Practical · Transport

Getting to Bergen

Bergen is well connected by air and the famous Oslo–Bergen railway. It also has ferry links from the UK and Denmark, and is reachable by car. Here's how to choose your route and what things actually cost.

Airport
Bergen Airport Flesland (BGO) — 20km from centre
Airport bus
Flybussen: 45 min, ~200 NOK
Train from Oslo
~7 hours, from 399 NOK
Drive from Oslo
~7.5 hours via E16
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Local tip: The Oslo–Bergen railway is one of the world's great train journeys. If you're coming from Oslo and have time, take the train rather than flying — the Hardangervidda plateau section is extraordinary.

By air

Bergen Airport Flesland (BGO) is 20km south of the city centre and handles flights from across Europe. Norwegian, SAS, and Widerøe cover domestic routes; British Airways, Lufthansa, KLM, and others fly in from the UK and Europe. The Flybussen airport express bus runs every 20 minutes between the airport and Bergen bus terminal in the city centre (45 minutes, ~200 NOK). Taxis cost around 450–550 NOK for the same journey. The light rail (Bybanen) is the cheapest option at around 40 NOK but takes slightly longer.

By train from Oslo

The Bergen Railway (Bergensbanen) is one of the most scenic rail routes in the world. The 7-hour journey from Oslo Central Station crosses the Hardangervidda mountain plateau — the largest in northern Europe — passes through Finse (the highest railway station in Norway, at 1,222m), and descends through the fjord valleys to Bergen. Book at vy.no. Advance tickets start from 399 NOK; flexible tickets cost more. Trains run several times daily. The journey is worth doing in either direction but the late afternoon light on the descent towards Bergen is especially good.

By car

Driving from Oslo takes about 7.5 hours via the E16, which goes through the dramatic Laerdal Tunnel (24.5km — the world's longest road tunnel). From Stavanger in the south, the E39 coastal route takes about 5 hours. Bergen is compact and the centre is partially pedestrianised — parking in the city is expensive (around 40–70 NOK/hour in multi-storeys) and largely unnecessary for most visits. Driving is most useful for reaching Hardangerfjord, Voss, and other day trip destinations.

By ferry

Fjord Line runs ferry services from Hirtshals in northern Denmark to Bergen (about 16 hours, with cabins available). It's not the fastest route but it's a genuine North Sea crossing and the arrival into Bergen harbour by sea is memorable. Color Line runs from Newcastle in England to Kristiansand or Stavanger (not directly to Bergen but manageable connections). Both are useful if you're bringing a car.

Getting around Bergen

Central Bergen is very walkable — most attractions are within 2km of Bryggen. The Bybanen light rail runs from the airport through the centre to Flesland. Buses cover the wider city. The Bergen Card (~279 NOK/day) covers unlimited public transport within Bergen. Taxis are metered and expensive by international standards.

Frequently asked questions