Julemarked Bergen: The one-and-only Christmas market in Norway’s 2nd city

While Bergen appears to be a humble, mid-sized city (aside from its mighty fjords), it goes all out during the holiday season with their annual Christmas market, Julemarked Bergen.

Every year, thousands of lights dazzle in Festplassen, the main square in the heart of Bergen. With a giant Ferris wheel and fun rides, over 90 stalls selling food, drinks, and merchandise, and a warming room to keep you toasty from the frigid weather.

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Julemarked Bergen Information

Quick information about Festplassen

Translated from Norwegian as “the party square”, Festplassen is nestled in the heart of Bergen, where various events, markets, and festivals (including Julemarked Bergen). Festplassen is also where residents celebrate Norway’s Constitution Day on May 17, where they kick off the flag parade in the morning and a fireworks show before midnight.

Right next to Festplassen lies Lille Lungegårdsvannet, a 20,500 square-meter octagonal lake that sits at sea level.

With views of Mount Fløyen in the background, Festplassen is the perfect place to chill, relax, and have a picnic during other times of the year.

What to expect at Julemarked Bergen

Food stalls (+ my food and drink recommendations)

Hot drinks like gløgg and hot chocolate

Hot drinks are a must to keep your hands warm during Bergen’s cold nights and to get a sip of the holiday spirit. But whether you get a buzzy gløgg or a rich hot chocolate, every sip feels like a warm hug.

Gløgg is the Scandinavian take on the German glühwein, which has cardamom and ginger instead of star anise. Gløgg also has a splash of aquavit or vodka, and also includes raisins and roasted almonds that you can eat (which is why a lot of them are offered with a spoon).

You can also add alcohol to the hot chocolate, such as rum or amaretto, for 99 NOK ($9.77 USD).

The best thing about getting these hot drinks is the mugs that they give you, which cost 40 NOK ($3.95 USD). I loved having an authentic souvenir to bring home that wasn’t just a magnet!

It’s common to collect mugs all across the Christmas markets. Now that I think about it, I’m surprised that the Christmas markets in Copenhagen didn’t have collectible mugs and only served gløgg in disposable cups, considering that Denmark is big on sustainability.

Christmas beer (or Christmas soda)

Christmas beer (juleøl) is also another staple in Denmark and Norway. It’s always served in bars, restaurants, grocery stores, and Christmas markets across both countries. Juleøl is usually dark and full-bodied, and has notes of chocolate, roasted nuts, and berries.

If you don’t drink alcohol, the stalls also offer julebrus, a Norwegian Christmas soda that comes in a can and tastes very sweet with berry notes. This is what Cecilio ordered since he doesn’t drink. Julebrus is also a popular drink for children.

Hot dogs and sausages

Almost every Christmas market in Europe has hot dogs, sausages, and bratwurst, and Jukemarked Bergen is no exception.

There are a few classic hot dog stands where you can get ketchup, mayonnaise, and onions. There is also a big wheel of cheese where the staff slices off a chunk and melts it in your sausage.

If you’re looking for something different, the stall Hot Dawgs serves reindeer hot dogs with mustard and redcurrant jelly. They even serve a lamb rack hot dog with blueberry ketchup!

Elk burger

One of the stalls sells a bomb elk burger with fried mushrooms, fried onions, and cranberry sour cream. That was my dinner, and it reminded me of the Five Guys burgers back in the US (but much better).

The burger was mouthwatering, umami, bursting with flavors! The patties are made from elk meat from the Norwegian forests; can’t get any more organic than that!

Pasta cooked on a cheese wheel

The line for the ostehjulpasta (cheese wheel pasta) was long, and it took a while for the noodles to cook al dente before they mixed them into the cheese wheel, making the cheese the sauce itself.

You had the option to order the pasta only, or add chicken or shrimp for extra NOK. I ordered the pasta itself, and while I thought it was pretty good, I felt like it was missing something without the meat. I wanted to taste different textures and extra protein.

Thai pork skewers

Color me shocked when I found that there was a Thai food stall in a Norwegian Christmas market, serving skewers and pad Thai! The pork skewers are actually called moo ping, where they are grilled over charcoal with a marinade from coconut milk, soy sauce, and mouthwatering.

I ordered some for Cecilio and me to share, and they were juicy, extremely flavorful, with a hint of sweetness.

Wreath cake

Kransekage, which is translated as wreath cake from Norwegian and Danish, is a stack of cakes shaped as rings (hence the name wreath cake) in different sizes, with the largest being on the bottom and the smallest on top. It then looks like a Christmas tree. It’s made with marzipan, a sweet almond-flavored paste, and is often served on New Year’s Eve, birthdays, and weddings.

The stall that sold the wreath cake sold it for 385 NOK, and that was way too big for me to pack in our suitcase. They did cut up some pieces as samples, and I liked how they were mildly sweet. They were a bit on the chewy side, though.

Lefse

Lefse is a hand-rolled Norwegian flatbread made with riced potatoes, butter, cream, salt, sugar, and flour. They often have a sweet filling such as cinnamon and sugar, or savory fillings like cheese. While lefse can be enjoyed all year round, it’s often made around Christmas.

In the Midwestern region of the US, like Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the Dakotas, lefse is also a part of the Thanksgiving dinner table. These states have a large Norwegian American population.

The stall selling lefse had samples of it in different flavors like cheese and cinnamon, which I tried because I didn’t want to buy them in bulk. It’s very doughy and tastes better with flavors rather than plain.

Rides for family fun

To add to the festive atmosphere, Julemarked Bergen also has rides that families with young children can participate in.

