Bergen Itinerary · 3 Days

Three days in Bergen

First-time Norway visitors · Fjord chasers

Three days is the sweet spot for Bergen. You can see the city properly, do one mountain, go into the fjords, and still leave with a list of things you want to come back for. Day three adds the Norway in a Nutshell trip to Flåm — the most concentrated stretch of Norwegian scenery available without flying.

Day 1

Day 1: Bergen City

The historic centre and Fløyen

09:00
09:00

Bryggen + museum

Free + ~100 NOK

Start at Bryggen early. Walk the alleyways, then visit the Bryggens Museum for historical context. An hour and a half total.

11:00
11:00

Bergenhus Fortress

Free–160 NOK

Grounds are free. Enter Håkon's Hall if you haven't done a medieval hall before — it's worth it.

13:00
13:00

Lunch at Mathallen

~150 NOK

The indoor food hall near the harbour. Fish soup or a proper open sandwich (smørbrød).

14:00
14:00

Fløybanen + long trail walk

~195 NOK

Take the funicular up and spend a proper afternoon on the mountain. Walk to Rundemannen (568m, 90 min return from Fløyen summit). It's a real hike with real views. Take the funicular back down at 17:30.

19:30
19:30

Dinner

~450–600 NOK

Book Colonialen the day before. Order the fish of the day.

Day 2

Day 2: Ulriken & the Mountains

The ridge walk and Bergen from above

09:00
09:00

Shuttle to Ulriksbanen

~167 NOK

Check ulriken.no for the shuttle bus from the centre. Cable car up to 643m.

09:45
09:45

Ulriken summit

~80 NOK

Spend 30 minutes at the top. Views to Hardangerfjord on clear days. Coffee at Ulriken643 restaurant.

10:30
10:30

Ridge walk to Fløyen

Free

Follow the trail markers west along the ridge. Rocky, exposed, spectacular. Takes 2.5–3 hours depending on pace. Bring water and a layer. This is the best hike in Bergen.

13:30
13:30

Fløyen lunch

~250 NOK

Arrive at Fløyen having walked across Bergen's roofline. Lunch at Fløistuen — you've earned it.

14:30
14:30

Funicular down

~105 NOK one-way

Ride the funicular back to the city. Rest in the afternoon.

17:00
17:00

Bergen's wooden houses

Free

Walk through Sandviken, north of Bryggen — a neighbourhood of 18th and 19th century wooden houses, almost untouched. Then along the waterfront back to centre.

19:00
19:00

Dinner

~400–800 NOK

Try somewhere different: Bare Vestland for modern Norwegian, Lysverket (in the KODE museum) for a special occasion.

Day 3

Day 3: Flåm & the Fjords

Norway in a Nutshell

07:50
07:50

Bergen station

~280 NOK

Take the 07:50 Bergen Railway to Myrdal. Book tickets in advance at vy.no. The journey east through the mountains takes about 2 hours.

09:57
09:57

Myrdal — board Flåmsbana

~370 NOK

Transfer to the Flåmsbana mountain railway. Sit on the right side. The descent through 20 tunnels and past Kjosfossen waterfall takes 55 minutes.

11:00
11:00

Flåm

~200 NOK

Arrive in the village. Walk to the harbour, visit the Flåm Railway Museum (free), eat lunch by the fjord.

13:00
13:00

Nærøyfjord ferry

~350 NOK

Board the ferry through Nærøyfjord to Gudvangen. This 90-minute journey through the narrowest fjord in Norway is the centrepiece of the day — stay on deck.

14:30
14:30

Bus over the mountains

~150 NOK

From Gudvangen, bus to Voss along the Stalheimskleiva road — hairpin bends with waterfall views. About 75 minutes.

16:00
16:00

Train Voss to Bergen

~200 NOK

Bergen Railway back to Bergen. 75 minutes. You arrive back in the city having completed one of the great rail-and-fjord loops in Europe.

17:30
17:30

Back in Bergen

~400 NOK

Last evening in Bergen. Walk along Bryggen one more time at golden hour. Dinner wherever you didn't manage to go on days 1 and 2.

Budget guide

Budget
~1,500 NOK/day (budget accommodation, self-catering where possible)
Mid-range
~2,500 NOK/day (mid-range hotels, restaurant dinners, all activities)

Norway in a Nutshell on day 3 costs approximately 1,500–2,000 NOK total. Book everything at fjordtours.com or vy.no. The Bergen Card is worth buying for days 1 and 2.

Local tips for this itinerary

  • 1.Book the Norway in a Nutshell at least a week ahead in summer. The Flåmsbana sells out first.
  • 2.If day 3 has bad weather, swap it: do Flåm on a clear day and the ridge walk on a grey day (the fjord looks atmospheric in mist; the ridge walk is genuinely dangerous in low visibility).
  • 3.The 07:50 Bergen train gives you a comfortable full day on the Nutshell circuit. Anything later makes the return tight.
  • 4.Three days is the minimum to really feel Bergen. If you can extend to four, add Hardangerfjord.

Frequently asked questions