Things to do in Bergen

15 activities, venues and outings in Bergen, from theatres and live music to parks and tours.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

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BIT Teatergarasjen
BIT (Bergen International Theater) presents Norwegian and international contemporary stage art productions of high quality.
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Bergen International Film Festival
BIFF
BIFF is a week-long film festival held in October every year at Bergen kino (the Magnus Barfot multiplex cinema).
Single ticket kr. 65. BIFF discount card: New card kr. 520 (card kr. 20, account kr. 500), account refill kr. 200, enables you to purchase tickets at kr. 40/50 for screenings starting before/after 15:00
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Bergen Jazzforum
Jazz club with focus on modern jazz. Norwegian Jazz Club Of The Year 2008.
Concerts every Fri except in the summer and during the Christmas holidays
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Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra
Harmonien
The Bergen philharmonic is one of two national orchestras and was established in 1765. It is regarded as one of the oldest orchestras in the world.The program is varied, but the repertoire is usually quite easy listening. The orchestra plays of course a lot of Edvard Grieg's works.
Classical concerts every Thu evening at 19:30
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Den Nationale Scene
The national theater in Bergen. In a beautifully restored building, the theater presents a variety of plays on three different stages, from traditional Ibsen to contemporary plays. The largest stage (Store scene) is where most mainstream plays are played, while the two smaller stages features more alternative plays, often the most interesting ones. The plays are in Norwegian.
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Det Akademiske Kvarter
Popular student venue, usually hosting concerts several times a week except during holidays and the summer.
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16 May
The night before Constitution Day is the definite party night in Bergen.
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Bergen International Festival
Festspillene
With about 160 events in two weeks from the end of May to start of June, Bergen International Festival is the largest festival of its kind in the Nordic countries. The festival presents literature, dance, theater and classical music. The latest years, focus has been on art from the Nordic countries.
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Bergen Live
Producing most of the larger pop, rock and hip hop concerts in Bergen.
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Bergen Nasjonale Opera
Den nye Opera
Although Bergen does not have its own opera house, it does have its own opera company. Den Nye Opera (The New Opera) usually put on a few productions throughout the year. Summer performances are often at the Bergenhus Fortress while other productions are performed at Den Nationale Scene or at Grieghallen. Tickets are available online. Tickets usually range from kr. 200 to kr. 550 depending on seating and availability. Bergen does not attract the top performers, and the quality may vary a bit, usually anywhere between superb and a bit below average.
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Bergenfest
Music festival from the end of April to start of May. A number of concerts in most rhythmic music genres (pop, rock, hip hop, blues, soul) all over town.
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Constitution Day
On 17 May, every business in town, except restaurants downtown, is closed as the citizens dress up in their finest clothes and celebrate all day long. You will be stunned by the number of people in the streets – one can hardly move around – and by the beautiful national costumes every second person you meet will wear. This is the day people will look oddly on you if you wear anything less than a suit or dress. At 07:00, there is a twenty-one-gun salute from Skansen, half way up Mount Fløyen, as the morning parade starts from Dreggen. At 10:30, the main parade starts at Torgalmenningen, goes around town and ends up at Festplassen. The parade is formed by children and organizations such as sports teams, and only a very few military troops, unlike in many other countries. The level of patriotism can perhaps be a bit overwhelming for foreigners, but try to say gratulerer med dagen (literally "congratulations on the day") to anyone you meet, and you will probably get the same in response, even if you're not Norwegian at all.
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Nattjazz
Nattjazz is a two-week-long jazz festival from the end of May to the start of June, the longest jazz festival in Northern Europe. All concerts take place at Verftet USF, a former sardine factory at Nøstet, with a capacity of over 4000 guests. With a day-pass, you get access to all concerts that night for a fair price. Usually, there are six or seven concerts every night, some simultaneously on the various stages. The festival's musical profile ranges from traditional jazz to world music. Some of the artists that previously has played on Nattjazz are Gotan Project, Ahmed Jamal, Jan Garbarek, Stan Getz, Art Blakey, Herbie Hancock, Van Morrison and James Brown.
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Nordnes outdoor pool
Nordnes sjøbad
Outdoor swimming pool 25 m, heated saltwater taken from the fjord
Mon-Fri 07:00 - 19:00, Sat Sun 07:00 – 14:00 (flexible in good weather)Adult kr 65, child kr 30
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Nye Sydnes Sjøbad
Public seawater "pool".
Free

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Bergen (CC BY-SA 4.0).