Travel Guide: How Many Days In Bergen Is Enough? A Locals Advice (2024)
So you are creating your Norway itinerary, and Bergen has emerged on your list of places you should see. Unfortunately, as any seasoned traveler knows, traveling pretty much always requires prioritizing. So, how many days in Bergen is enough?
The annoying answer is that it depends. It depends on what you want to see and do, and if you want to combine your visit to Bergen town with exploring the region as well.
With a couple of days in Bergen, you will have time to experience the highlights of the town, like the Bergen Wharf, the fish market, the aquarium, some museums, and take the gondola.
If you want to also experience some of the epic nature around Bergen, you will need a few days more – I would say five to seven.
Let’s look into the things you can do and how much time those activities probably will take (with no stress attached).
This article contains affiliate links! If you like this free content and use my links to make your bookings, I get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank You!
Quick Guide Bergen
- The “capital” of western Norway
- Population around 272.000
- Language: Bergensk (a very distinct dialect of Norwegian)
- Distance from Oslo: about five hours by train/car
- Known for the old Bergen Wharf, the fish market, Mount Fløyen, the aquarium, and the football team Brann
How Many Days In Bergen?
Instead of asking, “How many days in Bergen is enough?” why don’t we ask the question, “What do you want to experience in Bergen”?
Bergen City is not big, but it is super charming, and there are lots of things to see and do. Also, in the immediate area around Bergen, there are epic adventures awaiting!
So, if the Bergen Center is the only thing that interests you, let us look at what you can get out of two days in Bergen below. And after that, what can you get if you extend your stay for a few days more?
Also read: 6 Best Hotels In Bergen From A Native
Two Days In Bergen Norway
If you just want to experience Bergen Town, two days or 48 hours in Bergen, Norway, will give you time to explore its highlights.
In two days, you will have time to take the famous gondola up to Mount Ulriken or the funicular to Mount Fløyen and enjoy the views of Bergen from the surrounding mountains.
Vidden in Bergen & Outdoors
If you love nature and want to spend the day, you will probably love the half-day hike between the two places.
To make this hike, take the gondola up Mount Ulriken and do the stunning 4-hour hike (18 kilometers/11 miles) across the plains to the top of Mount Fløyen.
At your destination, Mount Fløyen, there is a restaurant with spectacular views of Bergen and the fjords.
You should plan to stop here for a drink or something to eat before you start the ascent (or take the funicular down) to the middle of Bergen center!
TravelToNorway Tip: Join a top-rated guided hiking tour of the Vidden over Bergen with a skilled guide who knows the mountain, nature, and history of Bergen!
If you feel sporty, instead of taking the gondola or funicular, you can opt to walk up the 900-step steep Stoltzekleiven stone stairs.
If you visit in summer, you will probably love to go swimming at Nordnes Seabath, Sandviken Seabath, or Helleneset (but remember, the Norwegian fjord temperature is fresh, even in summer!).
Nordneset Sea Bath is situated close to the center of Bergen, on the tip of a headland super close to Bergen Aquarium, so it can be a good idea to visit both these fun places in one day.
Bergen Museums & History
You will also have time to visit the Bergen Museum and the famous Aquarium and stroll around the historic Bergen Wharf.
Stop at the Fish Market that has been there for centuries and take in the ambiance, or buy some fresh catch from the sea outside town.
You should definitely visit Skostredet, an incredibly charming old, narrow street (or alley) that is only a few yards wide in some places.
The street and surrounding houses are made of wood, and the narrow alley is home to several hotels, bars, restaurants, and shops.
You should also have time to visit the Edvard Grieg Museum Troldhaugen. If you want to explore the city in a fun way, you can also consider joining a segway tour!
Bergen is part of Street Art Cities, and you can check out what street art you can see and where to find it on the Street Art Cities Bergen page.
However, if you want to go a little bit deeper and also travel around the western region of Norway, you can easily plan for 5 to maybe 7 days to get all the experiences you want without any stress.
Also read: 22+ Best Things To Do In Bergen Norway
Five Days In Bergen Norway
If you choose to stay in Bergen for five days, you will have time to explore more than the city center and a little of the immediate surrounding nature in the first couple of days.
In addition to the activities listed above, I suggest you spend the extra days going on day trips and exploring within a few hours’ drive from the center of Bergen.
You can venture off on a road trip, find a local (long-haul) bus, or even head out with one of the coastal ferries that start from Bergen (You can sail all the way up past the North Cape above the Arctic Circle from Bergen if you want to)!
There are also boat trips and tours available to visit epic destinations like the UNESCO-protected Norwegian Fjord called Nærøyfjorden.
Or take the train to destinations like Voss, Mølfjell, and Myrdal (where you can catch the famous old railway to Flåm).
TravelToNorway Tip: Check trains in Norway at vy.no
Day Trips From Bergen Norway
Within a short drive or a few hours by bus, train, rental car, or even ferry, you can have many fun adventures in the western part of Norway.
Take A Journey With The Coastal Service Ferry
Bergen is the starting point of the Hurtigruten and Havila Voyages Coastal Lines, which sails all the way north past the North Cape in the Norwegian Arctic and on to the northeasternmost point in Norway, Kirkenes.
You can also book a port-to-port ticket with both cruise lines, enjoy a few hours cruising the majestic coastline north of Bergen northbound or southbound, and catch the return ferry the next day.
It is also possible to take the ferry north or south and get a bus back, or vice versa, to do the trip in one day!
