Best time to visit Bergen
The best time to visit Bergen is May–July, judged on twenty years of weather records and the events worth going for.
Bergen, Vestland, Norway
°C
mm
- Average daily high and low
- Precipitation
- Good month
- Best month
- Made good or best by an event
| Month | Average daily high | Average daily low | Precipitation | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 3.4 °C / 38 °F | 0.3 °C / 33 °F | 244 mm / 9.6 in | neither best nor good |
| February | 3.8 °C / 39 °F | 0.2 °C / 32 °F | 197 mm / 7.7 in | neither best nor good |
| March | 5.4 °C / 42 °F | 1.5 °C / 35 °F | 187 mm / 7.4 in | neither best nor good |
| April | 8.4 °C / 47 °F | 3.6 °C / 38 °F | 125 mm / 4.9 in | good month |
| May | 11.7 °C / 53 °F | 7.1 °C / 45 °F | 119 mm / 4.7 in | best month |
| June | 14.6 °C / 58 °F | 10.2 °C / 50 °F | 124 mm / 4.9 in | best month |
| July | 16.7 °C / 62 °F | 12.6 °C / 55 °F | 166 mm / 6.6 in | best month |
| August | 16.5 °C / 62 °F | 12.5 °C / 55 °F | 217 mm / 8.5 in | good month |
| September | 14.3 °C / 58 °F | 10.5 °C / 51 °F | 266 mm / 10.5 in | neither best nor good |
| October | 10.5 °C / 51 °F | 7.1 °C / 45 °F | 303 mm / 11.9 in | neither best nor good |
| November | 7 °C / 45 °F | 4.1 °C / 39 °F | 265 mm / 10.4 in | neither best nor good |
| December | 4.7 °C / 40 °F | 1.7 °C / 35 °F | 294 mm / 11.6 in | neither best nor good |
Good and best months depend on more than temperature, rain and events. How they are chosen
Each activity on this page has its own good and best months, rated on twenty years of daily weather records. Which measures count, and how much, depends on the activity: humidity for exploring outdoors, wind for the beach, hiking and skiing, snow for skiing alone. Between them, the activities are rated on:
- Daytime highs
- Night-time lows
- How warm it feels
- Humidity
- How much of the day is sunny
- Hours of daylight
- Monthly rainfall
- How many days it rains
- Days of heavy rain
- Wind
- Snowfall and days with snow
- Major events, such as festivals
The chart shows the good and best months for exploring outdoors.
The event icon marks a month that an event lifts to good or best, such as a festival or a natural spectacle. Choose “Weather only” in the toolbar to rate the months on weather alone.
Best months by activity
Exploring outdoors
Mild days and nights, mostly dry and bright. The default for 'when should I go'.
- JJanuary: neither
- FFebruary: neither
- MMarch: neither
- AApril: good
- MMay: best
- JJune: best
- JJuly: best
- AAugust: good
- SSeptember: neither
- OOctober: neither
- NNovember: neither
- DDecember: neither
- Best
- May–July
- Good
- April, August
Bergen's outdoor-exploring window runs May through July, when skies are brightest and rain eases furthest, with August a slightly wetter but still enjoyable extension; the rest of the year is cold, dark and dominated by heavy Atlantic rain.
Why these months
April · good
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 70%, relative humidity 75%.
Against: feels like (high) 4.7 °C / 40 °F, average daily high 8.4 °C / 47 °F, wet days 14.3 days, precipitation 125 mm / 4.9 in, days with heavy rain 4.9 days, average daily low 3.6 °C / 38 °F.
Also on: Bergenfest.
Watch out for: Easter public holidays.
May · best
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 71%, precipitation 119 mm / 4.7 in, days with heavy rain 4.3 days, average daily low 7.1 °C / 45 °F, relative humidity 75%.
Against: wet days 14 days, feels like (high) 8.9 °C / 48 °F, average daily high 11.7 °C / 53 °F.
Also on: 16 May party night, Bergen International Festival, Bergenfest, Constitution Day celebration, Labour Day, Nattjazz.
