Getting to Bergen

Located on the west coast of Norway, Bergen is known as the city between seven mountains. ⛰️

We are fairly easy to get to, and there are a number of options depending on how much time you have and where you’re coming from!

  • Most people choose to fly here, with direct flights going from many major cities throughout Europe. 

    We have just one airport, called Bergen Flesland, and when you land there is a light rail (bybanen) that takes you all the way to the city for just 51nok, and takes 45 minutes. It is also possible to take the airport bus (flybus) or a taxi, but these are significantly more expensive. 

    Please note that the last bybanen leaves at 00:08 from the airport, and the earliest bybanen from the city departs at 5:45am, so we recommend booking a flight that lines up with this if possible 😊

    You can buy tickets for this at the airport or on the Skyss app. (iOS, android). This ticket can also be used on all buses, so if you plan to take public transport more than 6 times, it is cheapest to buy a 7 day pass! Individual tickets cost 51NOK (≈ €4.5), whilst a 7 day pass costs 315 (≈ €28).

  • If you have a little bit more time on your hands, we highly recommend taking the train! The last leg of the train ride goes from Oslo to Bergen and is one of Europe’s most beautiful train journeys. The Oslo – Bergen leg is between 6.5 and 7.5 hours and runs multiple times per day. Tickets can be purchased from the vy website up to three months in advance.

  • Bergen is a coastal city and there are several ways to arrive by sea. The main way is to sail with Fjordline from Denmark. You are able to bring your car with you onboard and book a cabin overnight. You can find tickets at fjordline.com

  • The bus station is in the city center next to the train station, just a 10 minute walk from the main festival venue. 

    Buses are an especially great option and are often a cheaper alternative for people coming from other parts of Norway! If you want to spend time exploring the region around Bergen before or after the festival this is also a good alternative. You can find tickets at nor-way.no

Public transport in Bergen 

Once you’re in the city center, you won’t really need to use public transport. Bergen isn’t very big and it’s very easy to walk around the centre ☺️ All of the Swing Brother, Swing venues are very centrally located and take less than five minutes to walk between! 

If you want to head out of the centre, or if you’re staying in an AirBnB or with one of our hosts, there are usually lots of public transport options available. You can take either the light rail or the bus, depending on where you’re staying!

You can use google maps or skyss.no to check the timetable, and buy tickets with the Skyss app (iOS, android) The tickets are valid for the light rail, buses, and many ferries in Bergen (including the light rail to the airport), so if you’ll be taking more than 6 trips with public transport it is cheaper to buy the 7-day pass!

Hosting

Being dancers and travellers ourselves, we understand that it’s nice to have people host you when going to a new festival. We don’t have the capacity to directly facilitate hosting, however we have set up a Facebook group where you can get in touch with local dancers who might be able to offer a couch or a bed. You can also use this group to reach out to other dancers travelling to Bergen who might want to split accomodation costs!

Weather

Okay, so Bergen gets a bit of a bad rep as it is the rainiest city in all of Europe. But, don’t let this stop you from joining us in October! We’d like to present to you our reasoning as to why travelling here, in one of the rainiest months of the year is actually a great idea ☔

  1. Mild temperatures = less sweating, and therefore a more enjoyable social dance! 

    If anyone tries to convince you that dancing in 30℃ in a massive hall where the airconditioning doesn’t really work properly is ideal, don’t listen to them. In Bergen you can expect temperatures between 5℃ and 11℃ (the perfect dance temperature if you ask us 😉)

  2. Cozy Autumn vibes
    Bergen in October is bathed in gorgeous Autumn colours, so regardless of whether there is rain or sunshine your view on the way to class is going to be gorgeous!

  3. Sunshine literally feels magic when you’re not expecting it 🌞
    Although Bergen does rain a lot, it doesn’t rain everyday and the sunshine just hits different up here in the north.

  4. There is a Norwegian saying, “det finnes ikke dårlig vær, bare dårlige klær” which is a cute rhyming phrase that literally translates to “there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes”.
    Come prepared and do as the Norwegians do; hike mountains, go out and explore the city, and dance all weekend no matter the weather!

Discounts

We’ve teamed up with some of our favorite local spots in Bergen to bring you special discounts throughout the festival weekend! Show your Swing Brother Swing wristband or book a table to enjoy these exclusive treats:

  • Vågal: 15% off all food and drinks.

  • Red Sun: 20% off food and drinks for table bookings or takeaway orders.

  • Godt Brød Fløyen: Enjoy their special “Early Bird” discount all day long!

Getting Around Bergen

All our workshop venues, party locations, and recommended spots are pinned on this map. Bergen’s city center is compact and very walkable, so moving between festival venues is quick and easy on foot.

FAQs

  • Here in Bergen we love to dance both Boogie and Lindy! We love dancing to Jazz, as well as Rhythm and Blues, in addition to other related sub-genres. At Swing Brother, Swing you can expect a mix of music and styles, with a focus on creating a social dance floor where you are free to dance exactly the way you want! If you’ve been to Swing Brother, Swing before, or even just a social dance here in Bergen, you know what to expect! 

    Our courses will explore many techniques and variations that can be used in all swing dance styles, and we hope that you will be inspired and motivated to expand your horizons.

    What does this mean for you as a Boogie dancer?

    You don’t need to know any Lindy to join Swing Brother, Swing! Your Boogie skills will shine on our dance floor! Be ready to try out your moves to a variety of music, including your favourite Boogie bangers :)

    What does this mean for you as a Lindy dancer?

    You don’t need to know any Boogie to join Swing Brother, Swing! We love our triple steps here in Bergen, but don’t underestimate our love for Charleston and ability to swivel the night away! 

  • Yes! There will be two Mix n Match competitions. 🏆 One open level, and one advanced.

    (Please note: you may only enter one of these competitions, and the competition level will be based on the course level that you choose).

  • Congrats! 🏆🏆 Just send us a message on Instagram or an email to hello@swingbrotherswing.no and mention your name, which festival you won the pass at, which level you would like to join, and whether you will be joining as a lead or a follow.

    We can’t wait to have you join us here in Bergen!

Do you have a question that we haven’t answered here? You can send us an email below, or slide into our DMs on Insta, and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can! 💖💖