Central Bergen is characterized by a fascinating conglomerate of small, older wooden houses and newer masonry buildings as well as modern steel-and-glass structures. Bergen has some fine examples of functionalist architecture such as Kalmar House and Sundt shopping centre. "Brutalist" buildings include the science building at the university and the city hall.

Bergen grew organically from the small port and trading post at Bryggen from around year 1000. Because of frequent fires only some masonry buildings (notably Mariakirken and Håkonshallen) remain from the middle ages. But the city centre has retained many aspects of its ancient layout. Notable are the many wide streets or open spaces, called allmenning (commons), perpendicular to Vågen (the inner harbour). These allmennings often rise steeply from the waterfront. Torgallmenningen is not open to cars and defines the modern city centre. Ordinary streets in the medieval town were often long and more narrow, and ran parallel to the waterfront. Narrow and short streets, smug (alley), run among houses packed close together. Alleys are usually too narrow for cars and some are so steep that there are stairs.

Key areas within central Bergen:

• 60.39765.31791 Vågen. Vågen is the inner harbour in a natural bay. The fishmarket is at the inner part of Vågen. Bergen emerged as Norway's main town in the middle ages along the shores of Vågen. (updated Jun 2019)
• Bryggen (the German or Hanseatic wharf) on the East shore of Vågen, this is the historical centre (including Øvregaten/Lille Øvregaten streets)
• From Bryggen area, Mt. Fløyen rises steeply. The slopes of Mt. Fløyen are dominated by wooden residential buildings, some among the finest and most expensive in town.
• Just north of Bryggen is Bergenhus fortress and Håkonshallen (previously also known as Holmen, "the eyot", effectively Norway's capital during some periods of the middle ages).
• 60.3980565.3083332 Nordnes. Nordnes is the peninsula West of Vågen, the shore along Vågen was known as "the beach" (now Strandkaien and Strandgaten streets). The area is characterised by many small wooden residential buildings. Home to the aquarium, an outdoor swimming pool, Fredriksberg fortress and a fine park at the North point. The elevated terrain surrounded by steep hills or cliffs offers a fine panorama of the city. (updated Jun 2019)
• 60.3918675.3229083 Sentrum. The intersection of Torgallmenningen and Ole Bulls plass squares is the focal point of the modern city centre. Included in Sentrum is also the area around Lille Lungegårdsvann (the octagonal lake). The area is dominated by shops, restaurants, hotels and office buildings. (updated Jun 2019)
• 60.3879715.3221684 Nygårdshøyden. Nygårdshøyden: West of the very centre a distinct mountainous ridge runs in the north-south direction. By locals simply Høyden ("the hill") and is easily recognised by the landmark church Johanneskirken (St. John's). Home to the University and several museums. The northern part is known as Sydneshaugen while Nygårdsparken occupies the southern part. (updated Jun 2019)
• Store Lungegårdsvannet is a lake or bay of brackish water separating central Bergen from areas to the south. Puddefjorden separates central Bergen from Laksevåg area to the west.
• 60.40595.32425 Sandviken. Sandviken, Skuteviken and Ladegården are primarily residential areas north of Bryggen and the fortress. The area begins a few minutes walk from Bryggen and stretches for some 3 km along the base of a steep mountain. Dominated by pretty wooden houses, particularly in Skuteviken houses are packed in small space without roads. The Norwegian School of Economics (Norges Handelshøyskole), an elite education and research institution, is located in the northern end of Sandviken. (updated Jun 2019)

Founded around 1070 AD, Bergen quickly evolved into the biggest and commercially most important city in Norway. It was the country's administrative capital from the early 1200s until 1299, and the second largest city in Scandinavia. Bergen was one of the most important bureau cities of the Hanseatic League, interconnecting continental Europe with the northern and coastal parts of Norway, thus becoming a central spot for the vending of stockfish and the commercial hub of Norway. It was the largest city in Norway until the 1830s and has a long maritime history in shipping and finance. Until the Bergen railway (Bergensbanen) began operation in 1909 there was no convenient overland transport between Norway's principal cities.

The city still has relics of its Hanseatic heyday, most notably the old harbour of Bryggen, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Bergen has been ravaged by several fires; the most recent major fire took place in 1916, a fire which destroyed most of the buildings in what is today the central parts of the city centre, around on the large square Torgallmenningen. About 400 buildings were lost.

Because of a long tradition of wood building even in cramped areas like Bergen, the city has been destroyed several times by fire. In 1702 90% of the city was destroyed including Bryggen.

While few medieval buildings remain, the historical centre of Bergen is along the eastern shore of Vågen (the inner harbour), notably Bryggen (the Wharf), the fortress and the two key churches (Mariakirken/St Mary's and Korskirken/Holy Cross church). The pattern of settlement is largely unchanged for almost 1,000 years, including Øvregaten/Lille Øvregate − one of Norway's oldest streets. St. Mary's and Holy cross church were built around 1150 at either end of what was then the city. St. Mary's, with its unusual double towers and prominent location, may have been planned as the city's main church at the time.

The western shore of the inner harbour were developed later and became the modern city centre. This shore was known as Stranden ("the Strand") and was dominated by Norwegians, while the Hanseatic merchants dominated the eastern shore. Strandgaten became the main shopping street for locals and visitors from the hinterland. Strandgaten was presumably established in the middle ages and the middle section is basically unchanged in the last several hundred years.

Bergen is located in the far west in Norway, sheltered from the North Sea only by a number of islands. It is situated along latitude 60 degrees north, on the same latitude as Oslo, Stockholm, Helsinki, Saint Petersburg and Anchorage. The city is the most hilly and mountainous in Norway. The city centre is surrounded by a group of mountains and peaks known as the Seven Mountains. This has given the city its name (berg is an old Norse word for mountain). The geographic conditions of the city are very visible; limited space to build on made it necessary in the 19th century that new city blocks be built on the steep slopes of mount Fløyen.

Except for the dense city centre, which made up the entire incorporated city before 1916, Bergen is the least dense of the four largest cities in Norway. Bergen covers the same width as Oslo but Oslo has 3 times more people within the city. London for instance has 10 times higher population density than Bergen. Most of the settlement inside the very wide city borders is concentrated in the western part of the municipality. The rest of the municipality is made up of mountains, as well as some farmland and smaller settlements. Except for the compact city centre, distances are relatively long within the municipality of Bergen.

The geographical centre of Bergen is the intersection of Torgallmenningen and Ole Bulls plass, indicated by the "blue stone" a nine meter long slightly inclined slab. Torgallmenningen square and Ole Bulls plass are the main axes in central Bergen. Historically, the centre was slightly more east at Vågen (the bay) or at Bryggen.

Due to the city's northern location, close to the northern sea and surrounded by mountains, special weather conditions occur, resulting in approximately 240 days with precipitation a year and a mean temperature of 7.6 °C (45.7 °F). In January 2007, a record of 85 rainy days in a row was set. Still, local people claim there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing. An annual mean at close to 8 °C, with even January on average above 0 °C, makes Bergen the warmest city in Norway. Frost just below 0°C and some snow occurs between December and February, but temperatures colder than -10 °C are very rare. Temperatures above 30 °C are also extremely rare.

For the rest of us, the trick is obviously to choose the time of visit with caution. The infamous rain should not keep visitors away in summer, because when the sun breaks through after a rainy day, hardly any city twinkles and glows like Bergen. If you catch the city on a sunny day, you will find an incredible atmosphere as the citizens really know how to appreciate nice weather. City planners have probably had this in mind, resulting in the creation of open spaces, parks, flowers and lawns that are scattered all over downtown.

July has the highest mean temperature, 14.3 °C (57.7 °F), with August, 14.1 °C (57.4 °F) following close behind. May is usually the month with the least precipitation. Considering the number of local events this month, May is probably the best time to visit Bergen, with the summer months of June, July and August almost as good. April is also a relatively dry month, although cooler than the summer months. These averages are merely indications as weather is famously unpredictable and rain does not appear in any regular pattern.

