How I Recommend Spending 3 or 4 Days in Bergen, Norway: A Complete Itinerary

I’ve had the privilege of visiting Bergen multiple times, and to say that it’s one of Europe’s most beautiful cities would be an understatement. Each time I’m here, the “should I… move here?” crosses my mind at least once (even though I admittedly love living in Copenhagen). 

With a population of around 300,000 people, Bergen—Norway’s second-biggest city—is relatively small. However, planning an itinerary can get difficult because there’s so much to see and do. The city itself is full of fun experiences, and some of Norway’s most wonderful fjords are within easy access from the city center. 

Since you almost certainly would rather spend more time enjoying your trip than figuring out how to organize your days, I have put together this complete Bergen itinerary. 

You’ll be covered for three days in and around the city, and I have also added an optional fourth day in case you have a bit more time. In cases where my recommendations are seasonal, I will mention this. 

Day 1: Explore Bergen’s City Center and Visit Fløyen

You can reach Bergen in multiple ways. The scenic Oslo – Bergen railway is my personal favorite, but you can also fly here from cities like London and Copenhagen. The airport is a simple 45-minute tram ride into the city center. You may also arrive by cruise or ferry. 

Bergen’s City Center

Regardless of how you reach Bergen, I recommend spending the bulk of your first day in the city center. The various cobblestone streets and beautiful houses will keep you entertained for a few hours, and you should also make some time to see the UNESCO World Heritage Site Bryggen. Personally, I love to photograph these buildings at sunset from the other side of the harbor. 

After exploring Bergen, I recommend going to Trekroneren for lunch. This hot dog stand is popular with locals and tourists alike; prices are reasonable, and portion sizes are big. You have multiple options to choose from, too. 

If you’re vegetarian, pescatarian, or vegan, I recommend Bryggeloftet instead. While there are some meat options on the menu, you will also find vegetarian and vegan choices. And in any case, you should definitely come here—even if you eat meat—at least once. I ate at Bryggeloftet on a previous trip to Bergen and really enjoyed it.

Fløyen and Pub Grub for Dinner

Once you’ve had some food, I then suggest visiting Fløyen. This is the easiest viewpoint to reach of Bergen’s seven peaks. You can hike to the top in around 45 minutes (I wrote a guide to doing so here), but there’s also a funicular in the city center; buy your tickets via the Fløibanen app. 

The views once you get to Fløyen are spectacular. You’ll see all of Bergen, along with many of its nearby mountains and maybe even a few goats. This spot does get crowded during the day, so keep this in mind. 

In the afternoon, I then suggest spending some more time wandering around Bergen. You’ll find a number of shops and bakeries, too, and I quite enjoy dipping in and out of these when I visit. Bergenhus Fortress is also worth seeing when you’re here.

For dinner, I recommend visiting Pingvinen. This gastropub has a solid menu and a good selection of drinks, and I also enjoyed the atmosphere here. You will find a wide range of Norwegian beers here, in particular. While expensive, the splurge is worthwhile. 

Day 2: Visiting Bergen’s Nearby Fjords

Bergen has a number of fjords close by, including some of Norway’s headline-hitters. On your second day in the city, I suggest visiting at least one of them. 

Before that, though, have some breakfast either at your hotel or Kaffemisjonen. If you pick the latter, the coffee here is really good, too. For food, you’ll find sandwiches and various other things on the menu. 

If you’re only in Bergen for three days, I suggest focusing on the main fjords. To make this day easier for you to organize, I will show you each of your options for day tours (at least, the ones I recommend). I will then talk about what you can do for lunch and dinner, though these will depend on your tour durations. 

Option 1: The Hardangerfjord

The Hardangerfjord is Norway’s second-largest fjord and one of the easiest to reach from Bergen. It’s a true sight to behold, and you will see the perfect example of Norway’s stunning nature with your own eyes. 

Many people visit Bergen specifically to see the Hardangerfjord, and it’s a pretty good option. I myself took a day tour along the fjord on my first trip to Bergen, and I still suggest the tour—which was this excursion to Rosendal—whenever people I know are visiting Norway. 

