{"id":1664366,"date":"2026-10-28T13:41:31","date_gmt":"2026-10-28T12:41:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/?p=1664366"},"modified":"2026-10-28T13:41:31","modified_gmt":"2026-10-28T12:41:31","slug":"harbours-bergen-norway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/en\/segelmagazin\/haefen-bergen-norwegen\/","title":{"rendered":"Harbours in Bergen (Norway): arrival, harbour information and destinations"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Bergen lies on Norway's west coast at Byfjord, with the old harbour basin V\u00e5gen in the centre of the city and a belt of islands off the coast. Here you'll read how to get to the harbours in Bergen for your trip start, which harbour is where, where you park and shop, what sailing weather to expect, which destinations are nearby and what skippers need to bear in mind when berthing.<\/p>\n<h2>The essentials at a glance<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Bergen Flesland Airport is 16 kilometres south of the centre. The Bybanen light rail departs directly from the terminal and takes about 45 minutes; a taxi takes around 20 minutes.<\/li>\n<li>The visitor harbour at V\u00e5gen is at the quays of Bryggen and at the fish market; the Marineholmen visitor pontoon is around two kilometres further south in Puddefjord.<\/li>\n<li>For the duration of a trip you can park in the Klostergarasjen or ByGarasjen car parks. Street parking in the centre is usually limited to one or two hours.<\/li>\n<li>Most shops in Norway are closed on Sundays; wine and spirits are only available Monday to Saturday at the state monopoly shop.<\/li>\n<li>Rain fronts usually approach from the west; on fine summer days the wind blows in the afternoon from northwest to north. May is usually the driest month.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Which harbours are there in Bergen?<\/h2>\n<p>In Bergen, visiting yachts berth at two places: at the visitor harbour at V\u00e5gen in the centre of the old town, at the quays of Bryggen as well as at the Torgutstikkeren berth and at Blomstertorget by the fish market, and at the Marineholmen visitor pontoon around two kilometres further south, right inside Puddefjord. You can reach both berths from Byfjord; V\u00e5gen opens to the northwest, Puddefjord branches off south of the Nordnes peninsula.<\/p>\n<p>The guest harbour in the V\u00e5gen belongs to the municipal port authority Bergen Havn and has space for about 100 leisure boats. The Marineholmen guest pontoon is located on the former naval site in M\u00f8hlenpris and is operated by GC Rieber Eiendom.<\/p>\n<h2>Arriving in Bergen for the trip start<\/h2>\n<p>You can reach Bergen by air, by train from Oslo or by ferry. The guest harbour in the V\u00e5gen is so central that from the airport bus or city tram you walk the last few metres on foot.<\/p>\n<h3>From Bergen Flesland Airport to the harbours<\/h3>\n<p>Flesland Airport lies 16 kilometres south of the city centre. From Oslo there are more than 30 flights daily. To the centre you have three options:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Bybanen: Line 1 of the city tram stops in the lower level of the terminal and takes about 45 minutes into the centre to the terminus Byparken. From there you walk about five minutes to the fish market at the head of the V\u00e5gen. Tickets are available from the machine on the platform, by text message or in the local transport \"Skyss Billett\" app.<\/li>\n<li>Airport bus: It stops directly outside the terminal and takes 20 to 30 minutes into the centre, with six stops including Festplassen and Bryggen.<\/li>\n<li>Taxi: The taxi rank is directly outside the terminal; to the centre takes around 20 minutes in normal traffic. The driver will tell you the price before the journey.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>To the Marineholmen guest pontoon, it's best to take a taxi from the airport; it lies south of the centre in the M\u00f8hlenpris district.<\/p>\n<h3>By train, ferry, coastal steamer or car<\/h3>\n<p>The Bergensbahn connects Oslo and Bergen in around seven hours, including night trains with couchettes and sleeper compartments. Bergen station is on Str\u00f8mgaten, less than a kilometre from the fish market at the head of the V\u00e5gen.