Nestled between majestic fjords and rugged mountains, Bergen is a city that wears its history and culture proudly. As Norway’s second-largest city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bergen has long been a hub for maritime trade, art, and education. For visitors and locals alike, its vibrant museum scene offers a captivating window into the region’s rich heritage, from its Viking roots to its contemporary art scene. Whether you’re an art lover, a history buff, or simply curious about Norway’s unique culture, Bergen’s museums promise unforgettable experiences.
In this guide, we’ll take you on a journey through the city’s top museums, highlighting what makes each one special and why they deserve a spot on your itinerary.
Lepramuseet St. Jørgens Hospital (The Leprosy Museum)
Located right between the train station and downtown Bergen, the Leprosy Museum offers one of the city’s most unique and fascinating, albeit macabre, attractions: The St. Jørgen (Norwegian form of St. George) Hospital was first established all the way back in 1411 and was gradually specialized as a treatment center for patients suffering from leprosy. The disease was uncommonly rife throughout Norway in the late Middle Ages and saw a drastic spike in the early 19th century. Bergen, being the largest city in the country, became the epicenter of Leprosy in Europe. And so it was also in Bergen that the leprosy bacillus was finally discovered in 1873.
St. Jørgens Hospital offers an insight into the lives of the leprosy patients and the institution in which they were kept that is in equal parts intriguing and disturbing. The museum not only focuses on how the scientific views on leprosy changed over time and the effects this had on the treatment of the patients, but also on how the sufferers themselves reflected on their terrible predicament.
While not for the faint of heart, the Leprosy Museum offers a museum experience you will not find anywhere else in the world. Easy to reach by foot from anywhere in the city center, it also provides an excellent point from which to explore Marken, one of Bergen’s most charming neighborhoods.
You can view their website here: https://bymuseet.no/museum/lepramuseet/?lang=en
The museum is open from May to September.
Bergenhus Festningsmuseum (Bergen Fortress Museum)
On the 9th of April 2006, 66 years to a day after the invasion of Norway by Nazi Germany the Bergen Fortress Museum was opened by Gunnar Sønsteby, one of the greatest heroes of the Norwegian resistance movement. As such the museum focuses on Norwegian history during the Second World War, specifically the years of Nazi occupation (1940-1945).
The exhibitions cover a wide range of topics, from the espionage and sabotage missions in the Bergen area to the role of the underground newspapers that were printed and distributed illegally during the war. You will also learn about the role of women in the resistance movement and the history of Bergenhus Fortress itself. Located right next to Bryggen, the museum is also a stone’s throw away from the Rosenkrantz Tower and the Håkonshallen (also known as the King’s Hall), two of Norway’s most remarkable Medieval monuments.
For anyone with even a slight interest in World War II, Bergenhus Festningsmuseum is must-see. It is easy to reach from anywhere in the city center and has accessible opening hours throughout the year. And to top it all off: it’s completely free of charge!
You can view their website here: https://kultur.forsvaret.no/museer/bergenhus-festningsmuseum
(also image source)
Norges Fiskerimuseum (Norwegian Fisheries Museum)
For as long as Norway has been inhabited, fishing has been one of – if not the most – vital components of human life. Which is hardly surprising for a country with the second longest coastline in the world and approximately 450,000 inland lakes. From herring and mackerel in the south to whales and Atlantic cod in the north, not to mention the hugely popular and controversial salmon export, fishery remains Norway’s third most profitable national business after oil and gas.
This museum provides a comprehensive history of Norwegian fishery and its instrumental role in the founding and development of Bergen. Through modern and interactive displays, it brings every aspect of this ancient trade to life as well as exploring the challenges and controversies of present day-fisheries.
The museum is in the charming Sandviken neighborhood, making it easy to reach by taking bus line 3, 4, 5, 16E or 19 to Sandvikstorget. On a sunny day it also makes for a pleasant walk along the waterfront, approximately 10-15 minutes from Bryggen.
View their website here: https://kultur.forsvaret.no/museer/bergenhus-festningsmuseum
Bryggens Museum (Museum of Medieval Archaeology)
Containing one of the most extensive archeological collections of Medieval artifacts in Scandinavia, Bryggens Museum is a must-see for any history enthusiast. The permanent exhibition charts Bergen’s founding and subsequent rise to becoming the largest city in Medieval Scandinavia, displaying an astonishing collection of mundane items: from cutlery, horseshoes, and fishing hooks to parchment, jewelry and weapons. The exhibition itself, located in the very excavation pits in which the artifacts themselves were discovered, provides a unique insight into the everyday lives of the inhabitants of Bergen in the Middle Ages.
While there, make sure you don’t miss out on the single largest collection of runes in the world, a circular table containing hundreds of so-called rune sticks: these carved pieces of wood cover a remarkable variety of topics from everyday business transactions, receipts and prayers to love letters, magical incantations and lewd insults. In short, a medieval forerunner to contemporary social media.
Bryggens Museum is located right next to the UNESCO site of Bryggen, making it one of the most centrally placed museums in Bergen and reachable by foot in a matter of minutes from the city center.
View their website here: https://bymuseet.no/museum/bryggens-museum/?lang=en
(also the source of the image used above)
Theta Museum
Norway’s smallest museum and one that is easy to miss, the Theta Museum consists of a one-room exhibition located on the second floor of the distinctive building Enhjørningsgården at Bryggen, famous for its front-side statue of a leaping unicorn.
The museum is dedicated to the Theta group, a Norwegian resistance group established in 1940 that specialized in radio communication with Great Britain. As the group was providing vital information about the movements of the German navy (Kriegsmarine), the Nazi occupation soon made it a priority to root them out. Their secret office in Enhjørningsgården was established as a museum in 1982, with the help and guidance of the surviving Theta members. For those of you with an above-average interest in the Second World War, the Theta Museum is a must provided you can find space in their rather limited opening hours: the museum is only open 14:00-16:00 on Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays throughout the summer months.
Unique Museums in Bergen
Bergen’s museums are more than just repositories of artifacts and art; they are gateways to understanding the city’s soul. From the seafaring adventures of the Hanseatic merchants to the stories from World War II, each museum offers a unique perspective on what makes Bergen so special. Whether you spend hours admiring the fine details of medieval tapestries, lose yourself in the immersive world of contemporary installations, or learn about the resilience of the coastal communities, you’ll leave with a deeper appreciation for Norway’s cultural legacy. So, as you plan your visit to Bergen, be sure to carve out time to explore its museums—where every exhibit tells a story waiting to be discovered.
