Fun Things To Do in Bergen, Norway (+ free map)

From wandering the colorful harborfront to riding a funicular into the mountains, there’s so many fun things to do in Bergen, Norway. This charming city is packed with unique experiences, and we’re sharing our favorite spots, hidden gems, and tasty finds from our own visit.

Surrounded by fjords and framed by dramatic mountains, Bergen is one of the most charming cities we’ve visited. 

I actually found myself saying, “I could live here!” more than once during our visit. 

With colorful wooden houses, plenty of nature, a lively energy, and more cozy cafes than you could ever hope to try in one trip, it’s the kind of place that feels like a fairytale—especially when the clouds roll in (which they often do!).

In this guide, we’re sharing our favorite things to do in Bergen—from top attractions to sneaky local finds—plus practical tips to help you make the most of your time in Norway’s charming coastal city.

Want more ideas? Well, you are in for a treat, my friend, because this article is absolutely PACKED with all kinds of fun things to do in Bergen plus all sorts of insider tips you won’t find anywhere else!

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1. Walk around Bryggen Harbor and historic wharf

This is the Bergen you’ve seen in postcards: a row of colorful wooden houses lining the harbor, leaning slightly from centuries of salty air and weather. 

The old harbor, known as Bryggen, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and strolling through its narrow alleyways feels like stepping back in time in a living museum. 

We loved wandering around and imagining what this area would look like hundreds of years ago. Some of the buildings are turned into contemporary boutiques, selling souvenirs and art. Others are cafes or small pubs.

Insider tip: This area is especially beautiful at golden hour before the sun sets. 

2. Take the funicular up to Mount Floyen

One of the very best things to do in Bergen is to take the funicular to the top of Fløyen, a mountain that looms over the east edge of town.

You can either hike to the top (free workout, yay!), or take the easy way up (like we did) and ride the Fløibanen funicular.

Once you’re at the top, you’ll have a spectacular view overlooking Bergen. But the fun doesn’t end there…

In fact, there are a ton of things to do at the top of Fløyen and you could spend a good chunk of a day exploring.

Things to do at Mount Fløyen

• Explore the hiking trails 
• Pet the resident goats 
• If you’re traveling with kids, you must go to this playground (pictured above), which is hidden in the forest and quite possibly the coolest playground I’ve seen in my entire life!
• Eat at one of the many restaurants and cafes at Mount Fløyen
• Get waffles at the cutest Nordic cafe on the edge of Skomakerstuen lake. (Only open Saturday and Sunday as well as public holidays from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.) There’s another hut a bit further called Brushytten that serves similar items.

Tip for visiting: Come early to avoid crowds. We got up there around 10 a.m. and it wasn’t too busy, but by noon, it was very crowded. It was also a beautiful, sunny day, so that probably added to the popularity!

3. Try reindeer sausage

You can’t miss the tiny red Trekroneren hot dog stand near the Bergen Cathedral. It’s a local institution, and for good reason—the menu has everything from bratwurst to wild game sausages. 

We opted for the reindeer sausage, topped with lingonberry sauce and crispy onions. It might sound odd, but trust us: it was one of the most unexpectedly delicious things we ate in Norway.

Trust me when I tell you: I’m not even a hot dog person and I loved this!

4. Walk around the pretty streets on the Nordnes Peninsula

This charming neighborhood just west of the city center feels like Bergen’s best-kept secret. We spent a quiet morning wandering the cobbled lanes and snapping photos of the candy-colored houses and overflowing flower boxes. 

It’s a great place to escape the crowds and get a feel for local life. There’s even a small public swimming area if you’re feeling brave enough for a dip in the chilly water!

Check our Bergen itinerary for the exact walking route we recommend. It’s a 1.8-mile (3km) loop around the peninsula and should take you about 1-1.5 hours to linger and stop for photos.

5. Splurge on rooftop cocktails

If you’re craving a fancy night out, 360º at the top of the Xhibition Mall is the place to go. With floor-to-ceiling windows and an outdoor terrace, this bar serves up some of the best views in town—especially at sunset. 

We sipped cocktails while watching the city light up below us. It’s not the cheapest spot, but totally worth it for the ambiance (and the Instagram-worthy skyline shots!).

Traveling with kids? I emailed the property ahead of time since we were traveling in Norway with a toddler and they told us yes, you can bring children. That said, our daughter was the only child while we were there. I would recommend going somewhat early in the evening to get a good spot.

6. Sip the best hot chocolate of your life

We’re not exaggerating—the hot chocolate at Fjåk cafe in Bergen is next level. 

This cozy chocolate shop and cafe specializes in bean-to-bar creations with Nordic ingredients like sea salt, wild blueberries, and spruce tips. 

Their creations are totally personalized as well. You can choose:

• type of chocolate: percentage of cocoa and origin of the beans
• type of milk: whole or an alternative
• strength: mild, classic, or Spanish (thicker and more intense)
• topping: whipped cream or a homemade marshmallow  

We tried one with 75% cacao, classic preparation, whole milk, and homemade marshmallow. We’re still dreaming about it.

