Guidebook for Bergen
Food Scene
Our neighbourhood bar, cafe and restaurant, housed in a former public bathhouse. Great athmosphere and good, simple food based on local ingredients. The shrimp platter is especially recommended.
75 locals recommend
Dr. Wiesener
17A Nye SandviksveienOur neighbourhood bar, cafe and restaurant, housed in a former public bathhouse. Great athmosphere and good, simple food based on local ingredients. The shrimp platter is especially recommended.
Tucked away in a narrow street lined by old wooden houses and right next to the Fløybanen funicular main station. Well worth the 10 minute walk!
86 locals recommend
Det Lille Kaffekompaniet
2 Nedre FjellsmauetTucked away in a narrow street lined by old wooden houses and right next to the Fløybanen funicular main station. Well worth the 10 minute walk!
Tapas based on local traditional cuisine,
a real taste of Western Norway!
86 locals recommend
Bare Vestland
1 VågsallmenningenTapas based on local traditional cuisine,
a real taste of Western Norway!
Cafe Sze Chuan
17 ØvregatenSmall, cosy, wallet-friendly Chinese for sit-down or take-away.
Deservedly popular coffee bar close to Korskirken and the vibrant Vågsbunnen area.
79 locals recommend
Kaffemisjonen
5 Øvre KorskirkeallmenningDeservedly popular coffee bar close to Korskirken and the vibrant Vågsbunnen area.
Drinks & Nightlife
For those who really appreciate their cocktails mixed with loving care by experts in stylish and tasteful surroundings.
Also a fine dining restaurant if you're up for a splurge.
93 locals recommend
Lysverket
9 Rasmus Meyers alléFor those who really appreciate their cocktails mixed with loving care by experts in stylish and tasteful surroundings.
Also a fine dining restaurant if you're up for a splurge.
One of the several nice bars in the Skostredet area, which has become a sort of mini-Latin Quarter of Bergen over the last decade. A great neighbourhood for bar-hopping!
30 locals recommend
tempo tempo
6A DomkirkegatenOne of the several nice bars in the Skostredet area, which has become a sort of mini-Latin Quarter of Bergen over the last decade. A great neighbourhood for bar-hopping!
Warm, inclusive athmosphere, friendly staff and open until late (for Bergen). And a great selection of drinks.
122 locals recommend
No Stress
11 HollendergatenWarm, inclusive athmosphere, friendly staff and open until late (for Bergen). And a great selection of drinks.
Bergen's first and so far only gay bar, which has faithfully been serving the city's LGBT community for 22 years and counting. Cosy, open-minded and inclusive, and not least, smack in the middle of Nygårdsgaten which (along with Skostredet) is a great street for bar-hopping.
11 locals recommend
Fincken
2A NygårdsgatenBergen's first and so far only gay bar, which has faithfully been serving the city's LGBT community for 22 years and counting. Cosy, open-minded and inclusive, and not least, smack in the middle of Nygårdsgaten which (along with Skostredet) is a great street for bar-hopping.
Parks & Nature
We live at the foot of Fløyfjellet (Mount Fløyen), which is the Westernmost edge of a mountain range that stretches almost to Oslo. A quick (5 minutes) or more laidback (10 minutes) uphill stroll and you're already in Fjellveien. From there, there are several good alternatives for continuing further up to the top.
28 locals recommend
Fløyfjellet
FløyfjelletWe live at the foot of Fløyfjellet (Mount Fløyen), which is the Westernmost edge of a mountain range that stretches almost to Oslo. A quick (5 minutes) or more laidback (10 minutes) uphill stroll and you're already in Fjellveien. From there, there are several good alternatives for continuing further up to the top.
What others call bragging, we Bergeners call honesty.
So we'll be honest with you: if you know of a more beautiful and easily accessible walking route with a similar view over a city centre anywhere, please tell us about it!
60 locals recommend
Fjellveien
FjellveienWhat others call bragging, we Bergeners call honesty.
