Authored by the expert who managed and guided the team behind the Norway Property Pack
Yes, the analysis of Bergen's property market is included in our pack
Bergen's short-term rental market is active, legal, and shaped by rules that vary depending on whether your apartment sits in a cooperative or a condo building.
In this article, we break down the latest Airbnb earnings data, occupancy rates, legal caps, and neighborhood-level pricing for Bergen in 2026, and we keep updating it as conditions change.
We also cover current housing prices and what they mean for investment returns, so you get the full picture before committing.
And if you're planning to buy a property in this place, you may want to download our pack covering the real estate market in Bergen.
Insights
- Bergen has roughly 3,100 active Airbnb listings, but 55% are one-bedroom apartments, so hosts offering three bedrooms or more face surprisingly little competition in a market hungry for family-sized stays.
- The 30-day annual cap on short-term rentals in Bergen's borettslag cooperatives is three times stricter than the 90-day cap in condo-style buildings, and many buyers only realize this after purchasing.
- Average annual Airbnb revenue in Bergen sits around NOK 140,000, but a well-optimized, centrally located listing available most of the year can realistically pull in more than double that.
- During Festspillene and Bergenfest in late May and early June, centrally located Bergen listings can push nightly rates 30% to 60% above their usual summer baseline, making those two weeks the most profitable of the year.
- About 90% of Bergen's short-term rental supply is "entire home" listings, meaning competition is fierce in that segment while private rooms remain an underexplored niche.
- Bergen's 2026 residential property tax rate is only 2.6 per thousand with a NOK 750,000 deduction per unit, keeping this recurring cost lower than in most comparable European cities.
- A proper heating system and a dedicated clothes-drying setup are not optional in Bergen; listings without them consistently receive lower reviews in a city with over 200 rainy days a year.
- The price gap between central Bergen neighborhoods like Bryggen or Nordnes and well-connected outer areas like Fyllingsdalen or Laksevag can reach 35%, but transit-savvy guests increasingly book cheaper zones if listings clearly explain the Bybanen light rail connection.
Can I legally run an Airbnb in Bergen in 2026?
Is short-term renting allowed in Bergen in 2026?
As of early 2026, short-term renting through platforms like Airbnb is legal in Bergen, and thousands of hosts actively list properties across the city.
The main legal framework governing short-term rentals in Bergen comes from national Norwegian laws, specifically the Eierseksjonsloven (for condo-style buildings) and the Burettslagslova (for housing cooperatives), rather than a single city-level regulation.
The most important restriction is that if your Bergen apartment is in a condo-style building (eierseksjonssameie), you are capped at 90 days of whole-unit short-term rental per year, and if it is in a housing cooperative (borettslag), the cap drops to just 30 days.
On top of these national caps, your building's bylaws or board decisions can impose even tighter limits, and the Norwegian government is actively developing tools to help municipalities like Bergen crack down on operations that function like unlicensed hotels.
Penalties for operating an illegal short-term rental in Bergen can include fines from your building's board, forced removal of your listing, and potential action from local authorities if your operation is deemed commercial and unlicensed.
For a more general view, you can read our article detailing what exactly foreigners can own and buy in Norway.
If you are an American, you might want to read our blog article detailing the property rights of US citizens in Norway.
Are there minimum-stay rules and maximum nights-per-year caps for Airbnbs in Bergen as of 2026?
As of early 2026, Bergen does not impose a city-wide minimum-stay requirement, but national law sets maximum nights-per-year caps depending on your building's ownership structure: 90 days for condo-style apartments (eierseksjonssameie) and just 30 days for housing cooperative apartments (borettslag).
These caps vary by property type: cooperative apartments face the tightest limits, condo apartments get a higher threshold, and standalone houses like detached homes or rowhouses in Bergen are not automatically subject to these day caps, though they can face scrutiny if the operation looks commercial.
Most hosts in Bergen track their rental nights manually or through their Airbnb calendar, since Norway does not yet have a centralized system that automatically counts short-term rental days, though the government has signaled that better tracking tools are coming.
