2 Days in Bergen: The Perfect First-Time Itinerary

Are you planning on spending 2 days in Bergen? This is one of Norway’s most magnificent cities, and here’s our perfect 2-day Bergen itinerary.

Bergen is one of Norway’s most popular cities – and for good reason! We recently spent around 5 days in Bergen and loved every minute of it. 

Yes, it did rain (and at one point, we got absolutely soaked!), but we still loved every second of our trip, and it’s such a wonderful place to visit in Norway.

Of course, many people only visit Bergen for a few days, either a cruise ship stop or as part of a longer Norway road trip. We actually based ourselves in Bergen for the entirety of our trip and did a few day trips from the city. 

Personally, we loved this way of travelling and it really allowed us to explore the beautiful nature and fjords surrounding the city; however, if you only have a few days to spare in Bergen, you can still see plenty!

There are some great hikes right from the city itself – especially since Bergen is famous for being surrounded by 7 mountains – as well as stunning fjords and some very interesting history.

So, if you’re wondering how to spend 2 days in Bergen, read on! This is our recommended itinerary along with all of our top tips!

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Where to stay for 2 days in Bergen

If you only have two days in Bergen, we highly recommend staying somewhere centrally located with easy walking distances and public transport links to all the city’s top attractions.

We stayed at Clarion Hotel Admiral in Bergen city centre, and it was perfect. 

The hotel is located right on the waterfront, so you get one of the best views in Bergen right from your window. 

The breakfast is delicious, and they offer free tea and coffee in the lobby throughout the day. There are umbrellas to hire in the lobby, and the staff are lovely, plus the rooms are really big and comfortable. 

If you want somewhere comfy and very well located, we can’t recommend this hotel enough!

🏨 Check prices and book a room at the Clarion Hotel Admiral in Bergen.

Day 1: 

For your first day in Bergen, we’re going to kick things off with a bang! Head straight out to the fjords and then get back and see some of Bergen’s most famous sights and stunning views.

10:00 – Fjord Cruise to Mostraumen 

Start your 2-day Bergen itinerary with a fjord cruise. Bergen is known as the gateway to the fjords, and you’ll find some of the most incredible fjords in Norway within easy reach of the city. 

Of course, if you only have two days, you won’t be able to see everything, but you should still reserve some time for getting on the water. 

We recommend a cruise to Mostraumen. This is the closest fjord cruise to Bergen and will give you some truly stunning scenery and interesting commentary about the local life and the surrounding landscapes!

The tour itself lasts around 3 hours, leaving you with the second half of the day to explore the city centre. 

When we did this, we took the first cruise in the morning, which left from the harbour at around 10am. We were then back in Bergen just after 1 pm, just in time for lunch.

⛴️ You’ll need to book a fjord tour in advance as they can sell out, especially in the summer months.

13:00 – Lunch at the Fish Market

For lunch, we recommend heading to the fish market.

If there’s one food that Norway is known for, it’s fresh fish, and the market in Bergen city centre is one of the best places to try it. 

You’ll find huge crabs, delicious fish and chips, fish soup, and plenty of other specialities. Plus, the atmosphere here is well worth a visit, even if you don’t actually try anything. 

You’ll find a covered section with local vendors selling their wares, and several street food stalls too, selling everything from ice cream to pastries. 

14:00 – Explore Bryggen

Arguably, the most famous part of Bergen is Bryggen, the colourful row of houses along the waterfront, also known as Bergen’s Old Town. This area is absolutely beautiful and well worth a wander around. 

As well as simply admiring the houses from the outside, you can actually walk inside the area and see just how the people here used to live hundreds of years ago.

You’ll find little shops, wooden beams, and plaques full of information about the history of the area.

💡TOP TIP: If you’re really interested in the history, you can take a guided walking tour to learn about the Hanseatic merchants and the city’s history

15:00 – Visit Bergenhus Fortress

If you continue walking along the waterfront past Bryggen, you’ll eventually reach Bergenhus Fortress. This magnificent fort is one of the oldest in Norway and a fantastic historical site to see on your 2 days in Bergen. 

There are several parts to the fortress. You can walk around the outside for free and admire the walls, buildings, and courtyards. Or, if you want to know more about the history, you can also go inside. 

There are two parts you can enter: Rosenkrantz Tower and Håkon’s Hall. Both of these are paid entries; however will give you a lot of information about the history of the area. 

Plus, you can see some truly stunning architecture from Håkon’s Hall and lovely views over the harbour from the tower.

16:30 – Floyen Cable Car for Sunset

For your final stop of the day, head to Floyen Cable Car for sunset. 

Floyen is one of the best things to do in Bergen. It’s one of the 7 mountains surrounding the city and is much easier to reach than the highest peak, Ulriken, as the cable car station is situated right in the city centre.

You’ll find it just past Bryggen in the opposite direction to the fortress. 

Once you’re arrived, hop in the cable car and begin the short journey up to the top of the mountain. One of the things that surprised us about Mount Floyen is that there’s much more at the top of the mountain than just a viewing platform. 

You’ll also find a forest with several walking trails to other viewpoints, a children’s play area, a cafe and restaurants, several goats, and even a unique accommodation!

We spent some time up here admiring the view and then went for a little walk through the forest. It was a rather foggy evening, so the whole area looked like a fairytale forest! 

However, if you get clear skies from up here, the sunset can be absolutely magical. Either way, it’s a beautiful way to end the day. 

❤️ Buy tickets for the Floyen Funicular here.

TOP TIP: Check sunset times before heading up. Bergen can have some truly magical sunsets, and watching it from the top of the mountain is one of the most magical experiences in Bergen.

19:00 – Dinner at Porto13 Pizzeria & Bar

Finally, once you’ve taken the cable car back down the mountain, head to Porto13 Pizzeria & Bar.

