Is Bergen expensive to visit?
Bergen is a small yet captivating city that lures visitors with differing travel styles, spending levels, and budgetary preferences. Visitors can find a range of options for accommodation from high-end luxury hotels to mid-range places to budget-friendly hostels.
If you choose to make it so, Bergen can be very pricey, but you can reduce your expenses by eating at less expensive restaurants and taking public transit.
On average, budget travelers spend $50 (kr526) per day, mid-range travelers spend $113 (kr1,186) per day, and luxury travelers spend around $219 (kr2,298) per day. These costs are calculated from the expenses of previous travelers to Bergen.
Within Europe, which is known to be an expensive region, Bergen is a moderately priced destination compared to other places. The overall cost of travel here is fair for the region and comparable to Delphi or Volterra.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Bergen Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to Bergen?
The average Bergen trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Bergen travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.
Realistic Expectations for Your Travel Budget
Having realistic expectations for your travel expenses is important. While many assume they can visit Bergen on a tight budget, the truth is that most people don't enjoy traveling that way. Think about what you prioritize on vacation. Do you prefer staying in resorts or hostels? Do you love exploring sights and attractions, or dining out? Your preferences will directly impact your budget and travel plans.
Who Exactly is a Budget Traveler?
You may believe you're traveling on a budget, but unless you're ready to give up some conveniences, you'll likely spend much more than the $50 daily average that backpackers get away with.
Younger budget travelers often stick to this low budget by staying in dorms, eating inexpensive meals, taking public transportation, and focusing on free activities and sights.
Fortunately, there's plenty of hostels in Bergen, like HI Bergen Hostel Montana, Intermission Hostel, and City Hostel Bergen. Here, you can score affordable dorm accommodation along with a vibrant social scene, though amenities may be lacking. Moreover, the city provides great public transportation, which allows budget travelers to save on expensive taxi or Uber fares.
Is Your Travel Style Average?
If you're a couple or a family traveling for fun, you'll likely want to stay in a mid-range hotel, eat at popular restaurants, and visit the major museums and attractions which have entry fees. Visitors to Bergen typically prioritize the major attractions, museums, sights, and landmarks during their stay. Most activities cost money, after all. Therefore, it's realistic to expect your actual daily budget to be closer to $113 per person, per day.
In Bergen, you'll find a broad range of hotels and vacation rentals. If traveling with companions, you can share accommodations with a partner, friend, or your children, helping to cut costs. Families will want to look for hotels and restaurants that are kid-friendly. Hotel Park Bergen is a fantastic option for families, and Clarion Hotel Bergen Airport is also a great pick. Explore more family and couple-oriented hotels in our hotel guide for Bergen here.
Seeking a Stylish Getaway from the Daily Routine?
If you're used to premier amenities and elevated service, prepare to spend about $219 per day. Choosing comfortable hotels, dining at award-winning establishments, indulging in extravagant excursions, and relying on taxis or private drivers to explore the city will demand a higher price range. Many luxury travelers also enjoy unique experiences such as Bergen Day Trip Chasing the Waterfalls of Hardangerfjord - offered by Viator.
Accommodation Budget in Bergen
Bergen has a wide range of hotel prices. Luxury hotels come with higher price tags and better amenities, and prices are much steeper during peak season. On average, a room costs $114 in the off-season and averages $213 during peak summer season. Overall, you can expect prices from $81 to $412. Hostels, especially dorms, are cheaper alternatives. You can save by traveling in the low season, booking in advance, or looking for special offers.
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid in Bergen for two people for a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $140 (kr1,474). For one person sharing a room, the average price paid for a hotel room is $70 (kr737) per night. These costs are from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in Bergen? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
The most affordable highest rated hotels in Bergen include:
- Scandic Flesland Airport starting at $119
- Clarion Hotel Bergen Airport starting at $139
- Bergen Bors Hotel starting at $115
- Hotel No13 starting at $158
- Thon Hotel Bergen Airport starting at $98
While Bergen has a great public transit system, staying outside the city to save on accommodation could mean higher transportation costs and less convenience if you're short on time.
As a family-friendly city, Bergen is perfect for traveling with kids, so you may want to find an apartment with more room.
Choosing to travel in the shoulder or low season and avoiding summer will help you save on lodging costs and escape the tourist rush.
Walking is a favorite way for many to see Bergen, so look for lodging in a prime location. Keep in mind, though, that this can raise your expenses.
The city's unique old town is a major draw for visitors. Hotels here may be more expensive, but they typically offer a lot of character and convenient access to all the attractions.
Transportation Budget in Bergen
Public transit in Bergen is top-notch. For the areas that are outside of the city center, you can take a local bus or the light rail to access them. These services are operated by Skyss. If you're looking to save time and money, public transit is the ideal option. Of course, taxis and rideshares are easy to find, too.
Visitors who like to explore on foot will enjoy their time here. The city center is flat and compact enough that it's fun to explore on foot.
Public Transit: 
(great)
Walkability: (great)
Calculated from travelers like you
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On average, past travelers have spent $10 (kr106) per person, per day, on local transportation in Bergen. The cost of a taxi ride or rideshare service (Uber/Lyft) in Bergen is significantly more than public transportation.