If a host in Bergen exceeds the cap, the building's board can take legal action to stop the rentals, and with the government working to give municipalities stronger enforcement powers, the risk of fines and forced delisting is growing.
Do I have to live there, or can I Airbnb a secondary home in Bergen right now?
Bergen does not have a residency requirement that forces you to live in a property before listing it on Airbnb, so you can rent out a home you don't personally occupy.
Owners of secondary homes can legally operate short-term rentals in Bergen, but they are fully subject to the 90-day cap (in condo buildings) or the 30-day cap (in cooperatives), and these limits apply to whole-unit rentals, which is exactly how most secondary-home Airbnbs operate.
No additional permits are required for non-primary residence short-term rentals in Bergen beyond what already applies, though your building's board may have its own approval process or restrictions.
The main difference between renting out a primary residence versus a secondary home in Bergen is that primary residents can sometimes rent a room (not the whole unit) without triggering the day caps, while secondary-home owners almost always hit those limits because they rent the entire property.
Get fresh and reliable information about the market in Bergen
Don't base significant investment decisions on outdated data. Get updated and accurate information.
Can I run multiple Airbnbs under one name in Bergen right now?
Running multiple Airbnb listings under one name is technically legal in Bergen, but the more units you operate, the more likely you are to be treated as a commercial business rather than a casual host.
There is no official maximum number of properties one person can list in Bergen, but each unit in a condo or cooperative is individually subject to its own 90-day or 30-day cap, and each building's board can independently restrict short-term rental activity.
Hosts with multiple listings in Bergen should strongly consider registering a sole proprietorship (enkeltpersonforetak) through Altinn and the Bronnøysund Register Centre, and once combined turnover crosses the VAT threshold, you will also need to register for VAT with Skatteetaten.
The main reason behind growing scrutiny of multi-listing hosts in Bergen is the Norwegian government's push to prevent "shadow hotels" that function like commercial accommodation but avoid hotel licensing, taxation, and safety standards.
Do I need a short-term rental license or a business registration to host in Bergen as of 2026?
As of early 2026, Bergen does not require a dedicated short-term rental license, but if your hosting looks like a business (multiple units, frequent turnovers, professional management), you will likely need to register a sole proprietorship and follow Norwegian business and tax rules.
Registering a sole proprietorship in Bergen is straightforward: you file through Altinn or directly with the Bronnøysund Register Centre, and the process typically takes just a few days.
You need a valid Norwegian ID number (or D-number for foreigners), a description of your business activity, and basic contact details; there is no special hosting qualification required.
Registering a sole proprietorship in Norway is free with no annual renewal fee, though you will need to file annual tax returns and, if applicable, handle VAT reporting through Skatteetaten.
Are there neighborhood bans or restricted zones for Airbnb in Bergen as of 2026?
As of early 2026, Bergen does not have formal neighborhood bans or officially designated restricted zones where Airbnb is prohibited.
That said, neighborhoods with the highest short-term rental concentration, particularly Sentrum, Bryggen, and Nordnes, are where neighbor complaints and building-board pushback are most common, creating "soft restrictions" even without a formal ban.
These central Bergen areas face the most friction because short-term rental density is especially high there (AirDNA shows most of Bergen's roughly 3,100 listings are "entire home" units clustered around the harbour), which pressures permanent residents and drives boards to adopt stricter internal rules.
Get to know the market before buying a property in Bergen
Better information leads to better decisions. Get all the data you need before investing a large amount of money.
How much can an Airbnb earn in Bergen in 2026?
What's the average and median nightly price on Airbnb in Bergen in 2026?
As of early 2026, the average nightly price (ADR) for an Airbnb listing in Bergen is approximately NOK 1,600 (about $160 USD / €145 EUR), while the median sits closer to NOK 1,450 ($145 USD / €130 EUR) because premium harbour-view listings pull the average upward.
The typical nightly price range covering roughly 80% of Airbnb listings in Bergen falls between NOK 1,000 and NOK 2,400 ($100 to $240 USD / €90 to €220 EUR), with budget-friendly outer neighborhoods at the low end and walkable central apartments at the top.
