The Bergen Aquarium, or Akvariet, sits at the very tip of the Nordnes peninsula, a pleasant walk or a short bus ride from the centre, with views across the harbour to the fortress and the mountains beyond. It is a classic family attraction and a good indoor choice for a wet day. The aquarium is known for its collection of animals from Norwegian coastal waters and from further afield. Penguins, seals and sea lions are the stars of the outdoor and semi-outdoor areas, and inside there are tanks of North Atlantic fish, a tropical section with colourful reef species and exhibits on the coastal ecosystem on which the city has lived for centuries. The aquarium has a restaurant, a food market area and a gift shop. According to its own opening hours page, it is open daily, Monday to Sunday, from 10:00 to 18:00 between 1 September and 30 April, with no closures listed for November.
The aquarium works best if you start with the animals that need daylight. Animals are generally most active around feeding time, so ask at the entrance whether a session is scheduled and plan around it, then use the indoor halls for the rest of your visit. The indoor sections are comfortable whatever the weather, and the tropical hall is warm, which is a pleasant contrast with a cold Bergen day.
For children, it is the kind of place where an hour is not enough and three is not too many. The restaurant, Spiseriet, is open from 11:00 to 16:00, and the food market area is open from 10:00 to 18:00 in line with the aquarium.
Getting there is straightforward. Many visitors take a bus from the centre to the Nordnes peninsula, while others make a walk of it from the Fish Market through the old wooden-house streets of Nordnes. The setting on the point is lovely on a clear day, with a park around the aquarium and views over the entrance to the harbour. The surrounding Nordnes streets are some of the most characterful in the city, with white wooden houses on steep lanes, so the walk is part of the experience.
It pairs well with a morning at Bryggen and the Fish Market followed by an afternoon here, or the other way round. The aquarium website covers ticket options, and booking online ahead is sensible at weekends and school holidays. It is also a good choice when the mountains are in cloud and the funicular and cable car views are not worth the ride. Families often combine it with the Troll Museum or a harbour stroll. Allow two to three hours, more if you plan a long lunch in the restaurant.
What to expect
The experience
A self-guided visit through indoor tanks, a tropical hall and outdoor areas with penguins, seals and sea lions, plus a restaurant and gift shop.
Best time
Arrive at opening for quieter halls, and time your visit around the feeding sessions.
How long
Two to three hours, longer with lunch in the restaurant.
Tips
Open daily 10:00 to 18:00 from 1 September to 30 April. Dress for the outdoor areas. The walk from the centre goes through the Nordnes wooden-house streets.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Families with children of any age and anyone who needs an indoor activity.
- Families
- Easily the best all-weather stop for children, with animals to watch, a play-friendly pace and food on site.
- Couples
- Better as a slow afternoon with a walk through Nordnes afterwards than as a main event.
- Pair with
- A morning at the Fish Market and Bryggen, or the Troll Museum on a family day.
- Time needed
- Half a day with the walk from the centre.
Good questions
What are the Bergen Aquarium's opening hours in November?+
It is open daily from 10:00 to 18:00 from 1 September to 30 April, and no closures are listed for November. The restaurant Spiseriet is open from 11:00 to 16:00.
How do I get to the aquarium from the centre?+
You can walk through the Nordnes streets from the Fish Market or take a bus to the peninsula. The walk is pleasant but takes a while, so allow extra time.
Is it good for a rainy day?+
Yes. Much of the visit is indoors and the tropical hall is warm, though part of the outdoor animal area is open to the weather.
Can I see the animals being fed?+
Its opening hours page does not list feeding times, so ask at the entrance whether a session is scheduled that day.
Is there somewhere to eat?+
Yes. The aquarium has a restaurant, a food market area and a gift shop, all open on the aquarium's regular hours.
