Curator’s statement
Bergen was a surprisingly fun and quaint town that we spent five days in before boarding a Viking cruise ship. The weather was beautiful—a rarity in the summer—and we loved exploring and walking around the fish market and surrounding areas. We enjoyed going up Mt. Floyen and walking through the town each day, where we always found amazing meals and new places to experience.
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Things to do in Bergen
Riding up the Fløyen Funicular and looking down on Bergen
Fløyen Funicular Railway: It was beautiful and fun taking the funicular up the mountain, exploring the top (don’t forget to see the goats), and hiking the two miles down to town. It was the start of a really amazing time in Bergen. At the top of Mt. Floyen, you can hike or walk over to Skomakerdiket, a local lake with free canoes.
Baja Bike/Norway Active Bike Tour: We took a 2.5-hour bike tour throughout Bergen. From the fort to the Grieghallen, we were able to see and experience places we would never have gotten to on foot.
Bryggen: A must-see—but view and take pictures from the other side of the port—with a delicious bakery and fun shops down the alleys. The place was lively and touristy, but it was a lot of fun to explore the museum shop, various art shops, and so much more.
Fishmarket: A must-experience in Bergen. We tried delicious fresh fish and some amazing moose, reindeer, and whale sausage. We loved the vibes and lively environment of the market.
Rodne Fjord Cruise: A three-hour fjord cruise that sails up into the fjords and the farms and small villages throughout. The water was pristine, the scenery was out of a fairytale, and the cruise was a must-do.
Day trip via train to Voss, Norway: We headed inland to Voss for a few hours (a one-hour train ride each way) and loved the town. We rode the gondola up the ski mountain, hiked, and explored—we loved our time up there. It was a small enough town that three hours was enough for exploring and seeing the area and its lakes.
Places to eat & drink in Bergen
Our dinner at Bryggeloftet Restaurant in Bergen
Bryggeloftet Restaurant: We had our favorite meal in Bergen at this local historic restaurant. The reindeer filets were amazing and the service and other plates were incredible.
Fish Me: There’s a variety of options from the various restaurants and bars inside. We sat outside on the patio and enjoyed people-watching while having delicious sushi, fish and chips, and so much more.
Fjellskal Sjomatrestaurant: Next to Fish Me, this sit-down restaurant offers delicious appetizers, fish mains, and desserts.
Olivia Ole Bulls Plass: After-dinner drinks and cocktails were incredible here—it had a lot of options. We were able to sit out on the couches outside, which was a great ending to a perfect day in Bergen.
Frescohallen: We had dinner on a Saturday night here, and it was good overall. Service was good, the wine list was extensive, and the main dishes were great.
Need to know
Everyone was extremely friendly and social in Bergen.
The gluten-free options at all restaurants (and gluten-free beer) made it very easy to enjoy every meal. Norway understands gluten-free and other dietary restrictions. Most menus are marked with all allergens.
Purchase Mt. Fløyen Funicular and Rodne fjord cruise tickets ahead of time.
I recommend going early to the Mt. Fløyen funicular. When cruise ships arrive, it becomes very crowded.
Bergen is very walkable—there is no need for a car.
Dinner reservations are needed at Bryggeloftet.
I highly recommend a bike tour to experience and see areas of Bergen that you wouldn’t necessarily see on foot. If you are not a regular biker, I recommend an e-bike, as the hills are not for the faint of heart (although you can always walk your bike up).
We did not enjoy the Ice Bar. It claimed to be kid-friendly, but the pictures in the bar were far from family-friendly. It was cheesy and not worth either the trek out there or the price.
Travel Advisor
Brittany O'Brien
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For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Bergen page.