Bergen is one of the most important cultural centres of Norway. The city is home to the Bergen International Festival, Nattjazz and Bergenfest, festivals of international renown within their genres. The local symphony orchestra, Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, was founded in 1765. It is one of the world's oldest orchestral institutions. Bergen was the home of Norway's great composer, Edvard Grieg. Henrik Ibsen, the famous playwright, started his career in Bergen as manager of Den Nationale Scene.

Around 2000, a number of artists from the rhythmic music scene in Bergen gained international fame. In the domestic press, this became known as the Bergen Wave. Musicians and bands with roots in Bergen include Annie, Burzum, Enslaved, Gorgoroth, Immortal, Erlend Øye, Kings of Convenience, Sondre Lerche, and Datarock. Bergen still has a thriving underground/indie music scene.

Bergen is home to important institutions of research and education: The University of Bergen, the College of Applied Sciences, and the Norwegian School of Economics. Even before these institutions were created important work were done in Bergen. Armauer Hansen in 1873 discovered that leprosy was caused by a bacteria, a major breakthrough in medical sciences that laid the foundation for modern epidemiology and was also a major input to microbiology. Fridtjof Nansen, the great explorer, sportsman, humanitarian and diplomat, made his first contribution to the novel science of neuroanatomy when he worked at Bergen Museum during the 1880s. Nansen's research on neurons was so groundbreaking that it was not fully appreciated at the time. Vilhelm Bjerknes and the Bergen school of Meteorology developed the basis for modern weather forecasting.

• Visit Bergen website

• 60.2936115.2180611 Bergen Airport Flesland (BGO  ^IATA) (19 km south of the city). The main international airports with flights to Bergen are Copenhagen, London, and Amsterdam. There are also flights from the United Kingdom (such as Newcastle, Edinburgh, and Aberdeen); Prague, Dublin, Paris, Berlin, Frankfurt, various cities in Spain, and some other airports. There are also a number of domestic flights, such as Oslo, Trondheim, Stavanger, Tromsø, Kristiansand and Sandefjord, connecting Bergen to additional international airports. A plane ticket from the capital Oslo to Bergen usually costs around kr 300-400. The main carriers in Norway are SAS and the low cost airline Norwegian Air Shuttle. The Dutch KLM has flights to Amsterdam, Lufthansa to Frankfurt. The smallest airports in Norway are usually served by Widerøe. A new spacious terminal replaced the old in 2017 with more services and airside facilities. (updated Feb 2024)

Flybussen departs from right outside the terminal building. Flybussen makes frequent stops, including at Bryggen, the Fisketorget, and the bus terminal. The journey downtown takes about 30–40 minutes. Adult tickets are kr 179, return ticket kr 309 (discounts for children, students and senior citizens apply). Buy your ticket before boarding to save kr 10, either online, from a machine or from a ticket vendor. However, tickets can easily be bought on the bus, with either cash or cards. Buses run frequently throughout the day. There is a machine next to luggage collection in arrivals, and at the bus stop at the airport, so buy your ticket while you are waiting for your luggage.

The Bergen Light Rail has its southern terminus at the airport, the station is in the basement outdoor. This is the cheapest option for travelling downtown since it charges the regular public transport fares (kr 49 for an adult single ticket, kr 25 for children and seniors). The light rail runs very frequently, from 05:00 to past 00:00, with up to 12 departures an hour, but it is a stopping service and takes 45 minutes to its final stop at Byparken. The only other public transit line is bus line 23, which runs to the western neighborhoods of Søreide and Loddefjord. Line 23 runs only in the morning and evening rush hours Mondays to Fridays.

Taxis are also available but they cost much more (kr 300-350 on weekdays to downtown, more at night and at the weekend).

The car rental companies Avis, Budget, Hertz, Europcar and National have offices at the airport. Located in the terminal building, by the exit, most of them are open 07:00-21:00 on weekdays. Opening hours in the weekend are limited, but some of the companies will offer 24 hours rental if you make a reservation.

Bergen^{[dead link]} is served by one railway line, Bergen Line (Bergensbanen), which runs from Oslo through Hønefoss. Bergen is the last station and there is only one station in the city (in addition one station in Arna, east of the city proper). Reforms of the railway structure have made it somewhat more confusing to travel by rail, as there are now several train companies that share the Norwegian rail network. The Bergen Line is served by Vy, the successor to the Norwegian State Railways. The journey takes about 7 hours and gives you beautiful views, especially for the last 3 hours across the plateau and down towards Voss and Bergen. When passing Geilo, you will cross over a high mountain plateau and then travel downwards through some of the best scenery in Norway.

If you buy your ticket online well in advance, fares may be as low as kr 199 for a one-way ticket. For an additional fee, you may upgrade your ticket to Vy Pluss, the equivalent of first class, with slightly better seats and free coffee and tea. If you want to make more out of your journey, get a window seat on one of the most recently upgraded trains (they're quite stylish and have power outlets by every seat) on the left hand side (this will give you the best view). There is a separate company, Entur, which handles tickets on all long-distance train and bus lines in Norway. It is easiest to buy tickets directly from Entur if you need to switch between train and bus, or different train operators.

The ticket office is only open limited hours - outside of which you must use the ticket machines. Note that travel tickets booked via an agent (including Norway in a Nutshell) must be collected from the ticket office. There is a small deli that sells coffee, snacks and some supermarket items open early and late. There is a small cafe with limited opening hours (closed before 17:00 most days).

Universal access is a priority to Vy. Book your ticket on the phone or buy it at the train station at least a day in advance to inform staff if you have any special needs. You will have the same offers as are available online. Most trains are equipped with lifts or ramps and handicap toilets. Wheelchairs can be secured on board. For the seeing impaired, there are tactile lines in the larger stations. Staff will assist you in the station. If you need an assistant and can provide documentation, you and your travelling companion will get a 50% discount off the full ticket price.

60.3903515.3332212 Bergen station (QFV  ^IATA) is located in the eastern corner of the city centre at Strømgaten 4, close to the bus station and the Bygarasjen parking facility.

For more details see: Driving in Norway

If arriving in Bergen by car, you will be better off not taking your car into the city centre unless you know exactly where you're going, as most streets are one-way or do not allow cars at all (only buses and taxis), read more in the Get around section. Parking is generally forbidden (unless explicitly permitted) downtown inside zone 1, and restricted outside zone 1.

Generally, you will find that many roads in rural areas, even the highways between the cities, are partly narrow and slow. There are no motorways except a few kilometers around the city, most main roads (E16, road 7) are two-lane undivided and limited to 80 km/h (50 mph). Even if some people drive very fast, you should mind the speed limits (usually 80 km/h) and drive according to the conditions. In the mountains, help can be hours away. Furthermore, you will find traffic controls and police in unmarked cars nearly everywhere. Fines are very high. To avoid dangerous situations, it's a very good idea stop and let faster going traffic pass you. Except in and around Bergen, traffic is generally very light, although there may be some traffic on road 7 during summer vacation and around weekends.

Road E16 from Oslo and Voss makes a circle from Arna through Åsane where it joins E39 on a motorway to the centre (northern approach). At Sandviken the wide road continues through a long tunnel to the southern end of the city centre in order to avoid the centre, while those heading for the centre can either exit at Sandviken or just after the tunnel. The southern approach (E39) comes from the Halhjem ferry dock at Os and arrives downtown just before the long tunnel. Find a good parking, and use legs or public transport inside the centre.

From Oslo and Eastern Norway

[edit]

The trip from Oslo to Bergen takes between seven and nine hours, depending on the route, the driving conditions and whether you choose to make any stops on the way. Be prepared to add some hours driving time in the winter - and remember that the daylight will be scarce for many months. All routes Oslo to Bergen run through mountain passes. It might be a good idea to use two days on the tour in the winter if you're not accustomed to these conditions. A 12- or even 14-hour drive on icy, dark roads in bad weather is not very nice. Keep in mind that many roads in Norway are often narrow and slow due to relatively low traffic and the difficult landscape in which they are built.

