Ultimate One-Day Guide to Bergen: Best Things to See & Do

You have one day in Bergen. Discover what to do in Norway’s most charming city with our personal recommendations on things to see, where to stay and much more!

We visited Bergen in May as part of a 6-day trip in Western Norway. While we stayed for a short time, mainly as a gateway to the fjords, we immediately fell in love with the town.

Admittedly, the sunny weather skewed our view, because in one of Europe’s rainiest cities, sunshine usually feels like a mirage. But the village feel, the wooden houses, cobblestones streets and its incredibly photogenic appearance, definitely made up for it.

Here below, you can find our very personal list of things to see and do in Bergen in a day, alongside other practical tips to make your trip perfect.

In our opinion, Bergen is a must-see if you are coming to Norway. This is easily the prettiest town in Norway and one of the most charming in the whole of Scandinavia.

The “city of seven mountains” (just as Rome is known as the “city of seven hills”) is a town that offers a bit of everything, perfect whether you love history and culture or prefer nature, with endless hikes right on its doorstep. It really feels like the best of both worlds!

Plus, it’s known as the “gateway to the fjords”, and you can tap into the spectacular Sognefjord and Hardangerfjord in just a few hours drive.

You can read about our 6-day road trip adventure to the fjords here.

Bergen international airport is conveniently located just 18km south of the city.

The airport has 36 direct routes from multiple European cities and it is served by multiple budget airlines as well as flag-carriers. If you are travelling from further away, chances are that you’ll pass through Oslo, before catching a domestic flight to Bergen.

You can check flight availability and prices on Skyscanner.

To reach the city centre from the airport, you can then either take the Airport Bus (30min at NOK 169 online), the Light Rail (45min at NOK 49), or taxi.

We flew with Norwegian from London (May) and hired a car at the airport to reach the city centre.

If you are travelling from Oslo, you can consider taking the train. The journey is a long-ish one (about 7h) but you can also choose to do it overnight.

We don’t have a direct experience, but some of our friends took the train and really enjoyed the comfort and the beautiful views! This could also be a nice option if you are travelling with a small baby. Prices may vary, but factor about NOK 800 for a one-way trip.

If you are on the Sognefjord, you could also get to Bergen from Flåm. Combine the journey with “the most beautiful train ride” by taking the Flåmsbana to Myrdal, before taking the train to Bergen.

There are multiple other options based on where you are travelling from, such as bus or boat.

Come between May and September for warmer days and prolonged daylight, but pack a rain jacket. This is Norway after all, and it can rain…a lot!

Nordnes peninsula, Bergen, on a miraculously sunny day in May

Dedicating only a day to discover Bergen is a real pity. Having said that, the town is very compact and you can probably nail most of the key attractions in 1 day if needed. We had one late afternoon for a first impression and nearly a full day after to explore further.

Dedicating it 2–3 days is ideal, though we understand you may want to spend more time exploring the rest of the country.

True to our slow-travel style, we recommend not overpacking your itinerary when time is limited. Yes, Bryggen is a must and Mount Fløyen is a great nature escape, minutes away from the city.

But apart from that, we would rather spend time getting lost in the super cute streets, exploring the cozy cafes and chilling.

Scroll further down for our personal list of what you can’t miss!

If coming for short time, the city centre is the most logical place to stay.

This will allow you to reach all the relevant points of interest on foot. Consider staying as close to Vågen Harbour as possible for a simple reason: Bergen is mostly flat around the waterfront, but may become surprisingly steep as soon as you move away from it.

Many of the streets climbing up from both sides of the harbour are basically vertical, and tackling them daily, especially with luggage, can quickly become a pain.

Staying near the harbour makes getting around easier and keeps most attractions, restaurants, and transport links within a comfortable walk.

