The sea and crafts of Bergen: how to choose between the Fishing Museum and the Maritime Museum

Bergen is a city where maritime history is alive and kicking! To make the most of your visit, why not split it into two parts? The Norwegian Fisheries Museum in the old warehouses of Sandviken is an absolute must. Here, you'll discover all about fishing cooperatives, herring fever, aquaculture and warehouse life by the water. Then, head over to the Bergen Maritime Museum on the university hill, where you'll uncover the incredible history of shipping, from the early boats to steamships and the container era. Below are simple answers to popular questions: how the museums differ, where to see fishing gear and boats, how to fit everything into one day, and how Bergen differs from Ålesund.

What is the main difference between the Norwegian Fisheries Museum and the Bergen Maritime Museum?

To put it briefly, the Fisheries Museum is all about the life of people who live by the coast and fishing (salmon, herring, seals, stockfish trade, aquaculture). The Maritime Museum is about the "open sea": how people got around by sea in the past and how ships have changed over time. They are both part of the Museum Vest network, but they are different. One is about "fish, working hands and warehouses", while the other is about "sea routes and ships". These are two ways of looking at the same history of the coast — the everyday and the "strategic".

Where is the Fisheries Museum? And why are its old warehouses important?

The Fisheries Museum is in Sandviken on the waterfront, in real wooden stockfish warehouses. Inside, the floors slope downwards, there is warm resin in the beams and rare wall paintings — you can literally feel the "anatomy" of the fishing economy. The exhibits are arranged in rooms and on walkways, so the route follows the "footsteps" of the goods — from the pier to the warehouse and beyond. The tours explain why the area was called the "Venice of the North" and how the warehouses kept the fishing industry going in Bergen.

What can you see inside the Fisheries Museum?

Look for the "stockfish warehouse" with the history of dried cod, the aquaculture hall (modern fish farming), exhibitions on the herring industry, seal hunting and boat engines. There are lots of things you can do, like looking at digital maps, listening to multimedia stories, and touching things in some rooms. It's the perfect way for families to get to know the subject: it uses simple language, the sections are short, and real objects are kept in the warehouses by the water.

What does the Bergen Maritime Museum offer that the Fishermen's Museum doesn't?

The Maritime Museum has a great collection of models and real ship parts, as well as pictures and films about shipping. You can see the evolution from traditional boats and early trade to steamships and containers. The museum is at Haakon Sheteligsplass 15 (Bergen University campus), and it's easy to visit. You can see all of Norway's maritime history in an hour and a half.

If I only have two hours, where should I go?

If you want to feel like you're in a warehouse, with fishing gear and the smell of the sea, go to the Fisheries Museum in Sandviken. It's 10-15 minutes from Bryggen on foot along the waterfront. If you need a quick overview of shipping, go to the Maritime Museum at the university, where you will find a collection of models and key scenes. If you have a long day, combine the two: Visit Sandviken in the morning and the University Hill ( ) in the afternoon to see two different views of "people and fishing" and "ships and routes".

Where can I see boats and fishing equipment close up?

If you're interested in fishing equipment and tools, you can find everything you need at the Fisheries Museum. They have nets, warehouse logistics, herring processing, and motorisation of fishing. If you want to know about how ships have changed over time, go to the Maritime Museum. You can see models of different sizes of merchant ships and how navigation has developed over time. In the background, you can see the West Norwegian tradition of wooden boats. The oselva is the best example of this, and UNESCO has included its construction and use skills in its Register of Best Practices for Preservation. This gives you a good idea of how the boat is shaped and where the seams are.

How can we show how these museums are connected to the history of Brigen and the Hanseatic League?

Briggen is a "showcase" of trade, where you can see how a wooden port city was organised. The Fishing Museum shows what was stored in the warehouses (like stockfish), and the Maritime Museum shows how these goods travelled around the world. If you walk along the water from Bryggen to Sandviken, you will see the route that the goods took. Bryggen is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The wooden rows have survived fires and have been restored using the same old plans and techniques.

How is the story of the museum in Bergen different from the story of the museum in Ålesund?

In Ålesund, the Fishing Museum is in the old Holm-bua warehouse in the inner harbour, next to a street of buildings from before the war (one of the best-preserved views of the city before the fire of 1904). The exhibits there focus on the local fishing industry and trade, and there is a strong Art Nouveau influence on the city. In Bergen, there are many things to see and do. You can visit the Sandviken warehouses and the Maritime Museum, which has a great view of the sea. The best way to decide is to visit both cities and compare them.

Are there any parts of the Fishing Museum that are easy to miss?

Yes, the wall paintings inside the warehouses are rare decorative scenes that once decorated the interiors. There is a separate room dedicated to aquaculture (a modern take on fish). You can experience what it was like to live in a warehouse, with sloping floors and wooden walls that tell the story of how people lived and worked by the water. These details show why Bergen, the fishing town, is about more than nets and boats – it's also about storage and architecture.

How can you plan a route that's easy to follow and includes a day out on the sea and fishing?

Morning — Bryggen and a quick stop at Bryggens Museum (archaeology after the 1955 fire). Take a walk to the Fisheries Museum (warehouses, fishing gear, aquaculture) with a coffee on the Sandviken waterfront. After lunch, take the tram or walk to the Maritime Museum on the campus to see models, routes and a final panorama of shipping. A day like this brings the city, the fishing industry and the "big sea" together to tell one story.

Bergen masterfully illustrates how fish → warehouse → ship → world come together in one route, showcasing the incredible journey of these precious creatures. In Sandviken, you can get hands-on with the "mechanics" of fishing in authentic warehouses, and on the university hill, you can see how these cargoes were transformed into maritime stories — from barges to liners. Compare the two museums, and the city will reveal itself in all its glory: with the role of Bryggen and its vibrant coastal culture. Come and stroll along the water and take the time to hold on to the old beams of the warehouses.

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