Norway

13 Fantastic Things to Do In Bergen, Norway With Kids

13 Things to Do in Bergen with Kids: Our Family Experiences

Walking Bergen’s colorful streets with the family · Scene from our film (7 sec)

▶Watch scene from our film 7 sec

Bergen gave our family mountain rides, colorful streets, harbor wandering and plenty of reasons to put on our raincoats. These are our experiences and ideas for a family stay, with short scenes from our own visit.

Planning note: The films and family prices in this article record our own earlier visit. Check current attraction hours, ticket categories, seasonal openings, transport and hotel facilities before booking. Fløyen’s official website currently lists a maintenance closure for 2–5 November 2026; recheck its calendar for your dates.

As we take a high-speed train away from Bergen back to Oslo this evening, I am awed by the stunning scenery and already miss the former capital of Norway.  Bergen is a delight and offers many activities for families to explore.

Bergen also hosts the second-largest airport in Norway. However, if you are from Oslo, I recommend taking the train to Bergen if you have the time.  The views are well worth the nearly seven-hour journey.  Read about our experience using the Eurail Pass around Europe with our five kids.

Visiting Bergen with kids can highlight your vacation if you find the activities that best suit your children’s interests.  There are cafes, museums, and nightlife that might excite adults and have fun adventures for the little ones.

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It’s Not Raining, It’s Just Bergen!

First, a word of caution.  The saying of locals, “It’s not raining; it’s just Bergen,” is not a joke. This sparkling, emerald, water-filled country doesn’t stay green by chance. The precipitation levels are high, and having several rainy days may ruin your love for this city. 

Trying to entertain kids indoors can be challenging, so pack those raincoats and get outside, even in the rain.  If you can get a sunny day, the breathtaking beauty of this place is sure to charm you back.

1. Mt. Fløyen Funicular

Our funicular ride and mountain play stop · Scene from our film (11 sec)

▶Watch scene from our film 11 sec

The ride was only part of our mountain outing

Our film shows the funicular tracks climbing through a tunnel, with the children watching from the carriage. Then it cuts to the kids balancing on a rope bridge in the trees. That is what I like about this outing: the journey up gave us one kind of excitement, and there was still room for the children to play when we got there.

There was a practical side to our stop, too. In the film I wrote that we spent way too much on new raincoats in the shop! Bergen’s weather was part of our trip, and those coats became part of the memory. Bring your own wet-weather layers, and check the official Fløyen information for the facilities and paths you want to use. The play area in our older film is a record of that visit, not a promise that every feature will be open.

Despite a cloudy day, we rode the 26-degree incline on the funicular up to Mt. Fløyen.  Bergen is known as the city of seven mountains, and two of them are Mt. Fløyen and Mt. Ulriken, which you can scale by a funicular or gondola. 

You can easily find the bottom of the funicular on foot in the city center. We saw it on the mountain and headed that way.

At the time of our visit, the funicular fare for our family was about €50, but it offers a whole day of fun and energy output for our three energetic boys. At the top, you can catch the stunning views of the city and fjords, play on the playground, hike around the troll forest, explore the obstacle course, including the zipline and eat in the cafe.

Hiking back to the town is expected to be a little lengthy for smaller legs.

2. Hiking Between Mountains

Alternatively, you can gondola up to Mt. Ulriken and hike to Mt. Fløyen.  Check the official route information, weather and trail conditions before attempting the long mountain walk; the old four-to-six-hour estimate is not a timing guarantee for a family.

3. Bergen Aquarium

A good option for a rainy day in Bergen (which you are bound to have).  Everything in Bergen is expensive, including admission to this small aquarium, but the chance to see penguins and sea lions may win over your family. There are also fantastic educational shows available. Check the website to time your visit during animal feedings.

4. Bergen Fortress and Rosenkrantz Tower

Our kiddos loved exploring the old fortress of Bergen, located right next to the charming harbor.  

You’ll see the former sleeping quarters of one of the most famous kings of Norway, Magnus the Lawmender. Our kids love exploring the tower’s spiral staircases, the basement’s dungeon, and small displays.

Check current admission options for the tower and Great Hall. If interested in a walk around the city, compare this separate guided city walk; it is not confirmation of museum admission. For our family of seven, we spent around €24 at the time of our visit. That is our historical family cost, not a current quote. Check the museum’s current admission and opening information.

5. Go Swimming In The Fjord

Bergen hosts several swimming spots in the sea or the mountains. Check this blog for some fun options. If you want to go indoors, head to AdO Arena, which has several swimming pools of different temperatures.

6. Sail the Fjords

It’s best to view the fjords by scenic boat tour in this region, but it can be speedy (notice a trend here?!). On our day trip, we booked a fjord cruise to Flöm and loved it. Even if the skies are rainy and cloudy, you’ll still enjoy the scenery. 

Kids may not like the five hours you’ll spend on the boat, thanks to the books you can grab from the fantastic bookstore, Norli, which has tons of young adult books in English (and plenty for adults). This saved our boat trip since our kids read most of the time. There’s also a kid’s room with toys for toddlers on the boat.

7. Day Trip To Flöm Or Another Small City

We heard from our Instagram followers that Flöm, Norway, inspired the movie Frozen. Since then, we knew we had to go!  While we couldn’t enjoy all the scenery because of the weather, we did love taking the famous Flöm railway back to Myrdal and the high-speed train to Bergen.  

Myrdal is along the way returning to Oslo, so you can also combine this with your return trip to Oslo.

In hindsight, Bergen is equally inspirational in the movie Frozen. Still, a day trip or overnighter to one of these small villages in the fjords can be a special memory from your vacation.

