How to Spend a Winter Weekend in Bergen, Norway [Guide]

Bergen very quickly became one of my favourite destinations for a short winter weekend getaway.

My travel buddy, Aftab, and I were in desparate need of some time out of London, and we thought two nights in Bergen might be the perfect remedy.

We booked our flights for under £100 and booked a room at the Bergen Børs Hotel right in the centre of the compact city. And finally, it was time to get on the plane and explore!

So, ready to find out how to maximise your time in Bergen? Let’s go!

We landed on the Friday evening to be welcomed by very cold temperatures. We were SO excited for our weekend, and quite literally jumped into the Uber!

Arriving right outside our hotel in the centre of the city, we were sooo grateful for the warmth of the hotel.

It was around 11pm by the time we arrived, so we went straight to sleep ready for our adventure the next day!

Where to stay: Bergen Børs Hotel

The Bergen Børs Hotel was really, really beautiful.

Contemporary and classy, and in the best possible location for exploring Bergen. We loved the breakfast spread in the glamorous restaurant space!

Unfortunately there isn’t a swimming pool or spa at the hotel, which is the only real downside.

Day One in Bergen

It was both mine and Aftab’s first time in Norway, and I honestly think Bergen was the best possible introduction to it. We’d been to Helsinki for a weekend the year before Covid, and I do love a winter weekend break!

Breakfast at Frescohallen

Frescohallen is the restaurant at Bergen Børs and it is stunning!! I mean will you please just look at it!?

Enjoy breakfast in this beautiful room before you make your way over to Zachariasbryggen Quay for the Fjord day trip cruise.

Fjord Day Trip Cruise

Can you really visit Norway and not go on a Fjord cruise!?

Our favourite experience in Bergen was the Fjords Day Trip From Bergen to Mostraumen. It was honestly amazing!

We did the half-day trip from Zachariasbryggen Quay at the Fish Market to Mostraumen, but to be honest, we wished we had done the full day trip as it was just so beautiful.

But also, there isn’t a huge amount to do in Bergen, and we found that we had completed the city on the first day.

This meant that on our second day we were a liiiittle bored and stuck for things to see and do. So, definitely do the full day Fjord cruise!!

Sommerbolle at Godt Brød Fløyen

Godt Brød Fløyen is a well known bakery across Bergen who specialise in traditional Norweigian baked goods.

Make sure you get the Sommerbolle, a delicious Norwegian ‘sun’ bun, made with cardomom and custard!

Funicular to Floyen at Sunset

It was the boys at Handluggage Only who recommended the funicular up to Floyen at Sunset instead of during the day.

And my goodness, it was the best advice ever!

The sunset was STUNNING. Like absolutely beautiful! You can see for miles and miles over Bergen’s seven mountains.

Dinner at Royk

You have to make sure you book a table at Royk as it gets incredibly busy. We messed up massively and didn’t book, thinking we could just walk in.

Reader: we could not.

We were devastated as it’s apparently one of the best restaurants in Bergen, but not only did they have no tables, they had apparently run out of meat by 8pm. So definitely get there early!!

Bergen Bar Crawl

With no tables (or meat) left at Royk we decided to go on a bar crawl, and ended up having the best bar crawl ever!

Honestly it was such a spontaneous night out after our dinner plans were thwarted, and we just ended up having the most fun time ever.

Cocktails at No Stress

No Stress is one of Bergen’s most famous cocktail bars.

The vibes are tropical hipster, with cocktails to match. The cocktails were amazing, and very well priced too!

Apollon Platebar

Next up we walked up the road to Apollon.

This place specialises in beer, and has very hipster/Shoreditch vibes.

Legal Bar

We then walked over the road to Legal, and fell in love with the tiny, cute bar and their cocktail selection!

Heidi’s Bier Bar Bergen

A few drinks in, we felt like a party…and stumbled across Heidi’s Bier Bar.

Oh my gosh.

We had the BEST time here! It was so much fun – there’s a DJ and it’s propery party vibes.

Downstairs Nightclub

We were actually on our way back to our hotel when we stumbled upon Downstairs.

It was going OFF in there, and Aftab and I looked at each other, said “Shall we?!” and 5-minutes later we were on the dancefloor.

It’s a very sweaty, cramped nightclub, so I recommend only going if you’ve had a few drinks already.

We ended the night with McDonalds in our hotel room at 2am and honestly, it was the best.

Day Two in Bergen

Brunch at Bergen Brunsj

Begin day two in Bergen with 11am brunch at Bergen Brunsj.

You need to make a reservation in advance, but it’s such a cute place and was full of locals anoying a weekend brunch with friends and family!

The food and cocktails were great, and we were really glad we’d booked.

Fish Market & Torgallmenningen Square

The Fish Market in Bergen began way back in 1200, and although it’s now housed in a new, modern building built in 2012, it’s well worth seeing.

There are countless food stalls selling fish and seafood, as well as farm stalls selling local berries, fruit and vegetables.

Bryggen UNESCO World Heritage Site

Of course, no visit to Bergen is complete without a visit to Bryggen, Bergen’s colourful row of buildings on the old quay front, and the city’s most famous site.

This UNESCO World Heritage site is a reminder of Bergen’s pivotal role in the Hanseatic League, a powerful trading empire that thrived from the 14th to the 16th century.

Wandering through the colorful wooden buildings feels like a journey back in time. Sadly, some have been destroyed by fire over the years, but today, 62 historic buildings remain.

Shops, galleries and cafes fill the buildings, and it’s the perfect place to pick up some cute souvenirs and get some lunch!

Lunch at Bryggeloftet

We went for lunch at Bryggeloftet as we’d heard it was the best place in Bergen for the famous Norweigian cod fish.

Well, it was incredible.

It’s inside one of the colourful buildings in Bryggen, and is a pricey restaurant but well worth it IMO. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal and could not believe how fresh the cod tasted!!

King Håkon’s Hall

Håkon’s Hall was one of the wildest places I’ve ever been to, because it’s over 750 years old!!

Built between 1247 and 1261 by Håkon Håkonsson, it was the largest of the royal residency in the 13th-century when Bergen was the political centre of Norway.

As a national cultural monument, Håkon’s Hall is still used both for royal dinners and other official occasions.

There isn’t a huge amount to see here, it’s not really a museum, just a large feasting hall. But I found it worth it just because it’s so old and was fascinating to see inside.

Head Home!

And that’s a wrap on your weekend in Bergen! I think this is a itinerary is a great mix of eating, seeing the sights, and having fun! We really had the best weekend, and I hope this guide helps you plan your trip 🙂