Travel Guide to 24 Hours in Bergen, Norway: 13 Things to Do

Bergen might be one of the most sought-after cities in Europe for its charm, history, and postcard-perfect setting on the fjord. Here’s my guide of the 13 things to do in Bergen in 24 hours.

As Patrick and I migrated from East to West of Norway in just 4 days, we made it to our final city and the one of the oldest port cities in Europe, Bergen. You can catch more on our journey from Flam to Bergen via a ferry on the stunning Sognefjord in Uncovering the Sognefjord From Flam to Bergen Via Ferry. With 1 day to spare, we decided to see as much as we could of the city.

As our ferry pulled into the port 8PM on this sunny May day, we immediately saw the famed colored houses of Bryggen. They reminded me of the houses you would use to play Monopoly all stacked up nicely one next to the other creating a perfect rainbow. Locals and tourists speckled the street in front of the houses, dining in front of them right on the wharf.

Bergen is known for its rain. If you think London is rainy, you are wrong. Bergen is considered the rainiest city in the world. It rains 240 days per year! If you want to witness a rare sighting in Bergen, visit the city in late May/early June like Pat and I did. The 2 days we were there we saw nothing but sun (literally both during the night and day due to the sun never truly setting).

We dropped our bags off at our Airbnb just a 10 minute walk from the wharf and made our way in search of dinner. More on that in my next post! As soon as we stepped out of our Airbnb we immediately were immersed into Bergen’s picture perfect atmosphere. The sun was “setting,” as much as it can in Bergen in the summer, creating a pink aura over the cobblestone streets and houses. The next morning as Pat I walked out to grab breakfast and explore the city, we noticed a a graffiti masterpiece a few yards down from our Airbnb. Something you’ll notice about Bergen is that although it is famous for it’s historical architecture, it is a very alternative city. In fact, it is gaining a new and second reputation as a vivid street art scene. You will see graffiti throughout the city, but not in a vulgar way. Is it a street art that brings satire, recounts history and portrays the artwork of the city.

Without further a due, here’s what to see, do and eat in just 24 hours in Bergen:

   1. Bryggen

We started our journey in UNESCO’s Bryggen—or wharf in Norwegian. I like to call this the the postcard motif. It’s a mix of bakeries (with amazing pastries!!), hotels, pubs, museums and restaurants. We stopped by one of the bakeries and grabbed some pastries and a cappuccino to get our day started. The pastries at first didn’t seem that appetizing to me, but boy oh boy was I wrong. Creamy deliciousness! If there is one thing Norwegian’s are good at making—it’s pastries!! Finished our breakfast we made our way down the wharf. One thing I love about Norway is how eco-friendly they are about everything, especially water. They try to reuse bottles as much as possible and have stations set up throughout the town were people can refill their water bottles with fresh water so they don’t have to waste plastic. Maybe this eco-consciousness is why Norway is such an impeccable country!

   2. Øvregaten    

The street right below our Airbnb and right above Bryggen is Øvregaten. It is considered one of Bergen’s main streets and was once the town’s main market where cobblers, tailors, artisans and more wood come to trade. Today the road is occupied by antique shops and the occasional tattoo parlor, I mean we are in Bergen after all!

   3. Lose Yourself In Bergen’s Streets    

We spent the majority of our morning getting pulled left and right by the adorable streets of Bergen. We originally had a plan, but as we kept walking, every small street was calling our name begging us to explore it. For a look at some of our most favorite streets see below:

      4. Fisketorget Fish Market 

As it gets closers to lunch time we find ourselves wandering towards the famous Bergen fish market. The market is open every day from the first of May to the end of September. This fish market is again part of the port, fishermen, and trading locations history. It’s been an ongoing market since the 1200s and still very much in use today. No need to fear if you come here in the winter, the indoor market located just a few steps from the wharf has the same quality food and is open year round.

   5. Skostredet (Art district) 

Next up, wander around the street of Skostredet, the up and coming street art district in Bergen. Truth be told, you will come across a lot of street are when exploring Bergen, but this area is explicitly dedicated to it not only on it’s walls but in it’s stores too.

   6. Torgallmenningen

I recommend you start by walking down Lille Lungegårdsvannet pond and making your way to Marken Street, a quaint cobblestone street with plenty of food options and hidden trinket stores. Then you make your way up to Make your way to Torgallmenningen, or Bergen’s Fifth Avenue for an array of activities. Here you can do some shopping, walk by the beautiful Musikkpaviljongen pavillion in Byparken park, sit on the lawn of the newly renovated Art Nouveau theatre, and enjoy lunch at the highly acclaimed Cafe Opera (which is what we did!)

   7. Klosteret

The walk to Klosteret street was one of our favorites. We came across a lot of beautiful old style homes and colorful streets rich in flower pots and immersed in history.

Keep walking and you reach the area of Klosteret, Kloster means Monastery in Norwegian. The street is called Klosteret because a famous Monastery used to be here that dates back to 1135. Today it is a beautiful residential area that houses one of our favorite restaurants—Spisekroken!

