One Day in Bergen, Norway: The Perfect Itinerary & Best Things to Do

After nearly a week exploring Norway—from the snow-covered Arctic landscapes of Kirkenes and Rotsund to chasing the Northern Lights near Tromsø—my boyfriend Tim and I, along with our friends, Allison and Ryan, made our way south to the colorful, coastal city of Bergen.

Hidden between seven mountains on Norway’s southwestern coast, this storybook port city is filled with charming wooden houses, steep cobblestone streets, and fjord views that seem straight out of a painting.

We only had one day in Bergen, but it turned out to be one of our favorite stops on the trip—a perfect mix of scenic views, local seafood, and laid-back city vibes.

In this guide, I’ll share exactly how we spent our time in Bergen, plus tips for planning your own visit: where to stay, what to see, where to eat, and more.

Even if you only have a short time in Norway, Bergen deserves a spot on your itinerary. Once a major Hanseatic trading port, it still wears its maritime heritage proudly—most famously along the colorful UNESCO-listed Bryggen Wharf.

Though it’s Norway’s second-largest city, it still feels cozy, surrounded by mountains and sea.

Beyond its postcard looks, Bergen offers an authentic slice of Norwegian life. You’ll find locals bundled up with coffee by the harbor, the smell of fresh seafood drifting from the Fish Market, and panoramic views from Mount Fløyen just a quick funicular ride away.

Bergen is also the gateway to Norway’s western fjords, making it the perfect base for scenic day trips or the start (or end) of a longer Norway adventure.

Whether you’re continuing on to Flåm and the Nærøyfjord (like we did) or heading back toward Oslo, Bergen balances the charm of a small town with the culture and energy of a modern city.

Getting to Bergen is straightforward—and half the fun is in the journey.

Bergen Airport (BGO) has regular flights from Oslo, Tromsø, and other major Norwegian cities, as well as select international routes.

The airport is just 30 minutes from the city center by the Flybussen airport express or light rail system, Bybanen.

We flew from Tromsø to Bergen and based ourselves at Hotel Norge by Scandic, one of the city’s most stylish central stays.

If you’re traveling from Oslo, the Bergen Railway is one of the most scenic train rides in Europe.

It takes about seven hours, crossing snow-covered plateaus and winding through mountain tunnels.

We took this route after our time in Flåm—connecting via the Flåm Railway back to Oslo—and it was one of the most breathtaking parts of our Norway trip!

You can also arrive by The Coastal Express or another fjord cruise, which are great options if you’re exploring western Norway’s islands and waterways.

Once you arrive, Bergen’s city center is walkable, compact, and easy to explore without a car.

Bergen is famously rainy—it averages more than 240 days of precipitation each year—but don’t let that stop you. The moody skies only make its colorful streets more photogenic!

• Summer (June–August) brings mild temps, long daylight hours, and lively outdoor festivals—perfect for fjord cruises and hiking Mount Fløyen.
• Fall (September–November) has beautiful colors, fewer crowds, and lower prices—but also more rain.
• Winter (December–February) is chillier and quieter, with snow-dusted rooftops and fewer crowds—ideal for cozy café-hopping and holiday markets.
• Spring (April–May) is a pleasant time to explore the city on foot with mild weather, blooming cherry trees, and a quieter atmosphere before summer tourism kicks in.

We visited in February, and Bergen’s charm shone through the gray skies. Between the colorful wharf, steaming seafood stalls, and warm cafés, it was the perfect winter city break.

A Broad Recommendation: No matter what season, always bring a waterproof jacket and good walking shoes. If you’re visiting in winter like we did, refer to my Travel Packing List for Winter in Norway for more on what to bring along!

For one or two nights in Bergen, you’ll want to stay within walking distance of Bryggen Wharf or the city center. That way, you’ll be close to top attractions, restaurants, and the Fløibanen funicular—without needing to worry about transportation.

Here are a few highly rated options to consider for different budgets—all in great locations:

• 🏨 Luxury: Hotel Norge by Scandic is sleek and modern, with a phenomenal breakfast, beautiful lobby bar and views over Lille Lungegårdsvann lake. This is where we stayed!
• 🛏️ Mid-Range: Thon Hotel Rosenkrantz is a traveler favorite just steps from Bryggen; breakfast is included and excellent.
• 💰 Budget-Friendly: Citybox Bergen is clean, central, and a great value for the money—perfect if you’re just in town for a night or two.

A Broad Recommendation: Bergen hotels can book up fast, especially in summer and early winter (for Christmas markets), so be sure to book yours in advance!

Here’s a look at our walking route through Bergen—from Hotel Norge to Torgallmenningen Square, through Bryggen, up Mount Fløyen, and ending at Bryggeloftet & Stuene.

The city’s compact layout makes it easy to explore everything in a single day, even in winter weather—no car needed!

Bergen is easy to explore on foot—most of the top attractions are within a 15-minute walk of each other.

Here’s our full-day itinerary, covering the highlights and hidden gems we loved.

