Bergen

Understand

The character of Bergen is defined by its location, surrounded by steep mountains and sea (straits and fjords). The city has many lakes. It is a typical Norwegian wooden town, even downtown there are notable neighbourhoods of small wooden houses in various styles. Few towns if any have so many wooden houses in the centre. In some areas wooden houses have been replaced by taller masonry structures, giving the city a fascinating mix of old and new. Bergen is a sprawling city stretching some 40-50 km in either direction where the 286,000 inhabitants (2021) are separated by mountains, fjords and lakes. Only the central parts are visible from the panorama points at Mount Fløyen. The distant parts of the city are mostly of less interest to the visitor. The city centre is on the other hand compact and can be covered by walking for most visitors. Bergen is facing the ocean and coast, and the hinterland is relatively sparsely populated. Bergen is separated from eastern Norway by crooked fjords and wide, inhospitable mountain areas, and until the Bergen railway was built in 1909 the most practical transport east-west was several days sailing around the coast.

Cityscape

Central Bergen is characterized by a fascinating conglomerate of small, older wooden houses and newer masonry buildings as well as modern steel-and-glass structures. Bergen has some fine examples of functionalist architecture such as Kalmar House and Sundt shopping centre. "Brutalist" buildings include the science building at the university and the city hall.

Bergen grew organically from the small port and trading post at Bryggen from around year 1000. Because of frequent fires only some masonry buildings (notably Mariakirken and Håkonshallen) remain from the middle ages. But the city centre has retained many aspects of its ancient layout. Notable are the many wide streets or open spaces, called allmenning (commons), perpendicular to Vågen (the inner harbour). These allmennings often rise steeply from the waterfront. Torgallmenningen is not open to cars and defines the modern city centre. Ordinary streets in the medieval town were often long and more narrow, and ran parallel to the waterfront. Narrow and short streets, smug (alley), run among houses packed close together. Alleys are usually too narrow for cars and some are so steep that there are stairs. Key areas within central Bergen:

Getting there

By plane

1 Bergen Airport Flesland (BGO IATA) (19 km south of the city). The main international airports with flights to Bergen are Copenhagen, London, and Amsterdam. There are also flights from the United Kingdom (such as Newcastle, Edinburgh, and Aberdeen); Prague, Dublin, Paris, Berlin, Frankfurt, various cities in Spain, and some other airports. There are also a number of domestic flights, such as Oslo, Trondheim, Stavanger, Tromsø, Kristiansand and Sandefjord, connecting Bergen to additional international airports. A plane ticket from the capital Oslo to Bergen usually costs around kr 300-400. The main carriers in Norway are SAS and the low cost airline Norwegian Air Shuttle. The Dutch KLM has flights to Amsterdam, Lufthansa to Frankfurt. The smallest airports in Norway are usually served by Widerøe. A new spacious terminal replaced the old in 2017 with more services and airside facilities. (updated Feb 2024) Flybussen departs from right outside the terminal building. Flybussen makes frequent stops, including at Bryggen, the Fisketorget, and the bus terminal. The journey downtown takes about 30–40 minutes. Adult tickets are kr 179, return ticket kr 309 (discounts for children, students and senior citizens apply). Buy your ticket before boarding to save kr 10, either online, from a machine or from a ticket vendor. However, tickets can easily be bought on the bus, with either cash or cards. Buses run frequently throughout the day. There is a machine next to luggage collection in arrivals, and at the bus stop at the airport, so buy your ticket while you are waiting for your luggage.

The Bergen Light Rail has its southern terminus at the airport, the station is in the basement outdoor. This is the cheapest option for travelling downtown since it charges the regular public transport fares (kr 49 for an adult single ticket, kr 25 for children and seniors). The light rail runs very frequently, from 05:00 to past 00:00, with up to 12 departures an hour, but it is a stopping service and takes 45 minutes to its final stop at Byparken. The only other public transit line is bus line 23, which runs to the western neighborhoods of Søreide and Loddefjord. Line 23 runs only in the morning and evening rush hours Mondays to Fridays. Taxis are also available but they cost much more (kr 300-350 on weekdays to downtown, more at night and at the weekend). The car rental companies Avis, Budget, Hertz, Europcar and National have offices at the airport. Located in the terminal building, by the exit, most of them are open 07:00-21:00 on weekdays. Opening hours in the weekend are limited, but some of the companies will offer 24 hours rental if you make a reservation.

