Car Rental in Bergen

Why rent a car in Bergen?

Norway’s second city, Bergen, is a great place to visit. The city is home to many heritage sites, well-preserved wooden architecture, and many cultural centers. There are also many a number of picturesque small towns, archipelagos, and hiking nearby. And with a rental car, Norway’s mightiest fjords and wildest national parks are within easy reach.

Top ways to enter Bergen

• Bergen Airport: Also known as Bergen-Flesland, the second-busiest airport in Norway handled 6.3 million travelers in 2018. The airport is a large hub for Norwegian Air, Scandinavian Airlines, Widerøe and also has a number of flights by the low-cost carrier Wizz Air. Located 17km (11 miles) southwest of Bergen city center, the airport can be reached in about 20 minutes.
• Stord Airport: A tiny airport, Stord-Sagvag serves flights to Norway’s capital, Oslo, as well as to Billund in Denmark. Located 82km (51 miles) south of Bergen, it can be reached in about 2 hours and 20 minutes.

City facts

• Bergen has a temperate oceanic climate with mild summers, cool winters, and small variations in temperature between the seasons. The average high temperature is 21°C  (70°F) in July, the warmest month, and 4°C (39°F) in January, the coldest. With 13-20 rainy days per month, Bergen is one of the rainiest cities in Europe. The high amount of precipitation is caused by the mountains that surround the city. 
• Bergen is home to many interesting museums. These include the Hanseatic Museum illustrates how the Hanseatic merchants lived, worked and made their mark on Bergen over the course of 400 years; the Theta Museum of the Norwegian resistance movement during World War II; Bergen Museum, which has cultural and natural history sections; and the Bergen Maritime Museum which has many impressive Viking boats on display.

Top sights and activities

• Bergenhus fortress. Overlooking the Port of Bergen, Bergenhus is perhaps the most famous building in the city. Built in the 13th century, it has experienced many historic battles and has been renovated a number of times but has always remained a symbol of the city. Nowadays, the fortress is occupied by the Norwegian navy, but parts of it, such as Haakon’s Hall and the Rosenkrantz Tower, are open for travelers.
• Bergen fish market. Known as Fisketorget in Norwegian, the market is one of the historic centers of the city and is one of the most popular outdoor markets in Norway. The fish market has been a meeting place since the 1200s and today sells fresh seafood, fruit and vegetables. There are also several restaurants where you can enjoy a tasty lunch. The indoor market is open all year round and the outdoor market is open from 1 May throughout summer.
• Bryggen. The old dockland of the city is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one the most popular things to do in Bergen. The former Hanseatic trading quarter of the city, Bryggen is nowadays home to beautiful, renovated wooden buildings and a number of museums and heritage centers. Other areas of Bergen where you can see Bergen’s famous wooden architecture include Marken street and the Skuteviken and Sandviken neighborhoods.
• KODE. The Kode Museum complex includes four museums which feature everything from modern art to music, arts and furniture. Visit the museum’s interactive website to learn more about collections, admission, and events held by the museum during your visit.
• University Museum of Bergen. Speaking of museums, another fun one to visit is the one affiliated with the University of Bergen which ranks among the most prestigious institutions of higher learning in all of Norway. Celebrating its 200th birthday in 2025, the museum is dedicated to the topics of geology, zoology, anthropology, and other exact and social sciences.
• Leprosy Museum. Despite its grim subject matter, this is another really interesting museum to visit. Located in a wooden building known as St. Jurgen’s Hospital, it explains the history of leprosy in Norway, as well as advances in science and medicine that helped to eventually overcome it (the treatment was found by Gerhard Armauer Hansen, a Norwegian physician who was a Bergen native). This museum is only May to September.
• St Mary's Church. Dating back to the 12th century, St. Mary’s Church of Bergen was built following the plans of an architect whose name has been lost to history, but that hasn’t stopped it from becoming one of the most iconic pieces of architecture of the city. A mixture of Romanesque and Gothic styles, it is claimed to be the oldest building in Bergen that has survived to the present day.

Traffic and parking

• Norway drives on the right-hand side of the road.
• The speed limit is 90 - 110km/h (54 - 68 mph) on some highways, 80km/h (50 mph) on all other intercity roads, and 50km/h (31 mph) within populated and urban areas.
• The legal alcohol limit is 0.02% for both experienced drivers and novice drivers. Exceeding these limits can lead to hefty fines and even imprisonment. 
• Headlights must be on at all times.
• Drivers are only permitted to use a mobile phone via a hands-free system.
• Although Norway has many scenic roads, a large number of mountain passes are closed for the winter months due to high amounts of snow. If you plan to drive in the mountains in the wintertime, do your research in advance to find out if the roads you plan to use will be open. 
• Outside of the big cities and especially in the northern part of the country, the population density can be very low. It is possible to drive long distances without encountering a gas station or even a populated settlement. Getting stuck in an unpopulated area in wintertime can be life-threatening, so plan your route in advance and make sure you always have extra gas to reach the next service station.
• Although Norway generally has very good roads, driving in the mountains can still be quite a challenge, especially after dark and in snow or rain. Extra caution is advised, especially for drivers with no prior experience in mountainous areas. You should ensure you have winter tyres and snowchains for driving in Norway in winter.
• Wildlife crossings in Norway are a serious road hazard, with moose (or elk) responsible for a large number of accidents every year. It’s especially important to drive carefully during dusk and dawn, after dark, and in sparsely populated areas surrounded by nature. 
• The car’s registration and insurance documents must be in it at all times.
• When driving, you need to have your license with you at all times.
• The fire brigade phone number is 110, the police number is 112, the ambulance number is 113, and the accident and emergency numbers are 116 and 117.

