My 10 Favorite Things to Do in Bergen, Norway (Based on Multiple Visits)

Bergen is one of Scandinavia’s most beautiful cities, and contrary to popular belief, it’s worth visiting year-round. Besides its stunning architecture, Norway’s second-largest city has an enviable mountainous backdrop. I’ve visited 3 times so far, and to be honest, it sometimes feels Alpine—just with more rain. 

Despite being relatively small (the entire metropolitan area has just over 400,00 people), Bergen has plenty of fun things to do. I truthfully think you should spend at least a week here to enjoy the city and its wonderful surroundings, though you can definitely have a fun trip if you don’t have so much time. 

To help you plan a memorable trip to Bergen, I’ve listed my favorite things to do—all based on real-life experiences. From hiking to food and photography, this gem on the West Coast of Norway has something for everyone. 

1. Hiking Damsgårdsfjellet

I’ve done a number of hikes in and around Bergen, and Damsgårdsfjellet is my favorite. Though somewhat challenging, I still think most people with good physical fitness can do it. Compared to some of Bergen’s more popular hikes, you’ll largely have this trail to yourself; when we did the hike in June 2025 (which is a very popular time to visit Bergen), we only saw 3 other people. 

The hike is pretty steep in the beginning, and it’ll definitely get your heart rate up. In some areas, we had to climb over rocks using our hands and not just our feet. I didn’t take my camera out until we got further up so I could focus on the path, but while steep, I wouldn’t really say there were any ultra-scary moments. 

Reaching the post at the top of Damsgårdsfjellet took us around an hour. Once you get there, you’ll get a fantastic view of Bergen and its surroundings—including Ulriken, which is the highest peak in the area. 

The hike is completely free and well worth your time when visiting Bergen in the summer. I wouldn’t recommend doing this in the winter, though, and you’re also wasting your time if it’s foggy. Take a good pair of hiking shoes and appropriate outdoor clothing, and be prepared for steep inclines.

How to Reach the Start of the Trail

The trail starts close to Frøya Idrettspark. If you walk up Hamrehaugen, you’ll see the trail start marked with a map and signpost. Follow the blue dots all the way up; the hiking route is well-marked, and you shouldn’t have issues sticking to the trail. 

We walked to the trail start, but you can get the bus from the city center; the journey takes around 20 minutes. Get off at Hamrehaugen and walk from there. Alternatively, you can take the bus to Melkeplassen and take a short walk to the trail’s starting point. 

You can buy bus tickets in the Skyss Billet app, which is available on iOS and Android. Get a single-zone ticket. 

2. Explore Bergen’s Architecture

While I really like Oslo and think there are plenty of fun things to do in the Norwegian capital, Bergen is—in my opinion—a much prettier city. The architecture here blends into the landscape well, and its colorful houses light up those frequent rainy days. You should definitely visit both cities (and take the train from Oslo to Bergen), but Bergen will blow your mind away more. 

Bryggen steals most of the headlines, but while these waterfront buildings are stunning, they aren’t the only ones worth seeing. Nordnes, for example, has plenty of colorful houses (and some nice cafés, too, such as Løvetann). 

The wooden houses and cobblestone streets close to Bergenhus Festning are worth exploring, too. Besides being nice to look at, you’ll also see a couple of shops, cafés, bakeries (such as Det Franske Bakeri og Delikatesser, which I recommend), and restaurants here. 

You’ll find more beautiful streets close to Fløibanen, where you can get the cable car to Fløyen. 

3. Take a Fjord Cruise to Mostraumen or Rosendal

As much as I love Bergen itself, my favorite thing about visiting is that it’s so easy to reach some of Norway’s prettiest fjords. No trip to Bergen is complete without sailing along at least one of them, and you’ve got plenty of options when looking for fjord cruises. 

I have taken two fjord cruises in Bergen so far: One through Mostraumen and another to the village of Rosendal. 

Mostraumen

When visiting Bergen for the third time, I took this tour through Mostraumen and along the Osterfjord. We went all the way to the village of Mo before returning to Bergen, and in total, the tour took around four hours. 

