One of the things that you will probably have already realized is that you don’t come to Bergen in Norway for the tropically warm and sunny weather. Although this city is not the most northerly in Norway, it rarely gets warmer than 18 degrees Celsius. In winter it is almost always hovering around freezing, although still fairly mild compared to the rest of the country, which really puts a nip in the air and a shiver on the spine. That said if you come prepared with some nice cozy clothes and a big wooly hat you are in for a real treat because what Bergen lacks in temperature it makes up for in every other way.
- Bryggen Norway, Bergen, Norwaygeoftheref / Amazing Photos / CC BY-NC-ND
This means that the best time to visit is really dependent on what it is exactly you are visiting Bergen for. The surrounding mountains are perfect for winter sports enthusiasts in the colder months and also great for walkers and sightseers during the summer. The views are spectacular around May when the weather is probably at its best.
It is for this reason that the International Music Festival is held every year during the month of May as this is known to be the driest month with the least amount of rainfall. There are other great festivals to attend such as Bergenfest and these are held throughout the summer months.
Another reason to come to the fabulous city is to take a trip out on the fjord. This is something that Norway has really become famous for and the scenery is both spectacular and beautiful. It makes sense that the summer months are best for these trips because you get better weather and around 20 hours of sunlight every day to help you enjoy the views.
Which leads us on to winter and this is when you get long nights and very small amounts of daylight. This might sound depressing and dull but in actual fact it can be really good fun. With the dark and chilly weather outside forcing you off the streets this is the perfect time to come if you like to enjoy a few drinks and a good meal in the fantastic restaurants and bars that are dotted around the city. It also makes it a great time to visit the museums and see some of the history and culture that abounds in Bergen. Fewer tourists choose to visit during the winter months which means that you can have some of the attractions almost to yourselves and certainly avoid the crowds.
Spring and autumn offer a handy compromise to the busy summer months and the cold, and often dark, winter periods. This is a good time to come and stay in one of the gorgeous hotels in Bergen (the term in Norwegian is hotell Bergen) if you want to see fewer tourists on the street but don’t really fancy the depths of the winter weather. Since the main season is over you might also find that accommodation prices and even flights are cheaper and that will help make a short break to Bergen more affordable.
In summary then Bergen is a great place to come to no matter what the month of the year, but if I had a choice I would probably go for the summer months because I’m not a fan of cold weather.