<\/p>\n<p>From Denmark a ferry runs daily from Hirtshals to Bergen: it departs in the evening and arrives the following afternoon, calling at Stavanger en route. The coastal route Bergen\u2013Kirkenes postal vessels also berth at the same terminal in N\u00f8stet. From the terminal you walk about ten minutes to the centre.<\/p>\n<p>By car you pass automatic toll stations on the way into the city, at which you do not stop.<\/p>\n<h3>Which harbour is mine?<\/h3>\n<p>The guest harbour in the V\u00e5gen is right in the centre: the berths run along the quay wall in front of the wooden buildings of Bryggen as far as the Torgutstikkeren landing stage and the Blomstertorget at the fish market. The Marineholmen guest pontoon, by contrast, is in the M\u00f8hlenpris district on the Puddefjord, around two kilometres further south. Tell the taxi driver \"Bryggen\" or \"Fisketorget\" for the V\u00e5gen, or \"Marineholmen gjestebrygge\".<\/p>\n<h3>Parking in Bergen<\/h3>\n<p>In the city centre, street parking spaces are scarce. Mondays to Saturdays you pay there from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. and may usually stay only one or two hours; on Sundays and public holidays, parking on public metered spaces is free.<\/p>\n<p>For several days, two car parks are suitable, where you can also buy tickets for 3, 7, 14 or 30 days in advance:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Klostergarasjen: Vestre Murallmenning 14 on the Nordnes peninsula, close to the V\u00e5gen, with 940 spaces. Maximum 280 kroner per day, the entrance is 2 metres high.<\/li>\n<li>ByGarasjen: Fj\u00f8sangerveien 4 at the bus station, closer to Marineholmen. Maximum 260 kroner per 24 hours, the entrance is 2 metres high (as of October 2026).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Showers and sanitary facilities<\/h3>\n<p>Both harbours have showers. In the V\u00e5gen, the service building is at the Zachariasbryggen by the fish market, with showers and a washing machine. It is open daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; you will find the access code in the harbour's payment app and on the receipt for the berthing fee. At the Marineholmen guest pontoon there are showers as well as a washing machine and tumble dryer.<\/p>\n<h3>Shopping for the trip<\/h3>\n<p>From the guest harbour in the V\u00e5gen it is only a few minutes' walk to the nearest supermarkets: Rema 1000 in the Kl\u00f8verhuset shopping centre is about 200 metres away, an Extra shop in the G\u00e5gaten pedestrian zone about 220 metres and Meny at the St\u00f8letorget about 450 metres. From the Marineholmen guest pontoon you reach a Kiwi shop at Damsg\u00e5rdssund after about 200 metres, a Bunnpris shop after about 500 metres.<\/p>\n<p>At the head of the V\u00e5gen, a few steps from the guest berths, is the fish market with the year-round Mathallen market hall. It opens Mondays to Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 9.30 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m.; individual traders have their own hours. The outdoor market operates from 1 May to the end of summer.<\/p>\n<p>For a major shop, from whichever harbour, the Lagunen shopping centre in R\u00e5dal is on the Bybanen route to the airport, about 30 minutes by city tram from the centre. It has food shops, a pharmacy and a state wine monopoly outlet, opening Mondays to Fridays from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturdays until 6 p.m. By car you park there free for two hours.<\/p>\n<p>Plan your provisions before Sunday if possible: in Norway most shops must close on Sundays and public holidays. Small food shops up to 100 square metres, petrol stations and kiosks are allowed to open. Supermarkets sell beer Mondays to Fridays at the latest until 8 p.m. and Saturdays until 6 p.m. Wine and spirits are available only from the state monopoly shop Vinmonopolet, which opens Mondays to Fridays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.<\/p>\n<h3>Doctor and emergency calls<\/h3>\n<p>You'll find the out-of-hours medical service (Legevakt) at Solheimsgaten 9 south of the centre. Call ahead on 116 117.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>113: medical emergency<\/li>\n<li>112: Police<\/li>\n<li>110: Fire brigade<\/li>\n<li>116 117: medical emergency service<\/li>\n<li>At sea: VHF channel 16, the coast radio stations monitor it around the clock and also receive DSC distress alerts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Bergen harbours at a glance<\/h2>\n<p>The V\u00e5gen visitors' harbour lies right in the old town and is the larger of the two; the Marineholmen visitors' berth is quieter, at the very head of Puddefjord.