City Hostel Bergen
Big well-run central hostel on quiet Marken lane, 3 min to the station, 5 min to Bryggen
City Hostel Bergen (listed on Booking as Marken Gjestehus) is a 4,475-review, 8.3-rated large hostel on Marken lane, three minutes from the train/bus station and five from Bryggen. Dorms from about €52, a proper full shared kitchen, 11pm check-out enforcement that annoys some guests but keeps the place clean.
City Hostel Bergen sits on Marken, a narrow 16th-century lane running between Vetrlidsallmenningen and the main train/bus station (Bergen stasjon). The Booking listing is under its original name Marken Gjestehus; the rebrand to City Hostel happened in 2023 but the old name still shows on maps and signage. Three minutes to the station on foot, five to Bryggen, seven to Torgallmenningen — it's arguably the best-located hostel in the city for arrivals by train from Oslo (Bergensbanen) or by airport tram.
The building is a four-storey former guesthouse with 120 beds across a mix of 4-, 6-, and 8-bed dorms (mixed and female-only), plus a modest number of private doubles and twins. Beds are metal bunks with real mattresses, clean linen, per-bed reading lights and USB/power outlets, and bed-side lockers large enough for a 60L backpack. Bathrooms are floor-shared, recently refurbished, with reliably hot water.
The shared kitchen is the hostel's anchor amenity. Four burners, two ovens, three microwaves, two full-size fridges (labeled bags), utensils and pots in stocked drawers. With a Rema 1000 grocery 2 minutes away on Vetrlidsallmenningen, dinner for two can come in under NOK 150 — against NOK 600+ for the same food at a Bryggen restaurant. There's a dining area with long communal tables and a separate smaller lounge for quieter work. Wifi is fast (tested 60+ mbps on the 3rd floor).
The bar is small but real — a few craft Norwegian beers, a wine list, and cheap prices for the city (NOK 95/pint versus NOK 130 on Bryggen). It's more a common room with a bar counter than a party venue — evenings stay mellow, clearing out by 23:00 per house rules. Staff organize occasional walking tours to Fløyen and fjord-trip bookings to Mostraumen.
Two trade-offs worth flagging. First, the 11:00 check-out is strictly enforced — guests are asked to vacate rooms by 11, with bag storage available until 16:00 but no re-entry to the dorm during the day. This catches late-risers off guard. Second, beds are reported as squeaky on upper bunks — dorm sleepers should prefer a bottom bunk to avoid waking others when they roll over. Third (minor): no lift, so backpacks up four flights.
- 01Arguably the most useful location in Bergen — 3 min to train station, 5 to Bryggen
- 02Four-burner shared kitchen with two ovens, proper gear, cheap grocery nearby
- 03Mellow bar with NOK 95 craft pints, no party-hostel volume after 23:00
- 044,475 reviews at 8.3 — biggest, most-tested central hostel in the city
- 05Multilingual staff who organize Fløyen walking tours and fjord bookings
- 3-minute walk to Bergen train/bus station
- Four-burner shared kitchen with two ovens, long dining tables
- Bed-side USB/power outlets + per-bed reading lights
- On-site bar with NOK 95 pints, quiet by 23:00
“I liked the staff because they were very helpful, and the cleanliness was perfect. Felt like home for my three nights before heading out to the fjords.”
“Location excellent, clean, helpful staff, good kitchen. Marken is a great quiet street to come back to after a day around Bryggen — three minutes to the station made the Bergensbanen train so easy.”
“Well-equipped hostel with essential facilities — paid washer and dryer, toaster, microwave, plus drinks at the reception. Lockers in the rooms are big enough for a 60L pack. Would stay again.”
- Bergen train/bus station3 min walk
- Bryggen UNESCO wharf5 min walk
- Torgallmenningen main square7 min walk
- Fløibanen funicular base4 min walk
- Rema 1000 grocery (Vetrlidsallmenningen)2 min walk
- Stoltzekleiven stairs trailhead8 min walk
