Home › Food tours › Bergen
Food tours in Bergen: what to eat and which tour to book
Bergen grew rich on fish. For centuries the Hanseatic merchants on Bryggen traded dried cod from northern Norway, and the city still eats more seafood than most: creamy Bergen fish soup, fish cakes, smoked salmon, prawns, and klippfisk (salted dried cod) cooked as bacalao. The other local staple is the skillingsbolle, a large cinnamon bun Bergeners claim as their own. Food here is expensive by any standard, and alcohol very much so, so it pays to know where the value is. The Fish Market on the harbour is the obvious stop and has fine views, but its stalls are priced for cruise passengers; bakeries, fish shops and lunch places a few streets back are where locals go.
Use this page to know what to order and where. The tours shown here are real GetYourGuide listings, with prices as seen when we checked; prices and schedules change, so confirm on the booking page before you pay.
What to eat in Bergen
| Dish | What it is | Where to eat it | Typical price* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bergen fish soup bergensk fiskesuppe | Creamy, slightly sweet-sour soup with white fish, carrots, leek and sometimes fish dumplings, traditionally thickened with cream and egg yolk. | Restaurants around Bryggen and the harbour, and casual fish restaurants and fish shops in the centre. | roughly 180–280 NOK a bowl (about €15–24) |
| Cinnamon bun skillingsbolle | Large, flat, sticky cinnamon bun dusted with sugar; the Bergen bakery classic. Locals argue over which bakery makes the best. | Bakeries across the centre, including long-established local chains. | about 40–60 NOK each (about €3.50–5) |
| Fish cakes fiskekaker | Pan-fried cakes of minced haddock or other white fish, eaten in a bread roll with remoulade or with potatoes for lunch. | Fish shops (fiskebutikk) and delis in the centre, which sell them warm over the counter. | about 30–60 NOK a cake or roll (about €2.50–5) |
| Prawns and smoked salmon reker og røkelaks | Cold-water prawns, often bought by the bag and peeled yourself with bread, mayonnaise and lemon, and smoked or cured salmon on open sandwiches. | Fish Market stalls and Mathallen, and fish shops in the centre where prices are usually lower. | an open-faced prawn or salmon sandwich roughly 150–250 NOK (about €13–21) |
| Bacalao bacalao (klippfisk) | Salted, dried cod soaked and stewed with tomato, potatoes, onion, peppers and olive oil, a dish Norwegian fishing towns adopted from Spanish and Portuguese buyers. | Traditional restaurants in the centre and around Bryggen. | roughly 250–380 NOK a main (about €21–32) |
| Potato dumplings raspeballer (komle) | Large dumplings of grated potato and flour boiled with salted lamb or sausage, served with mashed swede and melted butter. West-coast comfort food, traditionally eaten on Thursdays. | Traditional lunch restaurants and cafeterias; look for 'raspeballer' on Thursday menus. | roughly 200–300 NOK a plate (about €17–25) |
| Waffles with brown cheese vafler med brunost | Thin, heart-shaped waffles with slices of sweet, caramel-flavoured brown goat's cheese, or with sour cream and jam. | Cafés, including the one at the top of Mount Fløyen, and bakeries. | about 50–80 NOK (about €4–7) |
Where to eat: markets and neighbourhoods
Fish Market (Fisketorget) and Mathallen
Outdoor stalls on the inner harbour selling seafood to eat on the spot, plus the indoor Mathallen hall next to it with fish counters and small restaurants. Good for a look and a snack, but prices are high and many stall workers are seasonal staff rather than fishermen.
Bryggen
The UNESCO-listed Hanseatic wharf with restaurants in old timber buildings, some serving traditional west-coast food. Convenient but busy with cruise groups.
Sentrum side streets (Marken, Skostredet, Øvre Ole Bulls plass)
Pedestrian lanes behind the harbour with bakeries, cafés, burger and lunch places and small restaurants used by locals.
Nordnes
Peninsula of white wooden houses west of the harbour, with a few neighbourhood cafés and a seafront park; a quieter place to eat away from the crowds.
Bergen Food Festival (Bergen Matfestival)
Annual festival on the harbour with producers from western Norway selling cheese, cured meats, cider, seafood and baked goods.
