan “junk food” spot featuring fast food classics like fries, burgers, and onion rings
Dinner
- Bryggen Tracteursted: Tucked away in the historic Bryggen area, we stumbled across this restaurant and wished we would have dined here. On a nice evening, the outdoor seating area looks lovely, yet the cozy historic building would be a nice setting as well. With traditional Norwegian dishes and great presentation, this hidden gem makes a great dinner choice.
- The Unicorn Fish Restaurant: small eatery located in a historic Bryggen row house with antique furnishings and a menu highlighting seafood dishes
- The Dining Hook: intimate, splurge-worthy restaurant with a small seasonal menu featuring 3 starters, 3 mains, and 3 desserts. Order a la carte or do the tasting menu (with the option to add a wine or non-alcoholic pairing). Presentation and flavor are said to be fantastic.
- Dr. Wiesener: hidden gem recommended to us by our Airbnb host as a good place to get authentic dishes surrounded by locals
- Kafé Spesial: budget friendly spot that’s popular with locals and features pasta, pizza, and hummus
- MOON: 2024 Michelin recommended restaurant featuring a tasting menu and a surprisingly unpretentious atmosphere
- Bien Basar: Norwegian and Spanish tapas
- Sushi Roll Sandviken: excellent sushi restaurant run by a chef/owner that’s well-known in the Bergen restaurant scene, reasonable prices
Where to stay in Bergen
There are lots of great places to stay in Bergen. We recommend staying within the city center so you can walk everywhere instead of driving. Here are our top recommendations:
Airbnb overlooking Bergen (our top pick!)
This is where we personally stayed and we can’t recommend it more! The host was very kind and the cozy space is even better than the pictures. The bed was the best we slept on in all of Norway and the property has a lovely view overlooking the city. It is also (surprisingly!) one of the more affordable properties in Bergen.
2 things to know:
- Depending on the date, there is sometimes a 2-night minimum stay. We stayed just one night, but we noticed that it varies. You could message the host to inquire about this if you only want to stay one night.
- It is located in a quiet neighborhood overlooking Bergen, and you can walk down to the center of town in just 5 minutes. That said, walking back up is steep so be prepared for an uphill trek, or you can take the funicular to the neighborhood. If you choose to do this make sure you get on one that stops at the intermediary stations. Not all trains stop here, so you’ll accidentally end up at the top of the mountain! (It’s not well-marked, so you can ask a staff member if you’re confused.)
Loft apartment
- 1-bedroom Airbnb
- central location
- bright and airy
- no minimum stay
- stairs required
Historic house
- 2-bedroom Airbnb
- great location
- 2-night minimum
- stairs required
- highly rated
Family-friendly penthouse
- 2-bedroom Airbnb
- sleeps 6
- lake view
- no minimum stay
Luxury hotel stay
- great location
- upscale design
- Norwegian-style breakfast buffet included
- onsite restaurant
- no minimum stay
Camping near Bergen
Even though we were traveling around Norway in a campervan, we made an exception and booked an Airbnb for one night in Bergen.
If you have the budget, we’d recommend doing this so that you can experience the evening in this city (since there’s no good option for camping nearby).
The alternative is to base yourself at one of the following campgrounds:
- Lone Camping AS: 27 minutes from Bergen (highest rated)
- Bratland Camping: 22 minutes from Bergen
- Midttun Motell & camping AS: 17 minutes from Bergen (lowest rated)
Plan your trip to Norway
Dreaming of fjords and cozy saunas and epic mountain views? We’ve got everything you need to plan the perfect trip—from city guides to campervan tips, packing hacks, and must-do experiences! Start with our Norway homepage or read some of our favorite articles below…
- Read up on all the top things to do in Oslo (including unique and free activities!)
- If you’re just getting started, this Oslo travel guide has everything you need to know.
- Only have a short stop? Follow our 2-day Oslo itinerary to hit the highlights without feeling rushed.
- Headed west? Here’s exactly how to spend 24 hours in Bergen.
- Have more time? This list of fun things to do in Bergen will keep you occupied.
- Not sure what to pack? Our Norway packing guide has you covered for every season (and surprise weather!).
Want the perfect Norway road trip planned for you?
We spent two unforgettable weeks road tripping through Norway—hiking to epic viewpoints, cruising through fjords, soaking in saunas, and camping in jaw-dropping landscapes.
After that trip, we took everything we learned (plus hours of additional research!) and crafted the ultimate 2-week Norway itinerary that hits the must-see spots and lots of lesser-known hidden gems.
It’s completely done-for-you and includes scenic drives, epic hikes, unique stays, and practical tips—plus access to our custom Norway map and helpful resources to make planning easy.
If you want a stress-free way to see the best of Norway, this is it.
Don’t miss your chance to grab our Norway packing list!
Be sure to download our complete packing list for Norway! It’s packed with good suggestions and insider tips to help plan your Norway trip.
And it’s completely FREE, so why not!?
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We hope this Bergen travel guide was helpful in planning your trip to Bergen, Norway. If you have any more questions, leave your comment below and we’ll do our best to get back to you with the answers you’re looking for!