Here some options to consider:

• Det Hanseatiske Hotel: Boutique Hotel in a historic wooden house just outside Bryggen Harbour
• Home Hotel Havnekontoret: Imposing architecture and beautiful interiors right by the harbour
• Bergen Børs Hotel: Superb interiors and spacious rooms right in the city centre

Yes it’s touristy and cliché, but there is no doubt that the old wharf of Bryggen, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is Bergen’s most iconic attraction.

The place is extremely photogenic and aside from the inevitable photo stop from the opposite side of the harbour, it is worth meandering through the little alleys in between the wooden warehouse buildings, as well as learning more about its history.

Today, Bryggen is a mix of the old buildings from 1703 and newer ones rebuilt after the fire of 1955. The original purpose as a stockfish trading point has been replaced by small arts and crafts as well as restaurants and touristy shops.

Beyond the front façade, you can still feel the spirit of the Hanseatic league, which ruled the place for hundreds of years. We really enjoyed the old Nordic vibe inside Bryggen and you could really imagine what the place was like 700 years ago, with drunken sailors fighting each other in the darkness under the dim light of a small lantern (apparently the place wasn’t exactly safe during the Hanseatic period).

If going in high season, we recommend to go early in the morning to avoid the big crowds. We visited around 10am in May and it wasn’t too crowded, but we can imagine it gets much busier in summer.

Next to Bryggen, sits the Hanseatic Museum covering the history of the Hanseatic League time in Bergen.

We didn’t manage to get inside the museum as it was temporarily closed for renovation at the time. However, it pairs perfectly with Bryggen, offering a deeper look into Hanseatic life over 400 years. The ticket also includes a visit to Schøtstuene nearby, the last Hanseatic assembly rooms in the world, where merchants used to cook, eat and discuss business.

You can learn more about the Hanseatic Museum and reserve a ticket here.

Just a few meters away from Bryggen, you can’t really miss the fish market.

Been in existence since the 1200s, this is where the town’s fishing culture is in display.

Beyond the ubiquitous Norwegian salmon, we discovered plenty of local fish, meat, and produce, and while tourism has softened the authenticity of the place, you can still find real tasty delicacies if you look a little deeper. And our salmon sandwich was undoubtedly very tasty!

We also loved the cured reindeer and moose sausages (look for 60%+ content to avoid having a pork sausage with an off taste), and quickly became obsessed with the sweet-savoury pairing of cheese and cloudberry jam (indigenous to the Scandinavian countries).

If you want a Norwegian-style reindeer hot dog, Trekroneren (just behind the Fish Market) is the place to go.

We usually avoid packing too many must-dos, since half the joy comes from simply wandering a town’s lively streets.

However, being only a few steps from Bryggen, the Bergenhus Fortress could be a natural extension of your exploration, and worth paying a visit if you are into it.

One of Norway’s oldest stone fortifications it includes buildings from 1200s as well as modern constructions from the 1900s. Of notable importance is the Rosenkrantz Tower, home to one of Norway’s most significant kings (Magnus Lawmender), in the 1200s.

You can find more information here.

St. Mary’s Church is also conveniently placed behind Bryggen, making it an easy stop without going out of your way.

Built between 1130 and 1170, it has been in continuous use since early medieval period. It has been restored multiple times, the most recent one concluded in 2015.

Hop into the Fløibanen funicular to get to the top of Mount Fløyen.

You can book ahead for peace of mind, but we bought our tickets on the spot with hardly any queue.

Apart from the great views, we really enjoyed the fact that you are basically in the wild just after a 6-min journey.

There are nice and easy nature walks that you can do (e.g. to the Granbakken lake nearby), which is amazing considering that you are so close to the city centre!

The immediate area at the top is also very family-friendly and a great place to be if you have small children (an easy zipline, a trolls path and other amenities are all just minutes away).

Best way to digest Norway’s entire production of salmon is to keep walking. Even better uphill!

The whole Vågsbunnen district area is an attractive mix of wooden houses, art nouveau-style buildings, cozy cafes (we enjoyed a stopover at Café Vågal) and tiny streets that are very charming.