Food tours in Bergen compared
Every tour below is a real listing on GetYourGuide or Viator, checked on 2 Oct 2026. Prices move with season and group size, so treat them as a guide and confirm on the booking page.
| Tour | Length | Price* | Group | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bergen: UNESCO Fjord Cruise, Flåm & Stegastein - Incl. Lunch | 12 hours | from €282 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| A Taste of Bergen Food Tour with Fløibanen Funicular | 3.5 hours | from €194 per person | max 8 | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Ulriken Bergen: Enjoy a 3-course lunch with panoramic views | — | from €108 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Bergen: Norwegian Cider Tasting Experience | 1.5 hours | from €55 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Ulriken Bergen: Enjoy a 5-course dinner with panoramic views | 3 hours | from €154 per person | — | Evening eaters who want dinner and drinks rolled into one, plus the city after dark. | Check dates |
| Bergen: Home-Hosted Lunch with a Local | 2.5 hours | from €110 per person | max 4 | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
Bergen: UNESCO Fjord Cruise, Flåm & Stegastein - Incl. Lunch
On GetYourGuide · run by Travel North
- Length
- 12 hours
- Price
- from €282 per person
- Rating
- 4.7 ★ from 1,433 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- Strandkaien, Bergen, Norge
A Taste of Bergen Food Tour with Fløibanen Funicular
On GetYourGuide · run by I Love Bergen
- Length
- 3.5 hours
- Price
- from €194 per person
- Rating
- 4.9 ★ from 52 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- max 8
- Included
- 13 tastings (11 food and 2 drinks) Fresh seasonal seafood tasting Three cider tastings Traditional sardines tasting Award-winning local chocolate tasting Brown cheese cheesecake tasting Seasonal meat and fish dishes a…
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- Please meet at the entrance to the tourist office, at the bottom of the stairs.
Ulriken Bergen: Enjoy a 3-course lunch with panoramic views
On GetYourGuide · run by Skyskraperen Restaurant
- Price
- from €108 per person
- Rating
- 4.8 ★ from 41 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Included
- Ulriken Cable Car roundtrip ride 3-course seasonal lunch at Skyskraperen Restaurant Drinks
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- Haukelandsbakken 40, 5009 Bergen, Norge
Bergen: Norwegian Cider Tasting Experience
On GetYourGuide · run by Siderbar Bergen
- Length
- 1.5 hours
- Price
- from €55 per person
- Rating
- 5.0 ★ from 11 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Included
- Guided cider tasting Selection of craft ciders from Hardanger Information about cider history and production methods Stories about Norwegian cider traditions and the Hardanger region
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- *
Ulriken Bergen: Enjoy a 5-course dinner with panoramic views
On GetYourGuide · run by Skyskraperen Restaurant
- Length
- 3 hours
- Price
- from €154 per person
- Rating
- 4.3 ★ from 11 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Included
- Ulriken Cable Car roundtrip ride 5-course seasonal dinner at Skyskraperen Restaurant Drinks
- Suits
- Evening eaters who want dinner and drinks rolled into one, plus the city after dark.
Bergen: Home-Hosted Lunch with a Local
On GetYourGuide · run by Bergen Stories With Ida Doksæter
- Length
- 2.5 hours
- Price
- from €110 per person
- Rating
- 4.9 ★ from 9 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- max 4
- Included
- Home-cooked lunch Authentic Norwegian cuisine Cultural exchange Local insights into Bergen's history and culture Restaurant dining experience
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
Some links on this page are partner links. If you book through them TonyPlan earns a small commission — the price you pay is exactly the same.
Street food, sit-down or a cooking class?
Street food
There is no street-food culture in the Asian sense. The cheap eats are a fish cake roll or prawn sandwich from a fish shop, hot dogs (pølse) from kiosks, and buns from bakeries. The Fish Market stalls are the closest thing to street food, but at restaurant prices.
Sit-down meals
Restaurants are expensive; many Bergeners eat their main meal at home and eat out for lunch. Lunch menus (dagens rett) are the best value. Dinner is early, from about 17:00–18:00, and a glass of wine can cost as much as a main dish elsewhere in Europe.
