Location: Bergen
Top Things to do in Bergen
The 10 Best Museums in Bergen, Western Norway
The colorful Norwegian city of Bergen is also a gateway to majestic fjords. Bryggen Hanseatic Wharf will give you a sense of the local culture – take some time to snap photos of the Hanseatic commercial buildings, which look like scenery from a movie set. Don’t breathe too deeply when you visit the outdoor fish market, a reminder of the city’s role in early fish trade. Ferry across a fjord to Lysøen, where the former villa of 19th-century composer Ole Bull will captivate you with fairytale charm.
Restaurants in Bergen
1. Kvams Flisespikkeri
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
Small art gallery, where you can find various art prints with traditional Norwegian motives. The art work is 100% local, and made on site by Ketil Kvam. Come and have a look at his art in the UNESCO World Heritage site, Bryggen, in Bergen.
2. Kunsthuset Wendelboe
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
Kunsthuset Wendelboe is a small art gallery located in the middle of the city center. It specializes in artists from the local area and the west cost of Norway, both contemporary and old. It houses a large collection of artworks in a wide price range.
3. Myte Illustrations
4. DMG GALLERY
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 18 reviews
David Matej Goljat / DMG GALLERY - local painter and designer
Reviewed By 780cheriz
This is a delightful little gallery in historic Bryggen, tucked away in a corner waiting for you to discover it. The talented artist, David Matej Goljat, is warm and friendly, his art is colorful with unique character and texture. We were delighted to return home with one of his special pieces, a little bit of old Bryggen, for ourselves and several small images for gifts. Take the time to find this wonderful little gallery. You won't be disappointed. Cheri
5. Galleri Fjalar
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
Galleri Fjalar is owned and runned by Kristian "Gaahl" Espedal. Exhibits with Norwegian and International artists +additonal room focused on music/merch and clothes.
6. Det Hanseatiske Museum og Schoetstuene
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,042 reviews
This wooden building is furnished in 18th-century style and gives visitors a feel of what Bergen was like in its medieval trading days. During a couple of years now, the City of Bergen is implementing a major restoration work. We tell you the Hanseatic story from Schøtstuene and Bryggen. Join us at Schøtstuene!
Reviewed By JeanneJ739
As the main merchant’s building where their exhibit hall is housed is closed for 6 years for renovations, this museum provides a guided walking tour of the Bryggen Wharf area and a building where the Germans gathered and several schoetstuene have been recreated. The fee for the tour includes entry to the Norwegian Fisheries Museum and a shuttle to and from it. The walking tour goes back through the tenements where the Germans lived and worked, and describes the living conditions at the time as well as the political and economic aspects. The Hanseatic League negotiated with the Norwegians for favored trading status and exchanged their grain for dried cod. They also brought in luxury goods such as furs, jewelry, marzipan. Their enclave on Bryggen Wharf was surrounded by a fence and no women were allowed inside. Only approved Norwegian traders were admitted. German boys came as apprentices at 12 or 13 for 6 years of training and did all the housekeeping and cooking as well as loading and storing goods. Our guide was excellent, a pleasant German woman with very clear English. She was quite knowledgeable, gave an overview as well as details and welcomed questions. The tour ended in the Schoetstuene where we were free to wander on our own through the building with its meeting rooms and kitchens.
7. Troldhaugen Edvard Grieg Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,145 reviews
Enchanting residence of the composer Edvard Grieg and his wife, who lived there every summer from 1885 to 1907. The museum also comprises the chamber music hall, Troldsalen, where daily concerts are held during the summer season. Museum building with shop, exhibition and cafeteria.
Reviewed By PerthRetireds
What a beautiful tour - from Thomas greeting us on the sidewalk outside the Visitor Centre, his very knowledgeable talk, the little gem of a house with the amazingly concealed concert hall. The acoustics were excellent, the performance top notch, and the tour was very good value. To listen to Grieg under these excellent conditions AND take in the same view he enjoyed while composing - very special indeed. Thanks to everyone and especially Thomas.
8. KODE Art Museums of Bergen
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 745 reviews
KODE is one of Scandinavia's largest museums for art and music. It has a unique combination of art museums and composers' homes, of visual art, historical objects, concerts and parklands. KODE stewards almost 50,000 objects that can be experienced in four museum buildings in Bergen city centre, KODE 1-4, and in the homes of the composers Ole Bull, Harald Saeverud and Edvard Grieg. Welcome to KODE!
Reviewed By kay186370 - Reykjavik, Iceland
There were 4 galleries that were open, including KODE KUNSTALL (1 gallery out of the 5 was closed), and each had a different feel, from ecclectic and modern to landsacpes, Edvard Munch and Picasso - just wonderful. My advice is to use your Bergen Card when you buy a ticket, but when you consider how much you see this is truly great value for money, with or without the Bergen Card discount. The galleries are situated in the centre of town around the lake with serene and beautiful views. Even with the covid requirements and restrictions visiting the galleries was such a lovely and peaceful experience. The staff were so welcoming and helpful too. If you have ever wondered what to do on one of Bergen's wet days - go to the galleries! You need three hours to take your time in all of them, more if you want to stop in the café and still go at a leisurely pace.
9. Gamle Bergen Museum - Bymuseet i Bergen
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 292 reviews
In the 1800s Bergen was Europe’s biggest wooden city, a distinctive city environment with closely spaced wooden buildings, busy streets, markets and alleys. At old Bergen open air Museum you can experience some of this atmosphere, with houses from the eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth centuries. What did it look like? What did people talk about? In beautiful natural surroundings you can meet both masters and servants from the past. Museumshop. 40 min walk, 15 min by bicycle, 7 min by bus.
Reviewed By Kato122 - Cambridge, United Kingdom
A short boat ride from the centre of Bergen, this lovely museum is worth a visit. The wonderful old collection of houses is certainly special and the displays are good. The entertainment is amusing as is the display of the ‘Penny Farthing’ bicycle! Lovely views across to Bergen and beyond.
10. VilVite Bergen Science Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 292 reviews
Come to VilVite - Bergen Science Center - to explore and enjoy science!
Reviewed By ewint2006 - Wesley Chapel, United States
This was a bit pricier than we thought but then all of Norway is pricey really and overall we couldn’t have been happier with our day at the science center. My kids had so much fun exploring and trying all the exhibits and we adults had fun too. There’s a small cafe on site and a nice park across the street. It is a bit out of the way but a real gem. You won’t be disappointed