Routes Oslo-Bergen

Name (mountain pass)	Itinerary, number(s)	Description	Notes
Filefjell mountain pass.		The official main road through Filefjell mountain pass. Continues via Oslo airport to Gävle, Sweden.	Scenic drive with iconic fjords, waterfalls, mountains and lakes, as well as cultural heritage (stave churches). The most reliable route in winter, as it does not go above the tree limit and is less prone to be closed on short notice due to weather conditions, compared with the other mountain crossings. Mostly light traffic. E16 is the longest, a bit slow through the villages of Valdres, and some narrow places. Between Lærdal and Flåm, through Lærdalstunnelen, at 24.5 km the longest road tunnel in the world, separated into 6-km bits by large caverns, in which tunnel-lagged drivers can pull over and rest.
Hemsedal mountain pass	///	Through Hemsedal mt pass. Alternative to the above.	Preferred by truckers, only a few narrow places. Also scenic. Occasionally closed in winter if strong wind (blizzard).
Aurland-Hol route	--road 50-	Hol-Aurland mt pass. Road 50 is county road.	Also scenic. Partly steep and narrow, few or no trucks. Some times closed in winter. From upper Hallingdal to Flåm. Take road 7 to Hagafoss, then road 50 to Flåm. This is a quick route many Norwegians prefer, but be prepared for some narrow, dark tunnels and the rather steep, but breathtaking descent just before Aurland.
Hardangervidda route.	---	Through Hardangervidda plataeu and mt pass.	Very scenic drive with iconic fjords, waterfalls, mountains and lakes. Often closed during winter, but fastest during the summer and shortest (460 km), around 7 hours Oslo-Bergen plus breaks. Designated a national tourist route and one of the most scenic route, but also more difficult with regards to both weather and driving conditions except in summer. Runs across the mountain plateau Hardangervidda, descending along Vøringsfossen waterfall and through the wild canyon beneath, and along the innermost parts of Hardangerfjord. Cross the fjord on the 1380 m Hardanger bridge (toll) and continue to Voss where road 13 meets E16.
	--Road 7		An alternative between the Hardanger bridge and Bergen, stay on road 7 along the lovely "Hardangerfjord route" from Granvin via Norheimsund, partly narrow and winding, even with single lane roads. Caravanists, be aware!
The Numedal Valley route	Road 40	From Kongsberg to Geilo on road 40, and then over the Hardangervidda plateau (road).	Enjoy decent and some good roads along this peaceful valley. This route has much less traffic than Hallingdal. A good alternative if you travel from Vestfold county, but not the fastest route from Oslo. Numedal has numerous ancient wooden buildings.
Haukeli mountain pass	--road 551--road 48--	Through Haukeli mt pass. Includes ferry crossing at Gjermundshamn-Årsnes. Alternative crossing at Jondal-Tørrvikbygd.	Scenic drive past glaciers and lakes. The Haukeli route via Telemark through the southern part of Hordaland county on E134. Take road 13 to Odda, then 555 to Utne and the ferry to Kvanndal. Continue on the Hardangerfjord route (see above). Variant: The “unknown”, fascinating route from Odda via the Folgefonna tunnel to the outer Hardangerfjord area. Visit the Barony at Rosendal or try summer skiing at the glacier, then take the ferry from Løfallstrand to Gjermundhavn. Drive to Eikelandsosen and take the short Venjaneset-Hatvik ferry crossing, or drive to Tysse and over Gullbotn to Bergen. Some narrow roads. As for the Numedal route this is a good alternative if you’re starting from the districts south of Oslo - or if you arrive on a ferry (Horten, Sandefjord, Langesund, Larvik, etc.)

If you plan to cross the mountains (for instance by driving from Oslo to Bergen) in the winter season, it is imperative that you are prepared for the journey. The conditions are harsh. Always keep a full tank of fuel, and keep warm clothes, food and drink in the car. Make sure your tires are good enough and suited for winter conditions (studded or non-studded winter tires; "all-year" tires are not good enough), and that you have sufficient skills for driving in snowy and cold conditions. Roads are often closed on short notice due to weather conditions. For advice on conditions and closed roads, call 175 in Norway or check the online road reports (in Norwegian only) from the Norwegian State road authorities. Not all parts of the country have cellular phone coverage.

Via the network of NOR-WAY Bussekspress, Bergen is accessible by direct links from all of South Norway. Bus is usually the cheapest way to travel, but can take some time. The national buses are very comfortable, but not suitable for people using wheelchairs. Schedules and fares are available online, and it is also possible to pre-book. Booking may be required on some routes. The bus station is just a few minutes walk from the city centre. The terminal for long distance buses is situated on the rear side of the station. The en-tur website may be used for planning purposes.

There are fast boat services from several communities north and south of Bergen, including many of the islands. Because these passenger ferries stop at various small towns on the way there, you get a great view of the coast and its islands. Fjord1 runs ferries north of Bergen, Norled runs services south of Bergen, and Skyss also does a bit of both, including the Sunnhordland. Fjord Line operates a passenger ferry service from/to Stavanger.

The boat terminal (Strandkaiterminalen båtkai) lies right beyond the fish market. It has luggage lockers, charged daily.

Bergen is the southern terminus for Hurtigruten, a week-long passenger ship route with stops along Norway's coast all the way to Kirkenes in the far north of Norway. Ålesund can be reached overnight, and Trondheim will take one full day and two nights. The terminal is located at Nøstet. The Hurtigruten ships are accessible with a wheelchair.

There are car ferries which run to and from Hirtshals in northern Denmark, by way of Stavanger, operated by Fjord Line. The terminal is the Skoltegrunnen pier, some hundred meters beyond Bryggen.

Bergen is one of Europe's busiest cruise ports and is available by cruise departing from several North Sea ports.

Downtown Bergen is compact and easy to walk for most visitors. Most sights and hotels are located within few minutes walk within downtown. While the very centre is located on a relatively flat piece of land, there are hills in virtually every direction out of the centre so heading downhill usually leads to centre. The main square is the east/west Torgallmenningen, a pedestrian zone. The Nordnes peninsula points north from the very centre, on the eastern side is Vågen, a small bay and once Bergens main harbour, lined on the eastern side by Bryggen and the Fortress. Overall navigation is generally easy as the summits and the bay provides clear indication of general direction, Mt Ulriken is a key landmark for large parts of the city, while downtown St John’s Church (Johanneskirken) with its characteristic red brick and green roof is another landmark. The sturdy theater building at the top of Ole Bulls place is also a point to note. Precise navigation through many irregular streets may still be challenging. Navigation by car can be equally difficult because of hills, narrow streets and many one-way streets, what seems close on the map may in fact be a long drive.

Bergen is idiosyncratic in many ways, including the layout and names of streets:

• Allmenning are wide streets or squares, laid out at strategic points to prevent fires spreading through the city, often perpendicular to main streets and to the water front, the main square is Torgallmenningen
• Smug/smau are narrow alleys, usually too narrow for cars, some are so steep that there are stairs
• Smalgang is even more narrow than smug
• Strede old name for street (rarely used but note Skostredet - "Shoe street")
• Gate street
• Vei/veg, road or street
• Kai, quay or dock
• Brygge, quay or wharf
• Plass, square

In addition there is a handful of specific names without generic suffixes like “−gate”, for instance Bryggen (“the Wharf”), Strangehagen (“Strange's garden”, a street), Klosteret (“the Monastery”, a square), Georgernes Verft (“Georges' Shipyard”, a street), Marken, Engen (“the Meadow”, a square), Krinkelkroken ("Nook and cranny"), Galgebakken ("Gallow hill"), Arbeiderboligen (“Workers' residence”), Torget ("The Market"), Vaskerelven ("Laundry river", a street).

Within the city centre, walking is the best way to get around. You can walk across downtown in 20 minutes in any direction. The most central streets of the city are relatively flat and generally have a good accessibility for the disabled, sidewalks have rounded corners to allow access by wheelchair. The characteristic alleys and narrow streets (often with stairs rather than ordinary streets) on the slopes are however not available by wheelchair and may be difficult to walk for the disabled. The most important pedestrian crossings have sound signals and are indicated by tactile paving. They are also accessible with a wheelchair. Although cobblestone is a popular material in the streets, it is rarely used in pedestrian areas. A map with more information on this subject is available from the municipality's website^{[dead link]}.