The single biggest factor driving nightly pricing for Airbnb in Bergen is walkability to the harbour core (Bryggen, the fish market, Floibanen), because Bergen's rainy climate means guests pay a significant premium to avoid relying on buses or taxis.
By the way, you will find much more detailed rent ranges in our property pack covering the real estate market in Bergen.
How much do nightly prices vary by neighborhood in Bergen in 2026?
As of early 2026, nightly Airbnb prices in Bergen vary by as much as 35% between the most expensive neighborhoods like Bryggen and Nordnes (median nightly rates around NOK 1,950 / $195 USD / €175 EUR) and more affordable areas like Laksevag and Fyllingsdalen (around NOK 1,200 / $120 USD / €110 EUR).
The three Bergen neighborhoods with the highest average nightly Airbnb prices are Bryggen/Vagen (around NOK 1,900 / $190 USD / €170 EUR), Sentrum (around NOK 1,800 / $180 USD / €165 EUR), and Nordnes (around NOK 1,750 / $175 USD / €160 EUR), all within walking distance of the UNESCO-listed harbour and major festival venues.
The three with the lowest are Laksevag (around NOK 1,200 / $120 USD / €110 EUR), Fyllingsdalen (around NOK 1,150 / $115 USD / €105 EUR), and parts of Arstad near Mindemyren (around NOK 1,250 / $125 USD / €115 EUR), but these areas still attract budget-conscious guests and remote workers thanks to good Bybanen light rail connections to the centre in 12 to 18 minutes.
What's the typical occupancy rate in Bergen in 2026?
As of early 2026, the typical occupancy rate for Airbnb listings in Bergen is approximately 61%, based on market data covering all property types and neighborhoods.
The realistic range covering most Airbnb listings in Bergen falls between 45% and 75%, with new or unoptimized listings at the lower end and well-reviewed, dynamically priced central properties reaching the upper range.
Bergen's average Airbnb occupancy of 61% is broadly in line with Norwegian cities that have strong seasonal tourism, though it runs slightly higher than smaller coastal towns because Bergen benefits from a longer event calendar and year-round cruise traffic.
The single biggest factor for above-average occupancy in Bergen is strong guest reviews combined with an honest listing description, because Bergen's unpredictable weather makes travelers cautious about vague property details, and listings that address heating, drying, and check-in logistics upfront consistently outperform.
Make a profitable investment in Bergen
Better information leads to better decisions. Save time and money. Download our data.
What's the average monthly revenue per listing in Bergen in 2026?
As of early 2026, the average monthly revenue per Airbnb listing in Bergen is approximately NOK 11,500 ($1,150 USD / €1,050 EUR), working out to roughly NOK 140,000 ($14,000 USD / €12,700 EUR) per year across all active listings.
The realistic monthly revenue range covering roughly 80% of listings in Bergen runs from NOK 5,000 to NOK 22,000 ($500 to $2,200 USD / €450 to €2,000 EUR), with the wide spread reflecting the large number of part-time hosts who only list for a few months each year.
Top-performing Airbnb listings in Bergen, those in walkable central locations with strong reviews and near-full availability, can generate NOK 25,000 to NOK 35,000 per month ($2,500 to $3,500 USD / €2,300 to €3,200 EUR) during high season. Sustained summer performance plus solid shoulder-season bookings can push annual revenue to NOK 250,000 to NOK 350,000 ($25,000 to $35,000 USD / €23,000 to €32,000 EUR).
Finally, note that we give here all the information you need to buy and rent out a property in Bergen.
What's the typical low-season vs high-season monthly revenue in Bergen in 2026?
As of early 2026, a typical Airbnb listing in Bergen earns roughly NOK 6,000 to NOK 10,000 ($600 to $1,000 USD / €550 to €900 EUR) per month during low season and NOK 16,000 to NOK 28,000 ($1,600 to $2,800 USD / €1,450 to €2,550 EUR) during high season, with the best-located listings during festival weeks earning even more.