By train

Bergen is served by one railway line, Bergen Line (Bergensbanen), which runs from Oslo through Hønefoss. Bergen is the last station and there is only one station in the city (in addition one station in Arna, east of the city proper). Reforms of the railway structure have made it somewhat more confusing to travel by rail, as there are now several train companies that share the Norwegian rail network. The Bergen Line is served by Vy, the successor to the Norwegian State Railways. The journey takes about 7 hours and gives you beautiful views, especially for the last 3 hours across the plateau and down towards Voss and Bergen. When passing Geilo, you will cross over a high mountain plateau and then travel downwards through some of the best scenery in Norway. If you buy your ticket online well in advance, fares may be as low as kr 199 for a one-way ticket. For an additional fee, you may upgrade your ticket to Vy Pluss, the equivalent of first class, with slightly better seats and free coffee and tea. If you want to make more out of your journey, get a window seat on one of the most recently upgraded trains (they're quite stylish and have power outlets by every seat) on the left hand side (this will give you the best view). There is a separate company, Entur, which handles tickets on all long-distance train and bus lines in Norway. It is easiest to buy tickets directly from Entur if you need to switch between train and bus, or different train operators. The ticket office is only open limited hours - outside of which you must use the ticket machines. Note that travel tickets booked via an agent (including Norway in a Nutshell) must be collected from the ticket office. There is a small deli that sells coffee, snacks and some supermarket items open early and late. There is a small cafe with limited opening hours (closed before 17:00 most days). Universal access is a priority to Vy. Book your ticket on the phone or buy it at the train station at least a day in advance to inform staff if you have any special needs. You will have the same offers as are available online. Most trains are equipped with lifts or ramps and handicap toilets. Wheelchairs can be secured on board. For the seeing impaired, there are tactile lines in the larger stations. Staff will assist you in the station. If you need an assistant and can provide documentation, you and your travelling companion will get a 50% discount off the full ticket price. 2 Bergen station (QFV IATA) is located in the eastern corner of the city centre at Strømgaten 4, close to the bus station and the Bygarasjen parking facility.

Getting around

Orientation

Downtown Bergen is compact and easy to walk for most visitors. Most sights and hotels are located within few minutes walk within downtown. While the very centre is located on a relatively flat piece of land, there are hills in virtually every direction out of the centre so heading downhill usually leads to centre. The main square is the east/west Torgallmenningen, a pedestrian zone. The Nordnes peninsula points north from the very centre, on the eastern side is Vågen, a small bay and once Bergens main harbour, lined on the eastern side by Bryggen and the Fortress. Overall navigation is generally easy as the summits and the bay provides clear indication of general direction, Mt Ulriken is a key landmark for large parts of the city, while downtown St John’s Church (Johanneskirken) with its characteristic red brick and green roof is another landmark. The sturdy theater building at the top of Ole Bulls place is also a point to note. Precise navigation through many irregular streets may still be challenging. Navigation by car can be equally difficult because of hills, narrow streets and many one-way streets, what seems close on the map may in fact be a long drive. Bergen is idiosyncratic in many ways, including the layout and names of streets:

Allmenning are wide streets or squares, laid out at strategic points to prevent fires spreading through the city, often perpendicular to main streets and to the water front, the main square is Torgallmenningen Smug/smau are narrow alleys, usually too narrow for cars, some are so steep that there are stairs Smalgang is even more narrow than smug Strede old name for street (rarely used but note Skostredet - "Shoe street") Gate street Vei/veg, road or street Kai, quay or dock Brygge, quay or wharf Plass, square In addition there is a handful of specific names without generic suffixes like “−gate”, for instance Bryggen (“the Wharf”), Strangehagen (“Strange's garden”, a street), Klosteret (“the Monastery”, a square), Georgernes Verft (“Georges' Shipyard”, a street), Marken, Engen (“the Meadow”, a square), Krinkelkroken ("Nook and cranny"), Galgebakken ("Gallow hill"), Arbeiderboligen (“Workers' residence”), Torget ("The Market"), Vaskerelven ("Laundry river", a street).

On foot

Within the city centre, walking is the best way to get around. You can walk across downtown in 20 minutes in any direction. The most central streets of the city are relatively flat and generally have a good accessibility for the disabled, sidewalks have rounded corners to allow access by wheelchair. The characteristic alleys and narrow streets (often with stairs rather than ordinary streets) on the slopes are however not available by wheelchair and may be difficult to walk for the disabled. The most important pedestrian crossings have sound signals and are indicated by tactile paving. They are also accessible with a wheelchair. Although cobblestone is a popular material in the streets, it is rarely used in pedestrian areas. A map with more information on this subject is available from the municipality's website.

See

There's a number of attractions in Bergen and the surrounding areas. Surveys do, however, show that most tourists in Bergen find the atmosphere, cultural landscape and architecture more compelling than the typical sights, so pick a few things to see and spend the rest of your time in Bergen sitting down in a park or café, strolling around the city, enjoying a concert or hiking the mountains. On sunny summer days, stay downtown until late to enjoy the sunset in the north.

Panorama points

Because of its rugged landscape, Bergen has an abundance of panorama points and these give an intense feeling of space, notably Mt Fløyen and Mt Ulriken; these mountains are served by funicular and cable car, respectively, but are also available hiking for the sporty. At lower altitudes the Fjellveien panorama road and the highest point of Nordnes peninsula are easily available. Sandviksbatteriet just above Sandviken hospital also offers excellent panorama. The Montana residential area at the foot of Mt. Ulriken likewise gives a nice outlook.