Watch out for: Ascension Thursday, Constitution Day closures, Pentecost (Whit Sunday and Monday).
June · best
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 68%, feels like (high) 12.7 °C / 55 °F, average daily high 14.6 °C / 58 °F, precipitation 124 mm / 4.9 in, average daily low 10.2 °C / 50 °F.
Against: wet days 13.1 days, days with heavy rain 4.8 days, relative humidity 78%.
Also on: Bergen International Festival, Midsummer / St. Hans bonfire, Nattjazz.
Watch out for: Pentecost (Whit Sunday and Monday), School vacation reduced bus service.
July · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 15.8 °C / 60 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 66%, average daily high 16.7 °C / 62 °F, average daily low 12.6 °C / 55 °F.
Against: precipitation 166 mm / 6.6 in, wet days 17.4 days, days with heavy rain 7 days, relative humidity 81%.
Watch out for: School vacation reduced bus service.
August · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 15.2 °C / 59 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 66%, average daily high 16.5 °C / 62 °F, average daily low 12.5 °C / 55 °F.
Against: precipitation 217 mm / 8.5 in, wet days 19.2 days, days with heavy rain 7.8 days, relative humidity 82%.
Watch out for: School vacation reduced bus service.
Hiking and trekking
Cool enough to climb in, dry enough to enjoy, long enough days.
- JJanuary: neither
- FFebruary: neither
- MMarch: neither
- AApril: best
- MMay: best
- JJune: best
- JJuly: best
- AAugust: good
- SSeptember: neither
- OOctober: neither
- NNovember: neither
- DDecember: neither
- Best
- April–July
- Good
- August
Trails are best from April through July, when days are long, temperatures stay cool and comfortable, and rainfall is at its lowest; August is a workable but wetter extension, while autumn through early spring brings short days and heavy, persistent rain.
Why these months
April · best
In its favour: average daily high 8.4 °C / 47 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 70%, daylight per day 14.7 h, precipitation 125 mm / 4.9 in, average daily low 3.6 °C / 38 °F, wind (daily max) 20 km/h / 13 mph.
Against: wet days 14.3 days, days with heavy rain 4.9 days, feels like (high) 4.7 °C / 40 °F.
Also on: Bergenfest.
Watch out for: Easter public holidays.
May · best
In its favour: average daily high 11.7 °C / 53 °F, precipitation 119 mm / 4.7 in, average daily low 7.1 °C / 45 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 71%, daylight per day 17.3 h, feels like (high) 8.9 °C / 48 °F, wind (daily max) 20 km/h / 12 mph.
Against: wet days 14 days, days with heavy rain 4.3 days.
Also on: 16 May party night, Bergen International Festival, Bergenfest, Constitution Day celebration, Labour Day, Nattjazz.
Watch out for: Ascension Thursday, Constitution Day closures, Pentecost (Whit Sunday and Monday).
June · best
In its favour: average daily high 14.6 °C / 58 °F, feels like (high) 12.7 °C / 55 °F, average daily low 10.2 °C / 50 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 68%, daylight per day 18.9 h, precipitation 124 mm / 4.9 in, wind (daily max) 19 km/h / 12 mph.
Against: wet days 13.1 days, days with heavy rain 4.8 days.
Also on: Bergen International Festival, Midsummer / St. Hans bonfire, Nattjazz.
Watch out for: Pentecost (Whit Sunday and Monday), School vacation reduced bus service.
July · best
In its favour: average daily high 16.7 °C / 62 °F, feels like (high) 15.8 °C / 60 °F, average daily low 12.6 °C / 55 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 66%, daylight per day 18.1 h, wind (daily max) 18 km/h / 11 mph.
Against: days with heavy rain 7 days, wet days 17.4 days, precipitation 166 mm / 6.6 in.
Watch out for: School vacation reduced bus service.
August · good
In its favour: average daily high 16.5 °C / 62 °F, feels like (high) 15.2 °C / 59 °F, average daily low 12.5 °C / 55 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 66%, daylight per day 15.6 h, wind (daily max) 19 km/h / 12 mph.
