Nature
1 dayThe essentials, on foot
2 daysChoose your pace
Places guideLinks at every stopDay 1 · The essentials
Wooden lanes,
sea and mountain
The center is compact. This order works well on foot and ends at the top of Fløyen.
- 0120–30 min
St John’s Church · Johanneskirken
Start at the red-brick church on Nygårdshøyden. Enjoy the architecture and views; check opening hours to go inside.
Open in Google Maps ↗ - 0245–60 min
Bryggen
Step into the lanes of the old Hanseatic wharf, notice the wooden buildings and browse the small shops.
Open in Google Maps ↗ - 0330–45 min
Bergenhus Fortress
A quick look at medieval Bergen, with pleasant outdoor grounds and harbor views.
Open in Google Maps ↗ - 0460–90 min
Fish Market
A good stop for Bergen fish soup, salmon and seafood. Compare menus before choosing.
Open in Google Maps ↗ - 052–3 h
Fløibanen + Fløyen
Ride the funicular for views over Bergen. At the top: trails, the Troll Forest, a playground, goats and places to eat.
Open in Google Maps ↗
Day 2 · You choose
Which Bergen
fits you best?
Choose one theme or combine two nearby options.
Higher up,
Ulriken cable car ↗Fjord cruise ↗
Art & history
Culture at
an easy pace
KODE museums ↗St Mary's Church ↗Fantoft Stave Church ↗
With children
Curiosity
in motion
Bergen Aquarium ↗VilVite ↗Nordnes Park ↗Local flavors
Where Bergen
comes to the table
Places guide
Find your
next stop
Shopping, flavors and experiences selected for exploring Bergen like a local.
A selection based on local and visitor guides, covering music, cocktails and dancing. This is not a ranking. Check age restrictions and programmes; visits with children depend on each venue’s rules.
Study Bergen ↗ · Visit Bergen ↗View all places and their pages →
At the supermarket
Small flavors to take home
2027
A year in Bergen
Events and school breaks to help plan your trip. Estimates are not confirmed dates. School calendars vary by city and school.
Checked September 2026. Check official schedules before booking. School breaks listed here are for Bergen, not all of Norway.
Before you go
Bergen made
simple
Quick answers to questions that come up while exploring.
Transport
Buy tickets in the Skyss app or from ticket machines. The app accepts cards and Apple Pay. Buy before boarding.
Skyss · tickets ↗Bergen Card
Includes Skyss transport and free or discounted admission to many attractions. Compare it with your plans.
Official information ↗Tax Free
Even without a Tax Free sign, ask at the till — including for clothing, electronics or musical instruments. Refunds depend on the shop, your residence and the applicable rules. Request the documents when paying.
Official information ↗Public toilets
Public toilets are available around the center; hours and prices vary. Tourist Information and some attractions also have facilities.
Toilet map ↗Payments
Cards are widely used, and cash in Norwegian kroner is also accepted. Some tourist shops accept euros, dollars or pounds, usually giving change in NOK; check at the till. Tipping is not required; in bars and restaurants, you can round up or leave something if you enjoyed the service.
Official information ↗Drinking water
Bergen tap water is safe to drink. Refill your bottle: in a Finnish blind test, Helsinki tap water beat Voss. It was Helsinki, not Bergen — still a fun comparison.
About Bergen tap water ↗See the blind test ↗Emergencies
110 fire · 112 police · 113 ambulance.
112 · police emergencyCity-centre police station
Bergen sentrum politistasjon: Allehelgens gate 6, 5016 Bergen. In a police emergency, call 112; do not wait to reach the station. Check opening times for in-person services.
Police station · +47 55 55 63 00View police station on map ↗Police opening times & services ↗Official information ↗Tourist information
The visitor center at Strandkaien can help with maps, tickets and fjord tours.
Official information ↗When the sky surprises
Northern lights in Bergen
You can see them here, but sightings are rare and depend on darkness, clear skies and geomagnetic activity. October to mid April usually brings darker nights; sightings can also happen in September.
Get away from city lights, check the clouds and be patient. No index can guarantee a sighting.
Explore My Aurora Forecast ↗Geomagnetic activity
—Kp
Checking NOAA data…
Kp is a global observed index; it is not the chance of seeing the aurora in Bergen.See NOAA’s official forecast ↗Personal gallery
Nights when the sky lit up
Photos taken mostly from Løvstien and also in Sotra, with an iPhone 16 Pro. Most were taken between 11 pm and 2 am; one especially strong display began around 8 pm in early January 2025.
A phone camera often captures stronger colors than the naked eye. City lights and clouds make sightings harder, but sometimes luck is on your side.
Before you go
Three tips that can save the day
01The weather changes quickly. Bring a waterproof jacket.
02Wear comfortable shoes: expect cobbles, hills and trails.
03Check opening hours and tickets on the day you visit.