Low season for Airbnb in Bergen runs from November through February when daylight is short and tourism drops, while high season spans June through August, with the most intense spike in late May and early June when Festspillene i Bergen (27 May to 10 June 2026) and Bergenfest (10 to 13 June 2026) overlap with summer travel and heavy cruise-ship traffic.
What's a realistic Airbnb monthly expense range in Bergen in 2026?
As of early 2026, a realistic monthly operating expense range for an Airbnb in Bergen (excluding mortgage) is approximately NOK 4,500 to NOK 12,500 ($450 to $1,250 USD / €410 to €1,140 EUR), with apartments at the lower end and larger detached houses at the top.
The single largest expense for most Airbnb hosts in Bergen is cleaning and laundry, which can reach NOK 2,000 to NOK 5,000 per month ($200 to $500 USD / €180 to €450 EUR) depending on turnover frequency, because professional cleaning in Norway is relatively expensive.
Hosts in Bergen should expect to spend between 30% and 50% of gross Airbnb revenue on operating expenses, with self-managed, lower-turnover listings closer to 30% and professionally managed, high-turnover listings approaching 50%.
If you want to go into more details, we also have a blog article detailing all the property taxes and fees in Bergen.
What's realistic monthly net profit and profit per available night for Airbnb in Bergen in 2026?
As of early 2026, a realistic monthly net profit for an actively managed Airbnb in Bergen is approximately NOK 16,500 to NOK 24,500 ($1,650 to $2,450 USD / €1,500 to €2,230 EUR) before mortgage and income tax, translating to roughly NOK 550 to NOK 820 ($55 to $82 USD / €50 to €75 EUR) per available night.
The broader range covering most Bergen listings runs from NOK 3,000 to NOK 25,000 per month ($300 to $2,500 USD / €275 to €2,275 EUR), because many hosts only list part-time and earn less overall even when their per-night economics are solid.
Bergen Airbnb hosts operating at near-full availability typically achieve a net profit margin of 55% to 70% of gross revenue, which is healthy by European short-term rental standards and reflects Bergen's low property tax burden and strong nightly rates.
A typical Airbnb listing in Bergen reaches break-even at roughly 25% to 35% occupancy, meaning that even during quiet winter months, most well-priced listings can cover their operating costs.
In our property pack covering the real estate market in Bergen, we explain the best strategies to improve your cashflows.
Don't buy the wrong property, in the wrong area of Bergen
Buying real estate is a significant investment. Don't rely solely on your intuition. Gather the right information to make the best decision.
How competitive is Airbnb in Bergen as of 2026?
How many active Airbnb listings are in Bergen as of 2026?
As of early 2026, Bergen has approximately 3,100 active Airbnb listings, making it one of the more active short-term rental markets among mid-sized Norwegian cities.
Bergen's listing count has grown steadily over recent years following a pandemic dip, driven by international tourism, cruise traffic, and a strong festival calendar, though the pace of new listings is now slower as national caps and enforcement tools filter out casual or non-compliant hosts.
Which neighborhoods are most saturated in Bergen as of 2026?
As of early 2026, the most saturated neighborhoods for Airbnb in Bergen are Sentrum, Bryggen/Vagen, Nordnes, Nygardshoyden, and close-in Sandviken, all clustered around the harbour core where tourist foot traffic is highest.
These Bergen neighborhoods are saturated not just because they are scenic, but because they sit within the "rain-proof walking radius" guests value so highly: being able to walk to Bryggen, the fish market, Floibanen, and festival venues without needing transport on a wet Bergen day is the single strongest booking driver, funneling the vast majority of the city's listings into a tight area.
Relatively undersaturated neighborhoods offering better opportunities for new Bergen Airbnb hosts include Laksevag, Arstad (near Mindemyren), and parts of Fana close to Bybanen stops, where listing density is much lower but guest demand is growing as travelers become comfortable using the light rail to reach the centre in under 20 minutes.
What local events spike demand in Bergen in 2026?