We had a few more hot chocolates in Norway after this one, but none even came close. It may have ruined all other hot chocolate for me!

7. Snap the iconic shot of the colorful row houses

You can’t leave Bergen without snapping a photo of the famous harbor view. To get the best view of Bryggen, head to this spot—especially in the early morning or late afternoon when the light is soft. 

Good to know: I will warn you that most images you see of Bergen from this spot were taken using a zoom lens, so it may be a bit further away than you’d imagine. But it’s nothing that a telephoto lens (or 3X on your iPhone!) can’t fix.

Insider tip: You’ll likely pass by this spot at least a couple of times during your time in Bergen, and we’d encourage you to stop more than once to experience it at different times of the day. It is arguably the most beautiful at golden hour or even twilight (though more difficult to photograph unless you have the right equipment).

8. Explore the Bergen Fish Market

Located in the center of town, the open-air fish market is a fun place to wander. There are stalls selling fresh seafood, souvenirs, and Norwegian snacks and it takes only about 5 minutes to wander though.  

If you’re feeling adventurous, you can try some interesting Norwegian specialties. 

Fair warning: We’ve heard the restaurants here leave a bit to be desired, especially for the price (and there are better options elsewhere in town). So our advice is to wander through and take a few pictures on your way to the next stop…

Our opinion: I’ll give it to you straight, this was pretty underwhelming in our opinion. If you’ve ever been to a fish market in Asia, this really pales in comparison (sorry, just being honest!). 

9. Visit the Bergenhus Fortress

One of the oldest and best-preserved fortresses in Norway, Bergenhus sits right on the edge of the harbor. It’s free to wander the grounds, which are dotted with cannons and stone towers. 

Inside, you can explore Håkon’s Hall—a medieval banquet hall used by kings—and the Rosenkrantz Tower for panoramic views. There is also a free museum with exhibits focused on the city and the fortress’s role in WWII. 

Insider Tip: If you’re into history, you can add a little detour to see the nearby St. Mary’s Church, which is the oldest surviving building in Bergen.

10. Find the cannonball still in the facade of the cathedral

This quirky Bergen detail is easy to miss if you’re not looking for it! 

Walk around the side of the Bergen Cathedral (Domkirken) and you’ll spot a real cannonball lodged in the wall—left over from a naval battle in the 1600s. 

It’s a fun, odd bit of history that feels like a hidden-in-plain-sight secret.

11. Try brunost ice cream

Brunost—Norwegian “brown cheese”—is a local specialty and in our opinion, tastes kind of like a mix between peanut butter and caramel in fudge form. So you can imagine it would make for an interesting ice cream flavor. 

You can find brunost, as well as other unique flavors at Vafleriet, near the Bergen Fish Market. 

While there are a variety of flavors, we recommend choosing ones that are unique to Norway, like brunost (brown cheese) or cloudberry. Both were great!

12. Check out the Fantoft Stave Church

A short drive from the city center takes you to this dramatic black timber church set in the forest. The original was built in the 1100s but burned down and was carefully rebuilt. 

Good to know: There is a fence around the church (for understandable security reasons), making it hard to really photograph from the outside without paying the entry fee.

Tip: If you don’t have a car, or don’t want to chance not getting a parking spot, you can take the Bybanen light rail to the “Fantoft” stop, then it’s about a 10-minute walk uphill.

13. Experience Bergen’s nightlife scene

For a small city, Bergen has a surprisingly lively bar and music scene. Here are a few of our top recommendations: 

• Apollon Platebar: with 46 beers on tap and a huge collection of vinyl records, this eclectic spot is a local favorite
• Art Themis: chic bar with cocktails, beer, and great pizza as well as live music
• Folk & Røvere: cozy pub with a good selection of beers at reasonable prices (for downtown Bergen)
• Baklommen bar: nestled in the historic wharf area, this pub is oozing with atmosphere
• HEM: vintage vibes and lots of locals, this bar also serves pizza
• No Stress Bergen: this cocktail bar puts a spin on the classics in a cozy atmosphere. Tip: Get there early and try to get a seat where you can play Mario Kart 64 
• Pergola Mat & Vinbar AS: hidden neighborhood wine bar with pizza

More things to do in Bergen

If you have more time in Bergen, or just want some more ideas, here are a few recommendations we didn’t get to on our first trip—but we’re keeping on our list for next time. 

1. Warm up in a sauna

While traveling in Norway, you’ll definitely want to partake in sauna culture at least once (if not a bunch!). Here are a couple in Bergen to check out:

• Heit Bergen Sauna: Floating saunas with both shared and private options. With 2 locations in Bergen, you can choose the one most convenient for your route.
  • Hours and cost vary depending on season, time, location, and type of sauna
  • Reservations required
  • Booking information found here
• City Sauna Bergen: Private floating saunas as well as a sauna cruise that could be a fun, unique experience (albeit a splurge). They also have a drop-in sauna which does not require reservations, though you may need to wait if it’s busy.
  • Hours and cost vary depending on season, time, location, and type of sauna
  • Reservations required for cruise and private saunas
  • Booking information found here

2. Hike (or ride!) to Ulriken

Ulriken is the highest of Bergen’s seven mountains, offering panoramic views of the city, fjords, and mountains. There are a few options to reach the peak:

1. Oppstemten, aka the Sherpa Staircase, is a steep climb up more than 1,300 stone steps that is guaranteed to get your heart thumping.
2. Korketrekkeren, aka the Corkscrew, is a loop that takes you up another route and back down the stairs. The corkscrew trail tends to be less crowded than the stairs.
3. The Ulriken Cable Car offers a relaxing and breathtaking ride to the mountaintop for NOK 395 ($36) round-trip per adult. Book your tickets here. 