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-1664061\" src=\"https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/toernfinder-ber14-pEAQxo-F9_E-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"Sailing yacht in Bergen harbour\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/toernfinder-ber14-pEAQxo-F9_E-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/toernfinder-ber14-pEAQxo-F9_E-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/toernfinder-ber14-pEAQxo-F9_E-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/toernfinder-ber14-pEAQxo-F9_E-16x12.jpg 16w, https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/toernfinder-ber14-pEAQxo-F9_E-600x450.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/toernfinder-ber14-pEAQxo-F9_E.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Feature<\/th>\n<th>V\u00e5gen visitors' harbour<\/th>\n<th>Marineholmen visitor pontoon<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Location<\/td>\n<td>Old town, Bryggen quays, Torgutstikkeren berth and Blomstertorget at the fish market<\/td>\n<td>M\u00f8hlenpris, at the very head of Puddefjord, about 2 km south of V\u00e5gen<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Operator<\/td>\n<td>Bergen Havn (municipal port)<\/td>\n<td>GC Rieber Eiendom<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>berthing<\/td>\n<td>alongside the quay wall, around 100 boats<\/td>\n<td>on concrete floating pontoons<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Facilities<\/td>\n<td>Power (10 and 16 A), water, diesel at Munkebryggen, service building with showers<\/td>\n<td>Power, water, showers, washing machine and tumble dryer<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Payment<\/td>\n<td>via app<\/td>\n<td>via app<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>In V\u00e5gen there is power and water at the Bryggen quays and at the Torgutstikkeren berth in front of the fish market. In winter you take on water at Munkebryggen, where there is also diesel. At the Marineholmen visitors' berth, power is included in the berthing fee as long as a socket is free.<\/p>\n<h2>What is the weather like for sailing in Bergen?<\/h2>\n<p>Low-pressure systems and rain fronts usually come in from the west and southwest. In winter the wind along the coast usually blows from south to east, and strong winds are then most frequent. On fine summer days an afternoon wind springs up from the northwest or north, driven by the sun over the land.<\/p>\n<p>Tides are small: at spring tides the water in Bergen rises and falls by a good metre. Fog is rare on the coast, most likely in spring and summer. The Norwegian Meteorological Service issues a gale warning (kuling) for the coast at a mean wind of 15 metres per second, which is force 7.<\/p>\n<h2>What destinations lie near Bergen?<\/h2>\n<p>From Bergen you sail through the sheltered fjords among the islands either north towards Fedje and Sognefjord or south to the Austevoll islands and Hardangerfjord. Distances are rounded sea miles over water on the usual course from V\u00e5gen; refer to the chart for precise planning.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Austevoll with Bekkjarvik: around 25 to 30 nm to the south. The island municipality consists of 667 islands, islets and skerries; Bekkjarvik's visitors' harbour is sheltered in all wind directions.<\/li>\n<li>Fedje: around 30 to 35 nm to the north through Herdlefjord and Hjeltefjord. The municipality on the edge of the open sea consists of the main island and 124 smaller islands and skerries; the settlement lies around a natural harbour in the north of the main island.<\/li>\n<li>Hardangerfjord: around 40 nm to the entrance southeast of Austevoll. At 180 kilometres it is Norway's second-longest fjord.<\/li>\n<li>Sognefjord: around 45 to 50 nm to the mouth north of Fedje. At 205 kilometres it is the longest fjord in the country.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If you want to travel further north after your trip: the coastal route postal ships sail from Bergen to Kirkenes and also call at Troms\u00f8 on the way. Read more about the berths there in the profile of <a href=\"\/en\/sailing-magazine\/harbours-tromsoe-norway\/\">Troms\u00f8 harbours<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>What can you do on a harbour day in Bergen?