Christmas market at Festplassen
The Christmas market in Bergen is located at Festplassen in the city centre. Here you’ll find local food from small producers, creative handicrafts and Christmas gifts you won't find at shopping centres. Bring a friend, buy something hot to drink and browse the stalls.
There are also smaller Christmas markets around the city during the holiday season. Stroll around Bryggen: The old wooden houses are decorated for Christmas and the streets are lined with local artists, designers and cafés.
Gingerbread City - the world’s largest gingerbread city
Gingerbread City is a must-see, whether you’re 5 or 50 years old. Every year, children and adults from all over Bergen provide houses, churches, castles and even oil platforms made of gingerbread. The result is an entire fairytale city between mountains of glaze. End your visit with a gingerbread heart.
Light Festival and Advent at Fløyen
The holidy season in Bergen often starts with the Light Festival around Lille Lungegårdsvand. Thousands of people gather to enjoy Christmas lights and fireworks.
Every Sunday during Advent, Fløyen is bathed in Christmas lights. Take Fløibanen up and enjoy views of the city in all its Christmas splendour. Has it snowed? Bring your sled and slide all the way down again.
Christmas concerts and Christmas shopping
December brings Christmas concerts of all kinds, from the classics to intimate church concerts.
During the holiday season, the city centre has longer opening hours. Lots of shops stay open until 8 pm on weekdays and shopping centres until 9 pm. There is an all-year Christmas shop in Bryggen, with two entire floors filled with Christmas decorations and elves.
Photo: Maverix Media/Visitnorway.com
Christmas flavours in Bergen
In Bergen, Christmas dinner features lamb ribs, pork ribs or lutefisk served with sauerkraut, mashed kohlrabi, potatoes and gravy. Don't want to make your own dinner? Lots of restaurants in the city centre serve traditional Christmas meals during the holiday season and some of our hotels in Bergen also serve Christmas dinner and Christmas lunch.
Stay in the heart of the festive magic
If you stay at a hotel in the centre of Bergen, the Christmas market, Gingerbread City and Bryggen are all within walking distance. Three of our hotels are located in the very heart of the city.
• Thon Hotel Bristol Bergen is located on Torgalmenningen, only a short distance from both Bryggen and Fisketorget.
• Thon Hotel Rosenkrantz Bergen is located by Bryggen, close to Fløibanen.
• Thon Hotel Orionis also located by Bryggen, within walking distance of Torgallmenningen.
Give someone the gift of a holiday stay: A hotel gift card is perfect for anyone who would enjoy a getaway to Bergen. See our gift cards.