Cooking classes
Cooking classes are uncommon in Bergen. Food experiences tend to be guided tastings of seafood, cheese and cured meat, or fjord trips that include a seafood meal. If you want hands-on cooking, check the listing carefully.
How much to budget for food
| Style | Per person, per day* |
|---|---|
| Budget (street food, markets) | 450–650 NOK, about €38–55 (bakery breakfast, fish cake or hot dog lunch, supermarket or simple dinner) |
| Mid-range (one sit-down meal a day) | 900–1,300 NOK, about €75–110 (café lunch and restaurant dinner with one drink) |
| Splurge (tasting menus, wine) | 2,000+ NOK, about €170+ (tasting menu with wine pairing) |
Vegetarian, halal and gluten-free
Vegetarian & vegan: Workable. Most cafés and restaurants have at least one vegetarian main, and bakeries are easy. Traditional west-coast food is fish and meat heavy, and fish soup uses fish stock. Vegan options exist in the centre but are fewer.
Halal: Halal restaurants are mostly kebab, Middle Eastern and South Asian places in the centre and around Danmarks plass. Seafood is the easy option elsewhere; check whether sauces contain wine and whether meat dishes contain pork.
Gluten-free: Good awareness: many menus mark allergens, and staff are used to the question. Fish and potatoes are naturally gluten-free; fish cakes, fish soup (often thickened with flour), waffles and buns are not, unless marked.
Food scams and tourist traps to avoid
- Seafood platters and lobster at the outdoor Fish Market priced per 100 g or per kilo, which add up to a very large bill. Ask for the total price before it is weighed and cooked, or buy from a fish shop in the centre and eat by the harbour.
- Whale meat offered as a 'Norwegian speciality' to visitors, often at a premium. It is legal in Norway but cannot be taken into the EU, UK or US. Decide in advance whether you want to try it.
- Ordering drinks without checking prices; a beer or glass of wine can cost 120–180 NOK. Check the drinks list before ordering. Tap water is excellent and free; ask for 'springvann'.
Top tours & activities in Bergen
Rent a car in Bergen
Compare rental cars from local and international companies, with free cancellation on most bookings.
Compare car rentals in BergenPlan the rest of your Bergen trip
Staying near the markets saves time and taxi money — most food tours start in the old centre.
Common questions
Is the Bergen Fish Market worth it?
It is worth a walk for the harbour view and the displays, and the indoor Mathallen has proper counters and small restaurants. But prices at the outdoor stalls are high and aimed at visitors, especially for platters sold by weight. For a cheaper and often better meal, buy fish cakes, prawns or a sandwich from a fish shop in the centre.
Do I need to tip in Bergen?
No. Service is included in Norwegian prices and staff are paid a living wage. Rounding up or leaving about 5–10% for good table service is a kind gesture, not an obligation. Card payment is standard almost everywhere; many places don't take cash at all, so carrying kroner is rarely necessary.
What is a skillingsbolle?
It is Bergen's signature cinnamon bun: large, flat, sticky and dusted with sugar. Every bakery in the city sells them, and locals have strong opinions about which is best. Expect to pay roughly 40–60 NOK. They are best in the morning, fresh from the oven, with coffee.
Why is eating out so expensive in Norway?
High wages, high taxes on alcohol and sugar, and import costs push prices up. A casual main course is often 250–350 NOK and a beer 120–150 NOK. To keep costs down, eat your main meal at lunchtime when 'dagens rett' (dish of the day) is cheaper, drink tap water, and use bakeries and supermarket delis.
When is Bergen's food scene at its best?
Summer (roughly June to August) has the outdoor Fish Market stalls fully running and long evenings by the harbour. The Bergen Food Festival on the harbour, usually in early September, is the best single weekend for regional produce. In winter the outdoor stalls are reduced, but Christmas brings traditional dishes such as pinnekjøtt and lutefisk.
How much should I budget for food per day?
Even a budget day is roughly 450–650 NOK (about €38–55) with a bakery breakfast, a fish cake or hot dog lunch and a simple dinner. A café lunch and a restaurant dinner with one drink is roughly 900–1,300 NOK (about €75–110). A tasting menu with wine will be 2,000 NOK or more per person.
* Prices are approximate, gathered on 2 Oct 2026 from menus, markets and the booking pages linked above. They change with season and exchange rates.