Best time to visit · Bergen · Norway
The best time to visit Bergen
Weather, crowds, prices and events for every month, so you can pick the trip that suits you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 2.5
Quick answer
The best time to visit Bergen is May to September, when days are long, fjord boats and mountain trails are fully running and the weather is mildest. May and early June are often brighter and less crowded than July and August. Winter is dark and wet but quiet, with the Gingerbread Town and Christmas market in December.
Key facts
- Best months
- May–August
- Shoulder season
- April, September and December
- Warmest month
- July (avg high 19°C (66°F))
- Coldest month
- January (avg high 4°C (39°F))
- Rainiest month
- October (~20 rainy days)
- Lowest hotel prices
- January–March and October–November
Seasons
Bergen has a mild but very wet maritime climate, warmed by the Gulf Stream: winters are much milder than inland Norway and rarely very cold, summers are cool, and rain falls on more than half the days of the year. Weather changes quickly, and clear days are prized.
March–May
Spring
Lengthening days, fruit blossom in Hardanger and some of the drier weather of the year, with snow lingering on the mountain tops.
June–August
Summer
Long light evenings, full fjord-cruise and Norway in a Nutshell schedules, and festivals, but the busiest and most expensive season with frequent rain.
September–November
Autumn
Autumn colour and fewer visitors, but some of the wettest, stormiest and darkest weeks of the year.
December–February
Winter
Short days, frequent rain and occasional snow, with Christmas lights, the Gingerbread Town and low prices.
Month by month
Long-term averages (rounded). Crowds and prices are relative, 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). Daylight is sunrise to sunset on the 15th.
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Sea | Daylight | Crowds | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 4°C | 0°C | 19 | 7°C | 6.6 h | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| February | 4°C | 0°C | 16 | 6°C | 9 h | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| March | 6°C | 1°C | 18 | 6°C | 11.6 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| April | 10°C | 4°C | 15 | 7°C | 14.5 h | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| May | 14°C | 7°C | 14 | 10°C | 17.2 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| June | 17°C | 10°C | 14 | 13°C | 19 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| July | 19°C | 12°C | 15 | 15°C | 18.2 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| August | 19°C | 12°C | 17 | 16°C | 15.7 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| September | 15°C | 10°C | 19 | 14°C | 12.7 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| October | 11°C | 7°C | 20 | 12°C | 9.9 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| November | 7°C | 3°C | 20 | 10°C | 7.3 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| December | 5°C | 0°C | 20 | 8°C | 5.8 h | 2/5 | 3/5 |
Yearly events
Recurring dates shift from year to year; confirm with the organiser before you book.
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| March | Borealis — experimental music festival (usually March) |
| May | Constitution Day parades (17 May); Bergen International Festival — music, theatre and dance (usually late May to early June); Nattjazz festival (usually late May) |
| June | Bergenfest music festival at Bergenhus Fortress (usually June); Midsummer bonfires (around 23 June) |
| September | Bergen Food Festival (usually early September); Bergen International Film Festival (usually late September) |
| November | Pepperkakebyen — a town built of gingerbread by local children (usually mid-November to late December) |
| December | Christmas market at Festplassen (usually December) |
Cheapest and quietest times
Hotel prices are usually lowest in January–March and October–November, and the sights are quietest in January–February.
What to pack
| Season | Pack |
|---|---|
| Spring | Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; Shoes with good grip for icy pavements; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Summer | Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Autumn | Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Winter | A warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; Shoes with good grip for icy pavements; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best month to visit Bergen?
The best time to visit Bergen is May to September, when days are long, fjord boats and mountain trails are fully running and the weather is mildest. May and early June are often brighter and less crowded than July and August. Winter is dark and wet but quiet, with the Gingerbread Town and Christmas market in December.
+When are hotel prices lowest in Bergen?
Usually in January–March and October–November. Dark, wet and windy, with daylight of about six hours; quiet and good for museums and cosy cafés.
+What is the rainiest month in Bergen?
October, with about 20 days of rain on average.
+How hot does Bergen get?
The warmest month, July, averages highs of 19°C (66°F) and lows of 12°C (54°F).