   8. Mount Floyen

A trip the top of one of the seven mountains surrounding Bergen, Mount Floyen, is a must when there. We recommend taking the funicular which gets you up there in less than 6 minutes and offers stunning views. An alternate route (and if you have more time) would be to hike up the side of the mountain. That would take roughly 1 hour to get up. From here you can catch breathtaking views of the city, either from the platform balcony they provide or from smaller hidden areas such as the one that Pat and I found below. There is a restaurant at the top where you can enjoy lunch, dinner, snack or a nice cold beer on one of the few sunny days.

   9. Tubakuba

Many don’t know this, but there is more to explore on Mount Floyen than just the view. Roughly 100 yards away from the viewing area hides Tubakuba, a sleekly designed rabbit hole cabin available for anyone to sleep—FREE OF CHARGE. That’s right, you heard me. Free. You need to apply to be accepted to sleep in it but you can stay in this quaint rabbit hole with views of the city overlooking Bergen. The only reason Pat and I didn’t take it is because we were scared of being so far away from the city, and who knows…bears and coyotes could be roaming this area for all we know. But, if you are not a scaredy cat like me, I would totally jump at the occasion of staying in this architectural masterpiece built by students at the Bergen School of Architecture. A few key things to note before you consider this stay: It does not have electricity, so all heat in the winter is provided by a small wood burning stove and a lot of insulation. I’m not so sure about lights, but I’d assume that isn’t something that is available either, you will have to use the light shining through the enormous window in the summer.

    10. The Hanseatic Headquarters 

Bergen is famously known for its history in the Hanseatic League, also called Hansa. It was an organization founded by northern German towns and merchant communities to protect their mutual trading interest. To avoid the crowds of tourist during the day, Pat and I decided to visit in the later afternoon and we recommend you do the same! Since Bergen was one of the first ports in Northern Europe, it seemed fitting to have one of the 4 Hanseatic headquarters set up here. Today, it is the only Hanseatic League headquarters left that is still preserved. Each summer, these German merchants would set up shop in Bergen in the area that we today call Bryggen. It is made up of the wharf and the Hanseatic Headquarters where they once lived. Today it is considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In my opinion, the headquarters look identical to Diagon Alley and could have in fact inspired J.K. Rowling. Take a look for yourselves if you don’t believe me:

The wooden houses that adorn these maze-like and Harry Potter-like streets have caught fire time and time again. The great fire of 1702 turned Bergen to ashes, but rather than rebuild from scratch, the locals kept the original foundation from the 12th century and have rebuilt upon using the old patterns and methods. This is what makes Bryggen such a world marvel! The last fire was in 1955. Because of this effort, today approximately 62 buildings within the Hanseatic Headquarters still remain of this former townscape. The headquarters is set up like it once was with the merchants shops on the ground floor and the merchants homes on the top. As you walk around, you really get a sense of what it was once like back in the day!

   11. Bergunhaus Fortress

Welcome to one of the oldest and best preserved fortress’ in Norway. It used to house the royal family back in the 13th century. It was a very important fortress back in the day and was even where the first set of laws were drawn up for Norway. Located right at the end of the Bryggen wharf, this fortress is open to the public. We visited later on in the day and unfortunately were not able to see the hall inside. Haakon’s hall looks identical to the Great Hall in Harry Potter in my opinion! Another coincidence..? I think not, but that’s just my opinion. Google it and let me know if you don’t agree. Today the hall is still used for royal dinners and other important events.

   12. Happy Hour at Rock & Roll American Diner

Now I know what you are thinking. Ugh, typical American stopping by an American diner when abroad instead of immersing herself in the culture. I promise you this is NOT the case with Rock & Roll American Diner. The place is a hot spot in Bergen and filled with locals. They’ve done a better job at bringing back to life our diners then we have! Imagine eating in an actual car inside the diner (I kid you not, one room is dedicated just to that!), sipping huge milkshakes, a room full of old school jukeboxes and records still playing, vintage tall boys and seats. It’s a dream come true and made me feel like I was whisked away back to the 80s. Pat and I stopped here for a quick drink among the locals before heading out to dinner.

   13. Dinner at Spisekroken

Our night ended with dinner back near Klosteret at Spisekroken. The setting is small and quaint and you wouldn’t expect anything to grandiose, but the meal is fit for a Michelin star. Their french-inspired cuisine was out of this world and has Patrick and I still talking about their food to this day. The best duck I have ever had and the best lamb Pat has ever had. More on our dinner in my upcoming posts.

Now I know what you are thinking. Sveva…how on earth did you get that all done in ONE day? I promise you it is possible. The city is small, and you will get distracted continuously by the adorable streets. But if you are out the door by 9AM and out till 10PM, you will manage. As mentioned, the sun never sets in the summer so you have THAT much more time during the day to explore the city and you don’t get tired because you’re body doesn’t understand that it needs to go in night time mode.

Bergen is a jewel, no wonder it inspired the setting of Disney’s Frozen and in my opinion Harry Potter as well! To uncover its magic and its surrounding nature escapes you definitely will want a few days in the area. But if you are limited in time, follow this guide for a sure fire way to immerse yourself in as much of the city as you can in one day.

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