1 Fjellveien panorama road, Fjellveien (Uphill from city centre). Runs for several kilometers between Sandviken and Bellevue, largely horizontal and pedestrian. 2 Skansen panorama point (Skansen brannstasjon), Blekeveien (Uphill from funicular station). Excellent and easily available panorama point just above the funicular lowest station. Right in front of the old fire outlook, a small white wooden tower, now used by one of the city's buekorps. 3 Tippetue panorama point (Hike uphill from city, or downhill from Mt. Fløyen.). 24 hr. Panorama point on the Tippetue footpath to Mt. Fløyen. Free. 4 Nordnes panorama, Haugeveien. Lovely place on the highest point of Nordnes peninsula, towards the aquarium. 5 Nordnes park (Tip of Nordnes peninsula, beyond aquarium). 24 hr. Pleasant park at the very tip of the peninsula, towards the sun set late summer evenings. 6 St Johns (Johanneskirken), Sydnesplass. St. John's Church (Johanneskirken) dominates the top of Nygårdshøyden, the hill that hosts the University of Bergen. Nice view of the very centre.

Do

Concerts

1 Bergen Jazzforum, Georgernes verft 12, ☏ +47 55 30 72 50, fax: +47 55 30 72 60, jazz@bergenjazzforum.no. Concerts every Friday except in the summer and during the Christmas holidays. Jazz club with focus on modern jazz. Norwegian Jazz Club Of The Year 2008. Bergen Live. Producing most of the larger pop, rock and hip hop concerts in Bergen. 2 Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra (Harmonien), Grieghallen, Edvard Griegs plass 1. Classical concerts every Thursday evening at 19:30. The Bergen philharmonic is one of two national orchestras and was established in 1765. It is regarded as one of the oldest orchestras in the world.The program is varied, but the repertoire is usually quite easy listening. The orchestra plays of course a lot of Edvard Grieg's works. 3 Det Akademiske Kvarter, Olav Kyrresgate 49, kontakt@kvarteret.no. Popular student venue, usually hosting concerts several times a week except during holidays and the summer.

Stage art

4 BIT Teatergarasjen, Nøstegaten 54, ☏ +47 55 23 22 35, info@bit-teatergarasjen.no. BIT (Bergen International Theater) presents Norwegian and international contemporary stage art productions of high quality. 5 Den Nationale Scene, Engen 1, ☏ +47 55 54 97 00, dns@dns.no. The national theater in Bergen. In a beautifully restored building, the theater presents a variety of plays on three different stages, from traditional Ibsen to contemporary plays. The largest stage (Store scene) is where most mainstream plays are played, while the two smaller stages features more alternative plays, often the most interesting ones. The plays are in Norwegian. Bergen Nasjonale Opera (Den nye Opera), ☏ +47 55 21 61 20, info@nyop.no. Although Bergen does not have its own opera house, it does have its own opera company. Den Nye Opera (The New Opera) usually put on a few productions throughout the year. Summer performances are often at the Bergenhus Fortress while other productions are performed at Den Nationale Scene or at Grieghallen. Tickets are available online. Tickets usually range from kr. 200 to kr. 550 depending on seating and availability. Bergen does not attract the top performers, and the quality may vary a bit, usually anywhere between superb and a bit below average.

Beach-life

Hanging out by the ocean can be one of the best ways to spend a hot summer day in Bergen, although Bergen is hardly a sun and sand destination. The temperature in the ocean around Bergen is warmer than most places on the west coast because of the outer islands protecting the area from the constant flow of cooler water from the North Sea, and allowing the water to heat in smaller bays in the area. Temperatures can rise to 20 °C (68 °F) after consecutive days with good weather. The water is clean and fresh. There are sandy beaches at Arboretet at Milde (Hjellestad), Kyrkjetangen at Nordåsvannet and Helleneset, "bathing houses"/beaches at Nordnesparken and Elsero situated in Old Bergen in Sandviken. After a day hiking in the mountains, Skomakerdiket above Mount Fløyen has a sandy fresh-water beach.

Shopping

Bergen has a number of shopping centres, and international chains are well represented. As prices are rather high in Norway, regular shopping is probably not the most interesting thing to do in Bergen, even if you get a VAT refund (see the Tax Free shopping section below). But if you know where to go, you can find rare and unique items, both traditional crafts and stuff made by local designers - and some other fun stuff. Keep in mind that with a very few exceptions, Bergen shuts down completely on Sundays and holidays.

Shops

1 Apollon, Nygårdsgaten 2 A, ☏ +47 55 31 59 43, fax: +47 55 31 58 08. Combined bar and music store, sells CDs, vinyls and band merchandise in addition to a decent selection of beers.

