Fish Market (Fisketorget)
Market · harbour
Stalls of seafood, fish soup and whale and king crab on the harbour.
Best for: trying Norwegian seafood
Best time: lunch
Heads up: Tourist prices: check the price per 100 g before ordering.
Where to actually go in Bergen
Where to eat, drink and go out in Bergen: 20 picks for study-abroad students, with student-vetted picks marked and prices in dollars.
Eat & drink in Bergen
Pingvinen
Restaurant · Vaskerelven
A cosy pub serving Norwegian home cooking like fish cakes and meatballs.
Best for: traditional food at pub prices
Best time: dinner
Baker Brun
Breakfast · Bryggen and around the city
A traditional bakery known for skillingsboller (cinnamon buns) and fish cakes.
Best for: a cheap breakfast
Best time: morning
Sights & days out in Bergen
Bryggen
Sight · harbour
The row of colourful wooden Hanseatic warehouses on the harbour, with crooked alleys behind them.
Best for: the classic Bergen photo
Price: free to walk
Best time: morning
Fløibanen funicular and Mount Fløyen
Viewpoint · centre
A funicular up the mountain for the view over the city and fjord, with forest trails and a lake on top.
Best for: the view, an easy hike down
Best time: afternoon
Ulriken
Viewpoint · Haukeland (bus from centre)
The highest of Bergen's mountains, reached by cable car; the ridge hike to Fløyen is a classic.
Best for: a big hike, the panorama
Best time: full morning
Stoltzekleiven steps
Walk · Fjellveien
Around 800 stone steps straight up the hillside, the locals' workout.
Best for: a hard, free climb
Price: free
Best time: morning
KODE art museums
Museum · Lille Lungegårdsvann
Four art museums around a lake in the centre, including a big Munch collection.
Best for: a rainy-day plan
Best time: afternoon
Bergenhus Fortress
Sight · harbour
One of Norway's oldest fortresses, with a medieval hall and the Rosenkrantz Tower.
Best for: a free walk around the grounds
Best time: any time
Nordnes Park
Garden · Nordnes
A park at the tip of the peninsula looking out over the fjord.
Best for: a quiet sunset
Price: free
Best time: sunset
Nordnes Sjøbad
Activity · Nordnes
A heated outdoor seawater pool next to the fjord, plus fjord swimming.
Best for: a swim with locals
Best time: afternoon
Bergen Aquarium
Museum · Nordnes
An aquarium of Norwegian sea life with penguins and seals.
Best for: a rainy afternoon
Best time: afternoon
Troldhaugen
Museum · south of the centre
Composer Edvard Grieg's lakeside villa, with concerts in summer.
Best for: music history
Best time: afternoon
Fjord cruise to Mostraumen
Activity · leaves from the harbour
A three-hour boat trip into narrow fjords with waterfalls close enough to touch.
Best for: seeing a fjord in half a day
Booking: Book ahead in summer.
Best time: half day
Norway in a Nutshell from Bergen
Activity · by train from Bergen
The famous train, Flåm Railway and fjord-boat loop through the western fjords.
Best for: the classic fjord day
Booking: Book ahead; summer sells out.
Best time: full day
Hardangerfjord day trip
Activity · south-east of Bergen
Orchards, waterfalls and glacier views along one of the longest fjords.
Best for: a scenic tour or bus day
Best time: full day
Bergen Kunsthall
Museum · Festplassen
A contemporary art space with a bar and club nights in the same building.
Best for: art, then a drink
Best time: afternoon
Nights out in Bergen
Apollon
Bar · Nygårdsgaten
A record shop and bar in one, with craft beer and gigs.
Best for: a laid-back night
Best time: evening
Det Akademiske Kvarter (Kvarteret)
Bar · Olav Kyrres gate
The student-run culture house: cheap bars, gigs, quizzes and club nights.
Best for: meeting local students
Best time: evening
USF Verftet
Live music · Nordnes
A converted sardine factory on the water, now a venue for concerts, art and a café.
Best for: a gig by the fjord
Best time: evening