2 days in Bergen

Day by day

1. Day 1: Bryggen and Bryggens Museum

   Bryggen, Bryggens Museum, Bergenhus Fortress and Fløibanen and Mount Fløyen, then Bryggen and Vågen in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Bryggen

      Rebuilt in the same style after repeated fires, the buildings lean and creak along narrow wooden passageways behind the facades, now filled with craft shops, galleries and restaurants. Bryggen has been on UNESCO's World Heritage List since 1979.

   2. Late morning

      Bryggens Museum

      Built over the excavated remains of Bergen's earliest buildings, the museum displays the foundations of 12th-century wharf houses and finds from the medieval city, including runic inscriptions carved on wooden sticks that record everyday messages, trade deals and love notes.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Bergen fish soup

      Restaurants around Bryggen and the harbour, and stalls at the fish market.

   4. Afternoon

      Bergenhus Fortress

      The grounds and ramparts are free to walk around.

   5. Late afternoon

      Fløibanen and Mount Fløyen

      At the top, the viewing terrace looks over the harbour, the islands and the sea, and trails lead through forest to the Skomakerdiket lake, troll sculptures and a playground. You can walk back down in about 45 minutes.

   6. Evening

      Bryggen and Vågen

      Pubs and bars in old wharf buildings and harbourside terraces, popular with visitors.

2. Day 2: Fish Market and Mostraumen fjord cruise

   Fish Market, Mostraumen fjord cruise, KODE art museums and Ulriken cable car, then Vaskerelven and Ole Bulls plass in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Fish Market

      Today there is an indoor glass hall, Mathallen, open all year, with outdoor stalls in the warmer months selling shellfish, smoked salmon, fish soup and cooked seafood to eat on the spot, including king crab and whale meat.

   2. Late morning

      Mostraumen fjord cruise

      It is the easiest way to see a fjord from Bergen without a full-day trip.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Skillingsbolle

      Bakeries across the city, from small independent bakers to local chains such as Baker Brun.

   4. Afternoon

      KODE art museums

      Highlights include a large collection of works by Edvard Munch, Norwegian landscape painting by J.C. Dahl and Nikolai Astrup, and design and decorative arts.

   5. Late afternoon

      Ulriken cable car

      The summit has wide views over the city, fjords and islands, a restaurant and the start of the Vidden trail across the plateau to Fløyen.

   6. Evening

      Vaskerelven and Ole Bulls plass

      Bars, clubs and late-night venues in the centre near the theatre and the Grieghallen.

Before you go

• Mostraumen fjord cruise: Book ahead in summer, when cruise-ship passengers fill sailings.

If it rains

• Swap in Bergen Aquarium (Nordnes): Check the feeding times on arrival, then walk to Nordnesparken next door for sea views.
• Swap in VilVite Science Centre (Møhlenpris): It is one of the best rainy-day options for children; allow at least two hours.
• Swap in University Museum of Bergen (Nygårdshøyden): Look for the whale hall upstairs and walk through the Nygårdsparken afterwards.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 12–16 hours of visiting over 2 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 5.8 hours in December to 19 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

Getting between stops: Walking. Bryggen, the fish market, Torgallmenningen, KODE and the Fløibanen station are within 10–15 minutes of each other; the hillside lanes are steep.

More or fewer days

• One day in Bergen
• 3 days in Bergen

Questions travellers ask