2 Blonder og stas, Bryggestredet (in the heart of Bryggen), ☏ +47 55 31 83 81. A small shop selling beautiful Norwegian handmade textiles, such as tablecloths and napkins. 3 Kjøttbasaren, Vetrlidsallmenningen 2 (between Torget and Fløibanen). M–W F 09:00-17:00, Th 09:00-19:00, Sa 09:00-15:00. This market hall built in 1877 was once the only one in its kind in Norway. Nowadays it houses Bergen's finest gourmet food stores, the most interesting for tourists being Havets Grøde and Sesong. Havets Grøde has a large selection of top quality seafood, with fresh deliveries every day. The quality is usually much better than at the fish market. Sesong offers the season's food directly from local farms and producers. 4 Norsk Flid Husfliden, Vågsallmenningen 3 (near the tourist office), ☏ +47 55 54 47 40, bergen@husfliden.no. Husfliden is a chain of stores throughout Norway with focus on traditional Norwegian crafts. The most interesting things for tourists found in these stores are traditional jewelry and tableware. Husfliden also sells beautiful national costumes (Norwegian: bunad). Bryggen Husflid, Bryggen 37 (in one of the old houses at the charming wharf area Bryggen), ☏ +47 55 32 88 03. Handknitted pullovers, cardigans and accessories from the brand Norsk Håndstrikk. The sweaters are made by hand in Norway, knitted by Norwegian ladies in their homes. Rare and unique products. The shop also carry a great selection of other Norwegian made products, in addition to other souvenirs like trolls, soft toys etc. The prices are very good compared to other shops at Bryggen. Ruben's skattkammer, Vetrlidsalmenning 5, ☏ +47 55 31 41 11, info@rubens.no. Unique, fun and stimulating toys for kids and adults. Stormberg, Småstrandgaten 3 (Xhibition), ☏ +47 454 04 157, Stormberg-bergen@stormberg.no. Store for Norway's largest brand of outdoor wear. Søstrene Hagelin (The Hagelin Sisters), Strandgaten 3 (By Torgalmenningen), ☏ +47 55 90 20 13. M-F 09:00-19:00, Sa 10:00-17:00. Søstrene Hagelin has been a tradition in Bergen since 1929. Famous for their traditional fiskekaker, fish-burger. There are some tables in the shop where you can eat the fish-burger, or their fish soup. Tilsammans, Kong Oscars gate 26, ☏ +47 55 32 55 55, butikk@northernsoul.no. Trendy clothes. T Michael, Skostredet 9 A, ☏ +47 55 55 80 37. Extremely stylish menswear. Twisted, Nygårdsgaten 1 B, ☏ +47 55 96 01 87. Independent fashion store for men and women with brands such as IVANAHelsinki, Moods of Norway, Namso, GTP, Birna, Pernilla Svenre, Maria Weterlind, El Naturlista, William Rast, Gabba, Scotch&Soda, Minium, Insight, Pace and Pour. ZUMM design, Holmedalsgården 1, ☏ +47 930 69 578, info@zummdesign.no. Sweet and handmade clothing for girls from 2–11 years of age. 5 Musikk Miljø, Håkonsgaten 24, ☏ +47 55 23 60 30. 09:00-16:30. Orchestral instruments and accessories, sheet music, and music related thingies. (updated Feb 2024)

Eat

There is a great variety of restaurants and cafes in Bergen, but you should expect to spend some time looking for the best places. In the most central parts of the city, many of the restaurants are all the same. Move a block away from the most central parts of downtown to find lower prices and better food. Kitchens usually close at 23:00 at the latest. Waiters and other restaurant staff have good wages. You are not required to leave any money to cover the service, but many people choose to tip the waiter if he or she has been helpful and nice, and if the food was good. If you choose to leave a tip, rounding up or adding about five to ten percent will be appreciated. A rule of thumb would be that the more expensive the food is, the more are you expected to leave a tip. Keep in mind that tap water is safe to drink and (usually) free of charge. To save money, ask for tap water to drink.

Local food

Finding local food might take some effort, but there are some options. There aren't that many local dishes available at restaurants. "Norwegian" food is the food of the husmann (cottager) – nutritious and cheap, not what you usually find in a restaurant. The Bergen fish soup might be the most important, as well as raspeballer and cooked cod. If you want to get that Norwegian taste and have a gourmet meal at the same time, look for dishes that use "local" ingredients (such as reindeer, stockfish and cod) with a twist, such as Bryggen Tracteursted's filet of reindeer farced with goat cheese. Many cafe's and restaurants serve "raspeballer" on Thursdays. Raspeballer are local potato dumplings, in Bergen usually served with bacon, sausages, salted meat from sheep, melted butter and mashed rutabaga. You can get takeaway raspeballer at Kjøttbasaren (kr. 50), cheap ones at Lido, excellent ones at Pingvinen and Bjellands Kjøkken. You can get reasonable take-away fish soup, fish-balls, "plukkfisk" and fish-gratin at Madam Bergen. In November, December and January, traditional Christmas food is served in many restaurants. Look for "pinnekjøtt" (cured, dried and sometimes smoked meat of lamb or mutton), "lutefisk" (lit. "lye fish", dried cod prepared with lye) and "ribbe" (oven-baked pork ribs). For a very special experience, try smalahove (sheep's head). It is a traditional dish from Voss not far from Bergen.

