What Are the Best Hotels in Bergen, Norway?

On Vågsallmenningen plaza, the Opus XVI is named after a music piece by Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg. Once a historic bank, this delightful hotel has a luxurious feel, from its grand lobby with high ceilings and marble columns to its 65 contemporary rooms and suites across five floors. It’s an ideal hotel for exploring Bergen’s centre. During warmer weather, you can have lunch at the onsite restaurant and listen to live concerts featuring works by Grieg.

Cosy and contemporary in design, the Thon Hotel Rosenkrantz offers spacious standard and superior rooms, plus suites with whirlpools. Each one features brightly coloured drapes and top-notch amenities such as fluffy robes and a Bose speaker. In addition to a daily breakfast buffet, a light dinner is also included in the price Monday through Thursday. The hotel is near Bergen’s main shopping areas.

If you’re in Bergen for a quick trip, the Scandic Flesland Airport is a smart choice for your stay – it’s within walking distance of the terminal. There are 300 rooms overall, 30 of which were built for increased accessibility for guests with special requirements. You can also borrow walking poles and bikes.

If you’re looking for a designer hotel with bold splashes of groovy art on the walls to offset the Norwegian grey outside, Hotel Oleana should do the trick. The interior decoration is modern, and rooms feature large rainfall showers or deep bathtubs for a relaxing soak. Breakfast is brimming with Norwegian dishes, such as rye bread and pickled herring. At night, head to the onsite restaurant, Ácido, which dishes up Latin American-inspired plates such as ceviche, pulpo (fried octopus) and whitefish tacos.

With its location in Bryggen – the old historic Hanseatic Wharf, a Unesco-listed site – the Hanseatic Hotel understandably takes pride in its surroundings. Cabin-style rooms feature exposed beams and plush bedding. Downstairs, there are three restaurants – Casa Del Toro, Bergen’s only Tex-Mex restaurant; FG Restaurant & Bar, serving up brasserie-style hamburgers and pork belly; and the fine-dining Finnegaardstuene. It’s just a short walk from here to the famous fish market (Fisketorget) and the Fløibanen funicular, which will take you up to Mount Fløyen.

The Augustin Hotel has been in the same family for four generations. The oldest part of the building dates back 400 years, and today, it’s been converted into the award-winning Altona Wine Bar & Kitchen, with a spectacular selection of drinks and excellent Scandinavian cooking. The hotel offers simple single rooms for solo travellers up to the four-person family room, complete with a Nespresso machine and a bathtub or shower. Ask for interconnecting rooms if you’re travelling in a bigger group.

Klosterhagen is a small hotel sitting within the surroundings of one of the oldest monasteries in Norway, built around 1110CE. Centrally located yet removed from the busy city centre, it offers 15 intimate rooms, including singles, doubles, triples and a four-person family room. Each one has a flat-screen TV with Google Chromecast. Forgot your laptop? Borrow one of the Lenovo tablets from reception to prepare your daily itinerary. Breakfast is a real treat with many home-made offerings – from the fresh bread to the smoked meat. Lunch can be booked in advance, and fresh waffles and coffee are available every afternoon.

Housed in an elegant 19th-century mansion, Steens Hotel sits next to a peaceful park, a short walk away from the city centre. Its rooms are small and kitted out with simple modern furnishings. However, downstairs, the dining room is a real sight to behold, with its original 1890s wallpaper and wooden panelling, as well as a beautiful stained-glass window. A Norwegian breakfast buffet is served here each morning, consisting of fresh bread, boiled eggs, ham, cheese, pickled herring and more.

Hotel Park puts a modern Scandinavian spin on this 19th-century hotel. Antique furniture sits alongside whitewashed walls and colourful leather armchairs. Choose from 35 individually styled rooms, some with views of Bergen and the mountains. There are also eight studio apartments with full kitchens and laundry facilities, perfect for an extended stay. Try the home-made granola or local smoked trout at breakfast, where you can cosy up by the open fireplace.

Grand Hotel Terminus was once the city’s most luxurious hotel, and the carefully renovated building retains the allure of ages past. Upstairs, the 131 rooms have a modern, renovated style, with the spacious superior rooms featuring a four-poster bed and city views. The hotel is widely known for its whisky bar – the only one in Scandinavia to be given gold status from the Great Whisky Bars of the World. It’s not only a drinking spot; you can also grab a coffee here in the morning or wood-fired pizza at lunch.

Hidden away among narrow cobbled alleys, the small Skuteviken Guesthouse is a traditional wooden building near Bryggen. Inside, you’ll find self-catering apartments that sleep between one and three guests. Each one is kitted out in cosy Scandinavian style, complete with white walls, wooden floors and modern bathrooms. Kitchenettes with a small hob and coffee maker come as standard. If it’s sunny, watch the sunset from the fort next to the guesthouse.

Looking for an affordable stay? Marken Guesthouse is a clean, spacious and modern hostel. Choose from a dorm room right up to a private family room with a mini kitchen. The guesthouse also has a large shared kitchen and a shared TV lounge with Netflix. Pets are welcome to stay in certain rooms. It also offers monthly rates for those looking for an extended stay.