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Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$10
kr106
Some of the standard hotel transfers and transport options include:
- Private transfer From Bergen Airport - Hotels/Port 1-14 pax. For $162 details
- TRANSFER, STANDARD, 1-7 PAX: Bergen airport transfer for $195 details
- Private One-Way Bergen Airport and City Transfers for $106 details
How much does it cost to go to Bergen? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
The price of renting a car in Bergen will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Food Budget in Bergen
While the cuisine in Bergen is enjoyable, there are other things that usually bring in visitors. Still, you can discover some wonderful spots around the city. The city's economy has long been centered around the fish trade and even today you'll find cod, shellfish, trout, and salmon on most menus. Sheep and mutton are also popular. Desserts and coffee are also a big part of the local culture.
Calculated from travelers like you
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While restaurant and meal prices in Bergen can vary significantly, the average cost of food in Bergen is $32 (kr335) per day, per person, based on the spending habits of previous travelers.
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Food2
Meals for one day
$32
kr335
When dining out, the average daily cost for food in Bergen is around $32 (kr335) per person, with previous travelers spending from $14 to $60. Generally, breakfast and lunch cost less than dinner, but this will depend on the type of restaurant and what you order.
Typical meal prices in Bergen are as follows:
- Breakfast: $3 to $10
- Lunch: $5 to $13
- Dinner: $10 to $22
- Coffee: $3
- Fast Food or Street Food: $5
There are some wonderful restaurant options in Bergen, but you're best to avoid the very center of the city where prices are too high and the quality isn't as good. Go a few blocks away from the main touristy areas and you'll find some delicious food at much more reasonable prices. You may be hard pressed to find "local" food, as Norwegian food is rarely available in restaurants. If you really want to try some, then some good options are fish soup or cooked cod, both of which are good. Tipping is generally not expected, but if you receive good service and high quality food, a five to ten percent tip is always much appreciated.
Traveling with children? Look for dining spots that have a children's menu. This can lead to significant savings since those meals are often more budget-friendly. Some restaurants might not list these options, so it's wise to ask your waiter before you decide what to order.
Many accommodations throw in breakfast at no extra cost, though others might charge you for it. The price and quality can greatly vary by hotel. Knowing this in advance can help you figure out if you need to spend more money. You might find the hotel's buffet is worth it, or you may prefer to grab a cheaper bite at a local bakery or cafe.
Carry a reusable water bottle with you to avoid spending on drinks. It's also a win for the environment.
Before you head out on a tour, be sure to find out which meals are included. You could end up paying for some meals out of pocket, which can impact your budget.
Taking a food tour or cooking class is a great way to experience the culture in Bergen. After all, cuisine is one of the reasons why so many people visit. A few of the best culinary activities here include:
- Half Day Fishing and Outdoor Cooking in Bergen for $209 details
- Guided Fishing Tour with Outdoor Cooking for $214 details
- Private Walking Tour with Dinner and Funicular for $449 details
Sightseeing and Activities Budget in Bergen
Tourists are naturally attracted to Bergen due to its family-friendly activities, romance, museums and attractions, and food.
Calculated from travelers like you
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Sightseeing activities, entertainment, and entrance tickets in Bergen typically cost an average of $17 (kr179) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
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Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$17
kr179
Bergen has no shortage of sights, but a more enjoyable activity is to simply absorb the atmosphere in the city. Give yourself plenty of time to simply sit in a cafe and sip a coffee, take a stroll through the neighborhoods, or go to a concert, festival, or street fair. These are the things that make Bergen truly enjoyable. If you are looking to visit a few of the sights, some of the more interesting options include the Bergen Art Museum, the city's impressive fish market, St. Jorgen's Hospital, which has an interesting leprosy museum, and Bergen Aquarium. And Bergen is only one of Norway's amazing destinations. If you're planning to travel through the rest of this Nordic nation, check out these great travel tips for Norway.
As a cultural center for Norway, there are no shortage of activities you can enjoy. Concerts, theater, art shows, and guided tours are available throughout the city. There is also plenty of amazing hiking just outside of town. One popular area is Mount Floyen which takes about 40 minutes to hike up. There's also a funicular available. If you're interested in spending time on the beach then head to the sandy beaches at Arboretet at Milde (Hjellestad), Kyrkjetangen at Nordasvannet and Helleneset.
Shopping:
You won't want to miss out on the shopping here. The city center is filled with specialty boutiques as well as larger department stores. Shopping has long been a large part of the economy and you'll enjoy exploring the diversity of retail options.
Local tours that last a few hours can be a great way to explore Bergen. Prices vary by the type of activity or tour, the dates, and the size of the group. Here are a few of the highest rated tours by previous visitors:
- Fjord Hiking - Public tour for $182 details
- 3-Hour Private Tour Hiked through the Bergen Mountains for $156 details
- 3-Hour Private Norwegian Hiking Experience with Local Guide for $124 details
Nightlife Budget in Bergen
Bergen provides a selection of nightlife activities, but it doesn't quite stack up to the lively scenes in other popular areas. It's a small city without a huge nightlife district, but there are bars and clubs in Bryggen and Old Bulls Plass. The city has enough students to keep things lively and fun.
Calculated from travelers like you
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The average person spends about $7.15 (kr75) on nightlife and alcoholic beverages in Bergen per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
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Alcohol2
Drinks for one day
$7.15
kr75
The nightlife scene is a lot of fun, but reducing how much you drink can go a long way in keeping your budget on track.
When enjoying the nightlife, stay alert and cautious, as you may attract the attention of pickpockets or other criminals. It's best to stay with a group of people you trust.
Bergen, Norway
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.