3 Days in Bergen: the Perfect Itinerary for this Beautiful City

Are you planning on spending 3 days in Bergen? This is one of Norway’s most beautiful cities, and here’s exactly how we recommend spending your time!

Bergen is one of those cities that just captivates you the moment you arrive. 

The second we got to the city centre with its colourful harbour full of old timber houses, surrounding mountains and sunset views across the fjords, we knew we were going to absolutely love our time here. And, of course, Bergen did not disappoint!

We spent a wonderful few days exploring the city centre and road tripping to the surrounding regions to go hiking, explore the mountains, and find beautiful waterfalls. 

Despite often being seen as the gateway to the fjords, we think Bergen is completely stunning and a destination that’s worth exploring in its own right.

So, if you’ve got three days in Bergen, you’ve got just the right amount of time to see the highlights and see some of the hidden gems around this coastal city. Here’s exactly how we think you should spend your time. 

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Where to Stay for 3 Days in Bergen

If you’re spending 3 days in Bergen, you’re going to want to stay somewhere pretty central that’s an easy walking distance to attractions and sights within the city centre.

When we stayed in Bergen, we stayed at the Clarion Hotel Admiral right on the waterfront, and it was perfect. 

Our room overlooked the beautiful Bryggen Wharf, we were within easy walking distance of shops and restaurants, and the hotel was fantastic.

The breakfast buffet every morning was delicious, our room was really comfortable, and the staff were super friendly. 

There was also umbrella hire in the reception, free tea and coffee, discounts on parking if you decide to hire a car, and a restaurant that serves a delicious dinner menu in the evenings. 

Overall, we had the best stay here and highly recommend it for your 3 days in Bergen.

🏨 Check prices and book a room at Clarion Hotel Admiral!

Day 1 – Get to Know Bergen

For your first day in Bergen, we recommend spending a little time getting to know the city. Bergen is stunning, and it’s well worth taking the time to simply wander the streets and enjoy the scenery. 

And, of course, since Bergen is known as the gateway to the fjords, we also recommend spending the morning exploring some of the landscapes that have made Bergen so popular!

10:00 – Fjord Cruise to Mostraumen

Start your first day with one of the most scenic introductions to Bergen and the region possible – a fjord cruise to Mostraumen. This was one of the first things we did in the city, and to say it’s worth it would be an understatement – it was fantastic! 

The tours depart directly from the harbour, last about 3 hours, and run multiple times per day. We recommend taking the very first tour in the morning. This will give you the rest of the afternoon and the evening free to explore the city. 

The route takes you deep into the narrow fjords surrounded by towering cliffs until you reach a small village. You’ll then turn back and head to the city. It’s peaceful, dramatic, and a must-do for first-time visitors.

Be sure to bring a jacket (even in summer, it can get breezy on the water) and your camera because the views are unreal. 

👉 Don’t forget to book in advance, espcially in summer, as this is a very popular thing to do in Bergen. 

13:00 – Visit the Fish Market

When you get back to Begen, head straight to the Fish Market. This is another of Bergen’s most famous attractions. It’s right by the waterfront and has been operating since the 1200s! 

You’ll find everything from fresh seafood stalls to cosy restaurants serving Norwegian specialities.

If you’re feeling adventurous, try the salmon burgers, fish and chips, or a bowl of creamy fish soup. It is a little touristy, but also part of Bergen’s history, and a great spot for lunch.

14:00 – Explore Bryggen Wharf

After lunch, wander along Bryggen Wharf, Bergen’s most iconic area.

This is just a short walk from the Fish Market and across the harbour from your hotel, so really easy to get to. The colourful wooden houses here date back hundreds of years and are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

We loved wandering through the narrow alleyways behind the main strip, and it literally feels like stepping back in time. You’ll find little boutiques, art galleries, and cafés tucked between the buildings.

Plus, it’s such a picturesque part of the city and a must-see during 3 days in Bergen.

💡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 keep walking along Bergen’s harbourfront beyond the colourful Bryggen Wharf, you’ll soon come across Bergenhus Fortress, one of Norway’s oldest and most impressive fortifications.

The fortress grounds are open to the public, and you can freely wander through the courtyards and admire the old stone walls, towers, and historic buildings. It’s also offers some lovely views back across the harbour.

If you’re keen to dive a little deeper into Bergen’s history, you can also visit the two main attractions inside the fortress: Rosenkrantz Tower and Håkon’s Hall.

Both require an entry ticket, but they’re well worth it if you want to learn more about Bergen’s medieval past.

Rosenkrantz Tower was once both a residence and a defensive structure, while Håkon’s Hall, was a royal banquet hall and remains one of the city’s most beautiful historic buildings.

17:00 – Take the Cable Car up Mount Fløyen

For your final thing to do on your first day, head to possibly one of the best views of Bergen you can get – the Fløibanen funicular to the top of Mount Fløyen. 

The ride itself is short, but the views from the top are spectacular, especially if you time it for sunset, which is what we recommend. 

If you’d prefer to walk up, you can also hike from the city to the top and save yourself the funicular fee, but we actually really enjoyed the ride. 

Once you’re at the top, there are a few easy hiking trails through the forest, and you might even be able to see the local goats, so we recommend taking a short stroll around the area before heading back down.

❤️ 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

End your day with dinner at Porto13, a local favourite that’s located just a short walk from the cable car station. We loved this restaurant when we visited Bergen, and it was our favourite out of everywhere we ate. 

You’ll find an excellent selection of seafood and wood-fired pizzas. It’s casual, cosy, and perfectly located near the harbour, the perfect way to end the day.

Day 2 – Mountains and Museums

Today, we recommend starting the day with one of the best hikes in Bergen and then exploring a little more of the city’s cultural side. 