If you take the above-mentioned Hardangerfjord excursion from Bergen, you will also get a couple of hours to explore the village of Rosendal. It’s a pretty solid option, regardless of when you visit. 

Note that lunch is not included in this tour, but you can buy it when you’re there. 

Option 2: A Full-Day Excursion

If you want to see more of Bergen’s surroundings, you can maximize this by taking a full-day excursion instead. You will find plenty of full-day tours from the city; some are self-guided, while others have a guide. 

Many full-day excursions will take you to the village of Flåm in addition to at least one other fjord. You won’t have much time to explore Bergen when you get back, but you do still have another day to do that. So, it depends on what you really want to prioritize. 

Some tours, such as this one, include lunch. With others, however, you’ll need to pay for this separately or bring your own food. 

Good to Know: If you’re spending four (or more) days in Norway, I recommend doing one of these tours and also the Bergen – Mostraumen cruise along the Osterfjord. I wrote a full guide to that tour here.

If You’re Back for Lunchtime…

Some fjord tours are only a few hours or half-day trips, and in those instances, you will still have time to explore Bergen when you return. For food, I suggest visiting the city’s fish market. The fish and chips here are great, and you’ll find other food stand options as well. For example, I really like the burgers. 

The food market does have some spaces to eat, but these are often crowded. You can always take your food elsewhere; there are plenty of benches to eat along the waterfront. Be warned, though, that the birds will be just as interested in your food as you are. And unless you happen to be in Bergen at the same time as me, you probably won’t have a savior who chases the seagulls away because they’re still a child at heart 🙂. 

You can then spend some more time exploring Bergen. If you only have three days in the city, I suggest going to the Nordnes neighborhood and walking around here. Otherwise, leave the rest of your day open-ended.

For dinner, Cartel’s is a nice option for Latin American food. Booking a table in advance online is a good idea. 

Day 3: It Depends on the Weather 🙂

You will already, by your third day, probably have experienced Bergen’s notoriously volatile weather. For this reason, I suggest planning your day based on what it’s like outside. I have provided itinerary options below for both sunny and rainy days. And if it happens to constantly chop and change, you can intertwine these suggestions. 

If the Weather’s Good: Visit Ulriken or Hike Damsgårdsfjellet

On a sunny day, and if you are not visiting Bergen in the winter, I can thoroughly recommend doing the hike to Damsgårdsfjellet. This is another of the seven peaks surrounding Bergen, and while strenuous in some places, it’s a nice workout with cool views of the city. 

Compared to Fløyen, Damsgårdsfjellet is much less touristy. We literally saw like three people on the entire trail, and you can hike up and down within a few hours. I do not recommend doing this hike if it’s icy, but it’s otherwise nice. 

Ulriken is also worth visiting if the weather is clear (if it isn’t, you won’t see anything from the top, sadly). While you should not hike to the top in the winter (it’s fine to do so in the summer, though), you can get a cable car to the top year-round. There’s a nice café at the top, too. If it’s sunny, you’ll get some of the best views of Bergen. 

I wrote a full guide to visiting Ulriken if you’d prefer to go there. It’s a bit further outside the city center, so expect to spend more of your day here if you visit. In the summer, a shuttle bus departs from Bergen—but it’s accessible by public transport otherwise. 

If you visit Ulriken in the summer, you will find a number of hiking trails at the top of varying difficulty levels. 

Once you’ve finished visiting either mountain, you can then head back into Bergen. I recommend spending the remainder of your day café-hopping or just being spontaneous in general.

If It’s Raining (Which It Probably Will): Go Café-Hopping and Visit Bergen’s Museums

Bergen typically has over 200 rainy days per year, so it’s a good idea to expect at least some when you visit. I have never not experienced rain at least once on any of my visits to Bergen, for what it’s worth. 

Fortunately, you’ll find plenty of activities if (and presumably when) the heavens open. For example, the city has many great museums—with KODE being the most famous example. So, I recommend spending some time exploring any of these that take your fancy. 