City centre

1 Pasta Sentral, Vestre Torggate 5-7, ☏ +47 55 96 00 37. M–Sa 11:00–23:00, Su 13:00–23:00. Cheap and decent pasta and pizza for students and budget travellers alike. Pasta Sentral has been an institution in Bergen since its opening in 1990. Provides take away as well. (updated May 2022) 2 Kafe Spesial, Christies gate 13. Value for money, particularly pizza. Wide selection of beer. Situated on the slope towards the university area so clientele is largely students. Basic service (order at the counter). (updated May 2022) 3 Bergen Kebab, Christian Michelsens gate 7, ☏ +47 55 23 00 17. M–W Su 11:00–00:00, Th–Sa 11:00–03:00. Though selling the cheapest kebabs in town, Bergen Kebab manages to maintain a decent level of service and quality. Serves an ok pizza as well. (updated May 2022) 4 Hot Wok City, Vestre Torggaten 1, ☏ +47 55 21 85 88. M–Sa 12:00–23:00, Su 14:00–23:00. Good-quality Chinese food freshly cooked in the open kitchen. Service is fast, and the prices are low. Popular, especially between 16:00 and 18:00. (updated May 2022) 5 Brød & Vin restaurant, Christies gate 13. Dimly lit restaurant and Asian inspired food. Quiet place and tasty dishes. (updated May 2022) 6 Søstrene Hagelin (Hagelin Sisters), Strandgaten 3. Canteen-style fish food restaurant. Traditional fishfood, as well as creative such as fishburger with taco. Eat there or take home. Right beside Torgallmenningen. (updated Jan 2023) 7 Trekroneren, Kong Oscars gate 1. Bergen's last standing hot dog stand, situated in an illegally erected shed since the 1940's. Large selection of both classic and more interesting sausage styles. Extremely popular; there's literally always a queue. (updated May 2022) 8 Bergen pizza, Kong Oscars gate 3. Both the pizza and the kebab are delicious. The pizzas are made in front of you, well garnished and heated in a large oven. (updated May 2022)

Drink

There is a great variety of bars, night clubs, concert venues etc. in Bergen. Night clubs are usually open from 23:00, but life never starts before 01:00. Bars opens at different hours, some can be open all day. No places are allowed to serve alcohol after 03:00, and the consumption of alcoholic beverages must cease at 03:30 at the latest. Many places are required to close earlier. The establishments are only allowed to let people bring their drinks outside if they have been granted a special permit. A requirement to get this permit is that they have a confined space outdoors for their guests. All drinks must be indoors by 01:00. People go out all week, but Fridays and Saturdays are the best nights, Saturdays being the clear winner (most places will be a bit too crowded on Saturdays). Some clubs have a 2 for 1 policy on Wednesdays, and Sunday is usually the night for people in the industry. Most places require that you are 20 years of age (look in the list for details) and that you can provide a valid ID, even if you are much older. Valid IDs are Norwegian bank cards, European standard driver's licenses and ID cards and passports. Drinking in public is illegal. Emptying a can in front of a police officer on a Saturday night will earn you a kr. 2500 fine. If you stroll through a park a bit outside the city centre on a sunny day you will still see a lot of people having a beer or a glass of wine with the picnic. The police usually won't mind as long as everything passes in an orderly fashion. Prices vary great from place to place, ask at the door if you need to know. In the weekends, there is usually a cover charge from kr 50 to kr 100 at night clubs. Almost all night clubs and some bars have a dress code. The required attire varies; look in the list for more information (when the listing indicates "no dress code" normal, nice clothes are accepted). Supporter gear is generally not accepted even in sports pubs. Remember that smoking in all indoor areas where people work is strictly prohibited by law in Norway. Most restaurants, bars, night clubs etc. will require you to leave if you try to smoke indoors. Nightlife is largely concentrated in the central downtown (streets Vaskerelven, Engen, Torgallmenningen, Ole Bulls plass, Nygaardsgaten) and Bryggen area (streets Bryggen, Rosenkrantz gt, Vetrlidsallmenningen, kong Oscar gate).