Along the way, we were treated to lovely mountain views and commentary so we understood what we were seeing around us. Though the deck was very crowded in the beginning, most people went inside after around two hours. Once they did, it was rather peaceful. 

While it was quite windy, the cruise was well worth it. Make sure you bring warm clothing, though, as it also gets quite cold. This cruise is suitable for everyone, and it departs from the city center. When leaving the port, you also get great views of Bryggen. 

Rosendal

I took a fjord cruise to Rosendal when I first visited Bergen, which was my first “proper” experience of Norwegian nature. Before that, I had been island-hopping in Oslo but not to any of the headline-hitting fjords. I can tell you this with confidence: This fjord cruise was a fantastic introduction to Western Norway. We sailed along the Hardangerfjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and arguably the most famous fjord in this part of the country.

Unsurprisingly, the views were wonderful. While we had a sunny day, I’d still take this tour if it was raining. In addition to sailing along the Hardangerfjord, we got to spend some time in Rosendal. The village itself is pleasant, and the mountain views are unsurprisingly great.

As far as tours go, I felt like this was excellent value for money. If you’re spending a week in Norway (or more), and Bergen is part of your itinerary, you should definitely consider booking this excursion.

4. Photograph Bryggen

The wooden houses at Bryggen are on most postcards of Bergen, and their attention is justified. If you’re into photography, I recommend allocating a good amount of time to photographing this part of the city. 

You can actually walk around Bryggen; there are a couple of shops and museums here. But in my opinion, the best views come from the other side of the water. Bryggen is particularly great to photograph when the clouds roll over the mountains behind it, and I also like capturing the colors on a cloudy day. 

Bryggen is the most touristy part of Bergen, and in the summer, it gets pretty crowded during the day. So, I suggest visiting early in the morning or later in the afternoon and evening. The lighting is better at these times, anyway; trying to photograph at midday in the summer is a constant struggle between blown-out highlights and a horrible glare from the sun. 

If you fancy some food at Bryggen, my mom and I went to Bryggeloftet during one trip and really enjoyed it. The fish soup is good, in particular. You’ll also find plenty of places to stay near this part of town, making it easy to reach.

5. Enjoy Fish and Chips While Dodging Seagulls

As you’d expect from a city with a maritime history as rich as Bergen, you won’t struggle to find great seafood while you’re here. While the Fish Market is somewhat touristy now, the fish and chips here were really good when my girlfriend and I visited. 

The food took a while to prepare, but I’m always happy to wait if it tastes fresh. Since I grew up in the UK, I’m always on high alert when trying fish and chips and quite strict with my quality. These, I can confirm, passed the test. 

You can add your preferred condiments on the side after being served. The seagulls will probably eye up your food, so I’d either eat in the nearby tent or take your food elsewhere. Give them a little chase away and they’ll probably back off anyway; they always act tough until you actually confront them. 

6. Hike to Fløyen at Sunset

No trip to Bergen is complete without a visit to Fløyen, and I’ve paid this viewpoint a visit on each of my visits to date. While you can get the cable car, I have hiked here multiple times and can confirm it’s the best way to reach the top. 

Fløyen is an easy hike, and a lot of the route is paved. The rest is pretty straightforward, and the route is well-signposted. You can do the walk throughout the year, though it can be slippery in the autumn and winter; if it’s been particularly cold and icy, consider taking the cable car instead. 

Hiking to the top of Fløyen normally takes around 45 minutes. I recommend hiking at sunset (or sunrise) for two main reasons: 

• Fløyen is often busy during the day, and the crowds are typically thinner at sunset—especially in the summer when the sun doesn’t go down until late. 
• The lighting is much better at this time of the day. You’ll get a beautiful view of Bergen with stunning shades of pink and orange in the sky if the weather is playing fair. 

You can also take the cable car to the top of Fløyen and walk down if you only want to hike one way. 

How to Reach the Fløyen Hike’s Starting Point

You can start your hike behind the Fløibanen funicular station in the city center. From here, everything is well-signposted. You’ll begin in residential areas before then walking through forests. 