Toll roads

There are a number of toll roads in Norway. The toll amounts depend on the road and on the type of vehicle (cars that are more environmentally friendly have to pay less). All toll payments in Norway are cashless. There are no toll booths on the roads - instead, the vehicle’s license plate number is automatically photographed and registered. The only exception is the Atlantic Ocean Tunnel where you need to stop and pay the toll upon entering the tunnel which is about 520km (323 miles) north of Bergen. 

Most drivers use the AutoPass system for paying tolls. AutoPass offers two payment options - using the electronic onboard unit or paying via the AutoPass Visitors Payment.

Most rental cars are pre-equipped with an onboard unit. In this case, your rental car provider will receive the payment request each time you use a toll road; the payment will be later billed to your credit card or taken from your deposit. Some rental car providers might charge an additional fee for providing the transponder or for administering the tolls. Ask your rental car provider in advance about toll roads and fees in Norway.

If you are coming to Norway in a rental car from a neighboring country like Sweden or Finland, you (or your rental car provider) need to register your vehicle in advance. Since your rental car won’t have the Norwegian onboard unit, you can use the Epass24 app. In this case, you’ll need to connect your credit card with your rental car’s license plate number. You will then need to make a prepayment of 300 NOK or about 30 EUR; the toll will be automatically subtracted from this amount each time you will use a toll road. Ask your rental car provider in advance if they permit you to cross the border with Norway and what would be the best method for paying the Norwegian tolls.

Ideas for day trips

• Voss. Voss might seem like a quaint and sleepy rural community, but it also happens to be one of the extreme sports capitals of Norway. Paragliding, base jumping, and skydiving are just some of the available means of getting your adrenalin rush here (the city hosts an annual extreme sports festival). Even driving here is a thrill - Voss is near Stalheimskleiva, one of the steepest roads in Europe. If you’re up for something less challenging, you can enjoy the view of the picturesque Voss church or simply go for a hike in the surrounding nature. Located about 105km (65 miles) east of Bergen, Voss can be reached in two hours or slightly less.
• Hardangervidda National Park. The largest national park in Norway, Hardangervidda is a great place to escape the city and explore the Norwegian wilderness. There are plenty of opportunities for hiking, climbing, and bouldering, and if the weather permits, you can stay in a mountain hut. Coming from Bergen, the nearest entry point of the national park is Ullensvang. Located 160km (100 miles) east of Bergen, it can be reached in 2 hours and 30 minutes.
• Odda. The small town of Odda’s claim to fame is the spectacular Trolltunga cliffs and the other impressive rock formations that surround it. But there are other attractions, too, such as the Odda glacier, nearby Folgefonna National Park, and Tyssedal, arguably the prettiest power plant in the world which is also a UNESCO World Heritage site and doubles as a museum. Located 135km (84 miles) southeast of Bergen, Odda can be reached in 2 hours and 40 minutes.

Most popular cars

The most popular rental car in Bergen is the Mercedes Benz, followed by the Mazda CX-3 and the Volkswagen Polo. The most popular rental car types are compact, economy, and intermediate.

Further destinations

• Sognefjord. Stretching for more than 200km (125 miles) from the small village of Skjolden all the way to the North Sea, Sognefjord is the longest fjord in Europe. It is a truly majestic place - if you’ve ever seen a documentary on Norway’s nature, it probably had Sognefjord in it. As if the spectacular fjord system was not enough, the area is surrounded by towns with picturesque wooden architecture, scenic forests, and Europe’s largest glacier. The cozy town of Lavik on the northern side of the fjord is 115km (71 miles) north of Bergen and can be reached in 2 hours and 20 minutes - you can explore the rest of the area from here.
• Stavanger. Although best known as the hub of Norway’s extractive industries, Stavanger also has its fair share of things for a visitor to enjoy. Some of those are the Norwegian Canning Museum, Stavanger Cathedral, the Maritime Museum, and the Norwegian Oil Museum. Located 210km (130 miles) south of Bergen, Stavanger can be reached in about five hours. Most of the road takes you across a number of islands and peninsulas joined together by bridges.
• Ålesund. Located in Møre og Romsdal region, Ålesund is like a smaller and, according to some, more picturesque version of Bergen. In addition to beautiful landscapes and Instagrammable colorful architecture, the city is also home to the Art Nouveau Center and the Atlantic Sea-Park. Located 420 km (260 mi) north of Bergen, Ålesund can be reached in about seven hours.

Car rental prices in Bergen

• Vans - from $79 per day
• Small cars - from $29 per day
• Premium cars - from $54 per day
• Medium cars - from $30 per day
• Station wagons - from $31 per day
• SUVs - from $31 per day
• Large cars - from $53 per day

Money-saving and other tips

Try these simple tips to see if you can land a cheaper rental car in Norway:

• Compare the rates of different rental car providers
• Book your rental car well in advance
• Plan your route before you go
• Know your fuel and mileage requirements
• Visit during the month when the rental prices are the cheapest. According to our data, visiting Bergen is the cheapest in October when renting a car is about 62% cheaper than the yearly average and a whole 85% cheaper than renting a car in July.