A light rail line operates in Bergen, with two lines as of 2022. Line 1 runs between the city centre and southwards towards Lagunen before turning west to the airport. This is the primary means of public transportation to southern parts of Bergen. The line passes the railway station, the bus station, Brann football stadium and the student homes at Fantoft along the route. The line operates from 06:00-01:00, seven days a week, generally with a 7- to 8-minute frequency (a bit more often during rush hours, 15-minute frequency on Saturday mornings, 30-minute frequency on Sunday mornings). The entire journey takes about 45 minutes.

Line 2 runs between the city centre and the borough of Fyllingsdalen, and replaces former bus services to the borough. The line passes the railway station, the bus station, the Haukeland university hospital and the main campus of the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences along the route, and operates in the same time span as Line 1. Excluding the stop at the railway station, Line 1 and 2 uses separate platforms at the city centre and bus station stops.

Night lines operate all Friday and Saturday night with departures every 30 minutes.

You will need to buy your ticket from the ticket machine at the station before you board. Apart from that, the ticket and fare card system is the same as for buses, see the Get around by bus section for more details. It's possible to change from bus to light rail and from light rail to bus within the time of validity of a ticket. Tickets for the night lines must be bought on board. Fare cards can not be used. The price is 60 kr.

The light rail is accessible with a wheelchair. All stops are announced and displays also show the name of the next stop.

It is an expressed goal of both local and national authorities to reduce car traffic in the city centre. Downtown Bergen is cramped. Thus, the speed limit downtown is very low, and most streets are one-way streets. If you plan on getting from one part of downtown to another, walking is often faster than driving, even for locals who know their way around. Furthermore, parking in the streets is reserved for the handicapped and for residents that possess a special permit with only a very few exceptions. Street parking downtown and in most of Sandviken is generally not permitted except at parking meters.

If you plan to drive to the city centre from outside of it, unless you have any special needs, park your car in a garage, such as Bygarasjen (very large, at the bus station) and Klostergarasjen (in a tunnel under the centre, access from Nøstet, stairs/elevator to the main square), Bygarasjen being the cheaper. There are also several smaller (and more expensive) garages around town. If you take the chance to bring your car further downtown, be sure to read all signs – most streets are one-way streets and some are for buses and taxis only.

To park in a spot reserved for the disabled, you need a standard European "blue badge", a special parking permit (generally, handicapped parking permits from most countries will be accepted). It must be placed on the inside of your car's front window, clearly visible from the outside.

The municipal parking authorities provide a brochure^{[dead link]} with some information on the general rules of parking along with a map of parking spots, including parking spots for the disabled.

Driving in the area outside the city centre is quite convenient, with expressways going in most directions. The roads are well sign-posted, but a map will probably come in handy anyway. Mind the speed limits; traffic controls are common and fines are stiff. Do also keep in mind that a lot of the roads are toll roads. All toll stations are automated. When approaching one, keep driving and do not slow down. A photograph of your license plates will be taken, and you will receive an invoice per mail. During rush hours (07:30-09:00 and 15:00-17:00) traffic is jammed many places, but it's nothing compared to larger cities in Europe.

Between 1 November and 31 March, the use of studded tires is legal. Within Bergen municipality, you have to pay a fee to use such tires. You can pay at automated payment stations on the main roads into Bergen (Norwegian: oblatautomat), Statoil gas stations or by visiting the municipal parking authorities in Bygarasjen or Vincens Lunges gate 3 (directly south of the railway station).

Taxis are generally expensive in Norway and outside the very centre distances in Bergen are long. In downtown Bergen most stretches are walkable for the average visitor, although taxi can be useful in case of rain or heavy luggage. Throughout Bergen, there are a number of taxi stalls where taxis are parked waiting for customers. During the day, taxis will usually not pick up customers nearer than 300 metres from the stalls, except when called to an address. During the night in the weekends, taxi queues can be very long (up to one hour), and all customers are therefore required to go to the stalls. It is possible to order taxis to addresses also at this time of the week, but you shouldn't really expect the taxi to arrive.

The places where the taxis are stationed changes from time to time because of renovation of the city streets, but usually you will find them at the bus station, the railway station, Festplassen, Ole Bulls plass, Torget and in Torggaten and Vetrlidsalmenningen. Look for signs saying "Taxi". Some taxi stalls are only open during the night, and vice versa. Information about this is printed on a separate sign below the taxi sign. If no taxis are available at the taxi stall, call 07000 (Bergen Taxi), 08000 (Norgestaxi), +47 55 70 00 00 (Taxi 1) or +47 55 70 80 90 (Bryggen Taxi). There is usually a fee associated with calling a taxi. Taxis may also be ordered in advance by calling one of these numbers, which is recommended if you are able to.

Fares are approximately the same regardless of the taxi company. All companies are regarded as reliable and safe. If several taxis are available at a taxi station, you may pick the one you want from the line.

It can be added that taxi drivers rarely expect or receive any tip.

• Norgestaxi. Smartphone app offers address based routing and calculates price according to them. (updated Aug 2020)
• Jip. Smartphone app offers address based routing and calculates price according to them. (updated Feb 2021)
• Yango. Yango is a Russian company which offers cheap fares. (updated Nov 2021)
• Bolt Bergen
• Uber

There is one local commuter train service, between downtown Bergen and the suburb of Arna in the east (schedules are available from Vy's web site). If you are going to Arna, the train is by far the fastest option from downtown since the roads run around the mountains while the railway line runs straight through them; it is an eight minute train ride, running every half hour during most of the day. Tickets should be purchased beforehand, either in the office at the downtown station, in the machines both downtown and in Arna, or online in the app.

Getting around by bike can be difficult in Bergen. Many central streets are paved with cobblestone, and there are only a few roads with designated cycling lanes. Cycling in such lanes can even be challenging, as car and bus traffic may cross the lane. It is however legal to cycle on the sidewalks as long as you do not disturb pedestrians. Front and rear lights are mandatory after dark. Bicycle theft and vandalism is common, so be careful where you leave your bike and always use a lock.

There is a city bike rental service. For kr 69, you will get unlimited rides of up to 60 minutes for 24 hours. Since 2020, various companies rent out e-scooters, which have been begrudgingly accepted by most inhabitants. Prices vary, but are generally a little more expensive than the city bikes.

Because of its rugged landscape, Bergen has an abundance of panorama points and these give an intense feeling of space, notably Mt Fløyen and Mt Ulriken; these mountains are served by funicular and cable car, respectively, but are also available hiking for the sporty. At lower altitudes the Fjellveien panorama road and the highest point of Nordnes peninsula are easily available. Sandviksbatteriet just above Sandviken hospital also offers excellent panorama. The Montana residential area at the foot of Mt. Ulriken likewise gives a nice outlook.

• 60.39975.33111 Fjellveien panorama road, Fjellveien (Uphill from city centre). Runs for several kilometers between Sandviken and Bellevue, largely horizontal and pedestrian. 
• 60.39745.32982 Skansen panorama point (Skansen brannstasjon), Blekeveien (Uphill from funicular station). Excellent and easily available panorama point just above the funicular lowest station. Right in front of the old fire outlook, a small white wooden tower, now used by one of the city's buekorps. 
• 60.45.33463 Tippetue panorama point (Hike uphill from city, or downhill from Mt. Fløyen.). 24 hr. Panorama point on the Tippetue footpath to Mt. Fløyen. Free. 
• 60.395885.312924 Nordnes panorama, Haugeveien. Lovely place on the highest point of Nordnes peninsula, towards the aquarium. 
• 60.40035.30155 Nordnes park (Tip of Nordnes peninsula, beyond aquarium). 24 hr. Pleasant park at the very tip of the peninsula, towards the sun set late summer evenings. 
• 60.388865.319716 St Johns (Johanneskirken), Sydnesplass. St. John's Church (Johanneskirken) dominates the top of Nygårdshøyden, the hill that hosts the University of Bergen. Nice view of the very centre. 