Against: precipitation 217 mm / 8.5 in, wet days 19.2 days, days with heavy rain 7.8 days.
Watch out for: School vacation reduced bus service.
An activity is listed only where it applies: skiing at ski destinations, beach and swimming at beach destinations. The nearest ski area is Eikedalen skisenter, 32 km away.
Weather averages
Monthly averages over twenty years, 2006–2025. Highs, lows and precipitation are in the chart at the top.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feels like (high) | -1.1 °C | -0.6 °C | 1.3 °C | 4.7 °C | 8.9 °C | 12.7 °C | 15.8 °C | 15.2 °C | 12.2 °C | 7.4 °C | 3.2 °C | 0.4 °C |
| Days with heavy rain | 9.6 days | 7.4 days | 7 days | 4.9 days | 4.3 days | 4.8 days | 7 days | 7.8 days | 10.1 days | 11 days | 10.1 days | 10.7 days |
| Time rain usually falls | 3 am | 2 am | 6 pm | 6 pm | 5 pm | 6 pm | 2 pm | 4 pm | 6 pm | 3 pm | 6 am | 7 am |
| Sunshine per day | 2.3 h | 4.3 h | 6.6 h | 10.2 h | 12.3 h | 12.8 h | 12 h | 10.3 h | 7.5 h | 5.1 h | 3.1 h | 1.6 h |
| Relative humidity | 80% | 80% | 77% | 75% | 75% | 78% | 81% | 82% | 82% | 81% | 81% | 82% |
Air quality
Averaged over a shorter period (2022–2025) than the twenty-year averages above, and not counted towards good or best months.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air pollution (PM2.5) 2022–2025 | 4.7 µg/m³ | 4.8 µg/m³ | 5.4 µg/m³ | 6.8 µg/m³ | 7.3 µg/m³ | 7 µg/m³ | 6.7 µg/m³ | 5.9 µg/m³ | 5.2 µg/m³ | 4.2 µg/m³ | 3.2 µg/m³ | 4 µg/m³ |
| Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–2025 | 8.2 µg/m³ | 8.2 µg/m³ | 9.1 µg/m³ | 11.1 µg/m³ | 11.6 µg/m³ | 11.6 µg/m³ | 10.2 µg/m³ | 8.7 µg/m³ | 7.9 µg/m³ | 6.7 µg/m³ | 5.4 µg/m³ | 6.8 µg/m³ |
- Good 15 µg/m³ or less
- Fair 15 to 25 µg/m³
- Moderate 25 to 37.5 µg/m³
- Poor 37.5 to 50 µg/m³
- Very poor 50 to 75 µg/m³
- Extremely poor over 75 µg/m³
Each figure is compared with the World Health Organization's guideline for a day's air, 15 µg/m³ or less, and with its interim targets above that. The words are ours: the WHO does not name its steps. The figures are modelled monthly averages, so single days can be well above them. The daily peak is the average of each day's highest hour, shaded on the same scale.
Events and seasons
What the weather records cannot show. A major event can lift a month to good or best. The warnings are there to help you plan, and never count against a month.
Reasons to go
- Traditional Christmas food season
January, November and December
- Bergenfest
24 April–7 May
- Constitution Day celebration
17 May
- 16 May party night
16 May
- Bergen International Festival
24 May–7 June
- Nattjazz
24 May–7 June
- Labour Day
1 May
- Midsummer / St. Hans bonfire
23–24 June
- Bergen International Film Festival (BIFF)
October
Worth knowing before you go
- New Year's Day
1 January
- Easter public holidays
March and April, dates vary from year to year
- Constitution Day closures
17 May
- Ascension Thursday
May, dates vary from year to year
- Pentecost (Whit Sunday and Monday)
May and June, dates vary from year to year
- School vacation reduced bus service
15 June–15 August
- Christmas closures
24–27 December
- Christmas Eve reduced bus service
24 December
World Heritage sites nearby
UNESCO World Heritage sites within 25 km, nearest first.
- Bryggen
Less than 1 km away