The Christmas town
BERGEN
With its unique traditions and world-famous cultural stage ...
... Bergen stands out as a fun and high-spirited place to celebrate Christmas!
Wander through the medieval passageways of the iconic UNESCO World Heritage site: Bryggen ...
... the wharf is home to many shops, galleries, and restaurants. There's even a Christmas shop that's open year-round!
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.
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.
Every Christmas, Festplassen, the festive square, turns into a magically decorated Christmas market!
Buy Christmas gifts from friendly locals at the market stalls ...
... do you know anyone who would love a pair of warm, handcrafted socks or blankets made from Norwegian wool?
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.
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 ...
... 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 …
… 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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
If you're really lucky, you can experience good snow conditions for cross-country skiing on floodlit trails.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Have a Happy Christmas in Bergen!