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Bryggen's wooden wharf houses in Bergen under low cloud, lights reflected in Vågen
Norway

Bergen: things to do

Sights, food and festivals, and the traps to skip
Checked 13 November 2026
Where to parkCar towed?
Photos: Michael Fousert / Unsplash
3 min read

Driving in? Where to park

Best parking bet

Bygarasjen: NOK 48 an hour on weekday daytime, NOK 24 nights and Sundays, NOK 280 for 24 hours (Visit Bergen), 2.00 m, open 24 hours. Bergen Card: 15% off.

Watch out

Studded tyres: NOK 35 a day, 1 November 2026 to 4 April 2027, whole municipality; driving without it is NOK 750. Rush-hour tolls Mon–Fri 06:30–09:00 and 14:30–16:30.

Parking in Bergen: the full guide →

01 · Sights

Bergen's Bryggen, a funicular and a 1261 hall

Bergen's old centre is compact: Bryggen, the fish market, the fortress and the funicular sit around one harbour. Park once and walk.

1. Walk Bryggen's back alleys

Bryggen has been on UNESCO's list since 1979. Its look dates from the rebuild after the 1702 fire; about 62 buildings remain. The alleys behind the front row are better than the façade.

2. Ride Fløibanen up to 320 m

Fløibanen climbs to 320 m in about six minutes. A winter return is NOK 145 until 31 December 2026; summer 2027 is NOK 210 online. I'd go at dusk.

3. Eat at the Fish Market

The Fish Market has traded since the 1200s; the indoor Mathallen opened in 2012 and runs all year. Outdoor stalls start on 1 May.

4. Stand in Haakon's Hall

Haakon's Hall was built between 1247 and 1261 by King Haakon Håkonsson. It reopened in 1961 after the 1944 explosion.

5. Climb the Rosenkrantz Tower

The Rosenkrantz Tower began around 1270; Erik Rosenkrantz added three floors in the 1560s.

6. Save Troldhaugen for summer 2027

At Troldhaugen, Grieg's villa is closed for rehabilitation, planned to reopen in summer 2027. My advice: wait.

Open in Google Maps ↗

02 · Food

Fish soup, Thursday potato balls and a shilling bun

1. Order Bergen fish soup

Visit Bergen treats fish soup as the city's test. Søstrene Hagelin serves it with fish cakes and fish pudding.

2. Eat raspeballer on a Thursday

Raspeballer are potato balls of potato, flour, salt and water, traditionally a Thursday dish. Pingvinen and Bryggeloftet & Stuene serve them on Thursdays.

3. Buy a skillingsbolle

The skillingsbolle is a big sugared bun once sold for a shilling. Godt Brød bakes them.

4. Try persetorsk and puspas

Persetorsk is cod cured in salt and sugar, then pressed. Puspas is Bergen's version of mutton and cabbage. I'd try both before the hvit dame, a marzipan cake.

03 · Festivals

Gingerbread in November, the festival in May

1. See Pepperkakebyen before 10 January

Pepperkakebyen, the gingerbread town, runs 14 November 2026 to 10 January 2027 at byROMMET, Kong Oscars gate 24–26. Adults pay NOK 199 online.

2. Walk the Christmas market

The market fills Festplassen from 20 November to 22 December 2026. Entry is free; the Ferris wheel isn't. The Festival of Lights is 14 November, 16:00–17:00.

3. Book early for Festspillene

The Bergen International Festival runs 26 May to 12 June 2027, its 75th jubilee. The first was in 1953.

What's on

WhenWhat
Saturday 14 November 2026, 16:00–17:00Festival of Lights around Lille Lungegårdsvann; free
14 November 2026 – 10 January 2027Pepperkakebyen (Gingerbread City) at byROMMET, Kong Oscars gate 24–26; adults NOK 199 online
20 November – 22 December 2026Bergen Christmas Market at Festplassen; free entry, Ferris wheel extra
1 November 2026 – 4 April 2027Studded-tyre fee season (NOK 35 a day)
26 May – 12 June 2027Bergen International Festival (Festspillene), 75th jubilee
04 · History

A king's town, a Hanseatic wharf and a ship that blew up

1. Date the town to 1070

King Olav Kyrre founded Bergen in 1070. It was Norway's capital until 1299.

2. Thank the Hansa for Bryggen

The Hanseatic League set up its office here in 1350, and it ended in 1754. Bryggen is the only one of its four overseas offices still standing.

3. Remember 20 April 1944

The Dutch trawler Voorbode caught fire at the fortress pier carrying 120 tonnes of explosives. Nearly 100 people died.

P

Prices, phone numbers and rules change. We check every page and date it, but always read the sign in front of you — the sign wins, not us.