This is one of our favourite restaurants in Bergen and just a short walk from the cable car station. It’s located in the harbourfront area, so you’ll also be really central to your hotel. 

They serve a delicious mixture of pizza and pasta, and it’s truly scrumptious! Andrew had a pizza, and I had the seafood pasta, and both were delicious!

Day 2: 

For your second day in Bergen, we’re going to be tackling one of the city’s most popular hikes, followed by exploring one of the museums in the centre. 

It’s a much less busy day than yesterday, but you’ll still get to see some of the most iconic sights in Bergen and combine nature with history.

10:00 – Mount Ulriken Hike

Start your day with a hike up Mount Ulriken. This is the tallest of Bergen’s 7 mountains and is one of the most popular hikes in the city. There’s also a cable car that goes up the mountain if you’d rather not hike.

You can take a public bus from the city centre to the start of the hike, and it takes around 30 minutes. Alternatively, if you’d rather go straight there, there is a tourist bus that will take you directly to the cable car station from the city centre.

The hike takes around 1-1.5 hours and is very steep. You’ll have several steep slopes at the start, followed by over 1,300 Sherpa stairs. It’s pretty brutal, but well worth it for the views – and good if you like a challenge!

At the top, you can continue to the summit if you want, or simply head into the cable car station. There’s also a cafe and a restaurant at the top, which is a great place to grab lunch. 

We took the cable car back down as we wanted to give our legs a rest, and I think this is a good way to do it – that way you get to experience both the hike and the cable car.

Once you’re back down at the bottom, head to the bus stop to take the bus back to the centre.

14:00 – Explore one of Bergen’s Museums:

After you’ve made it back to the city centre, head to one of the city’s best museums. We’d recommend either the Bryggens Museum, the KODE Art Museum, or the maritime Museum. 

Each will give you a different vibe depending on what you’re after, but you’ll probably only have time for one – so choose carefully!

Bryggens Museum

This museum is located right in the heart of the Bryggen area, just past the colourful houses, so it’ll give you another excuse to walk down this gorgeous street. 

The museum will give you a wonderful insight into Bergen’s medieval past. Built on the site of the city’s very first settlement, it gives you a fascinating look at what life was like here hundreds of years ago. 

You can admire the archaeological finds and learn how Bergen grew from a trading post into the bustling city it is today. Plus, it also houses a very impressive collection of runes.

Bergen Maritime Museum

Last but not least, Bergen Maritime Museum is a great way to explore Bergen’s seafaring past. Given Bergen’s strong ties to the sea, it’s really no surprise that the Maritime Museum is one of the city’s highlights. 

Here you’ll find everything from Viking ships to modern shipping exhibits, and it really shows just how important the ocean has been to Bergen’s identity. It’s the kind of place that makes you appreciate the city’s long history as a maritime hub.

KODE Art Museum

If you’re more into art than history, KODE is a must-visit. It’s actually four different buildings, housing everything from classical art to contemporary exhibitions. 

There’s also a collection of works by Edvard Munch (yes, the guy behind The Scream) and even entire houses designed by famous composers like Edvard Grieg. If you’re an art enthusiast, we highly recommend this place.

18:00 – Dinner at Varanasi

Once you’ve explored the museum, head to Varanasi, a lovely little Indian restaurant just a few minutes walk from your hotel. 

We ate here on our second night in Bergen, and the food was lovely. I also highly recommend the mango lassi drink – delicious!

And that pretty much wraps up your 2 days in Bergen! Although you could easily stay longer in the city, see more of the museums, hike more of the mountains, and do a few day trips, this is a great way to get a taste of Bergen!

What’s the best way to get around Bergen?

Bergen is a very walkable city, especially the central areas, and you can reach many of the places on this itinerary on foot from your hotel.

For further away destinations like Mount Fløyen or Mount Ulriken, you can either hike or use the funicular or cable car.

Also, public transport (trams and buses) is reliable if you need to go further out. We used the train and buses to get to and from the airport, and it was really easy to do.

When is the best time to visit Bergen?

Summer (June–August) tends to have the best weather and longest days, but it’s also the busiest. Plus, you’re still not guaranteed good weather even in the summer months. We visited Bergen in August, and it rained every single day we were there.

Spring and autumn are quieter with fewer crowds. Winter brings a magical atmosphere with Christmas markets and snowy views, though it’s wetter and darker.

In our opinion, for the best weather, June or July is best, whereas for cheaper prices and fewer crowds, but still okay weather, May or September are good options.

How expensive is Bergen?

Bergen, like most of Norway, is expensive compared to other European cities. Meals out can be pricey, but you can save by choosing casual spots, buying snacks and lunches from supermarkets, and walking instead of taking taxis.

Is 2 days enough in Bergen?

Honestly, we don’t think so. If all you want to see are the main attractions within the city itself, then you could certainly spend just two days in Bergen.

However, we’d recommend spending at least 3 days in Bergen and potentially even longer to really get a taste for the city and the area. 

We spent a total of 5 days in Bergen and could easily have stayed longer, explored more of the surrounding regions, done more hikes, and explored more museums. Bergen is a really beautiful city, and there is so much to see and do there. 

Due to its location, Bergen is also a really great place to stop on a road trip around Norway. It’s within easy distance of the city of Stavanger, where you’ll find some of the other magnificent hikes in Norway.

Of course, if you’re only passing through, 2 or even 1 day in Bergen, if that’s all you have, is a great way to get a feel for the city. But we’d always recommend staying longer if you can!

We hope this article has helped plan your trip to Bergen, and if you have any questions, let us know in our Facebook Group!

👉 Haven’t decided where to stay yet? Here are all the best hotels in Bergen!

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