KODE Art Museums of Bergen

At the KODE Art Museums of Bergen, you can wander through halls showcasing the golden ages of Norwegian art, get a close view of crafts and design, and visit the homes of local composers Edvard Grieg, Ole Bull, and Harald Sæverud. The four museums face Lake Lille Lungegårdsvann in the heart of Bergen and are easy to visit one after the other. Kode 3 holds the world’s third-largest collection of works by Norwegian painter Edvard Munch and is a great place to start your visit. Kode 1, 2, and 4 hold modernist art and crafts, such as gold and silverworks, while the composers’ homes lie south of the city center. Visiting seven locations in all requires logistical planning—but one admission ticket grants all-day access to all sites.

• Ideal for travelers interested in Norwegian art, design, and classical music history.
• Purchase your ticket in advance to secure entrance.
• Visitors with a Bergen Card receive free admission from October to April and discounts from May to September.
• All the museums have direct wheelchair access via ramps or wheelchair lifts, accessible restrooms, plus accessible parking is available.
• There are three cafés and restaurants, located in the Permanenten, Stenersen, and Lysverket buildings.
• Strollers and child carriers are available to rent for free from the main reception.
• The composers’ homes have outdoor spaces, gardens, and swimming spots.

The four main Kode buildings—Permanenten, Stenersen, Rasmus Meyer, and Stenersen—lie along Rasmus Meyer’s allé in central Bergen, a short walk from the main railway station and the Nonneseter and Byparken light rail stops. Of the composers’ homes, Troldhaugen lies about 6 miles (10 kilometers) south of Bergen, Siljustøl is a bit farther south, and Lysøen is on an island accessible via boat.

The four Kode museums have guided tours in Norwegian every Saturday and Sunday at 1pm and 2 pm; between June and August, the tours are offered daily in English. Troldhaugen has a museum with regular opening hours, while Siljustøl is open on select days for concerts and performances. Opening hours for the composers' homes can vary by season—check ahead of your visit to confirm.

The island of Lysøen houses the summer villa of composer Ole Bull, today a museum and working concert hall. In addition, the island has beautiful walking paths and swimming spots at Gamletunet, Apalviken, and Lysevågen. To reach the island from Bergen, you can drive or take buses 600 and 601 to Buena pier—from there, ferries depart multiple times from Tuesday to Sunday from June to mid-September (and on one weekend in late May).