Bergen City Guide - Getting Around

A travel information service operated by Ruteopplysningen (tel: 177 from within Bergen or 8150 0182 from abroad) provides advice on all aspects of public transport in the city. Bergen Busstasjon A/L (tel: 5555 9090) has an information centre in Bergen Storsenter (a shopping centre), Strømgaten 8, that helps out with travel information, route fares and schedules, maps and so on.

The main bus operator in Bergen is Tide (tel: 05505 or 9526 1507; website: www.tide.no). Buses operate throughout the day, but services to outlying parts vary greatly, so it is best to check details before setting off. Bergen is divided into zones and bus tickets are priced accordingly. Night buses operate on Friday and Saturday nights until 0400 and are considerably more expensive. The Bergen Card (see Sightseeing) permits free day-time bus travel within the city limits.

More than 20 ferries operate out of Bergen to outlying settlements around the fjords. These tend to be used by the locals, while the Flaggruten (tel: 05505 or 5523 8700; website: www.tide.no) express catamaran attracts the tourists for trips linking Bergen with other coastal towns and the fjords. A passenger ferry crosses Bergen harbour from Dreggekaien to Munkebryggen Monday to Friday.

Most taxis look like any other private saloon car but are identifiable by a sign on the roof. Taxis with an illuminated sign can be hailed on the street. All are registered and very safe. Meters indicate the fare but there is a small extra charge for luggage. Taxis can be ordered by telephone (tel: 07000 instant service or 5599 7010 advance bookings; website: www.bergentaxi.no). Corporate bookings can now be made in advance via the website. A short ride within the city costs around NOK65 but this varies according to the time of day. Taxis cost more after 1500 and on weekend evenings. An additional charge is made for pre-booked trips. There are permanent taxi ranks at Bryggen, Strandkaien and Vågsallmenningen (by the main tourist information office). It is common practice to tip about 10% of the total fare.

A toll, ostensibly financing road improvement schemes, is levied on all cars entering Bergen Monday to Friday 0600-2200 (excluding public holidays). When driving, visitors should anticipate vehicles pulling out from side turnings on the right - Norway operates a ‘priority from the right' rule except on designated ‘priority' routes indicated by yellow diamond signs. Roundabouts can also be hazardous, as Norwegian drivers generally do not indicate their intentions before entering them.  

Bergen is a relatively straightforward city to drive in. There is a one-way system in the city centre but only a small area (part of Ole Bulls plass and Torgalmenningen) is pedestrianised. Rush hours are Monday to Friday 0700-0830 and 1530-1630.  

There are around 4,500 parking places in central Bergen. Full details are available on the online map (website: www.bergen.kommune.no/parkering_/ekstern/Parkeringskart2005-2.pdf). There are three indoor car parks close to the town centre. Bygarasjen, Vestre Strømkai (tel: 5556 8870), is open 24 hours, provides parking for over 2,200 cars and is a 5-minute walk from the centre. The other two (short stay with limited opening hours) are Citypark, Markeveien 7, and Parkeringshuset, Rosenkrantzgaten 4. Parking is free overnight, all day Sunday and after 1000 on Saturdays.

Regulations about the age of the person hiring the car tend to differ between hire companies but generally drivers must be over 21 years old and have held a licence for a minimum of one year. A deposit must be paid with a credit card. Insurance is compulsory and is included in the cost of the car hire. Major providers include Avis, Lars Hillesgate 20A (tel: 5555 3955; website: www.avis.no), Budget, Vestre Strømkai 5 (tel: 5532 6000; website: www.budget.no), Europcar, Nygårdsgaten 59B (tel: 5536 7000; website: www.europcar.com), and Hertz, Nygårdsgaten 89 (tel: 5596 4070; website: www.hertz.no).

Bicycle and scooter hire are not available in Bergen. Furthermore, the hills are so steep that it is not an ideal location for cycling.