Our favourite part was actually the area in the immediate vicinity, with all the residential streets behind the Fløibanen funicular.

The area is less polished then Vågsbunnen but in our opinion more authentic. A perfect mix of quiet and ultra-cute cobblestones streets, with the signature wooden houses, mixed with Mediterranean’s urbanistic inefficiencies (think about broken stairs, and semi-dilapidated walls). Getting there means a bit of a climb, but hey, no pain no gain!

Nestled within the vibrant city centre, Østre Murallmenningen is a picturesque winding street flanked by colourful buildings. It felt like Bergen’s answer to San Francisco’s Lombard Street, perfect for snapping pretty photos and to simply wander over a lesser-known corner of town.

Going uphill you find the Nordnes Peninsula, one of Bergen’s hidden gems. Located in the centre, it is often overlooked by people dedicating all their time to Bryggen and immediate surroundings.

Spend some time soaking up the peaceful atmosphere, strolling along the super cute cobblestone streets filled with charming wooden buildings and enjoying wonderful panoramic views over Bergen.

If you have more time, add these other attractions to get to know the neighbourhood better:

• Nordnesparken: Pretty park overlooking the sea
• Nordnes Sjøbad: Heated swimming pool and sauna set right along the water
• Bergen Aquarium: Great option for a family outing

• Mostraumen Fjord Tour: Beautiful half-a-day trip along the Osterfjord and one of Bergen’s most popular excursions.
• Fantoft Stave Church: Replica of a typical Norwegian stave church from the 1150. Worth it if you can’t visit the ancient stave churches (Borgund, Urnes) along the Sognefjord.
• KODE Art Museum: One of Norway’s best galleries across 4 different buildings. Visit the “Rasmus Meyer” building for notable works by Edvard Munch and the Norwegian Golden Age painters.
• Edvard Grieg’s home at Troldhaugen: Technically part of KODE, this house museum overlooking the Nordås Lake, belonged to Bergen’s most famous composer. A museum since 1928, it includes Grieg’s villa, his composing hut, gravesites and a concert hall.
• Bergen Maritime Museum: One of Norway’s oldest specialized museums, focusing on shipping and its importance for Bergen throughout history.
• Go hiking: The city of seven mountains offers multiple opportunities for hikers. At 647m, Ulriken is the tallest of the seven peaks (you can hike up or take the cable car) and offers excellent views of Bergen. Damsgårdsfjellet is another excellent, although moderately challenging, hike offering incredible views.
• Day Trip Cabins: Fancy the great outdoors without strenuous hikes? Take a trip to one of the many “Dagsturhytta” (day trip cabins). The hikes are generally short and easy and many of the paths are accessible to people with prams or wheelchairs. Once at destination, relax in a modern, scandi-style cabin (you can’t stay overnight here and you might have to share the facilities with other groups) and enjoy the surrounding nature!
• Visit Gamle Bergen: Open-air museum boasting 55 wooden houses from various historical period and people in traditional costumes.
• Venture to the Sognefjord and Hardangerfjord: Embark on a multi-day road trip along some of the most spectacular natural landscapes.

Is Bergen worth visiting for a day? Absolutely!

Norway’s second largest city is undeniably beautiful, and even just a short visit is time well spent.

If you have more time, slow down your pace, do a fjord tour and seek out some of Bergen’s lesser-known corners.

But even with just one day, you can still grasp the city’s character and feel its soul. Bryggen and Mount Fløyen are essential, but in our opinion Bergen is best experienced through its daily life.

Meander its charming residential streets and pause to admire its sweeping panoramas. Warm-up in a cozy cafe, sample local delicacies, or time your visit with one of the many cultural events, such as Nattjazz or the Bergen International Festival.

This is not a place for ticking boxes but one to truly experience, whether you’re stopping by for a single day or lingering longer.