Central downtown

Baran, Håkonsgaten. Small and nice pub with an excellent selection of reasonably priced beers, and a small selection of cheap food. A bit run-down, but rather cozy. Clientele between 20-35. The staff wants to appear very knowledgeable and might tell you which beers are similar to which (e.g., "Marston's Oyster Stout is similar to a Guinness and not at all watery"). Being skeptical to this advice will keep you from being disappointed. Biskopen, Neumannsgate. A nice pub that caters mostly to people between 25 and 40. Nice selection of beers. If it looks crowded, check the basement. Henrik Øl og Vinstove, Engen 10, ☏ +47 55900384. Su-F 16:00-00:30, Sa 14:00-00:30. A bar that possibly has the widest selection of beer in Bergen with over 40 beers on tap, and a large selection of bottled beer. It has a quiet, friendly atmosphere and the bartender is extremely knowledgeable and personable. Inside Rock Café, Vaskerelvsmuget 7 (close to the blue stone). M-Sa 15:30-03:00, Su 15:30-00:00. The place to be if you like metal. Cheap beer, long hair and rock. Excellent burgers. No dress code, but a band t-shirt is recommended. kr 50 for 0.5 litres draft beer at night. Pingvinen, Vaskerelven 14, ☏ +47 55 60 46 46, pingvinen@engengruppen.no. A very nice, but often crowded, bar where you can also get a good portion of Norwegian food. Recommended by Time. One of few places where genuine traditional Norwegian food is available. Nice prices both on food and drinks.

Rick's, Veiten 3 (just by the theatre), ☏ +47 55 55 31 31, post@ricks.no. A large complex featuring among other things a scene, a disco, a bar and an Irish pub, most popular among people between 30 and 40 years. If you are a woman, expect sleazy guys in the disco. Age limit is 24 years in weekends.

Sleep

Outside the summer season, getting a hotel room is usually not a problem, although it can be quite expensive unless you have a reservation. In the summer season (from May to Sept) a reservation well in advance is required. Breakfast is normally included in the price except at hostels and camping sites.

Budget

1 Bergen Hostel Montana (Bergen Vandrerhjem Montana), Johan Blytts vei 30 (On Landås, about 10 minutes from the city centre by car, use bus line 12 eastbound), ☏ +47 55 20 80 70, bergen.montana@hihostels.no. Situated on the hillside of Mount Ulriken. Bus connections are good. This typical hostel is an excellent choice for families and those travelling on a budget, with decent and clean facilities in a quiet area. Its location is however not ideal if you plan to enjoy the nightlife of Bergen. Free Wifi, two well equipped guest kitchens and free parking for guests. Members of Hosteling International receive 10% discount. Breakfast included. Linen and towels not included. Dorm: kr 205-295, Double: kr 660(winter)-850(summer). 2 Intermission Hostel, Kalfarveien 8 (East of the railway station), ☏ +47 55 30 04 00, post@intermissionhostel.no. A Christian hostel 40-bed dormitory with probably the lowest prices in town. Norwegian evenings every Monday and Thursday with traditional cakes and waffles, free of charge. Open from mid-June to mid-August. Dorm: kr 190, Bed linen: kr 30. 3 Marken Gjestehus, Kong Oscars gate 45, ☏ +47 55 31 44 04, fax: +47 55 31 60 22, post@marken-gjestehus.com. A 73-bed hostel located close to the railway station. Lockable closets in all rooms. No mixed sex dormitories. Breakfast not included. Reception: May–Sep: 09:00–23:00, Oct–Apr: 09:30–16:30. Dorm: kr 210-275, Double: from kr 610, Bed linen: kr 65. 4 Skansen pensjonat, ☏ +47 55 31 90 80, post@skansen-pensjonat.no. Small and cosy, with only seven rooms. Located near the funicular. Reservations are necessary. Double: kr 900, Single: kr 550. 5 Bergen Guesthouse, Stølesmauet 9, ☏ +47 938 74 907, post@bergenguesthouse.com. Situated behind Bryggen, the guesthouse consists of two houses, one with a two bedroom apartment and one in which four rooms are available. All rooms can be fitted with a baby bed free of charge. Some of the bedrooms can also be rented and used as living rooms or offices on request. Double: kr 750 including bed linen and towels. 6 Friis Pensjon, Ytre Markeveien 6-8, ☏ +47 467 79 604, booking@friispensjon.com. A small flat close to the city centre: a bedroom, a living-room, a kitchen-corner (without stove), a bathroom. There is Wi-Fi in the flat. Suitable for 2 persons, but can also be used by four. Double: kr 800. 7 Citybox Bergen City, Nygårdsgaten 31, ☏ +47 55 31 25 00, bergen@citybox.no. Check-in: 16:00, check-out: 12:00. Self-service check-in, comfortable rooms with a desk, chair, kitchen, space for hanging clothes. Laundry room, TV/lounge downstairs. Very close to the station. Single kr 635, double kr 720. (updated Aug 2020) 8 Citybox Danmarksplass, Solheimsgaten 23, ☏ +47 53 01 99 90, danmarksplass@citybox.no. Self-service hotel. Guests handle booking, payment, check-in and check-out themselves. Single kr 649, double kr 705.

