Local Tip
Visit Bergen's two suggested exchange shops, FOREX and Ria, sit by the Fish Market and both shut on Sundays, so plan any cash top-up for a weekday or Saturday. Otherwise cards cover almost everything, Bybanen ticket machines included.
Where to change money in Bergen
If you want to swap pounds for kroner over a counter, Visit Bergen points you to two shops near its Tourist Information at Strandkaien 3, by the Fish Market (Fisketorget). Hours are from their 2026 listings and can change.
- FOREX, Strandkaien 2B FOREX's only shop in Bergen, at the Fish Market. Weekdays 09:00-18:00 and Saturdays 09:30-17:00; closed on Sundays and public holidays.
- Ria Money Transfer, Torget 11 Right by the Fish Market. Open 09:00-19:00 Monday to Friday and 11:00-17:00 on Saturdays, closed on Sundays.
Changing money at the airport
Avinor, which runs Bergen Airport Flesland (BGO), says the terminal has several cash machines, at arrivals and in the domestic and international areas, with kroner among the currencies. It lists no exchange counter, and FOREX lists no branch there. Withdraw and pay in Norwegian kroner rather than sterling, whether at a Flesland machine or a card terminal in town: accepting an on-the-spot conversion to pounds lets the operator set the rate instead of your own bank. You won't need cash to reach the centre: Bybanen line 1 takes about 45 minutes, an adult ticket is NOK 51, and the platform machines take bank cards and phones.
ATMs and cards in Bergen
Visit Norway says almost every business now takes card or phone payment, though it suggests keeping a little cash for small purchases, and you'll find cash machines across towns and cities. You can use Visa and Mastercard credit cards in the most places; Amex and Diners are taken far less often.
Paying for transport in Bergen
On Skyss buses and the Bybanen light rail, an adult one-zone ticket costs NOK 51 and a 24-hour ticket NOK 136 (prices from 1 May 2026, subject to change). The Skyss app takes Visa, Mastercard and Apple Pay, and the machines at Bybanen stops accept bank cards, phones and smartwatches. You can't buy on board the Bybanen, but bus tickets can be bought on board by bank card or in cash. Flybussen, the airport coach, stops at Bryggen among other central stops; it currently costs NOK 189 booked online in advance or NOK 220 on board.
Good to know
- Tipping isn't expected in Norway except in bars and restaurants, where locals pleased with the service usually leave 5-15 per cent; Visit Norway says it's up to you.
- Shops and restaurants rarely take foreign notes, Visit Norway warns, so don't plan on paying in pounds or euros.
- You have a legal right to pay cash, and to get change if the business has it, wherever a business regularly sells to consumers from staffed premises and takes other forms of payment, for amounts up to NOK 20,000; vending machines and unstaffed shops are exempt. Since 1 May 2025, a business that refuses can be fined.
Key Areas in Bergen
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Exchange bureaux, banks and cash machines, as mapped by OpenStreetMap. The map loads only when you ask for it.
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Bergen travel money FAQ
Where is the best place to exchange money in Bergen?
Visit Bergen recommends two counters, both by the Fish Market: FOREX at Strandkaien 2B and Ria Money Transfer at Torget 11. Compare what each gives for your pounds, and go Monday to Saturday, as neither opens on Sundays. With cards accepted nearly everywhere, a little cash is usually plenty.
Can I get kroner at Flesland airport when I land?
Yes, from the cash machines Avinor lists at arrivals, which include kroner. No exchange desk is listed, so to swap pounds over a counter, wait for FOREX or Ria in the centre.
Will I need cash for Bergen's buses and the Bybanen?
No. The Skyss app and the Bybanen stop machines take cards, and a bus ticket bought on board can be paid by card or in cash. Buy before boarding the Bybanen, as it sells none on board.
Checked September 2026. Fees, fares and opening times change, so check locally before relying on them. Sources: Visit Bergen · FOREX Norway · Visit Norway · Avinor · Skyss · Fjord Norway
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