Sources (36)

  1. Bypakke Bergen price adjustment from 01.01.26 — Ferde: rate group 1 full price normal NOK 32/64, diesel 38/70, zero-emission 13/24; AutoPASS 20% off
  2. Bergen toll stations and prices — Ferde: rush hour Mon–Fri 06:30–09:00 and 14:30–16:30, 60-minute rule, charged towards the centre (rate table on this page is older)
  3. Driving a foreign registered vehicle in Norway — AutoPASS: Epass24 registration, lookup fees (Germany EUR 5.10), 20% with agreement and tag
  4. How to pay toll in Norway — Ferde: Epass24 or toll tag; no tags at the border for private cars
  5. Automatic toll stations — Visit Bergen: don't stop, Epass24 for foreign cars
  6. Parkering i Bergen — Bergen kommune: NOK 69 express, NOK 34/52 two-hour bays, Mon–Sat 08:00–23:00, Sundays free, app, EasyPark +15%, Bymiljøetaten contacts
  7. Klage på parkeringsgebyr, kontrollsanksjon og piggdekkgebyr — Bergen kommune: NOK 330/660/990, NOK 900, studded-tyre extra charge NOK 750, three-week appeal
  8. Sjekk hvor bilen er tauet inn — Bergen kommune: Bymiljøetaten 55 56 56 90 / 95 19 10 75, weekdays 07–22, police 02800, tow firms, bring ID
  9. Piggdekkavgift — Bergen kommune: NOK 35 day, 450 month, 1,400 season; 1.11.26–4.4.27; whole municipality
  10. Husk piggdekkavgiften — Bergen kommune: season 1 November 2026 to 4 April 2027, no refunds
  11. Parkering og lading for elbil — Bergen kommune: NOK 24/h visiting EVs in zones 8–30, chargers NOK 2–8/kWh via Current, maximum time 08–23, planned fee at charging bays
  12. Parking in Bergen — Visit Bergen: ByGarasjen, GriegGarasjen, KlosterGarasjen, NordnesGarasjen prices, heights and chargers; no-height-limit garages
  13. Parking — Scandic Ørnen: Bygarasjen NOK 44/hour, NOK 260/24 h, 54 charging points
  14. Parking — Scandic Neptun: Klostergarasjen NOK 46/hour, NOK 280/day, 24 charging points, 15% guest discount
  15. Parking availability and fees — Hotel Norge by Scandic: 15% off at Klostergarasjen and Bygarasjen
  16. Comfort Hotel Bergen services — Strawberry: parking from NOK 300 a night
  17. Bryggen P-hus — APCOA: Bryggen 50, 111 spaces, 8 EV spaces, 06:00–00:00, no tariff online
  18. Skyss Birkelandsskiftet — APCOA: 350 spaces, open 24 hours
  19. Parking for public transport passengers — Skyss: P+R sites and spaces, free with period ticket Mon–Fri 06:00–18:00, max 20 hours, Apcoa Flow otherwise
  20. List of Bergen Light Rail stations — Wikipedia: Nesttun, Skjoldskiftet, Birkelandsskiftet on line 1; opened 22 June 2010
  21. Skyss tourist folder 2026: NOK 51 for one zone, adult
  22. Facts about Bergen — Bergen kommune: founded 1070 by Olav Kyrre, capital until 1299, population 292,482 on 1 January 2024, cathedral spire 60°23′36″N 5°20′6″E
  23. Bryggen — UNESCO World Heritage Centre: inscribed 1979, 1702 fire, about 62 buildings, Hanseatic office 1350–1754
  24. Bryggen — Wikipedia: 1955 fire, Bryggens Museum 1976, office ended 1754
  25. Fløibanen funicular — Visit Bergen: 320 m, about 6 minutes, winter return NOK 145, summer 2027 NOK 210, Vetrlidsalmenning 23 A
  26. Fish Market in Bergen — Visit Bergen: since the 1200s, Mathallen 2012, hours, outdoor from 1 May
  27. Bergenhus Fortress walking route — Forsvarsbygg: Håkon's Hall 1247–1261, reopened 1961; Rosenkrantz Tower c.1270; Voorbode explosion 20 April 1944
  28. Bergenhus Fortress — Wikipedia: Rosenkrantz Tower 1560s, Haakon's Hall damaged 20 April 1944
  29. How to spend a day at Troldhaugen — KODE: villa closed for rehabilitation, planned to reopen summer 2027; Hop 15–20 minutes
  30. Troldhaugen venue — Bergen International Festival: Troldhaugsveien 65, free museum car park, limited capacity
  31. Bergen City of Gastronomy — Visit Bergen: fish soup, persetorsk, skillingsbolle, puspas, hvit dame
  32. The secrets of raspeballer — Visit Bergen: Thursday dish, Bryggeloftet & Stuene and Pingvinen
  33. Best places for traditional Norwegian food in Bergen — Norway Explained (guide): Søstrene Hagelin, Pingvinen, Godt Brød
  34. Christmas in Bergen — Visit Bergen: Festival of Lights 14 Nov 2026, Pepperkakebyen 14 Nov 2026–10 Jan 2027, Christmas Market 20 Nov–22 Dec 2026
  35. Gingerbread City — Fjord Norway: byROMMET, Kong Oscars gate 24–26, adult NOK 199
  36. About Festspillene — Bergen International Festival: 26 May–12 June 2027, 75th jubilee, first held 1953