Mid-range

9 Comfort Hotel Holberg, Strandgaten 190 (Nordnes), ☏ +47 55 30 42 00, fax: +47 55 23 18 20, co.holberg@choice.no. A little bit outside the centre of downtown, but still no more than a few minutes walk from the fish market, this hotel is probably one of the lesser known accommodation options in Bergen. The hotel is quite new and modern. With facilities in the typical mid-range class, it might however be a bit pricey compared to its competitors. About kr 1500 per night for a standard double room. 10 Grand Terminus, Zander Kaaesgate 6 (Opposite the railway station), ☏ +47 55 21 25 00, booking@grandterminus.no. The hotel built in 1928 is elegant and has a classical style. Wide central staircase leading up to renovated rooms, and down to an old-fashioned lounge bar area downstairs, with free tea and coffee for guests. Double: from kr 1150. 11 InCity Hotel & Apartments, Øvre Ole Bulls plass 3 (In the heart of Bergen, 50 m from the blue stone), ☏ +47 55 23 16 13, booking@incity.no. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 11:30. Large and comfortable rooms with kitchenette and broadband internet. Hotel, restaurant, bar, night club and theater under same roof. Double: from kr 1290. 12 Scandic Bergen City, Håkonsgaten 2 (close to the university area), ☏ +47 55 30 90 80, fax: +47 55 23 49 20, bergencity@scandichotels.com. A reasonably priced conference hotel, also a good option for tourists due to its relatively central yet quiet surroundings. There is a gym and bath close by, and a cinema across the street. From kr 1100 per night for a standard double room. 13 Thon Hotel Bergen Brygge, Bradbenken 3 (close to Bergenhus), ☏ +47 55 30 87 00, fax: +47 55 32 94 14, bergen.brygge@thonhotels.no. An ok hotel situated in the historic part of Bergen, though not very historic itself. Single: from kr 695, Double: from kr 895. 14 Thon Hotel Rosenkrantz, Rosenkrantzgate 7, ☏ +47 55 30 14 00, fax: +47 55 31 14 76, rosenkrantz@thonhotels.no. Hotel Rosenkrantz is a comfortable hotel located just behind Bryggen. The hotel serves an evening buffet included in the room price every night except in the summer season. There are nightclubs in the vicinity. About kr 1300 per night for a standard double room. 15 Scandic Neptun, Valkendorfsgate 8 (Torget 400 m; railway station 850 m; Flybussen stops outside the hotel), ☏ +47 55 30 68 00, neptun@scandichotels.com. Central hotel that is part of the Scandic chain. Good-sized standard rooms with two beds, bathtub, and tea/coffee maker. Breakfast buffet, serviceable wireless internet, and Norwegian newspapers are supplied. Several restaurants on-site.

Local customs

As in the rest of Norway, it is customary to take your shoes off when entering a home. This in particular done as a practical matter, due to the wet weather (slush and salt in winter). People from Bergen have a reputation for being more loud and direct than many other parts of Norway. Locals are perhaps the most patriotic in Norway.

Stay safe

Bergen has, as the rest of Norway, a generally low crime rate. The most likely crimes for tourists to experience is car break-ins and bicycle theft. Pickpockets is also becoming an increasing problem in the summer season, but it's still nothing like in larger cities in Europe. It is always a good idea to look after your belongings, this includes never leaving valuable objects visible in your car and locking your bike safely. There are no particularly unsafe areas in Bergen. The upper part of Nygårdsparken used to be the hang-out place for drug addicts. The lower part of Nygårdsparken is a beautiful place popular among the locals. To make the whole park family friendly the upper part was closed down and renovated for two years forcing the drug addicts to disperse. As a consequence they are now spread across the city. The drug addicts are usually completely harmless, but nevertheless not fun to be around. Buying sex is illegal in Norway. People party hard on Friday and Saturday night, and hoards of drunk people will appear in the central areas from around midnight, singing, carousing, and just hanging around. Some foreigners may perceive this as threatening, but they are mostly harmless, even all-male groups chanting football songs. If approached, just smile and stay friendly, but uneasy visitors should avoid groups of drunk young after midnight. Summer evenings has daylight until 23:00 or 24:00, adding to the safety for visitors. There is an emergency and accident ward at Solheimsgaten 9. The ward is open all day all week, and provides examination and treatment in case of accidents and acute diseases. The ward is located with a life crisis assistance centre, a psychiatric emergency ward, a reception centre for rape victims and a dental emergency ward. All services may be reached at ☏ +47 55 56 87 60. If you should be in need of immediate medical assistance, do however call 113. The police station downtown is in Allehelgens gate 6, across the street from the old town hall.

