If you're planning a trip to Bergen and wondering how much there is to do, there's easily enough to fill a weekend, even if you're visiting in winter.
I visited Bergen on a solo trip in February, spending two nights in the city before travelling across Norway to Oslo on the Bergensbanen railway. Bergen was somewhere I'd wanted to visit for a while, mainly for the fjords, and it turned out to be a really easy city to explore without a car.
During my stay, I took a fjord cruise through Mostraumen, rode the Fløibanen Funicular up Mount Fløyen and spent time exploring Bryggen, the harbour and city centre. I also found Bergen surprisingly compact, with most of the places I wanted to visit within walking distance of my hotel.
In this guide, I've started with the things I actually did during my trip, including what I paid and what I thought of them.
Further down, you'll also find more ideas for things to do in Bergen if you have longer than I did, along with some of the most popular day trips from the city.
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If you only have time for one big experience in Bergen, a fjord cruise would be my pick.
I booked a 3.5-hour Mostraumen Fjord Cruise through GetYourGuide the night before and paid £69.07. I visited in February, so the scenery was very wintry, with snow-covered mountains, icy water and even a frozen waterfall along the route.
The cruise departed from Zachariasbryggen by Bergen Fish Market, just a six-minute walk from my hotel. I arrived around 20 minutes before departure and used the mobile ticket on my phone, so the whole process was really straightforward.
There was plenty of indoor seating on board, along with toilets and a café selling hot drinks and cakes. You could also take your own food, which is what I did after picking up a sandwich before boarding.
The best views were obviously outside, but in February it was absolutely freezing on the upper deck. I'd dressed for winter, but I still wished I'd brought a proper hat and scarf because the wind chill once the boat got moving was something else.
For around £70, I thought the cruise was really good value considering we were out for more than three hours. It was one of the highlights of my whole Norway trip and something I'd definitely recommend making time for if you're visiting Bergen.
• Read my full Mostraumen Fjord Cruise review, including current prices, what to wear and exactly what to expect.
One of the easiest ways to get some of the best views over Bergen is to take the Fløibanen Funicular up to Mount Fløyen.
The lower station is right in the city centre, close to Bryggen, and the journey to the top only takes a few minutes. I bought my ticket online before visiting, which meant I could skip the ticket queue when I arrived.
I paid 145 NOK return, which was around £11.40 at the time of my trip. For that price, I thought it was well worth doing.
At the top, there are panoramic views across Bergen, the harbour and surrounding mountains. I was lucky enough to visit on a clear February day, so despite it being winter, visibility was really good.
There's more to Mount Fløyen than just the viewpoint too. You'll find walking trails, a playground, café, bar and toilets, so you could easily spend longer up there if the weather is good. I didn't have loads of time, so for me the main reason for going was the view.
If you're only in Bergen for a couple of days, this is one of the easiest attractions to fit in because it's so close to the centre and doesn't take up half your day.
• Read my full Fløibanen Funicular and Mount Fløyen guide for current prices, how to buy tickets and what to expect at the top.
You can't really visit Bergen without spending some time around Bryggen. The colourful wooden buildings lining the harbour are probably the most recognisable sight in the city and the area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
I walked through Bryggen on the morning of my Mostraumen fjord cruise, as it was only a short walk from where the boat departed. It's very easy to combine the two if you're short on time.
Don't just take a photo from across the harbour and move on. You can walk between the old wooden buildings and through the narrow passageways behind the waterfront, where you'll find small shops, cafés and galleries.
Bryggen is right in the centre of Bergen, so you don't need to set aside a huge chunk of your itinerary for it. It's somewhere you'll probably pass several times during a weekend in the city, particularly if you're also visiting the Fish Market, Fløibanen or taking a fjord cruise.
It's also completely free to explore, making it one of the easiest things to add to a Bergen itinerary.
Bergen is a really easy city to explore on foot, and I spent quite a bit of my trip simply walking around the harbour and city centre between the bigger attractions I'd booked.
The waterfront is particularly nice to wander around, with Bryggen on one side, the Fish Market nearby and boats coming and going from the harbour. Many of Bergen's main sights are packed into quite a small area, so you naturally see a lot just walking between them.
I stayed at Ole Bull Hotel & Apartments in the centre and found the location really convenient. Bryggen, the harbour, Fløibanen and the departure point for my Mostraumen cruise were all within walking distance, while Bergen railway station was around a ten-minute flat walk away.
If you've only got a weekend in Bergen, I'd definitely leave some time without anything booked. You don't need an itinerary for every hour here, and walking around the centre is one of the easiest ways to get a feel for the city.
I only had two nights in Bergen, so there were plenty of things I didn't have time to fit in. If you're staying longer, here are some more ideas to consider.
7. Ulriken Cable Car
Take the cable car to the top of Mount Ulriken, the highest of Bergen's seven mountains, for views across the city and surrounding fjords.