As of early 2026, the biggest Airbnb demand spikes in Bergen come from Festspillene i Bergen (27 May to 10 June 2026), Bergenfest (10 to 13 June 2026), and cruise-ship arrivals peaking between May and September, with smaller bumps from Bergen International Film Festival and Nattjazz.
During Festspillene and Bergenfest, hosts in central Bergen typically see nightly rates jump 30% to 60% above their normal summer baseline, and occupancy near Bergenhus and Bryggen can approach 90% for those dates.
Smart hosts in Bergen should adjust pricing and minimum-stay requirements at least four to six weeks before major events, because festival-goers tend to book early, and waiting means competing on price with hosts who have already locked in premium bookings.
What occupancy differences exist between top and average hosts in Bergen in 2026?
As of early 2026, top-performing Airbnb hosts in Bergen (strong reviews, professional photos, dynamic pricing) typically achieve 70% to 80% occupancy, well above the city-wide average.
An average Airbnb host in Bergen sits at around 61% occupancy, while new or unoptimized listings often start in the 45% to 55% range until they build reviews and fine-tune pricing.
It typically takes a new Airbnb host in Bergen four to six months to reach top-performer levels, assuming quality photography, fast response times, competitive launch pricing, and, crucially for Bergen, clear details about heating, drying facilities, and getting around the city in the rain.
We give more details about the different Airbnb strategies to adopt in our property pack covering the real estate market in Bergen.
Which price points are most crowded, and where's the "white space" for new hosts in Bergen right now?
The nightly price range with the highest concentration of Airbnb listings in Bergen is NOK 1,300 to NOK 1,700 ($130 to $170 USD / €120 to €155 EUR), exactly where most one-bedroom "entire home" apartments in central and near-central neighborhoods cluster.
That mid-range one-bedroom segment is the most crowded, but "white space" exists for spacious family-friendly listings priced at NOK 2,200 to NOK 3,500 ($220 to $350 USD / €200 to €320 EUR), since only about 11% of Bergen's Airbnb supply offers three or more bedrooms despite clear family and group demand.
A new host targeting this underserved Bergen segment would ideally offer a well-equipped three-bedroom property with rain-ready amenities (covered entrance, clothes dryer, blackout curtains, strong Wi-Fi) and either walkable harbour access or a clear Bybanen connection, the specific features Bergen's family travelers value most and current supply largely lacks.
We made this infographic to show you how property prices in Norway compare to other big cities across the region. It breaks down the average price per square meter in city centers, so you can see how cities stack up. It’s an easy way to spot where you might get the best value for your money. We hope you like it.
What property works best for Airbnb demand in Bergen right now?
What bedroom count gets the most bookings in Bergen as of 2026?
As of early 2026, one-bedroom and two-bedroom properties get the most Airbnb bookings in Bergen by volume, because they dominate supply and match the most common trip types visiting the city.
The estimated booking breakdown by bedroom count in Bergen is roughly 55% one-bedroom, 29% two-bedroom, about 11% three-bedroom-plus, and the rest split among studios and larger properties, though larger units tend to fill at higher nightly rates when they do book.
One- and two-bedroom listings perform best in Bergen because the city's tourism is driven by couples, solo travelers, and small groups attending festivals or stopping during cruise itineraries, and these guests need a compact, well-located base rather than a large home.
What property type performs best in Bergen in 2026?
As of early 2026, apartments (leiligheter) are the best-performing property type for Airbnb in Bergen in terms of booking volume and occupancy, because they dominate the city's supply and sit in the walkable central areas tourists prefer.
Apartments in Bergen typically achieve 60% to 65% occupancy, while standalone houses (detached, semi-detached, rowhouses) reach similar or slightly lower occupancy but command higher nightly rates, and unique properties are too rare in Bergen to draw reliable comparisons.
Apartments outperform in Bergen because they cluster near Bryggen, Floibanen, and festival venues, and their compact size keeps cleaning costs low and turnover fast, which matters in a market where 90% of listings are "entire home" and the edge comes from location, reviews, and efficiency rather than property size.
What sources have we used to write this blog article?
Whether it's in our blog articles or the market analyses included in our property pack about Bergen, we always rely on the strongest methodology we can ... and we don't throw out numbers at random.