Traditional small wooden houses, often placed in an irregular pattern around narrow streets and passages, were a staple of most Norwegian cities during the past centuries. Bergen is one of the few major towns where this traditional style still dominates several neighbourhoods downtown. A number of houses have also been relocated to Gamle Bergen (old Bergen) museum. Some of these are merely pockets of cute little houses between stone and concrete structures; others are wider areas of these dollhouse-like buildings. Show respect for those living there while you walk by. These areas are best seen on a relaxed stroll (although the view from Fjellveien gives a birds eye view):

• Nordnes on the slopes on both sides of the Nordnes peninsula, towards the aquarium and Verftet, as well as the adjacent Nøstet area on the western shore.
• 60.39635.32997 Fjellsiden neighbourhood, øvregaten, Lille øvregate, øvre Blekeveien (streets). Traditional neighbourhood on the steep slopes behind Bryggen and around Fløibanen track. Free. 
• 60.39175.33118 Marken, Marken (street). On the flatland just north of the railway station, pedestrian zone, and also in the hills above, around Skivebakken street. Free. 
• 60.40255.32619 Ladegården and upper Sandviken neighbourhood, Ladegårdsgaten, Absalon Beyers gate. An area with more regular and wider streets, highly characteristic style. Free. 
• 60.40165.321910 Skuteviken neighbourhood, Skuteviksveien. day time. A small traditional neighbourhood around a small bay just east of the fortress. Free. 
• 60.4075.323611 Sandviken neighbourhood, Sandvikstorget/Sandviksveien. In Lower Sandviken near the small market square, there is a nice collection of traditional white wooden houses. Free.  

• 60.3895945.32772812 KODE Art museums (Kunstmuseene), Rasmus Meyers allé 3, 7 and 9 (by Lille Lungegårdsvann), ☏ +47 55 56 80 00, fax: +47 55 56 80 11, [email protected]. 20 May–14 Sept: daily 11:00–17:00. 15 Sep–19 May: Tu–Su 11:00–16:00, Sa Su 11:00-17:00. One of the largest art museums in the Nordic countries, with art from the renaissance as well as contemporary art. The museum houses several of Edvard Munch's works. Adult kr 130, student kr 60, child under 18 free. (updated Apr 2019)
• 60.3947065.32546713 The fish market (Fisketorget), Torget, ☏ +47 55 55 20 00, [email protected]. Jun–Aug: daily 07:00–19:00, Sep–May: M–Sa 07:00–16:00. Bergen's outdoor fish market has a long history, being the historical centre for fish trade. Most tourists find their way here, but with locals changing their shopping habits, the fish market today does not compare to what it once was. The fish market is dominated by makeshift souvenir shops and seafood stalls. The seafood is generally of only OK quality as the fishermen no longer deliver their catch directly to the market. Still, you can get a pretty good idea of what the locals eat by having a look at the various fish they sell here, and try some of the stranger ones, if you feel adventurous. Free samples of are usually available of the more common items such as whale, salmon and salmon caviar. Although somewhat crowded, getting around with a wheelchair is fairly easy. 
• 60.3963755.32846914 Fløibanen, Vetrlidsalmenning 21, ☏ +47 55 33 68 00, [email protected]. M–F 07:30–23:00, Sa Su 08:00–23:00. Fløibanen is a funicular which goes up Fløyen, a plateau in the mountain massif north-east of the city centre. From here, you get a great view of the city. Accessing Fløibanen and the plateau on Fløyen with a wheelchair is a piece of cake. It has become the attraction that the most tourists are content with. Expect queues, but don't worry, they move fast. There are no steps where lifts are not available without assistance, and all doors are wide. Adult: single kr 60, return kr 120.  
• 60.3907115.32440315 The West Norway Museum of Decorative Art (Permanenten), Nordahl Bruns gate 9 (by the music pavilion), ☏ +47 55 33 66 33, fax: +47 55 33 66 30, [email protected]. Tu-Su 12:00-16:00; 15 May–14 Sep: daily 11:00-17:00. A museum of design and decorative art. Norway's largest collection of Chinese art. Kr 60; students and seniors kr 40, children under 16 free. 
• 60.391755.33302216 St. Jørgen's Hospital (The Leprosy Museum), Kong Oscars gate 59, ☏ +47 55 55 20 00, [email protected]. 21 May–2 Sep: Daily 11:00-15:00. St. Jørgens Hospital is one of very few preserved leprosy hospitals from the 18th century in Northern Europe. The large wooden building in Kalfarveien 31 (Pleiestiftelsen for spedalske) was the largest institution caring for the many leprosy patients in Bergen. This was where Armauer Hansen discovered the bacteria that causes leprosy in 1873. Hansen's discovery was a major breakthrough in medicine as he proved that a chronic illness was contagious rather than hereditary. The Leprosy archive was a complete record of all patients and is assumed to be the first patient archive in the world. The Leprosy archive is inscribed on UNESCO list of Memory of the World. The Leprosy Museum tells the story about the disease and its history in Norway, in addition to showing life at the hospital. A visit to the museum is a unique but disturbing experience. The complex in Kong Oscars gate 59 also includes a wooden church. Kr 40; children kr 20. 
• 60.3994335.3048517 Bergen Aquarium (Akvariet i Bergen), Nordnesbakken 4 (indoor parking available, but usually full in the summer season; walk for 20 minutes from the city centre or use bus line 11), ☏ +47 55 55 71 71, [email protected]. Daily 10:00–18:00. The aquarium has a nice selection of aquatic life, especially penguins and seals. Typical Norwegian aquatic life is well documented, and there is also a collection of tropical fish and animals and a shark tank with an underwater glass tunnel. Fun for kids. Adult kr 250, child kr 150.  

• 60.3995085.31645818 Statsraad Lehmkuhl, usually at Bergen harbor shed 7 – Bradbenken 2 (at the end of Bryggen, across the street from Bergenhus fort), ☏ +47 55 30 17 00, fax: +47 55 30 17 01. A three-masted barque sail training vessel built in 1914, one of the best kept in its kind. Mini cruises (approximately five and a half hours) available a few times a year, at the cost of kr 425 including food. Tickets should be bought well in advance. For the more adventurous up to week-long cruises to Europe are available where you live and work as a sailor.  
• 60.39895.323219 St. Mary's Church (Mariakirken), Dreggsalmenningen 15 (behind Bryggen), ☏ +47 55 59 32 70, fax: +47 55 59 32 89, [email protected]. The oldest remaining building in Bergen, St. Mary's Church was built in the 12th century, presumably around 1150. It is the best preserved of the city's three medieval churches and one of the few basilica-shaped churches in Norway. It was built in the Romanesque style, then enlarged in Gothic style. Having belonged to the German community in Bergen for many centuries, it contains a unique pulpit, one of Norway's most beautiful altarpieces and characteristic twin towers. Possibly planned to be city's main church at the time before the dominance of the German merchants.  
• 60.3925675.31961920 The National Theatre (Den Nationale Scene), Ole Bull's plass (centre). The main theatre is a monumental Art Nouveau building in a prominent position on Ole Bull's square. As an institution the theatre played a key role. Ole Bull, a major international star on the violin, established the theater and employed the young Henrik Ibsen as instructor. Later Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, another national icon, worked there. Ole Bull also discovered the young music talent Edvard Grieg. This theatre made Norwegian, rather than Danish, into the standard language on stage, and it was long the #1 stage in Norway. (updated Oct 2015)
• 60.3937885.32318221 Svaneapoteket. Svaneapoteket is a pharmacy in Strandgaten number 4. The pharmacy has been in continuous operation since 1595, on this location at least since 1688, and is the oldest pharmacy in Norway. The devastating fire of 1916 destroyed buildings in this area and the current pharmacy building was constructed after 1916. A swan marks the entrance, hence the name "The Swan pharmacy". (updated May 2020)

