The Christmas town

BERGEN

Christmas market in Bergen .
Photo: Robin Strand / Visit Bergen

With its unique traditions and world-famous cultural stage ...

Christmas market in Bergen .
Photo: Robin Strand / Visit Bergen

... Bergen stands out as a fun and high-spirited place to celebrate Christmas!

Christmas time in Bergen .
Photo: Thomas Krohn Dalen / Visit Norway

Wander through the medieval passageways of the iconic UNESCO World Heritage site: Bryggen ...

Christmas at Bryggen in Bergen .
Photo: Thomas Krohn Dalen / Visit Norway

... the wharf is home to many shops, galleries, and restaurants. There's even a Christmas shop that's open year-round!

Christmas shopping in Bergen .
Photo: Thomas Krohn Dalen / Visit Norway

The Christmas gift is missing! Kids from 4 years and up can join an exciting walking theatre performance Bergen City Museum stages in Bryggen. Help Gyda find her missing gift on December 3rd and 10th.

Christmas theatre in Bergen .
Photo: Bymuseet i Bergen

Visit the world's biggest gingerbread town!

The locals bake and donate houses, churches, castles, and all kinds of imaginable structures to make the town, which opens November 19th at the art museum KODE 4.

Bergen Gingerbread town .
Photo: Visit Bergen

Every Christmas, Festplassen, the festive square, turns into a magically decorated Christmas market!

Bergen in Christmas .
Photo: Bergen Reiselivslag / Robin Strand / visitBergen.com

Buy Christmas gifts from friendly locals at the market stalls ...

Christmas market shop in Bergen .
Photo: Thomas Krohn Dalen / Visit Norway

... do you know anyone who would love a pair of warm, handcrafted socks or blankets made from Norwegian wool?

Christmas shopping in Bergen .
Photo: Thomas Krohn Dalen / Visit Norway

Christmas is a great time to visit the excellent art museum KODE, comprising four building near Festplassen. The venerable brick building pictured here is KODE 1, whose collection includes handicrafts, design, and contemporary art.

Festplassen in Bergen .
Photo: Thomas Krohn Dalen / Visit Norway

The KODE museum also has three composer homes, one of which is Edvard Grieg's residence at Troldhaugen. He composed many of his best-known works here ...

Troldhaugen at night .
Photo: Willy Haraldsen / Bergen Tourist Board / Visit Bergen

... speaking of the famous composer – it's a beloved tradition for many locals to attend one of the 22 Christmas concerts at Grieg Hall or to see the popular musical …

Grieg Hall, Bergen .
Photo: Bergen Tourist Board / Willy Haraldsen - visitBergen.com

… Putti Plutti Pott! about a boy who is trying to find Santa's magical beard in time for Christmas Eve. It is performed in Grieg Hall and other venues across the country during the holiday season.

Putti Plutti Pott Christmas Musical .
Photo: Grieghallen

Bring your friends and pick up some fresh seafood and locally produced foods at Fisketorget, the fish market at the harbour which has been an important marketplace ever since the 1200s.

Christmas market in Bergen .
Photo: Thomas Krohn Dalen / Visit Norway

When the dark sets in … stroll along the magical path in the light park, Lumagica at Bergenhus Fortress, and experience 40 spectacular light installations with smoke and 3D effects.

Christmas light show in Bergen .
Photo: Casper Steinsland / Visit Bergen

The annual Lysfest is a celebration of light that takes place on November 19th. Festplassen is filled with people of all ages and there are live concerts featuring traditional Christmas music and a torch-lit procession. The party ends with fireworks!

Light show in Bergen .
Photo: Robin Strand / Visit Bergen

Hike or ride the funicular from the city centre up to the popular viewpoint on Mount Fløyen.

Enjoy a hot chocolate and pastries at the shop and café, while taking in the spectacular view of the city between the seven mountains.

Bergen in Fjord Norway .
Photo: Robin Strand / VisitBergen.com

Winter in Bergen in Fjord Norway .
Photo: Robin Strand / VisitBergen.com

If you're really lucky, you can experience good snow conditions for cross-country skiing on floodlit trails.

Skiing at Mount Fløyen .
Photo: Fløyen

Kygo, Aurora, Alan Walker and Röyksopp, all call Bergen their home. The music scene is rocking in Bergen, so there's always a big or small concert to enjoy.

Concert in Bergen .
Photo: Christian Bertrand

Try the Norwegian tradition of julebad, a Christmas dip! An ice-cold swim marks the end of the Christmas preparations and makes you refreshed and ready for the holidays.

The ice bathing club, Morsy, taking a bath in Bergen .
Photo: Isbadeklubb Morsy / BOKEN Isbading Norge rundt

When in Bergen, you should make sure to taste persetorsk, a local speciality. Fresh cod is salted, sugared and pressed over time to give it a delicious and unique flavour and texture. If you want to sample some more Norwegian food, scroll below for Christmas recipes.

Persetorsk .
Photo: Kristoffer Fürstenberg / Visit Bergen

Persetorsk in Bergen .
Photo: Kristoffer Fürstenberg / Visit Bergen

If you want to get out of the city, there are two cosy Christmas markets on the serene island of Osterøy, about an hour's drive outside Bergen.

Christmas market at Osterøy .
Photo: Visit Osteroy

Lively, bold and vibrant, nothing beats Bergen during the holidays. Book your stay at a hotel today and get ready to feel the cosy holiday spirit when visiting Bergen at Christmas.

Christmas holiday in Bergen .
Photo: Thomas Krohn Dalen / Visit Norway