Bergen harbour Bryggen and Bergen fish market
When you visit Bergen, a trip to Bryggen and the fish market is a must. For over 400 years, the Hanseatic wharf at Bryggen was home to the offices of the Hanseatic League, which dominated trade in Northern Europe. Today, Bryggen and it's unique architecture is listed on UNESCOs world Heritage List. Bergen's fish market is one of the town's most famous spot. Here you can take a walk along the bustling market and check out the fresh culinary treasures from the sea.
Bryggen Harbour in Bergen
The Bryggen area - one of Bergen's main attractions - consists of a series of commercial buildings that line the eastern side of the fjord in Bergen. Its architecture is unique and since 1979, it has been listed by UNESCO as one of the world's most significant examples of the history and culture of a medieval settlement. The administrative buildings of Bryggen housed clerks from many areas, especially Germany. The warehouses were filled with goods, particularly fish from Northern Norway, and cereal from Europe.
During its history, Bergen has experienced many fires and around a quarter of the buildings now date back to the time after 1702, when the older wharf-side warehouses and administrative buildings burned down. The rest predominantly consists of younger buildings, although there are some stone cellars that date back to the 15th century.
Today, Bryggen is a fascinating honeycomb of workshops – where painters, weavers and craftsmen produce fine-quality, original items. Bryggen also has a wide selection of places to eat and museums telling the story of Bryggen and Bergen.
Facts about Bryggen:
- Part of the Hanseatic League’s trading empire from the 14th to the mid-16th centur
- The first German clerks were established at Bryggen in 1230
- Included on Unesco´s Wold Heritage List in 1979
- Today, some 62 buildings remain of this former townscape
- Location: Bergen city centre, next to the Fish Market
- Price: Free admission, open air attraction
At Bryggen you can:
- See the unique architecture, listed on UNESCOs World Heritage List
- Learn the story of Bryggen and Bergen in one of the museums
- Visit workshops where weavers and craftsmen produce fine-quality, original items
- Relax and get something to eat in beautiful surroundings
Bergen Fish Market
The Bergen fish market is a picturesque and lively spot in the heart of Bergen. As the name would suggest the stalls in the market mainly sells fish, but you can also buy fruit, vegetables, handcrafted objects and souvenirs. A lot of people enjoy buying fresh shrimp and eat them by the market stalls or at Bryggen next to the fish market.
The Bergen fish market is most active during the summer, during the winter season and colder periods a lot of trade has moved indoor to the Mathallen.
The best things to do in Bergen
Book an exciting activity as part of your Nutshell tour or as a stand-alone booking. Check out our exciting collection below!
Book a hotel in Bergen
Find the perfect place to stay on your Norwegian adventure.