Bergenhus fortress

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• 60.4001355.3180822 Bergenhus fortress (Bergenhus), Bergenhus (past bryggen), ☏ +47 55 54 63 87. 06:30-23:00. Once the seat of the king, Bergenhus fortress is one of the oldest and best preserved forts of Norway. The oldest surviving buildings are from the mid 13'th century, but the area was a royal residence from the late 11'th century. The fortress is situated close to the international ferry terminal. The royal hall, Håkonshallen, (Håkon's Hall), named for King Håkon Håkonsson, was built some time between 1247 and 1261. It is used today for royal galas, as a banqueting hall for the city council, and other public events. The roof is reconstructed after a blast during World War II. The nearby Rosenkrantz tower has the same appearance as it had in the 16th century. The oldest part of the tower dates back to the 1270s, a few decades after Håkonshallen. It was expanded in the 1560s by the governor, Erik Rosenkrantz, to its present shape. The rest of the medieval buildings in the fortress have been replaced or demolished over the centuries, with some ruins still visible. Among these is the medieval cathedral, the Church of Christ, which was used for coronation and as a royal burial site in the 13th century. A memorial marks the site of the high altar. Guided tours of the royal hall and the tower start every hour between 10:00 and 16:00 every day from 15 May to 31 Aug in the royal hall. From 1 Sept to 14 May tours are only available between noon and 15:00 on Sundays. Entrance fee is kr. 40 for adults, 20 for students and free for children under 16. A small cafeteria with coffee, tea and basic snacks is open from June to August. The fortress grounds serve as a city park; you can hang out here and eat that fish you just bought at the nearby fish market - or just enjoy the sunshine and the view. The park is popular among locals and tourists, but usually not crowded. It is normally not a problem to find a good spot for your picnic or a round of Frisbee. There is a very good view of the bay. The use of open fire, including barbecues, and the drinking of alcoholic beverages are forbidden. Unlike in many other parks, the prohibition of alcohol is enforced strictly here, as the fort is still a military area with occasional military guards on patrol. free.  

Bryggen

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• 60.3974115.32404523 Bryggen, Bryggen (north side of the bay). Between 1350 and 1750, this area used to be a Hansa dock, trading and processing area. The wooden houses at Bryggen today were built after the devastating city fire of 1702, but are probably very similar to the buildings that were there before. Despite neglect and fires (Norwegian cities had a habit of burning down because everything is made of wood), a considerable number of buildings have survived and are now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you enter some of the alleyways between the storefronts, you really get a feel of what Bergen must have been like in the Middle Ages. There are a few museums on the history of Bergen and of Bryggen, but the most interesting aspect is probably that almost all of the buildings are still in use. One example is the restaurant Bryggen Tracteursted, serving food and drinks in a building first opened for this purpose in 1708. Wandering about on Bryggen is possible with a wheelchair, but getting in and out of buildings can be very difficult.  

Museums

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• 60.3984035.32282524 Bryggens Museum, Dreggsalmenningen 3 (by St. Mary's church and Radisson SAS Royal Hotel), ☏ +47 55 58 80 10, [email protected]. 1 Sept-14 May: M-F 11:00-15:00, Sa 12:00-15:00, Su 12:00-16:00; 15 May-31 Aug: daily 10:00-16:00. After the fire in 1955, when a lot of Bryggen burnt down, remains of the first settlement on Bryggen were discovered. The museum is built over these up to 900-year-old wooden building foundations, giving a unique insight in Bergen's architectural history. It contains the world's largest collection of medieval runic inscriptions, mostly inscribed on wooden items, but only a small number of these are on display. It also hosts themed exhibitions. If you are not a student, and would like to also visit the Hanseatic museum, it is cheaper to buy a ticket for the guided tour (and skip it if you want). adults kr. 170, students kr. 85, children (under 17) free, guided tour (includes ticket to Hanseatic Museum) kr. 120.  
• 60.3958585.32583125 The Hanseatic Museum and Schøtstuene, Finnegårdsgaten 1 A and Øvregaten 50 (museum: the first building on Bryggen when walking from the fish market, Schøtstuene: the street behind Bryggen, a little bit towards Bergenhus from the Hanseatic Museum), ☏ +47 55 54 46 90, fax: +47 55 54 46 99, [email protected]. The Hanseatic Museum: 15 May–15 Sep: daily 09:00-17:00. 16 Sep–14 May: Tu–Sa 11:00-14:00, Su 11:00-18:00. Schøtstuene: 15 May–15 Sep: daily 10:00-17:00. 16 Sep–14 May: Su 11:00–14:00. The Hanseatic Museum and Schøtstuene are the only places on Bryggen where the original interior is preserved or restored. A tour of The Hanseatic Museum gives you a good introduction to the Hanseatic Bergen and the Hansa life, as you walk around an authentic Hanseatic merchant's house from the early 1700s. The building was in use until the late 19th century, when it was converted into a museum. In Schøtstuene, buildings from other parts of Bryggen are rebuilt to show where people ate, celebrated and held meetings. Neither the museum nor Schøtstuene is accessible for those using a wheelchair. Adult kr 70, students kr 50, child free. Ticket is valid at the Hanseatic Museum and Schøtstuene for one day.  
• 60.3974395.32344226 Theta museum, Bredsgården 1 D (entrance from the front of Bryggen, by Enhjørningsgården), ☏ +47 55 31 53 93. Tu Sa Su 14:00-16:00. During the first half of World War II, the Theta group, formed by people between the ages of 19 and 22, established radio contact with London and reported movements of the German fleet in Norway. The group headquarters and radio station was located in the heart of occupied Bergen, but remained active for two years before it was discovered and raided by the Nazis. In the 1980s, the small room was reconstructed to its original state by orders of the Directorate of Cultural Heritage. It is now probably the country's smallest museum, displaying radio equipment and the Theta group's own security system. Not accessible with a wheelchair. Kr 20; child kr 5. 

• 60.3869835.31935327 Bergen Museum – The Cultural History Collections (Kulturhistorisk museum), Haakon Sheteligs plass 10, ☏ +47 55 58 31 40, [email protected]. Tu–F 10:00–15:00, Sa Su 11:00-16:00; 1 Jun–31 Aug: Tu–F 10:00–16:00, Sa Su 11:00-16:00. Bergen Museum is a part of the University of Bergen, and is in the heart of campus. It is divided in two collections, the Cultural History Collections and the Natural History Collections, located in two buildings. The Cultural History Collections include archeology, anthropology and art- and culture studies sections. Among other things, the museum has a large collection of Norwegian folk art and national costumes. It is notable for its unique exhibition of Norwegian medieval church art, including painted altarpieces, crucifixes and portals from demolished stave churches, all in wood. Kr. 40; senior citizens: kr. 20, children under 16, students and University of Bergen staff: free. Ticket is also valid at the Natural History Collections. 
• 60.3878395.32175828 Bergen Museum – The Natural History Collections (Naturhistorisk museum), Muséplass 3, ☏ +47 55 58 29 20, [email protected]. Closed for renovation. The Natural History Collections include botany, geology and zoology. The zoology exhibitions is preserved more or less as they were when they were put up almost a hundred years ago. Enormous whale skeletons suspended from the ceiling in the exhibition halls are visible through the windows from the outside. The geology exhibition is modern and varied and contains samples from most parts of the world, in addition to a nice local collection. Around the museum is a garden which is at its finest in spring and summer. There is also a green house where you can enjoy tropical plants. Kr. 40. Senior citizens: kr. 20, children under 16, students: free. Ticket is also valid at the Cultural History Collections. Access to the garden and the green house is free of charge.  
• 60.3819565.32938129 Vilvite (Bergen Science Centre), Thormøhlensgate 51, ☏ +47 55 59 45 00, [email protected]. Tu-F 09:00-16:00, Sa Su 11:00-18:00. Sponsored by the state and the city in addition to some of the largest industrial companies in Norway, this all new science centre features interactive exhibitions of science, technology and mathematics. It targets children and young people with the intention to inspire the them learning more about science, but is popular also among the adults. It has special exhibitions about the weather, the ocean and energy, with altogether 75 different interactive machines and experiments. Kr. 120; children (3-15 years): kr. 80, families (2 adults and 2 children): kr. 330 (kr. 65 per extra child), students (high school and above): kr. 80. 
• 60.38695.31930 Bergen Maritime Museum (Bergens Sjøfartsmuseum), Haakon Sheteligsplass 15, ☏ +47 55 54 96 00, fax: +47 5 554-9610, [email protected]. Daily 11:00-15:00, closed on holidays, Christmas eve, new year's eve and the 17th of May. This traditional maritime museum is in the middle of the campus of the University of Bergen. Exhibitions of maritime history, shipping history, the Vikings, naval warfare, maritime archeology, and more. kr 30; children and students free. 
• 60.383335.3283331 Nygårdsparken. Always open. This is a very nicely landscaped park laid out in the late 1800s in English style. The park is a popular picnic place for families, and in the summer there's always several groups of students and young people having barbeques. You are very welcome to step on the grass and it's a nice place to play frisbee, kubb or croquet. If you want to save a few kroner on food and drink stop by a local grocery store to pick up some ingredients to a picnic, bring along a blanket and a few beers and spend a cheap and relaxing afternoon in this park. It's highly unlikely that the police will bother you for drinking in public in this park as long as you behave. It's also one of the places where it's rather easy to get in contact with the locals. There's no public toilet here, but pop over the road to Vilvite and use their facilities for free. The upper part of the park is now rejuvenated, with a nice play area for children, occasional outdoor exhibitions and – some weekends – a café with restroom in the new Pavillion. Free.  