On the way up, you’ll get numerous nice views of Bergen. There’s a cable car stop in the middle if you’d like to only walk part of the way up.

How to Take the Cable Car to Fløyen

The cable car station is on Vetrlidsallmenningen. I suggest buying tickets in the Fløibanen app, which is available on iOS and Android. 

7. Get Hot Dogs at Trekroneren

Bergen’s food offerings easily rival cities double its size, and I’d argue that it’s one of the best places to get great food in the Nordic region. The reindeer hot dogs at Trekroneren are a ritual every time I visit, and they’re always a highlight. 

In addition to reindeer hot dogs, you’ll find plenty of other options. Portion sizes are generous, and while it’s popular, the queues haven’t been crazy long on any occasion when I’ve visited. 

The hot dog stand is open until 04:00 from Thursday through Saturday and 03:30 on the other days of the week. So, if you have a late-evening hike or a night out in Bergen, this is a great place to grab some food when you’re feeling hungry. 

Address: Kong Oscars Gate 1, 5017 Bergen, Norway

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8. Visit the Top of Ulriken

If you still aren’t done with panoramic views of Bergen, you might as well visit the top of Ulriken. At 647 meters, this is the tallest of the seven peaks surrounding the city. The view from the top is unsurprisingly excellent on a clear day, though admittedly, clear days are often in short supply in Bergen. 

A cable car will take you to the top in under 10 minutes. At the top, you’ll find a café and restaurant—in addition to toilets and a place to fill your water bottle. 

Ulriken is the starting point for many hiking trails, too. These are of varying difficulty. You can hike to the top of Ulriken, which I suggest doing in the late spring and early summer—but not in the winter. Though steep, it’s doable for most people with reasonable fitness levels. 

I suggest taking the cable car up and then doing the hike down. When at the top of Ulriken, I have a couple of suggestions: 

• Wear good hiking shoes: The ground is unstable in some places, especially if you’re planning to hike. Don’t make the same error I did the first time around by wearing Timberland boots. 
• Check before starting: If you see clouds covering the mountain, it’s a pretty certain deal that you won’t be able to see anything. I’d also recommend thinking twice before visiting the top on a rainy day; when my friend and I went in 2023, we didn’t see anything. 
• Dress appropriately: Even when I’ve been on the mountain a week before June, it has still snowed sometimes. It’ll also generally feel colder up here. Dress in layers. 

How to Get to the Ulriken Cable Car

From April through September, you can take a shuttle bus from Bergen to Ulriken. You can pay for your ticket when you board; pricing information is available here.

Otherwise, you can take public transport to reach the cable car. We took the tram from the city center to Haukeland Sykehus and walked from there. Several buses also depart from Bergen. 

Driving to the starting point is possible, but I’d only suggest renting a car if you *really* need one. On each of my visits to Bergen, I have not felt the need for a car; public transport in the region is pretty good, and tours have taken me to the attractions I wanted to visit further afield. 

9. Go to Magic Ice Bar

Okay, I know… it’s kind of gimmicky. Still, though, I had a great time when I visited this bar in 2023. Your entry ticket includes a free welcome drink.

Besides being my first ice bar experience, I liked how laid-back the vibe was here. You can choose from various drinks, and you will also receive a warm pullover. Still, though, you should bring some warm clothing of your own as well.

10. Get Coffee and Pastries From Fjåk at Kode 

Fjåk is one of Norway’s most famous chocolatiers, and it has a great café at the Stenersen building for Kode—a complex of museums throughout Bergen. It opened in 2024, and you’ll find a number of interesting pastries. I really liked their cookies, for example, and the pistachio shortbread I had was S-tier. 

Even if you don’t visit the museum, you can still go to the café. It’s a great place to shelter from one of Bergen’s many notorious rain showers, and the crowd is pretty chilled. A selection of coffees are available, too, along with sandwiches and more. 

The menu changes seasonally, but regardless of what you get, I’m pretty sure you’ll enjoy it. Fjåk x Kode is close to Festplassen; we stopped here before heading to the airport. 

Address: Rasmus Meyers Allé 3, 5015 Bergen

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