Things to do in Bergen at a glance
The main things to do in Bergen start at the old wharf. Bryggen has been a World Heritage site since 1979, and the museums, the fortress and the fish market lie within a few minutes of it. The two mountain rides, Fløibanen and Ulriken, give you the view over the harbour and the fjord.
Is Bergen worth visiting? For a stay of two or three days, yes: the centre is compact, the harbour is the hub, and most sights have fixed seasons that are easy to plan around. If you want a guide for the first walk, compare the Bryggen walking tours before you choose a day.
Around Bryggen: the quarter and its museums
Start here, then move out in rings.
The Bryggen quarter
Narrow passages and long rows of wooden buildings keep the medieval plot structure, though the buildings you see mostly date from the rebuilding after 1702. You can walk through the quarter, and it is a smoke-free area, so keep cigarettes out of the lanes. The museums charge separately. See the history of Bryggen for the background.
Bryggens Museum
The museum shows finds from medieval Bergen, dug up after the fire of 1955. It opened in 1976. Adults pay NOK 170 and students NOK 85 in 2026, and children aged 0 to 17 enter free. See Bryggens Museum for hours and rules.
Schøtstuene
The Hanseatic assembly rooms at Øvregaten 50 are the place to visit today. The Finnegården building has been closed since 1 October 2018, with reopening planned for spring 2027. Adults pay NOK 160 including a guided tour of about 40 minutes. More on the Hanseatic Museum page.
Bergenhus fortress
The grounds are free to enter. Håkonshallen costs NOK 120 and Rosenkrantz Tower NOK 170, both with free entry for children aged 0 to 17. Neither building is wheelchair accessible. Details are on the Bergenhus page.
Our pick: Bergen's main sights in a day
One six-hour day that links Ulriken, Bryggens Museum and Håkonshallen, if you want the main sights without planning each one.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Bergen tours and day trips
Walking tours, fjord trips and day trips from Bergen, with live prices and availability.
Mountain, market and harbour
Three things that are about the view and the open air.
Fløibanen
The funicular runs Monday to Friday 07:30 to 24:00 and on weekends and holidays 08:00 to 24:00. A summer return ticket for an adult costs NOK 200 bought digitally or at the machine and NOK 220 at the counter. In winter it is NOK 145. You pick a date but not a departure time. See Fløibanen.
Ulriken
The top is 643 m above sea level. A cable car return ticket costs NOK 435 for an adult and a single NOK 255. From April to September it runs daily 09:00 to 23:00, and it can stop in strong wind. The whole of January 2027 is closed for maintenance. See Ulriken.
The fish market
The outdoor market runs from 1 May to 30 September, with the core hours 10:00 to 18:00. In winter only the indoor Mathallen is open. Check the fish market page for the difference.
KODE art museums
Four buildings, one ticket price.
KODE includes Rasmus Meyer, Lysverket, Stenersen and Permanenten. Adults pay NOK 200, and visitors under 18 enter free. Rasmus Meyer is open from 15 September to 18 May, Wednesday to Friday 11:00–18:00 and weekends 11:00–16:00, and closed on 1 January, 1 May, 17 May, 24 and 25 December and 31 December. Hours differ by building, so check the one you want. Photograph without flash, and leave large bags and umbrellas in a locker.
St Mary's Church and Bergen Cathedral
Mariakirken, or St Mary's Church, is open to tourists from 18 May to 31 August, Monday to Friday 10:00–16:00, for NOK 100. From 1 September to 31 December 2026 it opens Monday 12:00–16:00 and Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 12:00–14:00, and it is closed on Wednesdays, weekends and public holidays. Bergen Cathedral opens Monday to Friday 10:00–16:00 from 8 June to 28 August and otherwise Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 12:00–14:00. Tourist entry is NOK 40 to 50, and children under 16 enter free.
Further out and in the rain
Seasons and prices in 2026 at a glance.
Gamle Bergen is an open-air museum with 55 wooden houses. Allow about 40 minutes from the centre on foot or by bus. The park is open all year, while the houses are open only in season. Bergen Aquarium is a good wet-day choice. Troldhaugen and Fantoft stave church are separate trips with their own page, see Troldhaugen and Fantoft. If rain sets the plan, the Bergen weather page shows what runs in each season.
| Sight | Season and hours | Adult price |
|---|---|---|
| Bryggens Museum | 12 January to 30 December, daily 10:00–17:00 | NOK 170 |
| Schøtstuene | 1 May to 31 October, daily 10:00–18:00 | NOK 160 |
| Håkonshallen | 2 January to 20 December, 10:00–16:00, some closed days | NOK 120 |
| Rosenkrantz Tower | 2 January to 20 December, 10:00–16:00, weekdays until 19:00 from 1 July to 15 September | NOK 170 |
| Gamle Bergen | 20 May to 13 September, daily 10:00–16:00 | NOK 170 |
| Bergen Aquarium | 1 May to 31 August 09:00–18:00, then 10:00–18:00 | – |
| Fantoft stave church | 2 May to 15 September, 10:30–18:00 | NOK 90 |
For most first-time visitors, a good order is Bryggen and its two museums on day one, Bergenhus and the fish market on day two, and a mountain ride on the clearest day.
The Bergen Card and fjord trips
What it covers and where to look next.
The Bergen Card for 24 hours costs NOK 400 to 420 for an adult in 2026, with longer cards for 48, 72 and 96 hours. It covers local Skyss buses, Bybanen and boats in zone A, but not Vy trains, express buses or regional ferries. Some museums are free and others discounted. Rosenkrantz Tower gives no discount. For the big fjords, see fjords from Bergen. For a day trip on the water, see the Bergen fjord cruise.
Things to do in Bergen: frequently asked questions
What are the main sights in Bergen?
Bryggen, Bryggens Museum, Schøtstuene, Bergenhus fortress, the fish market, Fløibanen and Ulriken are the usual first stops, and KODE and the churches add indoor options.
Is Bryggen free to visit?
You can walk through the quarter, but opening of single lanes and buildings is not guaranteed at all hours. The museums charge their own entry.
Which sights are open in winter?
Bryggens Museum, Fløibanen and the indoor Mathallen are open, while Gamle Bergen and the outdoor fish market are summer sights. Hours change in December, so check the date.
Does the Bergen Card cover everything?
No. It covers local buses, Bybanen and boats in zone A, and gives free or reduced entry at some museums only.
How many days do I need in Bergen?
Two days cover Bryggen, the museums, the fortress and the market, and a third day suits a mountain walk or a fjord trip.