The best time to visit Bergen is June, July and August, when average highs reach 16.9 °C in June and 17.7 °C in July and daylight stretches long into the evening. Bergen is famously rainy year-round, so even summer sees 16 rain days in June, but the milder air and up to 10.8 hours of sunshine a day make it the most rewarding window for exploring Bryggen and the surrounding fjords. July and August fall in the school-holiday period, so expect the busiest streets and fullest boats then. Winter is the quiet, dark low season, with just 1.5 hours of sunshine a day in December and highs barely above freezing.
Best months JuneJulyAugust
Bergen month by month
Average highs and lows (°C), 2016–2025. Highlighted bars are the best months.
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Sun / day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 2.6 °C | -1.8 °C | 21 | 2.1 h |
| February | 3.7 °C | -1.4 °C | 19 | 3.7 h |
| March | 5.9 °C | -0.1 °C | 18 | 5.5 h |
| April | 9.6 °C | 1.8 °C | 14 | 9.6 h |
| May | 14 °C | 5.9 °C | 14 | 10.8 h |
| June | 16.9 °C | 9.5 °C | 16 | 10.8 h |
| July | 17.7 °C | 11.1 °C | 18 | 10.2 h |
| August | 17.1 °C | 10.8 °C | 20 | 8.5 h |
| September | 15.1 °C | 9 °C | 18 | 6.7 h |
| October | 10.4 °C | 5.1 °C | 21 | 4.5 h |
| November | 6 °C | 1.7 °C | 18 | 2.7 h |
| December | 4 °C | -0.2 °C | 21 | 1.5 h |
How the months are picked.A month qualifies when its average high sits in the comfortable 20–28 °C band (scored down towards 9 °C and 37 °C), rain days are few and sunshine hours are high — at least 78 % of the city's best-scoring month. July and August are then set aside as peak season (school-holiday crowds and prices) whenever at least three other months qualify; where summer is the only comfortable window they stay. Figures are ten-year averages (2016-01-01 to 2025-12-31) from ERA5 reanalysis data via Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0) for the city centre coordinates.
When to go, and what to expect
Spring (Mar–May)
A fresh, less crowded choice for travellers who don't mind cooler air.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
The best all-round time — mildest weather and longest days despite the rain.
Autumn (Sep–Nov)
Good for early September; wetter and darker as the season closes.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
Only for those chasing atmosphere, cosy cafés and low-season calm.
Notable events
- Late May to early June
- Bergen International Festival (Festspillene)
- May
- Norwegian Constitution Day (17 May)
- June
- Bergenfest music festival
- December
- Christmas markets and Gingerbread Town (Pepperkakebyen)
Frequently asked
Is August too hot in Bergen?
No — August highs average 17.1 °C, mild rather than hot, though it's also wet with 20 rain days.
What is the rainiest month in Bergen?
Rain is spread across the year, but January, October and December each see about 21 rain days, the most of any month.
Is winter worth visiting Bergen?
Only if you want quiet and festive atmosphere. December offers just 1.5 hours of sunshine a day with highs of 4 °C, so days are short, dark and damp.
Know when to go? Now decide where to stay — our Bergen area guide →
Areas of Bergen
Best time to visit near here
Sources
- Open-Meteo historical weather API — monthly climate normals, 2016–2025 (CC BY 4.0)
- ERA5 reanalysis (ECMWF / Copernicus) — the underlying temperature, precipitation and sunshine data
- ReasonStay methodology — how the best months are computed and checked
An independent guide to Bergen — honest, verified, no invented data. Climate figures: ERA5 via Open-Meteo, 2016–2025 averages; the best months are computed from them, not opinion.