As a side note, KODE has a nice café (FJÅK) and is close to the tram to the airport. So, if you’re spending three days in Bergen and flying home, this is super ideal. Beyond visiting museums, I suggest spending the rest of your day visiting the city’s numerous cafés if it’s raining. And if you don’t mind a bit of water falling from the sky, you will have the city to yourself. 

Day 4: Nordnes

If you have a fourth day in Bergen, and you haven’t already, I suggest spending your morning wandering around Nordnes. This neighborhood forms the northern tip of the peninsula, of which much of Bergen’s city center is, and the wooden houses here are lovely. 

Like other parts of Bergen, the main joy is wandering along the cobblestone streets and taking lots of photos. But before you get out to explore, Løvetann is a solid option for lunch. I went here with a friend on a trip to the city in 2023, and it was one of the highlights. It’s vegan and vegetarian-friendly, with meat options also available. You can also get some coffee here.

Once you’ve had some food and explored Nordnes, I then recommend going back into the city center. What you do next will depend on your flight time. Usually, if I have an afternoon flight, I go for one more walk along the waterfront. Before heading to the airport, you can also stop at FJÅK for some coffee and pastries. 

Here’s Where I Recommend Staying in Bergen

I have stayed in all kinds of accommodation in Bergen, from Airbnbs to hotels and hostels. My absolute top recommendation is the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel on Bryggen. The location is perfect, though I must admit that the seagulls yapping at 5 am in the summer is perhaps not so ideal if you like to sleep with the window open. 

For a budget-friendly option, HI Hostel Montana is a good choice. I stayed here on a trip to Norway in 2019, and it was clean—with cooking spaces and friendly staff. The hostel is outside the city center, and you will need to take the bus into town (or walk for an hour), but it’s nice if you want some peace and quiet. 

Generally, though, anywhere in the city center is ideal—especially if you want to do day tours. You will find accommodation for all budgets in the city, and can view your options here 👉: Accommodation in Bergen

Useful Things to Know Before You Visit Bergen

In addition to everything I’ve already discussed, you’ll find some of my other top tips for visiting Bergen below.  

1. It Will Probably Rain. A Lot.

I just wanted to reiterate this because… I’m being serious when I say that it rains a lot in Bergen. Bringing a rain jacket, regardless of when you visit, is an absolute non-negotiable. Bonus points if it’s windproof, as it can also be quite windy when you’re there. 

You can, of course, buy rain jackets while you’re in Bergen. There are more than a fair share of outdoor stores from which you can do this. However, doing so often costs less in your home country. 

I also suggest bringing water-resistant and waterproof hiking pants, along with proper footwear for the mountains. Moreover, you should dress in layers; for what it’s worth, I needed an Icelandic sweater on a June trip once. 

2. Expect Lots of Tour Buses (and Tourists) in the Summer

Many people visiting Norway base themselves in Bergen and explore the surrounding fjords, etc. on day trips, which is also what I recommend. Naturally, though, this means that summer gets quite busy. 

You will see a lot of tour buses during the peak season, especially along Bryggen and the rest of the waterfront. You will also deal with bigger crowds; the fish market is one such place where you’ll experience this. 

While much of Bergen is crowded, I do still think it’s worth visiting. However, I also suggest mentally preparing yourself. 

3. Bergen Is Incredibly Safe

You should have no problems walking around Bergen at any hour; like the rest of Norway, the city is very safe. I also think that the locals in Bergen are the friendliest in the country; if you need help, they will be happy to assist if you ask. 

Obviously, you should still use basic precautions like not flaunting your valuables. But for the most part, you probably won’t have any issues while you’re here in terms of crime. 

You will, however, need to prepare for the elements—ESPECIALLY when hiking in the nearby mountains. Temperatures can, even in the summer, be surprisingly cold. Moreover, the weather changes quickly. 

Having the right clothing, enough food and water, and a map—along with a fully-charged phone—are important. You should also not hike in bad weather; if you start your hike and the weather gets worse, you can always turn around.

