Finding free things to do in Bergen can be hard. After all, Norway isn’t exactly known as a cheap country. We’ve collected 7 free things to do in Bergen, the city also known as the “gateway to the fjords in Norway”.
1. Bryggen
Yes, the most important sight in Bergen is for free! It consists of beautiful 14th century Hanseatic buildings – UNESCO World Heritage Site- and some great photo opportunities.
2. Bergen’s Fisketorget
Bergen’s free fish market offers a sound & sight & smell experience at zero cost. It’s open in June, July and August everyday 7am – 7pm, and between September and May it’s open Monday to Saturday 7am – 4pm.
3. Parks and gardens
Why not go for a walk in one of Bergen’s parks and gardens? In Nordnesparken you’ll find an open-air swimming pool (free) and you’ll get a great view of the fjord. In the heart of Bergen you’ll find Byparken; and if you are interested in plants check out Muséhagen.
4. Hiking
Bergen is called ‘the city among the seven mountains’. Guess why! In Bergen there is no need for a gym… You can for instance climb the 801 steps in the Sandviksfjellet and get ready for a breathtaking view.
5. Free concerts:
As it is a student city, you will never be bored in Bergen at night. You should definitely go to the “Apollon” record shop and pub where there are free concerts organised. “Hulen” is a club located in a cave and run by volunteer students where there’re a lot of concerts playing.
6. Pub quiz:
Why not join this popular Norwegian tradition? Different teams compete answering knowledge questions. By the way, many of them take place in English!
7. Free festivals:
Throught the year you’ll find various free festivals and concerts in Bergen. Bergen International Film Festival takes place every year on the last week of September. And of course don’t miss the opportunity to spend May 17th -Norwegian Constitution Day-, with parties all over the city!
The two worlds of Bergen
Bergen perfectly combines nature and culture with an intense urban life. Where the asphalt ends, the forest starts naturally, and there is so much going on in this student city that boredom is impossible.
Bergen is often called ‘the city among the seven mountains’, because it’s surrounded by Lyderhorn, Damsgårdsfjellet, Løvstakken, Ulriken, Fløyen, Rundemannen, and Sandviksfjellet. The most popular of them all is Fløyen, where you can get to the top either by foot or funicular. One of the most recommended hikes is the Ulriken-Fløyen route, where you can get a breathtaking view.
Not far from the city is the Fantoft stave church, an absolutely magical place lost in the woods.
Tired of your hiking boots? You have still time to walk around the city and explore the gems of this historic city:
- Bryggen, the old Hanseatic wharf, with its famous wooden houses part of World Heritage of UNESCO.
- The bustling fish market will transport you to another era.
- The many art museums in the city: Bergen Art Museum, which includes a unique collection of paintings by Edvard Munch, the Center for Contemporary Art in Bergen…
- The house of the famous composer Edvard Grieg.
Those are just some of the things to do in Bergen, the perfect mix of rural and urban, the gateway to the Norwegian fjords.
