The Leprosy Museum, Bergen: Visitor Information and Tickets

The Leprosy Museum (Lepramuseet) sits inside St. Jørgen’s Hospital on Kong Oscars gate 59, with preserved wards and a small church that you can walk through in about 60 to 90 minutes. It is open for a tight summer season, 18 May to 6 September, with short daily hours (11:00 to 15:00), so timing matters.

Last update: 2026

The Leprosy Museum facts for visitors: Quick overview

Quick overview

• Best for: medical history, social history, quiet museums, travelers who like real rooms and real objects, not just displays.

• Time needed: 60 to 90 minutes for a self-guided visit, 90 to 120 minutes if you add a guided tour slot.

• Location: Kong Oscars gate 59, a short walk from Bergen Station and the city-center hills.

• Ticketing model: pay-once entry for the exhibitions, guided tours cost extra and use separate tickets.

Key facts

• Official name: The Leprosy Museum, St. Jørgen’s Hospital (Lepramuseet St. Jørgens Hospital).

• Address: Kong Oscars gate 59, 5017 Bergen.

• Entrance routine: show your ticket at reception, then start in the main building and church.

• Closest transport: Bergen Station is about a 5-minute walk, Byparken light rail stop is about a 13-minute walk.

• Opening pattern: seasonal only, 18 May to 6 September, daily 11:00 to 15:00.

• Tickets: adults about EUR 15 (NOK 170), students about EUR 7 (NOK 85), ages 0 to 17 free.

• Families rule: children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult.

• Accessibility summary: partial wheelchair access, no permanent ramp at the main entrance, staff can assist.

• Sensitive visitors note: the indoor climate in old buildings can bother asthma or allergies.

• On-site food: no café inside the museum, plan a meal within a 5 to 10 minute walk.

• Languages: exhibition texts are available in multiple languages, guided tours offered in Norwegian and English.

• Official site: The Leprosy Museum, St. Jørgen’s Hospital visitor page

The Leprosy Museum tickets

Buy online if you are visiting in peak summer weeks because the museum’s entry window is only 11:00 to 15:00, and you do not want to spend 20 minutes in a queue. The standard entrance ticket covers the museum’s exhibitions, and you show it at reception when you arrive.

If you want a guided tour, plan it like a separate product. Guided tours require a separate ticket, and they can sell out on busy days, especially when cruise traffic pushes more people into the city between 11:00 and 15:00.

Trade-off: if you prefer flexible, open-all-day museums, this one can feel restrictive, because a late start can leave you rushing through rooms.

Opening hours and best time to visit

The museum runs a clear summer season, 18 May to 6 September, and opens daily from 11:00 to 15:00. Outside that window the museum is closed in the winter season, with group visits sometimes possible by request.

For the calmest visit, aim for the first half-hour after opening (11:00 to 11:30), when you can take in the wards without people funneling into the same narrow rooms. If you want the herb garden, go early on a dry day, because it is accessed through the yard and you will enjoy it more with 10 to 15 minutes of unhurried time.

Trade-off: if you are in Bergen in October to April, this stop will not work for standard visitors, so you need a backup indoor museum plan.

How to get there

You can reach the entrance at Kong Oscars gate 59 on foot from Bergen Station in about 5 minutes, which makes it an easy add-on on arrival day, especially if your train gets in around 10:00. The streets rise gently, but the approach includes uneven pavement and a few curb transitions.

If you arrive by Bybanen light rail, Byparken is about a 13-minute walk, which is workable even in light rain if you have a hood and shoes with grip. Local buses also stop close by, with nearby stops a short 2 to 3 minute walk from the museum gate.

Trade-off: if you struggle with hills or want door-to-door access, plan a taxi drop-off right at Kong Oscars gate, because walking from the harbor can feel longer in wet weather.

The experience: What to expect inside

Start in the main building where the rooms read like a real hospital, not a recreated set. You move through bedrooms and work spaces that stayed largely unchanged into the mid-20th century, and the atmosphere can feel heavy in a way that is hard to shake in just 30 minutes.

Next, step into the small church on site, then loop back through the exhibition areas that explain Bergen’s role in leprosy research, including the 1873 discovery of the leprosy bacillus by Gerhard Armauer Hansen. Plan a slow pace, because the best details are small, like personal objects and medical tools in close cases.

Finish with the herb garden behind the main building if it is open, which it is during museum opening hours. It is a quiet corner in the city center, and 10 minutes there can reset your mood after the wards.

Trade-off: only parts of the complex are open to the public, several buildings are rented to tenants, and some routes involve tight doorways that are not comfortable for strollers or bulky backpacks.