So we'll be honest with you: if you know of a more beautiful and easily accessible walking route with a similar view over a city centre anywhere, please tell us about it!
Our favourite spot nr 1 for picnics and sunbathing close to home in summer, and tobogganning (snow sleighing) in winter! Not least, it's practically on our doorstep.
8 locals recommend
Meyermarken
51 Absalon Beyers gateOur favourite spot nr 1 for picnics and sunbathing close to home in summer, and tobogganning (snow sleighing) in winter! Not least, it's practically on our doorstep.
Right next to Krohnengen skole is the idyllic and spacious park Fredens Bolig ("the Home of Calm") which is just as great as its smaller cousin Meyermarken nearby for picnicing in summer and tobogganning in winter (if snow is provided).
Krohnengen school
35 Professor Dahls gateRight next to Krohnengen skole is the idyllic and spacious park Fredens Bolig ("the Home of Calm") which is just as great as its smaller cousin Meyermarken nearby for picnicing in summer and tobogganning in winter (if snow is provided).
Ulriken is, like Mount Fløyen, among the seven mountains that surround Bergen town. A gondola lift (not for the vertiginous!) will take you from the foot of the mountain to the TV tower at its summit, offering magnificent views of the whole Bergen region as well as a fine cafe and restaurant. From there, you can also make it into an approx 3-4 hour walk across "Vidden" ("The Plateau") to Mount Fløyen along well-marked hiking trails.
97 locals recommend
Ulriken 643
40 HaukelandsbakkenUlriken is, like Mount Fløyen, among the seven mountains that surround Bergen town. A gondola lift (not for the vertiginous!) will take you from the foot of the mountain to the TV tower at its summit, offering magnificent views of the whole Bergen region as well as a fine cafe and restaurant. From there, you can also make it into an approx 3-4 hour walk across "Vidden" ("The Plateau") to Mount Fløyen along well-marked hiking trails.
Arts & Culture
Dedicated to Bergen's origins and medieval history, and also right next to both Bryggen and the old Mariakirken.
65 locals recommend
Bryggens Museum - Bymuseet i Bergen
3 DreggsallmenningenDedicated to Bergen's origins and medieval history, and also right next to both Bryggen and the old Mariakirken.
The Museum of Leprosy is dedicated to Gerhard Armauer Hansen, the brilliant (and slightly mad) Bergen physician who was the first to identify the leprosy bacteria. Right next to it is the simple, but stunning wooden church of St Jørgen (Saint George).
18 locals recommend
Museum Lepramuseet St. Jorgens Hospital
59 Kong Oscars gateThe Museum of Leprosy is dedicated to Gerhard Armauer Hansen, the brilliant (and slightly mad) Bergen physician who was the first to identify the leprosy bacteria. Right next to it is the simple, but stunning wooden church of St Jørgen (Saint George).
The Bergen House of Literature hosts regular public events with a focus on the written and spoken word, such as readings, book launches, debates and much else. It also has a really good cafe and restaurant, the Colonialen.
31 locals recommend
Litteraturhuset i Bergen
5 Østre SkostredetThe Bergen House of Literature hosts regular public events with a focus on the written and spoken word, such as readings, book launches, debates and much else. It also has a really good cafe and restaurant, the Colonialen.
All of the main museums for contemporary and classic arts in Bergen are situated along or next to Rasmus Meyers Allé, next to the Lille Lunggårdsvann lake in the middle of town. Check out www.kodebergen.no for program and updates.
116 locals recommend
West Norway Museum of Decorative Art
9 Nordahl Bruns gateAll of the main museums for contemporary and classic arts in Bergen are situated along or next to Rasmus Meyers Allé, next to the Lille Lunggårdsvann lake in the middle of town. Check out www.kodebergen.no for program and updates.
USF (in the old days: United Sardines Factory) is one of the most established concert venues of Bergen, and in addition hosts a cinema, and an indoors and outdoors cafe and bar, right by the waterfront. Check www.usf.no/program for updates.