4. Bergen, Like the Rest of Norway, Is Expensive

Norway’s reputation for being expensive is true, even though I think it’s less pricey than it used to be. Everything in Bergen will cost a good chunk of money, from accommodation to tours and food. 

I recommend budgeting at least $130 per day in spending money when you’re in Bergen, excluding tours and accommodation. Hotel prices are higher in the peak tourist season, though you can get good deals if you’re happy to visit when it’s quieter. 

Alcohol is pricey in Bergen (and Norway), and restaurants will also cost you a lot of money. You can always self-cater instead; REMA 1000 is a good budget grocery store chain if you choose to do this. Moreover, going out to drink in Bergen is not an obligation, though the city does have a good nightlife scene.

Transport to and from Bergen, however, can be surprisingly affordable. For example, you can often get flights with reasonable prices from various European cities. The train from Oslo is also well-priced if you book in advance. You can walk almost everywhere when you are in Bergen, but tram and bus tickets are affordable if you need to use them.

5. Stick to the Regions Around Bergen, Especially on a Short Trip

If you only have three or four days in Bergen, you should spend the entirety of your time exploring the region nearby and not other parts of Norway. For example, I don’t recommend going to the Lysefjord from Bergen; Stavanger is a much better base (I wrote a guide on my top things to do in Stavanger if you’d like to visit there at some point).

You will have a much better time exploring just the region around Bergen on a short trip than you would if you tried to jump from the south of the country to the north. Plus, Bergen and its nearby areas have more than enough to keep you entertained. 

6. Bergen Is *Very* Hilly

As you may expect from a city surrounded by seven mountains, Bergen is very hilly. I often forget that elevated ground exists, since I live in Denmark, so it’s always nice to be reminded of this fact when I visit Bergen. 

Much of the city center is hilly, and you will need a good pair of shoes. Many of these hills are also cobblestone streets, so keep this in mind. This is one of the reasons that, while Bergen is small, I recommend breaking each day into manageable chunks. 

If you want accommodation in a flatter part of the city, look at places close to Bryggen. You will find a large number of hotels in this part of the city. 

7. Pretty Much Everyone in Bergen Speaks Fluent English

People in Bergen speak excellent English, so you’ll have no problems communicating if you also speak English. 

You can speak Norwegian, too, of course. Note, however, that Bergen has a very distinct accent and does not use Bokmål (the version of Norwegian used in cities like Oslo). It therefore sounds and looks different, though it’s quite easy to understand one if you know the other. 

8. Don’t Rely on Google Maps in the Mountains

When hiking, especially on Ulriken, do not rely on digital maps. They wildly underestimate times, and the signal is also not reliable. 

I instead recommend physical maps when doing more strenuous hikes. And on that note, do not do hikes that you know are beyond your skill level. For example, the seven peaks hike takes a full day and requires a good level of knowledge before doing it. 

When to Visit Bergen

The short answer is “whenever you have time”, but when you choose to visit Bergen will also depend on what you want from your trip. For example, I prefer colder weather and am introverted to the core, so… I naturally would rather visit in the off-season. On the flip side, however, winter also equals much shorter days. 

Summer will likely give you more sunny days, and the daylight hours are very long; the sun doesn’t set until after 23:00 on the longest day of the year. However, Bergen is also more expensive and crowded at this time.  

If you can, visiting Bergen on Norway’s national day—the 17th of May—is a memorable experience. I did this with my friend on one previous adventure, and it was cool to see everyone dressed in traditional clothing. I must say, though, that I am pretty sure we were the only sober people in Bergen when we arrived 🤣. 

Final Thoughts

Bergen is a great place to spend a couple of days, even if you only stay within the city. However, it’s even better if you can visit the vast and beautiful nature nearby. While three or four days isn’t a huge amount of time, you can see quite a lot if you plan appropriately.

Now that you’ve read this guide, you should have a better idea of how to spend a short stay in Bergen. Regardless of when you visit, you’ll find plenty of activities to fill each day. If you feel like you need longer, you can always check out my one-week Oslo to Bergen itinerary.

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