HONEST GUIDE: Where to Stay in Bergen

Seeing the fjords of Norway is on the bucket list of many travelers, and Bergen is the gateway city for it which offers magical landscapes at every turn. However, the city itself has a lot more to offer. Imagine a place surrounded by beautiful mountains on one site, and on the other, cute colorful houses lined up along the sea. Get ready to have postcard perfect photos of this awesome city!

There is no doubt that you will be impressed with the stunning nature of Bergen. I am sure you will enjoy hiking in the mountains, exploring fjords and city gazing but in Bergen, you will also find amazing seafood restaurants, chic cafes and great museums to satisfy every traveller. 

In this travel guide on where to stay in Bergen, Norway, I will talk about the best 4 areas to stay with hotels from luxury to budget while giving you an idea of the vibe of the area so you can pick the best one for your taste. 

I went through tons of hotels and chose the best ones where you could have an amazing holiday. As Norway is an expensive country and hotels in Bergen tend to fill up quickly, I highly recommend you make your reservation in advance to get better deals on hotels and to not miss the best places that I handpicked for you. Many of the hotels have a free cancelation, so don’t worry if you change your mind!

If you are ready, let’s start to explore the best places to stay in Bergen, Norway!

If you are in a hurry

Here are the best places to stay in Bergen with hotels from luxury to budget. They all have great reviews and great locations! 

Here is a map for where to stay in Bergen with all the best 4 areas I will be talking about in this blog post so you can easily visualize them:

1. Sentrum – where to stay in Bergen for the first time

Sentrum is the city center of Bergen and where you will find the major landmarks, museums, and Scandinavian-style lively restaurants and bars. When I say city center, don’t imagine a typical CBD with tall skyscrapers. Here you will find cobbled streets with beautiful shops, historic buildings, and a lively atmosphere.

Sentrum can be easily discovered on foot. Start your day walking along the charming streets, check out designer shops, have a coffee in a cool cafe, and at night make a reservation to one of the countless fancy Scandinavian restaurants. You will love the vibe of the city center!

My pick for where to stay in Bergen, Norway, is definitely Sentrum as it allows easy access to the main attractions as well as being a great base to explore other neighborhoods in the city. The easiest way to visit Bergen is by taking a plane or train from Oslo. Since you are in Norway, I highly suggest you spend some time in the capital too, so to make your life easier, we’ve written you a list of the coolest neighborhoods to stay in Oslo as well. 

Before jumping to the best places to stay in the city center I would like to remind you that in order not to miss these nice hotels and get better deals do not forget to make a reservation in advance.

Let’s check out the best Bergen hotels!

Other accommodation options in Sentrum

Things to do in Sentrum

2. Bryggen – the coolest area to stay in Bergen 

Bryggen Bergen is located in the northern part of the city and is just a 15 minutes walk from the city center. It is the most picturesque part of the city with its iconic historic buildings lining the wharf so you can get ready to have the coolest Instagram photos!

In Bryggen (not to be confused with Bruges in Belgium!), you will find the colorful wooden buildings lined up along the water and this area is also listed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. Enjoy a walk by the wharf, take a lot of photos of this postcard-ready scene, then it is time to check out charming shops and restaurants in Bryggen. 

There are so many nice gastropubs, cool cafes, and good restaurants here and it is a great area to stay in Bergen for sightseeing, enjoying a fjord tour, and trying delicious Norwegen seafood. Bryggen is definitely where to stay in Bergen if you want to experience one of the hippest parts of Norway.

Thanks to being a very popular area to stay in Bergen I highly recommend you make your hotel reservation in advance to guarantee your favorite place as the best places to stay certainly book out fast, especially in Bryggen. If you are interested in visiting another cool Scandinavian city, check out the coolest places to stay in Copenhagen. You better book your hotel there now too since it’s another very popular spot! 

Other accommodation options in Bryggen

Things to do in Bryggen

• Visit the Bryggens Museum
• Have a walk by the wharf and take a lot of photos of the iconic colorful houses which are listed as UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site
• Climb up to the top of the 13th-century tower, the Rosenkrantz
• Have delicious Norwegian seafood at To Kokker
• Go to a nice concert at a music venue, Madam Felle
• Visit the Bergenhus Fortress Museum
• Take a cruise to Flåm to see a magnificent fjord

3. Nordnes – where to stay in Bergen for families

Nordnes is located 2 km (1 mi) away from the city centre and just across from Bryggen. It is a peninsula with a quiet atmosphere, beautiful parks, and family-friendly hotels. In Nordnes you should start your day by having a walk on the narrow cobbled streets of the historic Klosteret district where you will find charming buildings. 

The other main landmarks in this area are the Bergen Aquarium, Nordnes Park and a very popular public swimming pool where you can have fun with your kids. You see why this is my pick for where to stay in Bergen for families?

Nordnes is a less crowded area where you can enjoy a stroll along the water with the beautiful parks with a peaceful atmosphere. Here you will also find more than enough shops, cafes, and restaurants to keep you busy. 

Let me talk about the family-friendly hotels that I handpicked for you:

Other accommodation options in Nordnes

Things to do in Nordnes

• Go for a stroll at Nordnes Park
• Have a nice family dinner at Kippers Bar & Kafe USF
• Join a guided walking tour to discover the streets of Nordnes
• Go to public swimming pool at Nordnes Sjøbad
• Have a walk by the waterfront at Verftet 
• Go for a stroll at the historic Klosteret district
• Take a bus to ​​Sandviken and hike in one of the trails
• Spend a day at the Bergen Aquarium checking out the fishes, penguins, and seals

4. Nygård – where to stay in Bergen on a budget

Located just south of the city centre, Nygård is the student neighborhood of Bergen thanks to the University of Bergen. It is a very lively area with many pubs and cafes as well as museums. 

Because it is a university area you will find cheaper food places and relatively more affordable accommodation options, plus you will still be at the heart of the city center, how great! That’s why Nygård is the perfect place for where to stay in Bergen on budget.

Start your day exploring the museums such as the 100 years old Maritime Museum, the University Museum, and a Historical Museum. Then grab a coffee and chill in the beautiful parks. At night after a nice dinner, you can have fun in the lively bars and cafes. 

Even though Nygård is a less touristy area it will fulfill all your needs and you won’t be missing anything about Bergen. 

Other accommodation options in Nygård

Things to do in Nygård

Frequently asked questions about Bergen Norway

Conclusion

Now it is time for me to say goodbye to you, dear travelers. In this blog post, I talked about the best places to stay in Bergen, Norway with the hotels from luxury to budget as well as Airbnbs in each town and gave information about the things that you can do there.

As I’ve said earlier, Sentrum is the best place to stay in Bergen for first-timers. However, it is a small and expensive city. That’s why you could also make your decision based on your favorite hotel as you can easily get around the city. 

I would like to remind you again that in order not to miss your favorite hotel in Bergen and get better deals on accommodations do not forget to make a reservation in advance!

I’ve already mentioned the best hotels in each district but to wrap up, here are the top 2 hotels in Bergen, Norway with a convenient location and good reviews that I definitely recommend you to stay in.

• Hotel Norge by Scandic – One of the best luxury hotels in the city center that offers a glamorous stay
• Zander K Hotel – Centrally located hotel in the city center with great facilities

If you have any other suggestions or questions about where to stay in Bergen, Norway do not hesitate to leave a comment below. I’ll be happy to leave a reply to them!

Enjoy your time in Bergen Norway, 

Eylul