We started the morning with a hearty Norwegian breakfast buffet at Hotel Norge’s Restaurant Nova, featuring smoked salmon, local cheeses, pastries, and fresh fruit.

Even if you’re not staying here, you can pay to enjoy the buffet—it’s worth it!

After breakfast, we met our guide from Bergen by Expert for a three-hour private walking tour of the city—a great way to cover the main attractions while learning about Bergen’s fascinating history and architecture.

Our first stop was Torgallmenningen Square, Bergen’s main street and central meeting point. 

Like many historic European cities—including Edinburgh, Copenhagen and Stockholm—Bergen has endured several devastating fires over the centuries.

Its current neoclassical style emerged after major rebuilds in the 19th century, making Torgallmenningen Square one of Norway’s best examples of that era’s architecture.

It’s now lined with shops, cafés, and green space, starting at the Maritime Monument and ending at Ole Bulls Plass.

We learned that locals often say, “Let’s meet at the Blue Stone”—a common meeting spot for students and residents alike.

The area was lively when we visited, especially since Norway had just lifted its mask mandate, and the locals were clearly in a celebratory mood!

As we continued our walk, we passed by St. John’s Church, St. Mary’s Church, and several statues and museums, including the National Telegraph and Telephone Building.

Bergen’s mix of Gothic spires, wooden façades, and colorful neoclassical buildings makes every corner camera-worthy, and our guide brought each of these spots to life with local stories and history.

Next, we wandered through some of Bergen’s most beautiful residential streets, lined with pastel-colored wooden houses, cobblestone alleys, and art galleries.

Every turn revealed another photo-perfect view—the architecture looked like something out of a fairytale village.

We also spotted lots of beautiful street art along the way. In fact, Bergen has actually been deemed Norway’s street art capital!

Walls and corners of the city are adorned with paintings—from whimsical portraits to bold social commentary—created by local artists, who hope “to make Bergen a more colorful place.”

It’s an incredible contrast to the city’s gray skies and centuries-old architecture—and one of my favorite surprises in Bergen.

Next, we headed to the Fish Market (Fisketorget), one of the city’s most iconic attractions and one of Norway’s oldest trading venues.

It’s been around since the 1200s, originally serving as a meeting point for merchants and fishermen.

Today, the Fish Market is a lively spot for fresh seafood, local produce, and souvenirs.

If you have time, have lunch at Fish Me, which has a great harbor view and a charming atmosphere.

Just steps from the Fish Market lies Bryggen, Bergen’s most iconic landmark.

These colorful, slanted wooden buildings once housed the offices of the Hanseatic League—a powerful medieval trade network—and are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Despite suffering multiple fires, Bryggen has been rebuilt each time using traditional methods, preserving its 18th-century charm.

Many of the structures you see today date back to the 1700s (and some cellars even to the 1400s!).

We loved exploring the narrow alleyways, wooden staircases, and tiny artisan shops tucked between the buildings.

It’s easy to see why Bryggen is one of Norway’s most photographed spots—and why it remains a vital link to Bergen’s maritime past.

We ended our walking tour at the base of Mount Fløyen, one of Bergen’s seven surrounding mountains.

The summit can be reached by the Fløibanen Funicular in about six minutes, but we opted for the short walk up to the Promsgate viewpoint, the lowest of the funicular’s three stations.

Even from there, the view over Bergen’s colorful rooftops and harbor was spectacular.

We also visited the historic Skansen Fire Station, built in 1903 after one of Bergen’s many devastating fires.

If you have more time (and energy), the top of Mount Fløyen offers hiking trails, viewpoints, and even a café.

We’d love to hike the Vidden Trail between Mount Fløyen and Mount Ulriken—one of Bergen’s most scenic routes!

After our tour ended, we continued exploring on our own and walked over to Bergenhus Festning (Bergenhus Fortress), one of the oldest and best-preserved stone fortifications in Norway.

In medieval times, Bergenhus Festning served as the royal residence in Bergen and was the site of several royal coronations and weddings. It was also the burial site for at least six kings and other members of the royal family.

The fortress is made up of buildings that date as far back as the 1240s, like Haakon’s Hall and others that were built all the way up until World War II, like Rosenkrantz Tower, but the foundations are presumed to have been laid before 1100, around the time of King Olav Kyrre.

When we visited, the tower was closed for restoration, but the grounds were open, and we spent time admiring the architecture and reading about Bergen’s royal history.

After a morning of walking and exploring, we were ready for some food!

For lunch, we stopped at The Daily Pot, a cozy, health-focused café offering soups, sandwiches, and grain bowls made from fresh, organic ingredients.

Located in a charming, historic building right in the heart of Bergen, the Daily Pot is an innovative eatery with a mission “to introduce guests to the world of clean eating through delicious food.”

Plus, the menu changes weekly, which makes every visit unique—how neat!

A Broad Recommendation: The café is small and fills up fast, so make a reservation in advance. Even with one, our group of four had to sit at separate tables!

After lunch, we visited the Bryggens Museum, which was built on the site of a 1955 fire that uncovered fascinating medieval ruins.

