Your Bergen travel resources

Bergen guide

Welcome to Bergen! You are arriving to one of Norway's most beloved cities. A place where colourful wooden houses climb the hillsides, the local fish market has operated for centuries, and the surrounding fjords are among the most spectacular in the world. Known as the "Gateway to the Fjords", Bergen is a city that rewards slow exploration and those who look beyond the famous Bryggen wharf. Use our expert guide below to navigate Bergen like a local.

Getting around

Airport to city centre

Bergen Airport (Flesland) is located approximately 17 km south of the city centre. The journey takes around 45–55 minutes by public transport.

The most convenient option is the Bybanen light rail (Line 1), which runs directly from the airport to the city centre (Byparken stop). Tickets can be purchased from machines at the station or via the Skyss app. The journey takes approximately 45 minutes and stops at major hubs including Kronstad and Nygård.

Alternatively, Flybussen (airport coaches) and taxis are available outside the arrivals hall. Taxis are significantly more expensive and are best reserved for groups with heavy luggage.

Public transport | Essential apps

Skyss — The official app for public transport in Bergen and Vestland county. Use it to plan routes, see real-time departures, and buy tickets for buses, the Bybanen light rail, and local ferries.

Vy — The national railway app. Necessary if you are taking trains to other regions, such as the scenic Bergen–Oslo railway (Bergensbanen), one of the most beautiful train journeys in Europe.

Entur — A nationwide transit planner. Ideal for planning multi-leg journeys across Bergen and out into the surrounding fjord region.

You can also buy a 24 hour or multiple day travel card. This also covers your tram journey from the airport to the city! Read more about the Bergen card.

It is possible to purchase physical tickets at the Bergen Tourist Information (Strandgaten 3), Skyss service points, and local convenience kiosks such as Narvesen and Deli de Luca.

Bergen by car | Parking, P+R

Driving into central Bergen is generally not recommended. The city centre is hilly, narrow-streeted, and subject to an urban toll ring (bompenger). Parking is limited and expensive in prime areas.

• Street Parking — Managed by the municipality. Rates vary by zone; expect 50–80 NOK per hour in the city centre. Electric vehicles receive discounted rates.
• Private Parking Garages — Operators such as Bergen Parkering, Onepark, and APCOA offer covered parking at key locations including Bygarasjen (near Bryggen) and Klostergarasjen. Expect daily maximums of 200–450 NOK depending on location and time of day.

The best way to avoid city centre driving is to use a Park & Ride facility and take the Bybanen in:

• Westerås P+R — Well-used hub on the south side of the city, with direct light rail access into the centre.
• Nesttun P+R — Another popular option on the south corridor of the Bybanen.
• Åsane P+R — On the north side of the city with direct Bybanen access.

Electric Scooters (Step)

Electric scooters are widely available across Bergen. The main operators are Voi (red), Bolt (green), and Tier (yellow/white).

How to Rent — Use the individual operator apps, or check Skyss for integrated scooter mapping in certain zones.

Local Regulations — Scooters are speed-capped in pedestrian-heavy zones such as around Bryggen and Torgallmenningen. Parking is restricted to designated virtual zones shown in the apps. Do not leave scooters blocking pavements or narrow passages, this is both a safety issue and a local pet peeve.

Restaurants

Cafés

Museums

City centre

• Bryggen — UNESCO World Heritage Site. The iconic row of colourful Hanseatic wooden buildings along the waterfront. Explore the alleyways behind the facades to find artisan workshops, galleries, and hidden courtyards.
• Bryggens Museum — Beneath the pavement of Bryggen lies the excavated remains of Bergen's medieval past. The museum presents finds from the 12th–14th centuries, including runic sticks, tools, and everyday objects.
• Hanseatic Museum and Schøtstuene — A meticulously preserved Hanseatic merchant's house from the 1700s, giving insight into the trading empire that shaped Bergen for centuries. Currently undergoing renovation: check opening status before visiting!
• Bergen Aquarium — One of the largest aquariums in Scandinavia. Located at Nordnes, a short walk from the city centre. Great for families.
• KODE Art Museums — Bergen's flagship art institution, spread across four buildings around Lille Lungegårdsvann lake. Holds one of the largest collections of Edvard Munch's works outside Oslo, as well as works by Nikolai Astrup, J.C. Dahl, and international artists.
• Bergen University Museum — The University of Bergen's natural and cultural history museum, with collections spanning geology, botany, zoology, and archaeology.
• Theta Museum — A tiny but extraordinary secret: the hidden wartime resistance headquarters of the Theta group, concealed in a merchant's house near Bryggen. One of the most surprising museums in Norway.

Mount Fløyen & Funicular (Fløibanen)

• Fløibanen Funicular — Departs from the city centre and climbs to 320 metres in around 8 minutes. At the top, you are rewarded with sweeping views over the city, fjords, and surrounding islands. Well-marked hiking trails begin from the summit — trails range from easy walks to longer hikes connecting to Mount Ulriken.
• Fløyen — Bergen's most accessible mountain. The view from the top is the defining Bergen image. Visit at dusk for spectacular light over the Byfjord.

Ulriken (the highest of the seven mountains)

Ulriksbanen Cable Car takes you to the summit of Ulriken (643 m) in just a few minutes. On a clear day the views stretch across the entire archipelago. The cable car runs from Haukeland, reachable by bus from the city centre. Serious hikers can combine Fløyen and Ulriken in a full-day traverse known as Vidden.

Troldhaugen (Edvard Grieg Museum)

Located 10 km south of Bergen, Troldhaugen was the home of composer Edvard Grieg and his wife Nina. The preserved villa, composer's hut, and purpose-built concert hall are set on a wooded hillside above a lake. Chamber concerts are held here regularly during summer. Reachable by bus (line 90) or by bicycle.

Gamle Bergen Museum

An open-air museum on the Sandviken waterfront, north of the city centre. Around 55 relocated wooden buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries create a fully walkable historic neighbourhood, complete with costumed guides in summer.

Lysøen (Ole Bull's Villa)

The fantastical island retreat of violinist Ole Bull, accessible by a short boat trip from Buena Quay (south of Bergen). The Moorish-inspired villa and surrounding walking trails make for a magical half-day excursion. Seasonal opening, check ahead!

Photo spots

• Fløyen summit — The classic panoramic shot of Bergen, best in golden hour and without low hanging clouds.
• Bryggen from across the harbour — Shot from the Torget side of Vågen harbour, with the Hanseatic facades reflected in the water.
• Alleyways behind Bryggen — Narrow wooden passages, laundry hanging between buildings, painted details, endlessly photogenic.
• Torgallmenningen — Bergen's main square, especially lively during market days and local events.
• Nordnes Sjøbad — The open-air saltwater pool at the tip of the Nordnes peninsula, with city views and a distinctly local atmosphere.
• Lille Lungegårdsvann — The small octagonal lake in the centre of town, surrounded by KODE museums and parks. Beautiful in morning light.
• Ulriken summit — For wide-angle landscape shots of the seven mountains, fjords, and islands stretching to the horizon.
• Fantoft Stave Church — A reconstructed medieval stave church in a forest setting south of the city, atmospheric in all weather.