<\/h2>\n<p>From the V\u00e5gen visitors' harbour the best-known attractions lie right on the water or a few minutes away. From the Marineholmen visitors' berth it's about half an hour's walk into the centre or you can take a taxi.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Bryggen: The wooden buildings on the east side of V\u00e5gen were the Hanseatic League's kontor from 1350 and have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979. Around 62 buildings still stand; their present appearance dates mostly from after the town fire of 1702. The visitors' berths lie directly in front.<\/li>\n<li>Fish market: Merchants and fishermen have met at the head of V\u00e5gen since the 13th century. Today there is the Mathallen market hall with shops and restaurants and, in summer, the open-air market.<\/li>\n<li>Fl\u00f8yen: The Fl\u00f8ibanen funicular runs from the lower station in Vetrlidsallmenningen, around 250 metres from the fish market, up the local mountain to 320 metres in four to eight minutes. It runs every day, usually every ten minutes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>For skippers: berthing and weather in Bergen<\/h2>\n<p>You can reach the municipal harbour with the visitors' berth in the V\u00e5gen on VHF channel 12 via the harbour watch or by telephone on +47 55 56 89 50. Monitor channel 16 as the distress and calling channel.<\/p>\n<h3>Registration and Berthing<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>In the V\u00e5gen you berth at the quays of Bryggen, at the Torgutstikkeren berth or at Blomstertorget and pay the berth fee via app. Without a valid receipt, 650 kroner per day is charged.<\/li>\n<li>One day costs 400 kroner for boats up to 15 metres, 500 kroner over 15 metres, both with electricity. Up to three hours you pay 50 kroner without electricity (as at October 2026). Prices adjust quarterly in line with electricity prices.<\/li>\n<li>If you wish to stay longer than seven days, arrange this by e-mail with the harbour watch. At short notice they may also move you to another berth.<\/li>\n<li>At the Marineholmen visitors' berth you moor to floating pontoons and also pay via app.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Harbour rules in the V\u00e5gen<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Four metres' clearance must remain between boats from bow to stern of the next boat so the fire service can get through in an emergency.<\/li>\n<li>The harbour watch reports loud parties and noise after 11 pm to the police.<\/li>\n<li>Municipal speed limits apply to leisure craft in Bergen and are marked by signs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Approach<\/h3>\n<p>Approaches to Bergen are monitored by Fedje Vessel Traffic Service. Its reporting and traffic rules apply essentially to vessels of 24 metres' length and over. In the Byfjord and in the V\u00e5gen, watch out for cruise ships, Hurtigruten coastal vessels and fast boats berthing and unberthing.<\/p>\n<p>To reach the Marineholmen visitors' berth, enter the Puddefjord and pass under Puddefjordsbrua with 28 metres' clearance. Further in, the pedestrian and cycle bridge Sm\u00e5pudden crosses the Damsg\u00e5rdssund; the visitors' berth lies beyond this bridge as seen from seaward. If your boat is higher than 4.5 metres, order the opening at least 30 minutes in advance from the city by e-mail to smapudden@bergen.kommune.no or on +47 55 56 78 15. The bridge opens at fixed times; passage is then 20 metres wide and a green light at the bridge base indicates clearance. In winds above 10 metres per second the bridge does not open. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bergen.kommune.no\/innbyggerhjelpen\/vann-vei-og-trafikk\/bat-og-havn\/havn\/bestille-apning-av-smapudden\">opening times of Sm\u00e5pudden<\/a> are published by Bergen municipality.<\/p>\n<h3>Which shipping forecast applies in Bergen?<\/h3>\n<p>For the Norwegian coast, the national weather service Meteorologisk institutt (MET Norway) issues the official forecasts and warnings. You can find them on the weather portal yr; gale and storm warnings are also broadcast by the coast radio on VHF. