Bergen: Kode art and the central lake

Begin with Rasmus Meyer’s collection

Choose Rasmus Meyer for Kode’s Munch collection and Norwegian art by Harriet Backer, J.C. Dahl and other painters. The building also contains the Blumenthal room, whose wall and ceiling paintings preserve an eighteenth-century Bergen interior. This gives you both paintings and a historic room to look for, rather than a vague tour of every Kode building.

Compare Munch’s moods with the wider collection

Follow Munch’s changing treatment of figures and emotion through the current display, then spend time with a contrasting Norwegian landscape or interior. At our 9 October 2026 review, Kode warned that fewer Astrup works would be displayed from autumn 2026 while paintings toured Japan until 2028. Check the current hanging if Astrup is your main reason to visit.

Use the lake as a short outdoor pause

When conditions allow, walk beside Lille Lungegårdsvannet and notice how the museum buildings sit around the central green space. Keep this section short in rain. It is an easy change of pace between indoor rooms, not a mountain substitute.

Distinguish Troldhaugen from the centre

Grieg’s Troldhaugen is another worthwhile Kode-associated visit, but it lies outside this central walk and needs separate transport and opening checks. Do not add it as if it were the next building beside the lake. Choose it as a different outing if the composer’s life is your priority.

Pair the visit with a specific food stop

For seafood, use Fjellskål at the Fish Market after allowing for the walk and its current service. If the day is very wet, finish after one art venue and a meal. Save Fløyen for a day when the upper view and paths suit you.

Mobile data for your trip. Check what your current plan includes for roaming. If you need another option for maps, messages and booking details, compare NXTL eSIM coverage and rates. Check that your phone supports eSIM and is unlocked, and check coverage for every stop. Download important maps and confirmations for offline use too.

Know about the temporarily closed silver display

Kode’s silver exhibition, Crowning the North at Lysverket, is another worthwhile collection choice, but the official exhibition list marked it temporarily closed at our 9 October 2026 review. No reopening date was verified. Keep Rasmus Meyer as the available main visit; Packtricia will check the display’s reopening, and readers should always check the museum before travelling.