8. Children’s Museum

We love exploring children’s museums worldwide and find them perfect when the weather is not cooperating. The children’s museum of Bergen, VilVite will keep the kids entertained for several hours. Hands-on exhibits entrap the kids, and there is a cafe for the parents. 

Check VilVite’s current child-accompaniment rules and ticket options for your visit and any booked activity.

9. Explore The Old City Of Bergen

Small shops, colorful buildings and a harbor pause

The city scenes in our film are the sort of exploring I mean here: walking past the colorful buildings, looking in shops and stopping beside the harbor. We even tried to get the boys to pose together for a picture. The film’s caption says it was a challenge—very normal family travel!

I also filmed little model houses in a shop and wrote that I could not resist them. They were coming home to Portugal by shipping. We had fallen in love with Norway and wanted a piece of it at home. You do not need to turn every wander into a shopping trip, but leaving some unplanned time gave us room for those little discoveries.

Winding alleyways and magical wooden houses transport you back centuries in this darling town.  

We loved “getting lost” in Bergen, stopping into shops, and snapping pictures. Be sure to explore the harbor. We had fun stalking some of the super yachts tied up around the harbor and daydreaming of the uber-rich lifestyle.

10. Bergen Fish Market 

A close look at the seafood with the children · Scene from our film (6 sec)

▶Watch scene from our film 6 sec

A close look at the seafood

One of the children stops at a tank in our film to look closely at an enormous lobster. It is a tiny moment, but a good example of how a food stop can become interesting to the kids before anyone has ordered. The film also includes my shrimp open sandwich: “So yum” was my verdict at the time! That meal is part of our visit, not a claim about what a particular stall will serve on your date.

Fish has sustained the Scandinavian way of life for thousands of years, and the fish market on Bergen draws visitors by the hundreds.  Kids love seeing the giant king crabs and lobsters in their aquariums, sampling fish and chips, or grabbing desserts like hot donuts and waffles.

You can also grab a nice dinner here, but be prepared to empty the wallet.  Prices for some of the fresh fish took our breath away!

11. Gingerbread Town

If you happen to be visiting during the holiday season, stop by Pepperkakebyen, a whimsical gingerbread city.  Volunteers work to create this edible version of Bergen each year, and children will squeal with delight.

12. Ski in Voss

Hit up the largest ski resort in Western Norway with a quick trip to Voss.  The train from Bergen to Voss is easy to access and runs several times daily.  The train ride will immerse you in the exquisite scenery of the area, and some hot chocolate on the slopes will get the kids excited to ski!

13. Explore A Castle

If you’ve been in Europe for a long time, you’ve probably seen several castles.  Our kids groan when we mention another castle visit, and after living for a year in Portugal, we’ve visited several castles.  

The current royal residence of Bergen is small compared to some of the other European castle giants but hosts some beautiful grounds.  You can also take a guided tour.

Note: if the flag is up, the king or royal family may occupy the castle!

How Long Should You Spend In Bergen?

We spent three days in Bergen, which felt perfect.  Unless you take several day trips, 2-3 days is ample time to explore Bergen with kids.

Watch our original related film on Vimeo

Three days in Bergen are perfect to explore the city.

Where To Stay In Bergen With Kids

We loved Augustin Hotel right downtown.  The breakfast buffet was excellent and generous, and there were laundry facilities on site (we could use their washer and dryer for free with our own detergent during that stay), which was necessary after some rainy hiking. Our room also had an adorable bunk bed. Perfect for our big family!

However, other hotel options in Berger City Centre include:

• Thon Hotel Rosenkrantz is a 4-star hotel located in the heart of Bergen. Fløibanen Funicular is just a 3-minute walk away.
• Citybox Bergen City – also located in central Bergen, this hotel offers brightly decorated rooms and is just 400 meters away from Bergen train Station.
• Grand Hotel Terminus – offers classical rooms and easy access to Fløyen Mountain.
• Bergen Børs Hotel – this hotel is located in an old stock exchange building from 1862 and is accessible to various museums in Bergen.
• Thon Hotel Orion – located in Bryggen Wharf District. You’re a 10-minute walk away from the famous Fish Market and the Fløibanen funicular railway.

Other Activities In Bergen 

• What’s the best way to discover a place’s hidden gems than to be with a local tour guide? Discover more of Bergen with a private tour with a local. You can choose from 2-6 hour private tour options.
• Feel the crisp mountain air while exploring the Bergen fjords in a round-trip scenic cruise to Mostraumen.
• Ready for a day packed with adventure? Go city sightseeing, fjords cruising, shopping at Bergen Fish Market & see Mt. Fløyen Funicular.

Enjoy Bergen! We already wish to go back.

Xoxo,

Leslie

Additional Reading

How To Conquer Training Around Europe With Kids

Essential Tips for Visiting The Top Of Europe in Switzerland With Kids

68 Critical Tips for New International Travelers From An Expert Travel Family

Our children’s favorite surprise on the train

The play area we found on our train journey · Scene from our film (13 sec)

▶Watch scene from our film 13 sec

The early part of our Bergen film shows the children in a small play area on the train. I wrote that it was a first for us and that the kids were thrilled. On a long journey, a little space for play felt like a discovery worth filming! If that would make a difference for your family, check the facilities on your actual train and carriage; this was what we found on our journey.

Watch our Bergen family film

Our Bergen family film · Full film (2 min 7 sec)

▶Watch full film 2 min 7 sec

Our earlier portrait film records our own visit, including train travel, Bergen streets, the funicular, food and shopping. Its prices, transport facilities, shop displays and yacht-owner captions reflect the time and have not been confirmed as current.

For two additional short perspectives, see our view above Bergen and fjord waterfall from the boat. These separate short edits are not a guide to every stop in this article.