8. Walk the Vidden Trail
If you want something more active, the Vidden Trail runs between Mount Ulriken and Mount Fløyen, allowing you to combine two of Bergen's mountains in one hike.
9. Bergenhus Fortress
One of Norway's oldest and best-preserved fortifications, located close to Bryggen and easy to add while exploring the harbour.
10. Bryggens Museum
A good option if you want to learn more about Bergen's history and the medieval city that once stood around Bryggen.
11. Bergen Aquarium
Home to marine life as well as penguins, reptiles and other animals. This could be a useful option for families or for a wet-weather day in Bergen.
12. KODE Art Museums
Bergen's collection of art museums includes Norwegian and international art, with several museum buildings around the city centre.
13. Troldhaugen
The former home of Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg is now a museum and includes his villa, composing hut and concert hall.
14. Try a Sauna or Fjord Swim
For a very Norwegian experience, you could book a sauna by the water and, if you're brave enough, combine it with a dip in the fjord.
15. Try a Viking Experience
There are Viking-themed experiences available around Bergen, including sailing trips. If Viking history is a big part of your Norway plans, we also spent a weekend in Tønsberg, where we saw Viking ship replicas being built and explored the city's Viking connections.
16. Visit Fantoft Stave Church
Fantoft Stave Church is a reconstructed traditional Norwegian stave church just outside Bergen city centre. The original medieval church was moved to Bergen in the 19th century but destroyed by fire in 1992, with the current church rebuilt in its place.
17. Ride the Flåm Railway
The Flåm Railway is one of Norway's most famous train journeys, running between Myrdal and Flåm through mountain scenery and past waterfalls. It's possible to visit from Bergen as part of a longer day trip combining rail and fjord travel.
18. Cruise the Nærøyfjord
Nærøyfjord is a UNESCO-listed branch of the Sognefjord and can be combined with Flåm on a day trip from Bergen, making this a good option if you want another fjord experience beyond Mostraumen.
19. Visit the Viking Village at Gudvangen
Njardarheimr Viking Village is near the end of the Nærøyfjord at Gudvangen and focuses on Viking life and history. It's another stop that can be combined with Flåm and the fjord.
20. Visit Stegastein Viewpoint
Stegastein sits high above the Aurlandsfjord and has a viewing platform extending out over the mountainside. Some Bergen day trips combine it with Flåm and the surrounding fjords.
I spent two nights in Bergen, which worked well for a short city break. I had enough time to explore Bryggen and the harbour, take the Fløibanen Funicular up Mount Fløyen and spend half a day on the Mostraumen Fjord Cruise before continuing my trip to Oslo.
If Bergen is your main destination, I'd probably allow three nights. That would give you more time to explore without rushing and leave room for another attraction or a longer day trip.
For trips to places such as Flåm, the Nærøyfjord and Gudvangen, I'd consider adding an extra day rather than trying to squeeze everything into a two-night stay.
For me, two nights was enough to see the main things I wanted to see, but I'd happily stay longer on a future trip.
For me, Bergen was definitely worth visiting, particularly for the combination of the city and the surrounding scenery.
It's compact enough to explore over a weekend, you don't need a car, and some of the experiences I enjoyed most, including the Mostraumen Fjord Cruise and Fløibanen, were incredibly easy to reach from the city centre.
Bergen also worked really well as part of a longer Norway trip. Rather than flying home afterwards, I continued to Oslo on the Bergen Railway, turning the journey between the two cities into another part of the trip.
I'd happily return, particularly to see Bergen in a different season and fit in some of the things I missed on this trip.
Bergen is really easy to reach without hiring a car. I flew into Bergen Airport (Flesland) and used the Bybanen light rail to travel straight into the city centre.
Line 1 runs from the airport to Byparken, right in central Bergen. My journey took around 45 minutes, and I paid 51 NOK for my ticket at the station.
I landed at around 7:30pm and was in my accommodation by approximately 9pm, so even arriving in the evening was straightforward.
There are quicker options available, including the airport bus and taxis, but the light rail worked perfectly for me and was an inexpensive way to get into Bergen.
• Read my full Bergen Airport to City Centre guide for all the transport options, journey times and current prices.
I stayed at Ole Bull Hotel & Apartments in the centre of Bergen and found the location ideal for a short trip.
It was around a five-minute walk from Byparken, where the light rail from the airport terminates, and roughly ten minutes on foot from Bergen railway station. Bryggen, Fløibanen, the harbour and the departure point for my Mostraumen cruise were all within easy walking distance too.
My apartment was huge, with a double bed, a sofa bed and a full kitchenette, and I paid £122 for two nights from Friday to Sunday.
The location can be lively, particularly on a Friday night, as there are bars, restaurants and entertainment venues nearby. The noise didn't bother me, but it's something I'd bear in mind if you're a light sleeper.
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