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.met.no\/vaer-og-klima\/ekstremvaervarsler-og-andre-farevarsler\/vaerfenomener-som-kan-gi-farevarsel-fra-met\/kuling-stormvarsel-for-kyst-og-naere-fiskebanker\">warning thresholds for the coast<\/a> are explained by MET Norway on its website.<\/p>\n<p>The coast radio stations monitor channel 16 around the clock and broadcast weather reports and navigational warnings every three hours. A current forecast is available on request by radio.<\/p>\n<h2>Trips from Bergen on T\u00f6rnfinder<\/h2>\n<p>In October 2026 there are 9 trip dates on T\u00f6rnfinder in the next twelve months starting or ending in Bergen. Most start in May, April and June; eight days is typical.<\/p>\n<p>Trips along the entire Norwegian coast can be found under <a href=\"\/en\/cabin-charter-norway\/\">cabin charter in Norway<\/a>, offers in the wider sailing area under <a href=\"\/en\/cabin-charter-north-sea\/\">Sailing in the North Sea<\/a> and all sailing areas in the <a href=\"\/en\/sailing-trips\/\">trip overview<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n<h3>How do I get from Bergen airport to the visitors' berth in the V\u00e5gen?<\/h3>\n<p>Most cheaply by the Bybanen light railway, line 1: it departs from the terminal and takes about 45 minutes to Byparken, from there you walk about five minutes to the fish market. The airport bus stops at Bryggen; a taxi takes around 20 minutes.<\/p>\n<h3>Where do I park when starting a trip in Bergen?<\/h3>\n<p>In the Klostergarasjen car park on Nordnes or ByGarasjen car park at the bus station. In both you can buy tickets for 3 to 30 days in advance; on the street in the centre you may usually only park for one to two hours.<\/p>\n<h3>Are there showers in the Bergen visitors' berth?<\/h3>\n<p>Yes, in the service building at Zachariasbryggen by the fish market, daily from 11 am to 8 pm. At the Marineholmen visitors' berth there are also showers as well as a washing machine and tumble dryer.<\/p>\n<h3>Can I shop on Sundays in Bergen?<\/h3>\n<p>Only to a limited extent: on Sundays only small food shops up to 100 square metres, petrol stations and kiosks are allowed to open. The market hall at the fish market is also open on Sundays from 10 am.<\/p>\n<h3>Are there supermarkets near the harbours in Bergen?<\/h3>\n<p>Yes, near both harbours a supermarket is only a few minutes' walk: from the visitors' berth in the V\u00e5gen, Rema 1000 in the Kl\u00f8verhuset after about 200 metres; from the Marineholmen visitors' berth, a Kiwi supermarket at Damsg\u00e5rdssund after about 200 metres.<\/p>\n<h3>Which VHF channel does the port of Bergen use?<\/h3>\n<p>Channel 12 for the city harbour with the visitors' berth in V\u00e5gen, where the harbour watch answers. You can reach them by telephone on +47 55 56 89 50; also monitor channel 16 as the emergency and calling channel.<\/p>\n<h3>Can I reach the Marineholmen visitors' pontoon with mast up?<\/h3>\n<p>Yes, but only if the Sm\u00e5pudden bridge opens for you, as the visitors' pontoon lies beyond it: if your height is more than 4.5 metres, order the opening at least 30 minutes in advance from the City of Bergen. The Puddefjord Bridge before it has 28 metres clearance.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The harbours in Bergen: arrival by air, rail or ferry, marina in V\u00e5gen and Marineholmen, parking, shopping, sailing weather and sailing destinations.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":67,"featured_media":1664060,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[536],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1664366","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-reviere-haefen","category-536","description-off"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1664366","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/67"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1664366"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1664366\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1664377,"href":"https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1664366\/revisions\/1664377"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1664060"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1664366"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1664366"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toernfinder.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1664366"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}