📍 EpicNomadLife Tip: Extending your trip? Make Bergen your starting point for a coastal journey in Norway, and take the entire cruise along the Norwegian coastline all the way to Kirkenes up north if you want to. You can check out the cruises here:
Visit Fantoft Stave Church
Just 15 minutes south of the center of Bergen, you will find the famous historic Fantoft Stave Church.
A stave church is a medieval church built in wooden trusses that originated from the Norwegian Christian Middle Ages. This particular way of building is, in fact, Norway’s most important contribution to European architecture.
The original Fantoft Stave Church was built in 1883, but it tragically burned to the ground in 1992. So, what you see today is a perfect replica of the old church situated in Fana outside Bergen—still an impressive sight.
Visit Vannkanten Water World
Vannkanten Water World in Bergen is a great place to visit for a day, whether you travel alone, with your better half, or with your entire family, kids, and all.
At Waterworld, there are zones for swimmers of different ages and a separate relaxing area with its own quiet room.
There is a swimming pool, both indoor and outdoor jacuzzi, diving boards, and fun water slides. The Waterworld Center is close to Vestkanten Shopping Center, so you can combine the two.
It is only about ten minutes from the center of Bergen, but it can be done as a “day trip” anyway if you want to enjoy the facilities fully! Take the local bus to Loddefjord Terminal or get a taxi.
Visit Voss In Norway In A Day
Voss is a small mountain village famous for its spectacular nature in Norway, in particular for being the host of the annual Extreme Sports Week (for 2024, it starts on the 21st of June!), canyoning, and infamous for epic river rafting adventures in several fierce rivers in the area.
I have done canyoning and river rafting in Voss, and I can testify it was just as epic as the photo shows you. The two rivers, Strandaelva and Raundalselva in Voss, both hold international standards and will give you a once-in-a-lifetime day on the water.
Voss is a one-and-a-half-hour drive from Bergen, which is perfect for a day trip. The drive there is also incredibly beautiful.
How to get here: Rent a car or take the train directly from Bergen Station to Voss, which takes one hour and twenty minutes.
📍 TravelToNorway Tip: If you are a group, take a top-rated multi-destination full-day trip to Voss, Hardangerfjord Fjord, and four different incredible waterfalls!
Flom And The Iconic Flom Railway
Flåm in Norway is mostly famous for its iconic old railway, which threads its way through the mountainside from Flåm up to the Myrdal railway station. I visited a few years back, and I loved this slow, winding train journey!
Myrdal is also a starting point for Rallarvegen, an old road loved by hikers and mountain bikers from around the world.
Destination Flåm is situated just under three hours from Bergen.
In addition to the old railway, you can hike to the Stegastein viewpoint (or take a bus), zipline the Flåm Valley, visit the Flåm Railway Museum, and see Flåm Church, a wooden so-called langkirke (long church) from 1670.
How to get here: Rent a car or take the train from Bergen to Myrdal and then the Flåmsbanen Railway down the mountain to Flåm.
📍 TravelToNorway Tip: This full-day tour from Bergen to Flåm will take you to the majestic Sognefjorden Fjord, Kjosfossen Waterfall, and wild natural landscapes, including the incredible train journey and a fjord cruise.
Zodiac Boat Tour From Bergen
You can also enjoy the stunning fjords directly from the center of Bergen without any transport or logistics!
As Bergen is basically “in” the fjords, why not step into this top-rated cool zodiac tour and experience them up close and personal (and with speed)?
Choose departure in the morning or afternoon without the crowds, and hotel pick-up and drop-off are included. On this private tour, an experienced skipper will take you to the most stunning fjord areas around Bergen, and as there is no fixed itinerary, you can influence where you are going!
Traveling To Bergen Norway
Let me quickly explain how to get to Bergen in case you don’t know or haven’t quite decided yet.
You can fly to Bergen from Oslo; or book a direct flight from your origin to Bergen.
My favorite flight apps for best air fare deals are:
- Skyscanner
- eDreams
If Oslo is your entry point to Norway, you can either book a domestic flight from Oslo Gardermoen Airport to Bergen (about one hour) or take the train!
The train journey from Oslo to Bergen takes about five hours, and it is beautiful.
I love doing this trip; the tracks fly through Hardangervidda National Park, which has incredible scenery in both summer and winter, well worth a few hours on the train.
Lastly, you can make a road trip to Bergen from wherever you arrive in Norway. Norway is quite an easy country to drive in, and your road trip will also be surrounded by beautiful scenery every step of the way.
Dont forget travel insurance!
My favorite travel insurance is Safety Wing, tailored for digital nomads, but they also offer good quotes for travelers not working remotely.
FAQ Bergen Norway
Is 2 Days Enough In Bergen?
You can do a lot of exploring in the center of Bergen in two days, but as soon as you decide to go hiking or do some of the activities that take a few hours, two days in Bergen will fly by!
In my opinion, two days in Bergen is a little short to be able to experience
Is 4 Days In Bergen Too Long?
Four days in Bergen can feel a little long if you just stay in the city center.
However, if you take advantage of the immediate surroundings and make a half-day trip or a full day trip in this period, four days in Bergen will not feel like too much.
Wrap-Up How Many Days In Bergen Is Enough
Hopefully, you will now have enough insight into what Bergen has to offer, how many days in Bergen are enough for you, and what experiences you want to have.
So, how long you should plan to stay is simply up to you. And don’t forget to check out other iconic destinations in Norway, too!
Related blog posts:
Is Oslo Worth Visiting? 10 Reasons You Will Love Oslo!