3. Hike to the Stoltzekleiven viewpoint 

One of the most popular hikes in the city, this short but strenuous ascent takes about 20-35 minutes and offers sweeping vistas of Bergen and the surrounding landscape. This is a great spot to catch the sunset (check this website for sunset times on your travel dates).

From the viewpoint, you can either walk back down the steps or continue hiking to Fløyen, about 2-2.5 hours point-to-point.

Insider tip: BOD24 Sandviken is a cafe not far from the trailhead to Stoltzekleiven. It is a Bergen gem, recommended to us by our Airbnb host, and makes a great place to fuel up before your hike or to have lunch afterwards. (Open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.) 

4. Swim in a heated saltwater pool

Perched on the edge of the fjord, Nordnes Seawater Pool is open year-round and heated to a pleasant temperature for a dip in any season. In addition to the 25-foot saltwater pool, they also have saunas and diving boards for anyone who wants to take a plunge in the fjord itself.

5. Have a drink beneath a stunning fresco ceiling

Located in Bergen’s historic stock exchange building, Frescohallen is a unique setting for a drink with soaring vaulted ceilings, ornate columns, and colorful frescoes.

Good to know: We haven’t heard the best things about the food here (especially for the price), so we’d stick to ordering a drink at the bar or even a coffee earlier in the day.

6. Dine on fresh seafood on an island

If you have room in your budget for a splurge, dinner at Cornelius Sjømatrestaurant promises to be unlike anything you’ve experienced before.

This prestigious seafood restaurant is located on a tiny island outside of Bergen. They offer set menus that include round-trip boat transfer from the Bryggen Wharf for upwards of NOK 1,100 ($100) per person. 

To say that these dishes are elevated would be an understatement. The chef prepares a “meteorological menu” that changes daily based on the weather and what the fishermen have caught that day. How cool is that?!

Good to know: For this experience, you will need to book in advance. The boat trip also takes about 25 minutes one-way, so be sure to factor that into your plans.

7. Go art gallery hopping

Bergen is known as a rainy city, so it’s always good to have some backup activities for those infamous drizzly days.

Located around the picturesque Lille Lungegårdsvannet in the city center, KODE Art Museums has 4 different galleries that you can visit with just one ticket. Choose the one that sounds most intriguing to you, or walk from one gallery to another for a day of art and culture.

8. Rent a kayak for free

Did you know that you can rent a kayak in Bergen totally free of charge while doing something good for the environment?!

GreenKayak is an environmental NGO with a really cool mission: 

You can rent a kayak free of charge in exchange for collecting trash you find in the water. 

It’s a win-win because: 

• You get to do an activity that is typically pretty expensive in Norway (kayaking!) for free in an iconic part of Bergen.
• Plus, you get to feel good knowing you’ve made a difference by helping clean up the environment. 

Since 2017, GreenKayak has had tens of thousands of volunteers, and together they’ve collected far more than 100 tons of trash. How cool is that?!

In our opinion, this is one of the best free things to do in Bergen!

Things to know about booking a GreenKayak

• It is expected that you share your experience on social media and use the hashtag #GreenKayak in order to spread awareness.
• It’s easiest to make a booking on GreenKayak’s free app. 
• Time slots are 1 hour 45 minutes.
• They are not open during the winter months due to cold water temperatures. The season typically starts at the beginning of May and you’re able to make bookings beginning in April.
• If you’re traveling with a small child, you may want to bring your own life jacket. We traveled in Norway with our toddler (2.5 years old at the time of the trip) and we packed her life jacket from home so we could do this experience in Oslo, as well as kayaking in another area. We were glad we did, because neither place provided life jackets that would have been suitable for a small child.
• GreenKayak has locations in Norway, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland. 
• Other locations in Norway include Oslo and Ålesund.

Our experience: We rented a GreenKayak at their Oslo location and it was one of the highlights of our 2 days in Oslo! We didn’t find all that much trash, which I suppose is a good thing, but we still had fun taking the kayak out (for free!) and highly recommend this activity.

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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? This Bergen travel guide will help you fall in love with Norway’s most charming city.
• If time is tight, here’s exactly how to spend 24 hours in Bergen.
• Not sure what to pack? Our Norway packing guide has you covered for every season (and surprise weather!).

Don’t miss your chance to grab our Norway Packing Checklist!

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Which of these things to do in Bergen is going on your bucket list? Do you have more questions about traveling in Bergen? Leave your comment below and we’ll do our best to get back to you!