• 60.3412815.35298132 Fantoft Stave Church (Fantoft stavkirke), Fantoftveien 46 (about 6 km (3.7 mi) from the city centre, bus line 2 from the front side of the exhibition shopping centre, or light rail ("Bybanen"). Get off at the Fantoft stop and walk.), ☏ +47 55 28 07 10. Stave churches are built in a distinctive style using the logs of trees as pillars, by the early Christians. This is a reconstruction of a church that was built in Fortun, by the Sognefjord, around 1150. On 6 Jun 1992, the church was totally destroyed by arson, but a perfect copy has since been constructed. The inside of the stave church has no wall paintings and the altar is quite austere. If you have seen the stave church in the Norsk Folkemuseum in Oslo, then save yourself a few kroners and skip this one.  

• 60.3431445.336733 Gamlehaugen, Gamlehaugveien 10 (about 10 minutes by car from the city centre, southbound bus lines 525, 60 over Fjøsanger, 20–24, 26, 560 and 620–630 from the bus station), ☏ +47 55 92 51 20, +47 55 11 29 00 (reserve tickets), fax: +47 55 92 51 33, [email protected]. Villa open for guided tours only. Guided tours Tu-Su at 12:00, 13:00 and 14:00 in Jun-Aug. Tour at 12:00 will be given in English if necessary, other tours will be given in Norwegian only. The villa at Gamlehaugen, built to resemble a castle, was the home of Christian Michelsen, former prime minister who helped free Norway from Swedish rule through the peaceful dissolution of the union in 1905. Nowadays, the villa is the royal family's residence in Bergen. There is a large and very popular park around the villa. Bathing possibilities. Tour tickets kr. 50; children kr. 25. Access to the park is free for all.  
• 60.2939825.30809734 Siljustøl Museum, Siljustølveien 50 (about 20 minutes by car from the city centre, southbound bus lines 23 and 26 from the bus station), ☏ +47 55 92 29 92, fax: +47 55 92 29 93. Museum open 24 Jun-23 Sep: Su 12:00-16:00. The home of the composer Harald Sæverud, famous for late romantic and neo-classicist works now houses a museum with occasional concerts. The somewhat mystic park around the house is open for the public. Museum admittance: Kr. 50; students: kr. 20, children: free.  

• 60.3197615.33075635 Troldhaugen (Edvard Grieg's villa), Troldhaugveien 65 (about 15 minutes by car from the city centre, Light Rail from city centre to Hop), ☏ +47 55 92 29 92, [email protected]. May-Sep: daily 09:00-18:00; Oct-Dec: daily 10:00-16:00; 23 Dec-1 Jan: closed; 2 Jan-Apr: Daily 10:00-16:00. This is the house of the famous composer Edvard Grieg, who wrote the Peer Gynt suite and the Piano Concerto in A Minor and is Norway's national composer. His country house (just outside the town centre of Bergen) has been preserved in the state it was in when he died in 1907. You can also see his grave; he was buried on his own estate. There is a museum devoted to Grieg and his work, and a concert hall with daily concerts from 1 May - 11 Oct. Kr. 130, students: kr. 65, children under 18: free. (updated Dec 2019)
• 60.3739035.3635536 Ulriksbanen, Ulriken 1 (southbound bus lines 2, 31 and 50 from the front side of the Xhibition shopping centre to Haukeland hospital). Cable car to the top of Mt. Ulriken, the highest of the mountains surrounding the city. There is a restaurant at the top.  

• 60.4184695.309637 Gamle Bergen (Old Bergen), Nyhavnsveien 4 (half an hour by walking; a few minutes by bus or car from the city centre, northbound bus lines 9, 20-29, 50, 71, 80, 90, 280, 285), ☏ +47 55 39 43 00, [email protected]. A reconstructed town with about 50 wooden houses from the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries. It is a beautiful place to stroll on a sunny day. The more cultural traveller will enjoy a guided tour of the area and the houses. kr 50; students: kr 30, pensioners: kr 30, children: free. 
• 60.50795.271238 The Norwegian Knitting Industry Museum (Norsk Trikotasjemuseum), Salhusvegen 201 (by car, drive north on the motorway E39/E16 until Åsane senter. when you're off the motorway, drive west and later north-west on RV 564. eventually, the signs should start pointing to Salhus. by bus, take northbound line 280), ☏ +47 55 25 10 80, fax: +47 55 25 10 99. Tu-Su 11:00-16:00 (June 1 - August 31); Tu-F 11:00-15:00 and Su 12:00-16:00 (September 1 - May 31). Located in the buildings that used to house the first fully mechanized knitwear factory in Norway. The machinery is still in working condition and is used. Guided tour, exhibitions and film. students: kr. 25, children: free. 

• 60.35385.189139 Alvøen (12 km west of the city centre by road; follow the signs towards Sotra, and then to Alvøen a while after the end of the dual-lane carriageway, westbound bus line 42), ☏ +47 55 58 80 10, [email protected]. An old and picturesque former industrial community on the west coast of the Bergen peninsula. The manor building at Alvøen has been converted into a museum with several exhibitions. for entrance to the main building: kr 50; students: kr. 25, children: free.  
• 60.38325.302140 Damsgård Hovedgård (Damsgård Manor), Alléen 29 (just across the fjord south-west of the city centre, walk or drive across the Puddefjord bridge, then turn right and keep going for a kilometer, the manor is visible from the road on your left hand side), ☏ +47 55 94 08 70, [email protected]. This 18th-century manor is the most splendid of the many country retreats built by Bergen's aristocracy in the past centuries. The roccoco main building is surrounded by several beautiful gardens. kr 50; students: kr 25, children: free.  

• 60.3960975.3086441 Bergen Jazzforum, Georgernes verft 12, ☏ +47 55 30 72 50, fax: +47 55 30 72 60, [email protected]. Concerts every Friday except in the summer and during the Christmas holidays. Jazz club with focus on modern jazz. Norwegian Jazz Club Of The Year 2008. 
• Bergen Live. Producing most of the larger pop, rock and hiphop concerts in Bergen. 
• 60.388755.3263752 Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra (Harmonien), Grieghallen, Edvard Griegs plass 1. Classical concerts every Thursday evening at 19:30. The Bergen philharmonic is one of two national orchestras and was established in 1765. It is regarded as one of the oldest orchestras in the world.The program is varied, but the repertoire is usually quite easy listening. The orchestra plays of course a lot of Edvard Grieg's works.  
• 60.3896965.3221793 Det Akademiske Kvarter, Olav Kyrresgate 49, [email protected]. Popular student venue, usually hosting concerts several times a week except during holidays and the summer. 

• 60.3933755.3142364 BIT Teatergarasjen, Nøstegaten 54, ☏ +47 55 23 22 35, [email protected]. BIT (Bergen International Theater) presents Norwegian and international contemporary stage art productions of high quality. 
• 60.3924535.3194225 Den Nationale Scene, Engen 1, ☏ +47 55 54 97 00, [email protected]. The national theater in Bergen. In a beautifully restored building, the theater presents a variety of plays on three different stages, from traditional Ibsen to contemporary plays. The largest stage (Store scene) is where most mainstream plays are played, while the two smaller stages features more alternative plays, often the most interesting ones. The plays are in Norwegian.  
• Bergen Nasjonale Opera (Den nye Opera), ☏ +47 55 21 61 20, [email protected]. Although Bergen does not have its own opera house, it does have its own opera company. Den Nye Opera (The New Opera) usually put on a few productions throughout the year. Summer performances are often at the Bergenhus Fortress while other productions are performed at Den Nationale Scene or at Grieghallen. Tickets are available online. Tickets usually range from kr. 200 to kr. 550 depending on seating and availability. Bergen does not attract the top performers, and the quality may vary a bit, usually anywhere between superb and a bit below average.  

