If you’re visiting Bergen, Norway to start your trip into the fjords you aren’t alone. But before you jump on a train, take a few days to explore the city. It has so much to offer! Read more for ideas of how you can spend 3 days in Bergen here.
3 days in Bergen itinerary
Stay at Zander K Hotel
We stayed at the Zander K Hotel in Bergen and loved it! This might have had something to do with the free coffee to warm us up each time we walked into the hotel 🙂 It’s located right next to the train station, making for easy access to the Norway in a Nutshell tour, and only a 10 minute walk to Bryggen. A huge plus is its massive (and free!) breakfast buffet each day. We ate a lot for breakfast (and took a few things to go), which meant we were able to skip lunch and only pay for one meal a day. This is huge bonus in Norway where simple meals can easily reach $60.
Day One
Bryggen
Bryggen is the most famous area of Bergen, which means it can’t be missed and where we spent the first of our 3 days in Bergen. The historic buildings on the harbor are now home to little shops for souvenirs, sweaters, and furs. We looked more than we bought, but it’s still one of those surreal spots to stroll around and take photos. But don’t stop there! Make sure to walk the streets behind Bryggen for more adorable buildings and restaurants!
Fish Market
The fish market is another spot you can’t miss in Bergen. Located right across the harbor from Bryggen, the market is made up of several different vendors where you can buy fresh fish or even stay for a drink or a meal. There’s also a few quick bites of the traditional Norwegian dishes (think rye bread with mayo topped with shrimp)
We loved watching them filet fresh tuna and spent our time walking around trying to find the weirdest looking thing. Again, being the prices and amount of other tourists were high, we didn’t stay for a meal, but the view of Bryggen might make it worth it!
Una
Una was our one stop for drinks in the Bryggen area of Bergen. If you’re looking for a great atmosphere with some local brews and great views of the harbor, this is your spot. We sat one the patio, ordered a few beers, and did a whole lot of people watching!
Floyen
Mount Floyen was our most unexpected and fun find in Bergen. Being we had more time than we thought on our first day, we decided to take a trip to the top of the mountain overlooking the city. The Floyen funicular is the easiest and fastest way to get to the top (the other option is hiking, but we weren’t dressed for this!).
Once at the top, we watched the sunset (but for the best light, go in the morning when the sun is behind you), visited the gift shop (but didn’t buy anything), and hung out with the mountain goats that roam the mountainside. If you can’t tell by the pictures, I LOVED these mountain goats. We probably spent 45 minutes petting and watching them munch on the brush.
Day 2
Kaffemisjonen
I can’t go to a new city without trying a new coffee shop. Kaffemisjonen is only a few blocks from Bryggen but there were no tourists in sight! Except us of course. This little coffee shop has cool Scandinavian design and floor tiles to die for. As you can see from the awards on the counter, the baristas care about their coffee and your taste buds will notice!
Ulriken
In addition to Floyen, we also took the trip up to Ulriken, the tallest mountain in Bergen. We took the tram to the top of Ulriken and spent 5 hours hiking on (and off) the trails. The landscape on Ulriken is like nothing I’ve ever seen, and the views are absolutely breathtaking! After our day of hiking, we ordered some beer from Restaurant sky: skraperen at the top of the mountain and settled into the balcony looking over Bergen. This has to be one of my favorite spots I’ve ever had a beer – so beautiful!
Day 3
Norway in a Nutshell tour
We couldn’t stay in Bergen without a visit to the fjords, and there’s no easier way than the Norway in a Nutshell tour. We opted for the round trip day tour from Bergen, but if we had more time we would have loved to do the trip from Bergen to Oslo, or even added on another day in the fjords to hike!
The tour takes you by train, ferry, and bus through the villages of Myrdal, Flam, Gudvangen, and Voss. Learn why you need to add this to your bucket list here!
Looking for a longer Norway getaway, head north and explore the Lofoten Islands.
These 3 days in Bergen and beyond were some of our favorite on our Scandinavian adventure. What are your favorite places in Norway?