The museum’s main exhibit, Below Ground, displays artifacts from Bergen’s early trading days, including ceramics, runes, and clothing from nearly 1,000 years ago.

Another exhibit, The City and the Team, showcases Bergen’s deep connection to its football club, SK Brann, through interactive displays.

It’s a fun, informative stop if you love history or want to understand Bergen beyond the postcards.

We wrapped up our day with dinner at Bryggeloftet & Stuene, a historic, family-run restaurant that’s been serving Norwegian seafood and meat dishes since the early 1900s.

We ate upstairs in The Bryggeloftet, which overlooks the harbor, and tried traditional dishes like fish soup and reindeer filet—all paired with local beer and a glass of rosé.

A Broad Recommendation: Book your table in advance! Bryggeloftet is Bergen’s oldest restaurant (dating back to 1910!) and one of its most popular—a must for your Bergen itinerary.

If you have more than one day in Bergen (or want to swap a few stops from our itinerary), consider adding these experiences:

• 🚡 Mount Ulriken Cable Car: Ride the Ulriken643 cable car up Bergen’s highest mountain for panoramic views and hiking trails—these are also Norway’s largest gondolas!
• 🏘️ Gamle Bergen Museum: Step back in time at this open-air museum, which showcases 18th–20th century wooden houses that recreate historic Bergen life.
• 🎨 KODE Art Museums: Explore four museums and three composers’ homes featuring classic and contemporary art, music history, and design. Don’t miss Troldhaugen, home of famous Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg, or the world’s largest gingerbread town at Lysverket during the holidays.
• ⚓ Hanseatic Museum and Schotstuene: Discover what life was like for Hanseatic merchants working at Bryggen.
• 🏥 Leprosy Museum: Visit this well-preserved 18th-century hospital complex and learn about Armauer Hansen’s groundbreaking research into leprosy.
• 🐧 Bergen Aquarium: A family favorite—meet local marine life and penguins while learning about Norway’s ocean ecosystems.
• 🍽️ Food and Culture Walk: Taste your way through Bergen while sampling local specialties and learning about Norwegian cuisine.
• ⛪ Fantoft Stave Church: See a beautiful, reconstructed medieval stave church, located about 20 minutes outside the city center.

Bergen is often called the gateway to the fjords—and for good reason! It’s the perfect jumping-off point for exploring Norway’s dramatic natural landscapes.

If you have more than one day in the city, here are some of the most popular fjord experiences to consider:

• 🚢 Norway in a Nutshell® Tour: This iconic self-guided tour combines scenic train rides, fjord cruises, and bus transfers through some of Norway’s most beautiful landscapes, including the Nærøyfjord, Aurlandsfjord, and Flåm Railway. You can do it as a day trip from Bergen or as part of a multi-day route between Bergen and Oslo (like we did!).
• ⛴️ Mostraumen Fjord Cruise: This 3-hour round-trip cruise departs from Bergen’s harbor and sails through narrow fjords surrounded by steep mountains and cascading waterfalls. You’ll even pass small villages and get close enough to waterfalls to feel the mist!
• 🏔️ Hardangerfjord Day Tour: Often called the “Queen of the Fjords,” Hardangerfjord is known for its fruit orchards, glaciers, and hiking trails. It’s a bit farther from Bergen (about 2 hours each way) but offers unforgettable scenery.

A Broad Recommendation: Many of these can be booked through GetYourGuide or Viator for flexible cancellation options.

Layers, a rain jacket, waterproof shoes, and a small umbrella. Even in summer, temperatures can fluctuate and showers come and go quickly.

Check out my full winter Norway packing list for more details!

Bergen might be small, but it’s full of history, color, and charm.

From the cobbled lanes of Bryggen to the panoramic views atop Mount Fløyen, we loved every moment of our visit—and this one-day Bergen itinerary is the perfect introduction to Norway’s coastal magic.

After a whirlwind day here, we continued our Norway adventure by train to Flåm, one of the most scenic journeys in the world and a perfect next stop after Bergen.

If you’re planning your own Norway itinerary, don’t miss my other detailed guides:

• Snow Resort Kirkenes, Norway: What It’s Really Like to Stay in an Arctic Ice Hotel
• Things to Do in Kirkenes, Norway in Winter: 1-Day Arctic Itinerary + Travel Tips
• Lyngen North Glass Igloo Review: The Best Northern Lights Hotel in Norway
• 3-Day Tromsø Winter Itinerary: Top Things to Do + Northern Lights Guide
• One Day in Bergen, Norway: The Perfect Itinerary & Best Things to Do
• Twenty-Four Hours in Flåm, Norway in the Winter
• Things to Do in Oslo in Winter: The Perfect Sunday Itinerary
• 12-Day Winter Norway Itinerary: See the Northern Lights & Best Winter Destinations
• What to Pack for Norway in Winter: The Ultimate Norway Winter Packing List

Have you spent a day in Bergen? I’d love to hear your favorite spots—share them in the comments below!

XOXO Sara at Travel A-Broads