Christmas shopping in Bergen is best done on foot in the city centre, where shops, malls and the Christmas market are close together. In December 2026, selected shops open on Sundays 6, 13 and 20 December. Here are the streets, shops and breaks we recommend.
Stay right by the shopping streets
Sunday opening before Christmas 2026
Shops in Norway are normally closed on Sundays. On the last three Sundays before Christmas, several shops and shopping centres in central Bergen open:
Sunday 6 December
Sunday 13 December
Sunday 20 December
The law allows shops to open between 14:00 and 20:00 on these Sundays, but not every shop opens and hours vary, so check before you go.
Opening hours over Christmas
Norway celebrates on Christmas Eve, so plan around it:
Christmas Eve, Thursday 24 December: most shops close early, often at 13:00.
Christmas Day and Boxing Day, 25 and 26 December: most shops are closed.
Between Christmas and New Year: opening hours vary, so check before you go.
If you are visiting over Christmas, do your shopping before the 24th.
The best shopping streets in Bergen
Central Bergen is compact. You can walk between most shops in 15-20 minutes, and you will not need a car. Our favourite areas:
Torgallmenningen and Strandgaten: the main shopping streets, with chains, fashion and shopping centres nearby.
Christian Michelsens gate: design and tailoring, home to T-Michael & Norwegian Rain and Scabal.
Strandkaien and Vågsallmenningen: Oleana for Norwegian knitwear, and The Apothecary for perfume, skincare and clothing.
Skostredet: cobblestones, small shops, restaurants and bars.
Bryggen: the UNESCO-listed wharf, with galleries, small shops and the Christmas House, three floors of decorations.
Marken: a charming pedestrian street between the centre and the railway station.
Read more in our guide to shopping in Bergen.
Shopping centres in the city centre
If it is raining too hard to walk between shops, the centre has several shopping centres where you can stay dry. Galleriet is on Torgallmenningen, Xhibition is in Småstrandgaten and Thon Senter Bergen (formerly Bergen Storsenter) is by the bus station. This is where you find the chains, often with longer opening hours than the small shops. Galleriet and Thon Senter Bergen are usually open 9:00-21:00 on weekdays and 9:00-18:00 on Saturdays.
Our advice: use the shopping centres for what you know you need, and the streets around them for what you did not know you wanted.
Food gifts from Bergen
The best gift from Bergen is often something to eat. At the Fish Market you will find seafood and, in season, persetorsk, a pressed cod that is a Bergen Christmas speciality. Cheese, baked goods and treats from the Christmas market stalls also make good gifts to bring home.
Plan your shopping day
A good shopping day in central Bergen follows a simple route:
Start at Torgallmenningen when the shops open. Do the shopping centres first, before they fill up.
Walk towards the harbour and Bryggen for design, knitwear and Christmas decorations.
Lunch in the centre, ideally booked ahead.
Afternoon at the Christmas market as the lights come on.
Finish in Skostredet with dinner or a drink.
Go early in the day in the weeks before Christmas. From lunchtime the streets get busier, especially on December Saturdays.
Norwegian gifts to take home
Looking for something you will not find at home? A few ideas:
Knitwear from Oleana: Norwegian design and craftsmanship, made to last.
Rainwear from Norwegian Rain: the most Bergen gift there is, from the city that knows rain.
Design for the home: Illum Bolighus in Strandgaten stocks Norwegian and international design.
Crafts from the Christmas market: the stalls at Festplassen sell local crafts and decorations until 22 December.
An experience: a spa treatment, a dinner or a night at a hotel. De Bergenske sells gift cards through Givn.
Combine shopping with the Christmas market
The Bergen Christmas market at Festplassen is open from 20 November to 22 December 2026, right by the shopping streets. It is open 12:00-21:00 on weekdays and 10:00-21:00 at weekends. Break up your shopping day with a walk past the stalls and a cup of gløgg, Norwegian mulled wine.
Shopping with children? The Gingerbread Town in Bergen makes a good reward along the way. It is at byROMMET in Kong Oscars gate from 14 November 2026 to 10 January 2027, with free entry for children Monday to Friday.
Take a break
Christmas shopping is hard work. Make time to sit down:
Christmas lunch: Frescohallen at Bergen Børs Hotel and Wesselstuen are right in the shopping area. See Christmas lunch in Bergen.
Afternoon tea: Afternoon tea at Grand Hotel Terminus is a calm break in a busy December day.
Spa: Skostredet Spa is in the middle of the city centre, a good place to rest tired feet. Visitors who are not staying at the hotel are welcome too.
Stay in the city centre
Coming to Bergen for a Christmas shopping trip? A night in the centre makes the day much easier. Drop your bags at the hotel, take a break and head out again for dinner. De Bergenske has six hotels in central Bergen, all within walking distance of the shopping streets.
Frequently asked questions
Are shops in Bergen open on Sundays in December?
Yes, selected shops and shopping centres in central Bergen open on Sundays 6, 13 and 20 December 2026,. Shops in Norway are otherwise usually closed on Sundays. Not every shop takes part, so check with the shop or centre in advance. The last Sunday before Christmas is the busiest.
Are shops open on Christmas Eve in Bergen?
Most shops in Bergen open on the morning of Christmas Eve but close early, often at 13:00. In 2026, Christmas Eve falls on a Thursday. Norwegians celebrate Christmas on the evening of the 24th, and most shops stay closed on 25 and 26 December. If you are visiting over Christmas, finish your shopping before the 24th.
Where are the best shops in Bergen?
The best shops in Bergen city centre are around Torgallmenningen, Strandgaten and Christian Michelsens gate, with shopping centres close by. For design and Norwegian crafts, head to Strandkaien, Vågsallmenningen and Bryggen. Skostredet has small independent shops and plenty of restaurants and bars for when your shopping day is done.
Do I need a car to go Christmas shopping in Bergen?
No, you do not need a car to go Christmas shopping in central Bergen. Most shops are within a 15-20 minute walk, and the light rail and buses run to the centre. Parking is expensive and limited in December. Staying at a hotel in the centre lets you walk between shops and drop your bags off along the way.
Christmas gifts, the Christmas market and a festive lunch are all a few minutes apart in central Bergen. Stay in the middle of it and spend your time shopping, not looking for parking.
Our hotels in Bergen city centre
More inspiration from Bergen
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The Christmas market in Bergen opens at Festplassen on 20 November 2026. Here are the opening hours, what you will find, and how to turn your visit into a full Christmas day in the city.
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The best Christmas concerts in Bergen this year, from big names at Grieghallen to candlelit church concerts. With dates, venues and dinner tips.
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