Bergen Fish Market: Opening Hours, What to Eat and Local Tips

The Bergen Fish Market sits at the head of the harbour, between Bryggen and Torgallmenningen, the main square. The indoor food hall, Mathallen, is open all year, and the outdoor stalls run from 1 May to 30 September. Here are the opening hours, what to eat, how to avoid paying too much and how to combine your visit with Bryggen and the Fløibanen funicular.

Stay steps from the Fish Market

What is the Fish Market in Bergen?

People have traded at Torget, the market square, for more than 700 years. It is first mentioned in 1278, and for centuries fish was sold straight from the boats.

Today the Fish Market, Fisketorget in Norwegian, has two parts:

• The outdoor market: stalls selling fish, seafood and ready to eat dishes, open in summer.

• Mathallen: the glass food hall by the water, opened in 2012, with permanent stalls and restaurants all year. The Tourist Information is in the same building.

Every other Saturday there is also a farmers' market, Bondens marked, with fruit, berries, vegetables and other produce from local farms.

Bergen Fish Market opening hours

Outdoor market

• Season: 1 May to 30 September

• Open: 08:00-23:00, with some variation

• Core hours: 10:00-18:00, when all stalls must be open

Restaurants in Mathallen (Fish Me and Fjellskål)

• 15 April to 15 October: 09:00-23:00 daily

• 15 October to 15 April: 10:00-22:00 daily

Farmers' market: every other Saturday, 10:00-16:00

The shops inside Mathallen may keep their own hours. [SJEKK: åpningstider for butikkene i Mathallen og om utetorget har boder utenfor sesong]

What to eat at the Fish Market

This is where you taste the seafood western Norway is known for. The classics:

• Fish soup: a creamy Bergen favourite, perfect on a cold, wet day.

• Prawns: fresh prawns with bread and mayonnaise are the taste of a Bergen summer.

• Salmon: smoked or cured, often on a baguette or a seafood platter.

• Fish cakes: cheap, filling and easy to eat on the go.

• King crab: the most luxurious thing on the market, priced to match.

For fish and chips, cross the square. At Bjerck Restaurant & Bar on Torgallmenningen we serve what we think is the best fish and chips in Bergen, made with fresh Norwegian cod. The restaurant is one floor up, facing the Fish Market with views over the harbour. Read the story of our fish and chips.

Prices and tourist traps: how to get good value

The Fish Market is one of Bergen's busiest attractions, not a wholesale market where locals do their weekly shop. Prices reflect the location, but you do not have to overpay. [SJEKK: dagens prisnivå på fiskesuppe, rekesmørbrød og kongekrabbe]

• Read the price board carefully. Check whether the price is per portion, per item or by weight. Seafood sold by weight can cost far more than you expect.

• Ask before you order. Get the total price before the crab or lobster lands on your plate.

• Compare stalls. Walk a full lap first. Choice and prices vary.

• Pick your time. Late morning to early afternoon has the best atmosphere. Early morning is the quietest.

• Share a platter. Much of the food is made for sharing, so you get to taste more.

When is the best time to visit?

It depends on what you want from your visit.

• May to September: The whole market is up and running, with open air stalls and plenty of people. The most atmosphere, and the longest queues.

• April and October: Mathallen keeps long hours and there are fewer visitors. A good compromise.

• November to March: Only Mathallen is open. Quieter, and a cosy spot for fish soup while the rain falls on the harbour.

One tip in any season: keep a firm grip on your food when you eat outside. The seagulls at Torget are bolder than they look.

Fish Market, Bryggen and Fløibanen in one day

The Fish Market is in the middle of old Bergen, which makes it easy to plan a day around it:

1. Morning: Walk along Bryggen, the UNESCO listed Hanseatic wharf, before the crowds arrive.

2. Mid morning: Take the Fløibanen funicular from its lower station in Vetrlidsallmenningen, a few minutes' walk from the Fish Market. It runs from 07:30 on weekdays and 08:00 at weekends.

3. Lunch: Back down to the market for seafood, or fish and chips at Bjerck.

4. Afternoon: Explore the old centre or one of the historic churches nearby. See our guide to churches in Bergen.

Want to hike instead of riding up? Find the routes in our guide to the Bergen city mountains.

The Fish Market in the rain

Bergen is famous for rain, and Mathallen is the reason it does not matter here. When the skies open, you can eat inside with a view of the harbour and stay dry. Bring a rain jacket if you want to browse the outdoor stalls too.

For more ideas on a wet day, see Bergen in the rain.

Where to stay near the Fish Market

Stay in the centre and you can visit the market before breakfast, then be back at your hotel before the crowds arrive. Bergen Børs Hotel is just steps from the Fish Market, Bryggen and Torgallmenningen, and our other hotels are all within walking distance.

After a day of seafood on the go, a relaxed dinner is in order. Book a table at one of our restaurants in central Bergen.

Frequently asked questions

What are the Bergen Fish Market opening hours?

The outdoor Bergen Fish Market is open from 1 May to 30 September, 08:00-23:00, with core hours of 10:00-18:00. The indoor food hall, Mathallen, is open all year. Its restaurants open 09:00-23:00 from mid April to mid October, and 10:00-22:00 for the rest of the year, every day.

Is the Bergen Fish Market open in winter?

Yes, Mathallen at the Fish Market stays open all winter. The restaurants Fish Me and Fjellskål are open 10:00-22:00 every day from 15 October to 15 April. The open air stalls only run from May to September, so in winter the market is quieter and you eat indoors with a view of the harbour.

Is the Bergen Fish Market expensive?

The Bergen Fish Market costs more than an ordinary fishmonger, because you pay for the location and the experience. King crab and other seafood sold by weight can add up quickly. Read the price board, ask for the total before you order, and choose fish soup, fish cakes or prawns if you want to taste a lot for less.

Where is the Fish Market in Bergen?

The Fish Market is at the head of Vågen harbour in central Bergen, where Torgallmenningen meets the water. Bryggen is right next to it, and the lower Fløibanen funicular station is a few minutes' walk away. Mathallen is the large glass building by the water, which also houses the Tourist Information. Most city centre hotels are a short walk away.

Can I buy fresh fish to take home?

Yes, you can buy fresh and smoked fish and seafood at the Bergen Fish Market. If you are flying home, ask the seller whether they can vacuum pack it, and check your airline's and your home country's rules on bringing food. Smoked salmon is the easiest to travel with. [SJEKK: om bodene tilbyr vakuumpakking]

What is the farmers' market at the Fish Market?

Bondens marked is a farmers' market where local producers sell their own fruit, berries, vegetables, meat and cheese. At the Bergen Fish Market it takes place every other Saturday, 10:00-16:00. It is a good way to taste local produce beyond seafood, and a nice reason to time your visit for a Saturday morning. [SJEKK: datoer for 2027]

The Fish Market, Bryggen and the Fløibanen funicular are all a few minutes apart. Stay right in the middle and catch the market early, before most visitors arrive.

See our six hotels in Bergen city centre