Emergency numbers

Police, ☏ 112. Fire, ☏ 110. Emergency Medical Services (Ambulance), ☏ 113. If you are unsure which emergency number to call, ☏ 112 is the central for all such rescue services and will put you in contact with the correct department. The hearing impaired using a text telephone can reach the emergency services by dialing ☏ 1412. non-emergencies police, ☏ 02800 (in country only)Country code missing, +47 55 55 63 00 (Hordaland Police District). Roadside assistance is provided by Falck (☏ 02222 (in country only)Country code missing) and Viking (phone|06000}} (in country only)). AAA members may call NAF ☏ 08505 (in country only)Country code missing.

In acute illness or if accident occurs contact:

Go next

Bergen area

Havråtunet. 18 May-31 Aug: M-Sa 12:00-16:00, Su 11:00-17:00. Sep: Su 12:00-16:00, Guided tours: 20 Jun-30 Aug: Tu W Su 12:00-13:00 and 13:30-14:30. Sep, May-19 Jun: Su 12:00-15:00. A farmstead on a steep slope on the island of Osterøy overlooking a fjord. This Norwegian version of a village consists of 36 buildings bundled together with steep fields and plots around it. During the 20th century 60 people lived there and to this day all the work is done without modern equipment like machines. Hellesøy in Øygarden is an island located almost in the North Sea about 1–1½ hours of driving from Bergen. Enjoy the beautiful, harsh nature, go for a hike and rent a fishing rod. Eat your lunch in open air or at the local cafeteria. Boat trips and extreme sports events can be organized, and if you care to stay for a while, you can rent a room, apartment or a sea house. Activities and lodging is provided by Destination Hellesøy. Kvamskogen is a popular target for day trips in the winter season, especially among locals. Kvamskogen is a ski eldorado situated between 400 and 1300 m above sea level in the Kvam municipality. Alpine slopes are served by several ski lifts, and endless possibilities for those who favor cross country skiing. Professional ski instructors are available at a fair cost for non-skiers, and so are rental skis and other equipment. There are regular buses to Kvamskogen, call 177 or visit the information desk at the bus station for more information.

6 Lysøen, ☏ +47 56 30 90 77, fax: +47 56 30 93 72, mail@lysoen.no. 18 May-31 August: M-Sa 12:00–16:00. Su 11:00-27:00 September: Sundays only 12:00-16:00. This island belonged to Ole Bull, a famous musician. He bought the island in 1872 and drew the original drawings for his extraordinary house himself. The island is a great place to go for walks, as well as seeing the extraordinary house, as there are many great paths to walk along. You can attend guided tours at every hour, starting 15 minutes after opening time. To get to the island you must take the ferry from Buena quay. The ferry departs Buena every day at noon, 13:00, 14:00 and 15:00, Sundays also 11:00 and 16:00. It departs Lysøen at 13:30, 14:30, 15:30 and 16:30, Sundays also 12:30 and 17:30. Tickets cost kr 50 for adults and kr 30 for children (free with the Bergen card). The boat has more departures if necessary. Large groups should book in advance. There is a café and museum shop at the island. adults kr 30, children kr 10 – free admission with the Bergen card. Os borders Bergen to the south. While the south-eastern part of Os municipality is mainly made up of typical Nordic suburb-style settlements and a quiet urban centre, the western part consists of a beautiful and popular coastal area with many small islands with cabins. The North Sea Traffic Museum, Telavåg, Sund municipality (Sotra). This museum to the west of Bergen commemorate the Norwegians that fled to Shetland and Great Britain during World War II, and the Telavåg tragedy of 1942 when the entire village was destroyed and the people were forced to move and most the men were sent to Sachsenhausen concentration camp in Germany.

Further afield7 Sognefjord with Flåm. The largest fjord in Norway and Europe can be visited by car, bus, boat or train from Bergen. The Nutshell includes a brief visit to one branch of Sognefjord.

Norway in a Nutshell, +47 815 68 222. Roundtrip Bergen - Myrdal - Flåm - Gudvangen - Stalheim - Voss - Bergen by train, boat and coach. The tour takes you through some of the most beautiful fjord scenery in Norway. It takes one day, but it is possible to spend more time if you wish. Tickets cost kr 895. Voss is a village to the east of Bergen world-known for extreme sports such as paragliding and rafting. Every year in the summer there is a week-long extreme sports festival called Ekstremsportveko. For the little less adventurous Voss is also a great place for hiking and skiing, both cross-country and alpine. One of Norway's largest jazz festivals, Vossa Jazz, is held here in March. Travel to Voss by train (about 1 hr 15 min) or take the E16 road by car. 8 Hardanger. Romantic Hardanger with the grand fjord and glaciers. Can be visited by car, bus, or boat from Bergen. Included en route towards Stavanger, Oslo or Kristiansand. Stavanger. Bergen′s smaller brother to the south. Ålesund. Bergen′s smaller brother to the north. Oslo, farther away, but connected via a magnificent and comfortable train line (a ride of about 6½-7½ hr depending on the connection).

More pictures of Bergen

From this destination's category on Wikimedia Commons. Each photograph is credited to its own author under its own licence.