We also aim to be fully transparent, so below we've listed the authoritative sources we used, and explained how we used them and the methods behind our estimates.
| Source | Why we trust it | How we used it |
|---|---|---|
| Lovdata | Norway's official legal publishing platform and the definitive reference for what the law says. | We used it to ground the 90-day annual cap on short-term rentals in condo-style buildings. It serves as our legal baseline before looking at enforcement or market conditions. |
| Regjeringen.no (borettslag guidance) | The Norwegian government's own legal interpretation and guidance page. | We used it to confirm the 30-day rule in housing cooperatives and the official definition of "korttidsutleie." We cross-checked it against Lovdata for accuracy. |
| Regjeringen.no (enforcement policy) | An official government announcement about upcoming regulatory and enforcement powers. | We used it to set expectations about evolving enforcement, especially for "shadow hotel" operations. We translated that into practical risk guidance for Bergen hosts. |
| Bergen kommune | The city of Bergen's official page for residential property tax rates and deductions. | We used it to model property tax as a recurring cost for Bergen Airbnb profitability. We applied the 2026 rate (2.6 per thousand, NOK 750,000 deduction) for Bergen-specific estimates. |
| Norges Bank (policy rate) | Norway's central bank; its policy rate anchors mortgage pricing across the country. | We used it to frame financing reality as of January 2026, noting rates remain higher than pre-2022. We do not assume any future rate-cut path. |
| Norges Bank (exchange rates) | The official reference exchange rate used widely for financial reporting in Norway. | We used it to convert AirDNA's USD-denominated stats into Norwegian kroner. We applied the early January 2026 daily rate. |
| Statistics Norway / SSB (accommodation) | Norway's national statistics office; its tourism stats are the official measure of accommodation demand. | We used it to validate Bergen's seasonal demand patterns and commercial stay volumes. We triangulated this with event calendars and port activity. |
| Statistics Norway / SSB (tourism hub) | SSB's curated gateway to all official tourism indicators and releases. | We used it to cross-check trends in foreign versus domestic guest nights. It provided macro context rather than precise STR pricing. |
| AirDNA | A leading short-term rental analytics platform with transparent methodology and deep Bergen coverage. | We used it as the backbone for Bergen market data: listings, occupancy, ADR, RevPAR, bedroom mix, and amenities. We stress-tested figures against local costs and seasonal patterns. |
| Skatteetaten (Norwegian Tax Administration) | Norway's official tax authority providing definitive VAT guidance. | We used it to identify when Bergen hosts need VAT registration. We translated the threshold into a practical compliance checkpoint for scaling hosts. |
| Altinn | The official Norwegian government portal for business administration and filings. | We used it to describe the simplest compliant business setup for commercial hosting. We kept it practical: what it is, when to do it, and what changes. |
| Bronnøysund Register Centre | Maintains Norway's core business registers and issues official organisation numbers. | We used it alongside Altinn to confirm the registration process. It verified how to obtain an organisation number. |
| Bergen Havn | The Bergen port authority's own live schedule of ship and cruise arrivals. | We used it as an indicator of cruise-driven demand pulses in central Bergen. It helps explain why certain weeks command higher prices. |
| Festspillene i Bergen | The official website of Bergen's largest cultural festival, so dates are definitive. | We used it to identify the 27 May to 10 June 2026 high-demand window. We mapped which Bergen neighborhoods benefit most by walkability to venues. |
| Bergenfest | The official website of the Bergenfest music festival with confirmed dates. | We used it to pinpoint the 10 to 13 June 2026 price-spike window. We incorporated it into our seasonality and neighborhood pricing analysis. |
| Kystverket (Norwegian Coastal Administration) | The government agency responsible for national cruise traffic statistics. | We used it to sanity-check the broader cruise picture beyond Bergen's port schedule. It provided macro context for Bergen's tourism-driven peaks. |
Get fresh and reliable information about the market in Bergen
Don't base significant investment decisions on outdated data. Get updated and accurate information.
Related blog posts