88 locals recommend
USF
12 Georgernes VerftUSF (in the old days: United Sardines Factory) is one of the most established concert venues of Bergen, and in addition hosts a cinema, and an indoors and outdoors cafe and bar, right by the waterfront. Check www.usf.no/program for updates.
Time-travel to the period of the medieval Hanseatic League, which established Bergen as a Hansa City and Germanized its name ("Bergen" means "mountains" in German). To this day, most of the town's venerable old families have German surnames (Rieber, Mohn, Mowinckel, Kroepelien to mention a few).
70 locals recommend
Det Hanseatiske Museum og Schoetstuene
1a FinnegårdenTime-travel to the period of the medieval Hanseatic League, which established Bergen as a Hansa City and Germanized its name ("Bergen" means "mountains" in German). To this day, most of the town's venerable old families have German surnames (Rieber, Mohn, Mowinckel, Kroepelien to mention a few).
Sightseeing
The medieval UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Bergen's definitive landmarks. Can be a bit tourist-heavy in the high season, but understandably so.
548 locals recommend
Bryggen
BryggenThe medieval UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Bergen's definitive landmarks. Can be a bit tourist-heavy in the high season, but understandably so.
As a monument to the glory days when Bergen was both the cultural AND political capital of Norway stands the Bergenhus Fortress and the stately Håkonshallen (named after its first occupant King Håkon, son of Håkon). Also a nice area for strolling.
80 locals recommend
Bergenhus Fortress
As a monument to the glory days when Bergen was both the cultural AND political capital of Norway stands the Bergenhus Fortress and the stately Håkonshallen (named after its first occupant King Håkon, son of Håkon). Also a nice area for strolling.
Essentials
The neighbourhood grocery store with both heart and soul (also known as Rolland after the owners), in the same street as ours, just one block away from your doorstep.
34 locals recommend
Joker Sandviken
13 Gjeble Pederssøns gateThe neighbourhood grocery store with both heart and soul (also known as Rolland after the owners), in the same street as ours, just one block away from your doorstep.
Almost as close as Joker but in the opposite direction, Bunnpris (Lowest Price) is open even on Sundays and slightly more wallet-friendly. This is Norway though, so always be prepared for the worst when it comes to prices :)
22 locals recommend
Bunnpris Mulen
52 Øvre SandviksveienAlmost as close as Joker but in the opposite direction, Bunnpris (Lowest Price) is open even on Sundays and slightly more wallet-friendly. This is Norway though, so always be prepared for the worst when it comes to prices :)
The best selection around here, but also the most pricey. This is also where the nearest post office is located.
88 locals recommend
MENY Støletorget
15 StølegatenThe best selection around here, but also the most pricey. This is also where the nearest post office is located.
Yes, we have them too in case your Ben&Jerry's cravings get too overpowering. Open 24/7!
17 locals recommend
7-Eleven
1 LadegårdsgatenYes, we have them too in case your Ben&Jerry's cravings get too overpowering. Open 24/7!
Both relatively cheap (for Norway), fresh and well-stocked, this supermarket is less than a 10 minutes walk from your doorstep.
55 locals recommend
KIWI Birkebeiner Center
9 Nye SandviksveienBoth relatively cheap (for Norway), fresh and well-stocked, this supermarket is less than a 10 minutes walk from your doorstep.
Getting Around
Bus no. 10 stops here, right across the street. Third stop from it is Fisketorget (The Fish Market), fourth is Olav Kyrres gate, both right in the middle of town. Basically all you need in terms of transport to and from downtown, if you don't feel like walking which is almost as quick.
Øvre Sandviksveien 16
16 Øvre SandviksveienBus no. 10 stops here, right across the street. Third stop from it is Fisketorget (The Fish Market), fourth is Olav Kyrres gate, both right in the middle of town. Basically all you need in terms of transport to and from downtown, if you don't feel like walking which is almost as quick.