Comedy Walk, 2 Hours 30 Minutes

A free, pay-what-you-want walking tour that leans on jokes as much as history, running two and a half hours through central Bergen. Guides work for tips, so the price is whatever you think it was worth at the end. Rated 4.87 across 1108 reviews. Expect Bryggen, the fish market and a fair amount of local humour along the way.

Overview

A red umbrella on the chest at the Musikkpaviljongen, the Music Pavilion, is the signal for this tour. The guide behind it runs a comedic walk through Bergen, and the tone is set from the start: this is a comedy tour first, with history folded in. Over two and a half hours the route works through the Vikings, the Hanseatic League, World War Two, and up to the Bergen of today, with digressions into music, food, the sovereign wealth fund, electric cars, dating culture, jobs and education.

The guide's pitch is simple: by the end you should feel like you know Bergen, and you should have laughed getting there. He backs it with an unusual promise, that if it is not the best walking tour you have done, the tour is free. Payment works on the tips-based model, with cash or card accepted on the spot.

Reviewers describe a guide who is outgoing, colourful and full of stories, and one said they expected two and a half hours to drag but enjoyed every second. The hills of Bergen rule the walk out for wheelchair users, though strollers are described as workable.

Itinerary

1. Meet at the Music PavilionFind the guide at the Musikkpaviljongen, the Music Pavilion, identified by a red umbrella worn on his chest.
2. FestplassenThe first listed stop on the route, one of thirteen stops in total, though the listing shows only the first three.
3. Edvard Grieg statueThe second listed stop on the route.
4. Ole Bull FountainThe third listed stop, the final stop shown in the listing before the walk continues through the remaining unlisted stops.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical things shape this walk, from the pay-what-you-want model to the hills.

• Pace and fitness. The route covers thirteen stops across two and a half hours, and the listing notes the hilly nature of Bergen. One reviewer expected to feel tired at that length but enjoyed the whole time.
• How payment works. Booking is free, and guests pay the guide what they think the walk was worth at the end. Cash and card are both accepted, and the guide suggests reference points for tipping on his model.
• Weather readiness. The tour runs in rain or sunshine, with the guide's line that there is no bad weather, only bad clothing. Bring a waterproof layer if the forecast looks wet.
• Group feel. Reviewers described the guide as outgoing and colourful, and one noted he was open to questions from the group.
• Style of the tour. This is explicitly a comedic tour. History is real and wide ranging, from Vikings to the present day, but the delivery is humorous and colourful rather than academic.
• Accessibility. The tour is not wheelchair friendly because of Bergen's hills, according to the listing. Baby strollers should be fine.

Common issues. The main limits come straight from the listing. Payment is tips-based rather than fixed, so the final cost is left to the guest. The listing also shows only the first three of thirteen stops, so the full route stays a surprise, and the tone is firmly comedic, which may not suit travellers wanting a conventional history tour.

Common Questions