People of all ages can enjoy the Ferris wheel, and it’s such a fun way to relax, especially for couples. How romantic is it to cuddle up with a mug of hot chocolate and take in views of the city on one side and Mount Fløyen on the other, with the Christmas lights illuminating?

Now there are three carousels, all of which are more for children. This includes the classic merry-go-round, the elephant, and balloon carousels.

There are also spinning teacups, like the ones you see in Disneyland, but they are much slower.

All rides require a ticket, which must be purchased in person.

Stalls for small businesses

If you’re looking to shop for gifts or souvenirs, you’ll find what you need in Julemarked Bergen.

You can find ornaments, gnomes, art prints, postcards, mugs, Norwegian wool sweaters, and snacks in the indoor stations. There is even a small business that sells dog leashes, collars, and other stuff for your furry baby back home.

There is also a stall dedicated to all things Moomin, a fictional character from Finland.

Fireplace room

Need to get away from the cold weather for a bit? Peisetuen, translated as the fireplace room, is your refuge from Bergen’s bitter winter nights. It’s a dimly lit, heated station with sofas, chairs, tables, and barstools where you can chill with others over a glass of wine or even more gløgg, since there is a bar inside.

The seating is limited since it gets crowded. You can still share tables with others if you see empty chairs.

Tips for visiting Julemarked Bergen

Go during the weekday and/or daytime

Saturday nights are the most crowded times to visit Bergen’s one-and-only Christmas market, and it can feel claustrophobic, especially because Bergen isn’t a huge Christmas market compared to the ones in Germany or Austria.

For fewer crowds, come during the afternoon. The sun sets around 4 pm, so if you could come before then and experience a quieter environment during the day, AND the magical winter wonderland at night.

Budget for one or two dishes you REALLY want

Let me be real; Norway is an expensive country. Christmas markets are also pretty pricy, but combining a Christmas market in one of the most expensive countries in the world will have your wallet crying.

The only reason I bought a lot of food was to test it out, as a blogger, for my readers here and viewers on TikTok (I would recommend the elk burger the most).

The easiest way to budget is to remember that 10 NOK is equivalent to $1 USD.

If possible, look for stalls that offer samples.

And definitely budget for a beverage, whether you’re craving gløgg, hot chocolate, a Christmas beer or a soda. Sipping is all a part of the festive experience!

Bundle up (and be prepared for rain)

While it is pretty obvious that you need to wear warm weather clothes for Christmas markets, I can’t emphasize it enough. Layer, layer, layer to keep warm, too. Wear a beanie and socks.

While we were lucky it didn’t rain during our 2 nights in Bergen, it is one of the rainiest cities in Europe. So pack a raincoat.

Here are a few winter essentials I recommend:

• Raincoat with fleece-lined hood, and is thin enough to be packable but thick enough to keep you warm
• A thick beanie to keep your head warm
• Thermal long sleeves that have double-sided fleece to block the cold air (I get these in a pack of 4 for multiple days)
• Merino wool socks that are thick enough to protect your feet from the cold, but thin enough to wear with boots without constricting them
• Heat packets to put in your pockets, socks, and gloves for extra toastiness for your extremities
• Scarf that keeps you cozy and warm while also looking super stylish in photos

Where to stay near Julemarked Bergen

Hotel Norge by Scandic

Julemarked Bergen has a partnership with Hotel Norge by Scandic (which is next door), where you can stay at a discounted rate during the holiday season. I kinda wish we had stayed here instead of our other hotel because it was slightly more reasonably priced.

Hotel Norge by Scandic is one of Bergen’s most iconic hotels and has been in business since 1885. They also went under major renovation in 2018.

There’s a restaurant, bar, gym, indoor pool, and sauna. You do have to pay 195 NOK on weekdays and 205 NOK on the weekends to access the pool and sauna, but I would’ve been willing to shell out money for it.

Hotel Oleana

Cecilio and I stayed at Hotel Oleana, a boutique hotel which was a 5-minute walk from Julemarked Bergen and a 7-minute walk from Bryggen.

Our room was big and spacious, even though it was hard getting used to having twin beds right next to each other, rolling around (making it hard to cuddle).

The hotel has a breakfast buffet and a restaurant. While we didn’t eat at the restaurant, we went to the breakfast buffet because it was included during our stay. The breakfast buffet offers a variety of yummy dishes. I recommend trying the brunøst (Norwegian caramelized brown cheese) on toast. It was super delicious, and I’ve been dreaming of it since we left.

Wrapping up our time at Julemarked Bergen

If you happen to find yourself in Bergen from late November to late December, don’t forget to stop at Julemarked Bergen for a fun, festive atmosphere and delicious food and drink!

There is also a teeny tiny Christmas market down next to the Fish Market on Bryggen’s harbor, where you can do a little bit of window shopping. Around the corner from the Fish Market, there is also a fireplace where to can roast bread for free!

If you are visiting with young children, take them to Pepperkakebyen, the largest gingerbread city in the world, where elementary school students and small businesses create gingerbread houses, buildings, and world wonders (we saw a gingerbread sculpture of the Colosseum).

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Hannah Padilla

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Hannah is a travel writer, graphic designer, and the founder/editor of Hannah on Horizon. She is based in Sacramento, California, living with her husband and two adorable dogs. She shares tips on how to experience luxury travel on any budget, and how to maximize time at each trip or destination, no matter what your budget or amount of vacation time at work. She enjoys making you feel like you have visited each destination with her through her storytelling and informative writing style.