Hanging out by the ocean can be one of the best ways to spend a hot summer day in Bergen, although Bergen is hardly a sun and sand destination. The temperature in the ocean around Bergen is warmer than most places on the west coast because of the outer islands protecting the area from the constant flow of cooler water from the North Sea, and allowing the water to heat in smaller bays in the area. Temperatures can rise to 20 °C (68 °F) after consecutive days with good weather. The water is clean and fresh. There are sandy beaches at Arboretet at Milde (Hjellestad), Kyrkjetangen at Nordåsvannet and Helleneset, "bathing houses"/beaches at Nordnesparken and Elsero situated in Old Bergen in Sandviken. After a day hiking in the mountains, Skomakerdiket above Mount Fløyen has a sandy fresh-water beach.

• Nye Sydnes Sjøbad, Nøstegaten (close to the Hurtigruten terminal, just beside the Nøsteboden pub). Public seawater "pool". Free. 
• Nordnes outdoor pool (Nordnes sjøbad), approach through Haugeveien (Nordnes park near Aquarium). M-F 07:00 - 19:00, Sa Su 07:00 – 14:00 (flexible in good weather). Outdoor swimming pool 25 m, heated saltwater taken from the fjord Adult kr 65, child kr 30. 

De syv fjell Locals refer to de syv fjell (the seven mountains) when they talk about the mountains surrounding the city. But there's no agreement on which mountains these seven really are, as there are in fact at least nine mountains and peaks in the area. Most people do however agree that Fløyen, Ulriken, Løvstakken and Damsgårdsfjellet are among the seven, plus three out of Sandviksfjellet, Blåmanen, Rundemanen, Lyderhorn and Askøyfjellet. As locals are known to have strong opinions on most subjects, the question of which mountains to include has been up for debate in local newspapers since the morning of time. The reason for the controversy is probably that the number seven is more of a roman-inspired gimmick, and that it is impossible to distinguish some of the mountain tops from each other when in the city centre, as many of them are part of the same massif.

The mountains surrounding Bergen offer great hiking possibilities, and unlike most cities the first hiking trail starts downtown and there's no need for transport out of town. There are options for anyone from those just looking for a fifteen-minute stroll in the sun to the more adventurous interested in daytrips and steep hills. Byfjellene (lit. "the city mountains") have good networks of dirtroads and paths, usually well signposted. Good maps are available in most bookstores – look for Tur- og friluftskart Bergen (1:25 000) from the Norwegian Mapping and Cadastre Authority (Norwegian: Statens kartverk).

For advice on hiking, as well as hiking opportunities elsewhere in Norway, you should consult Bergen Turlag^{[dead link]} (Bergen Hiking Association), the local branch of Den Norske Turistforening^{[dead link]} (Norwegian Trekking Association), in Tverrgaten 4-6. The Norwegian right to access entitles you to hike in all uncultivated areas.

Mount Fløyen

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Mount Fløyen is the most central of the mountains. It is easily accessible by the funicular running from downtown, but the more fit will probably choose the 40-minute walk up. A good compromise can be to take the funicular up and walk down. The way is well signposted, so you won't get lost. In the steep slope towards Fløyen (right above the city) there is the popular Fjellveien, a long, gentle, horizontal pedestrian road with a perfect panorama of the city. From Fjellveien, there are several alternative roads to the plateau. The slopes of Mt. Fløyen is (surprisingly) home to Norway's biggest trees. Until the 19th century the hills and mountains of Bergen were largely barren and gray, then the society for forest and trees was established. The slopes were cultivated and the trees have since the late 1800's grown rapidly in the fertile climate. There is even a small sawmill at the road to Fløyen. There are spruce, oak, hazel, scots pine, aspen, sycamore (maple), beech and hackberry trees.

From the top of Mount Fløyen, the 1.8 km (1.1 mi) walk in relatively flat terrain to Brushytten (lit. "the soda cabin") is ideal, if you have kids. Brushytten is a kiosk usually open on Sundays. There are several ways to get there, if you follow the signs, you're on the safe side and will walk on dirtroads all the way (easily accessible with both a wheelchair or a pram).

From Brushytten, you can walk up the hill to Mount Rundemanen and get a beautiful view. From Mount Rundemanen, a good choice for a not-so-long hike will be to walk to Mount Sandviksfjellet, and from there down to Sandviken, where you can get on a bus or walk back to the city centre. Another possibility is to cross the Vidden plateau and walk to Mount Ulriken, the highest mountain in Bergen, a hike which takes about five hours. You should be somewhat fit to take this trip, and also be prepared for bad weather. The trip across Vidden is among Norway's most popular hiking trips.

For both kids and adults, a popular activity on snowy days is to take the funicular to the top of Mount Fløyen and toboggan to the city centre.

See also: Fjords of Norway

Central Bergen itself is situated at a fjord and within the municipality of Bergen there are several other fjords. There are smaller fjords all around Bergen and numerous lakes inside Bergen itself. The closest classical fjord is Sørfjorden-Veafjorden between Arna and Stanghelle. The main road (E16) and railway line between Bergen and Voss runs along Veafjorden as well as Bolstadfjorden. There are frequent boat trips to some of the more scenic fjords from the city centre, for instance to Mostraumen. There are trips all year round, but many are only available in season, from May to September. The full day trip by to through Nærøyfjorden/Aurlandsfjorden combines train, boat and bus where also the overland transport by train and bus through the wild landscape is very rewarding. Nærøyfjorden and Aurlandsfjorden are branches of Sognefjorden, Norway's longest and deepest, and the second longest in the world. The great Hardangerfjorden, Norway's second largest, is accessible at Norheimsund about 1 ½ or 2 hours by car or bus from Bergen.

The islands, fjords and lakes surrounding Bergen provide excellent conditions for both saltwater and fresh-water fishing. Fishing from fresh water lakes usually requires a local rod permit, even permission from the land owner. Pay attention to signs marking lakes used for drinking water.

Coast and deep sea fishing is free and there is no need for any license. However, no more than 10 kg of fish fillets or fish products can be exported from Norway per person. If you have fished under the auspices of a registered tourist fishing camp, the export quota is a maximum of 20 kg, provided that the organized fishing can be documented. Note some important regulations concerning the minimum size of most fish. Consult the web site of The Norwegian Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs^{[dead link]} for more information.

Fishing in the city centre (Bryggen, Vågen, Bontelabo, Dokken) is possible, but there are some concerns about traces of mercury in white fish fillet and liver. A new report may indicate that the situation is better than expected, but a good advice is to avoid fishing in Vågen, from old ship yards and the Åstveittangen and Eidsvågen areas.

A general, very cautious advice could be not to eat liver from fish caught in areas close to the city centre - and pregnant and breast feeding women should not eat this fish at all.

Buekorps The buekorps (literally meaning archery brigade) is a tradition unique to Bergen. Formed by children and young people, these brigades have their roots back to the 19th century when kids imitated military troops performing closed order drill. The brigades parade the city streets with drummers, officers and privates carrying crossbows throughout spring, with Constitution Day being the high point. While not universally loved by the citizens, the buekorps certainly add to Bergen's unique character.

• Bergenfest. Music festival from the end of April to start of May. A number of concerts in most rhythmic music genres (pop, rock, hip hop, blues, soul) all over town. 
• 60.39155.3185836 Bergen International Film Festival (BIFF), ☏ +47 55 30 08 40, fax: +47 55 30 08 41, [email protected]. BIFF is a week-long film festival held in October every year at Bergen kino (the Magnus Barfot multiplex cinema). Single ticket kr. 65. BIFF discount card: New card kr. 520 (card kr. 20, account kr. 500), account refill kr. 200, enables you to purchase tickets at kr. 40/50 for screenings starting before/after 15:00.  
• Constitution Day