For the morning today, you’ll need your hiking boots, whereas in the afternoon you’ll be fine in just trainers. This is another reason we love Clarion Hotel Admiral – the location is perfect, so you can head back and change clothes!

10:00 – Hike up Mount Ulriken

This is easily one of the best but most challenging things you’ll do during your 3 days in Bergen.

The hike starts a little outside the city centre, so we suggest either taking the dedicated Ulriken tourist bus, which you can find in the square, or just using public transport. 

We used the public buses, and it was really simple and affordable to reach the trailhead. It will take around 30 minutes to get there, though, so be sure to factor this into your plans. 

Mount Ulriken is the tallest of Bergen’s seven mountains. You can either hike to the top or take the cable car if you’d rather save your legs. We decided to hike up and then take the cable car back down again.

The hike is a bit of a challenge, and you’ll need to climb over 1,300 Sherpa stairs, so be sure you come prepared with plenty of water and snacks for the top.

Overall, the hike took us around an hour, but this included a lot of photo stops (and stops to catch our breath!).

However, it was worth it. The views over the city and fjords are stunning, and there’s a café at the summit where you can enjoy a hot drink with a view. This is easily one of the best things to do in Bergen and we loved it!

TOP TIP: If you’re feeling adventurous, you can hike from Mount Ulriken to Mount Fløyen. It’s a long but rewarding trail (around 13km) that offers some of the best panoramic views in Norway.

13:00 – Visit Bryggens Museum

Once you’ve got back down to the city (and changed your clothes if you’re planning on doing this), head to the Bryggens Museum. 

Located across the harbour, it’s a small but fascinating museum built over the remains of Bergen’s earliest buildings. It’s a fantastic way to gain an insight into the city’s Hanseatic history and the devastating fires that shaped it into what it is today.

15:00 – Explore Bergen’s Maritime Museum

Next, pop into the Maritime Museum, especially if you’re interested in Norway’s seafaring history. 

Bergen has always been a major port city, and this museum does a great job showing how vital the sea has been to local life through the centuries. You’ll be able to see a lot of old Viking ships here too, and it’s really fascinating.

18:00 – Grab Dinner by the Harbour

As the evening sets in, find a cosy restaurant along the harbour, Enhjørningen and Bryggen Tracteursted are both fantastic choices for traditional Norwegian cuisine in beautifully historic settings.

If you prefer something more relaxed, grab a drink at one of the waterfront bars and watch the sunset across the water – it’s magical!

Day 3 – Day Trip to the Fjords

If you have longer than 2 days in Bergen, we highly recommend heading on a day trip from Bergen outside the city. We did several trips to the surrounding fjords while staying in Bergen, and it’s so worth it. 

There’s so much beautiful scenery around Bergen, and you just can’t visit Bergen without seeing more of Norway’s incredible fjord scenery. Today is all about getting out of the city and into nature.

You’ll need to hire a car to reach these places as they’re not too easy to get to via guided tour or public transport. However, you can pick one up from the city centre.

This is exactly what we did, and we simply returned the car when we no longer needed it. 

Each of these places is in opposite directions, and you probably won’t be able to do all of them in one day. However, we suggest choosing one of the following:

Hike Kossdalssvingane

Kossdalssvingane is a bit of a hidden gem in Norway and one of the most beautiful and unique trails we’ve ever hiked. This winding mountain trail is about an hour and a half drive from Bergen.

It starts rather flat and takes you through a farming trail with several houses. You’ll then head into the forest, where you’ll start to see the lake and be surrounded by mossy trees. This was one of our favourite parts. Then, you’ll reach the switchbacks. 

This switchback road was once used by farmers, and now, you can climb the 17 hairpin bends to the top for stunning views, back over the fjords and the forest. 

It’s a moderate hike – not too difficult – and should take around 2-3 hours in total. The views from the top are absolutely worth it.

Visit Bondhusvatnet

Alternatively, you could head to Bondhusvatnet, one of the most stunning lakes in Norway. This is a much longer drive in the opposite direction towards Folgefonna National Park. 

You’ll also need to use a ferry to get here, but this is super easy in Norway and shouldn’t cause too much trouble.

The hike has a slight incline, but it’s nothing too tricky, and most people should be able to do it. Although it does get a bit rocky towards the end, we recommend wearing sturdy shoes. 

It took us around 

The stunning lake is set at the base of a glacier, and the short walk from the parking area takes you through peaceful forest trails to the emerald-green waters of the river surrounded by mountains.

It’s absolutely stunning and one of the most beautiful places we’ve ever visited in Norway. 

TOP TIP: If you’re visiting Bondhusvatnet, we also recommend combining your visit with a trip to Steinsdalsfossen, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Norway.

Dinner at Varanasi

Once you get back to Bergen, head for a delicious dinner at Varanasi. 

This fantastic Indian restaurant is just a short walk from the Clarion Hotel Admiral and serves a delicious range of authentic dishes. 

The garlic naan is delicious, and trust us, it hits the spot after a long day of hiking!

And that concludes your 3 days in Bergen!

Is 3 Days in Bergen Worth it?

In our opinion, 3 days in Bergen is the perfect amount of time to experience both the city’s charm and the natural beauty that surrounds it.

You can see many of the major sights in the city centre, as well as fitting in a fjord cruise and a day trip to the mountains. 

Between the colourful harbour, dramatic fjords, and cosy local eateries, Bergen really is one of those places that captures your heart. It’s one of the most magical places in Norway and we absolutely loved our trip here.

We hope this itinerary will help you make the most of your time, and it’s a fantastic way to see Bergen. Any questions, feel free to ask us anything in our Facebook Group!

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

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