Planning your time and itineraries

A realistic standalone visit is 60 to 90 minutes, which fits well as a late-morning stop if you are building a Bergen day around a 12:30 lunch. If you want a guided tour plus your own slow walk, block 2 hours so you are not watching the clock after 14:30.

A simple low-stress pairing is to do the museum at 11:00, then walk toward the harbor for a second stop at Bryggen, Bergen: Visitor Information and Tickets, where the outdoor lanes work well even if you only have 45 minutes.

Trade-off: do not schedule this right before a timed boat departure, because the emotional weight and the short 11:00 to 15:00 opening can make you hurry in the worst way.

Accessibility, families, and constraints

Wheelchair access is partial. The main entrance does not have a permanent ramp, but staff can help you enter, and some areas are made available for wheelchairs if you ask at reception.

For families, the museum sets a clear rule: children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult, and the museum itself says it is best suited for adults and older children who can handle the subject matter. Plan a talk beforehand if you are bringing teens, because the rooms and stories can hit hard.

If you have asthma or strong allergies, consider limiting your indoor time to 45 minutes and taking breaks outdoors, because the museum warns that the indoor climate in old buildings can trigger reactions.

Not ideal for: travelers who need fully step-free routes, visitors with severe mold or dust sensitivities, and families with toddlers who need stroller-friendly circulation.

Rules, security, and surprises

Expect a respectful, museum-quiet environment, with narrow rooms that work best when you keep your voice low and move in single file. Large bags can become a problem in tight doorways, so pack light and carry a small day bag instead of a full backpack.

The museum prohibits smoking, barbeque, and any use of open fire in the yard and herb garden. This matters if you are planning a picnic day, because this site is not a place to sit down with food in the garden.

Surprise to plan for: the museum has no café, so if you need a coffee break, build in a 5 to 10 minute walk to a nearby option after your visit.

Trade-off: if you want a bright, upbeat museum experience, this one is deliberately sober, and some visitors choose to skip it on the same day as another emotionally intense site.

Costs and spending on site

Entry is straightforward: about EUR 15 (NOK 170) for adults, about EUR 7 (NOK 85) for students, and free for ages 0 to 17. These EUR amounts are rounded using an exchange rate around 1 EUR = 11.60 NOK (ECB reference rate dated 26 January 2026).

Discount notes can matter if you are stacking museums: the museum is not included in the Bergen Card, companion card entry is free for the companion, and groups of 15 or more can get a 20% discount.

On-site spending is minimal because there is no café. Budget EUR 0 to 5 for small purchases unless you pick up a book or gift item, then plan your main spend for lunch elsewhere.

Trade-off: if you rely on city cards for value, this site can feel pricey per minute because the opening hours cap how long you can linger.

Nearby landmarks and combinations

From Kong Oscars gate you can walk downhill toward the waterfront in about 10 to 15 minutes and connect the visit to central Bergen’s main loop. A practical pairing is to combine this museum with Bryggen for a history-heavy half-day that still stays walkable.

If you are choosing where to stay for this kind of city-center walking day, start at the Bergen city hub and compare it with a central base like Opus XVI, Bergen: Practical Hotel Review for Travelers, which is positioned for short walks to both the station and the harbor.

Trade-off: if you want a nature-first day, you might prefer to skip city museums entirely and save this for a rainy day, because this visit is mostly indoors.

Practical tips that change the day

• Dress warmer than you think, the museum itself recommends warm clothing even in summer.

• Arrive close to 11:00, the 11:00 to 15:00 window disappears fast.

• Pack a small bag, tight doorways make big backpacks annoying for you and everyone behind you.

• If you have allergies or asthma, plan an outdoor break in the yard after 20 to 30 minutes.

• Add 10 minutes for the herb garden, it is easy to miss and it is part of what makes the visit breathe.

• Plan your lunch first, there is no café on site.

FAQ

Is The Leprosy Museum open in winter?No, it is closed in the winter season, and standard visitor access runs 18 May to 6 September with daily hours from 11:00 to 15:00.

Do you need to prebook The Leprosy Museum tickets?Usually yes in peak summer, because the short 11:00 to 15:00 opening makes queues more painful, and guided tours use separate tickets.

How long does a visit take?Plan 60 to 90 minutes for a self-guided visit, and closer to 2 hours if you add a guided tour slot.

Where is the museum entrance?You enter at Kong Oscars gate 59, 5017 Bergen, and you show your ticket at reception before heading into the main building.

Is it suitable for children?It can work for older children and teens with an adult, but children under 14 must be accompanied, and the subject matter is heavy.

Is the museum wheelchair accessible?Partly, because some areas are made available for wheelchairs, but there is no permanent ramp at the main entrance and you may need staff help.

Does the Bergen Card include this museum?No, the museum is not included in the Bergen Card, so you should budget the full ticket price.

Is there a café inside?No, there is no café, so plan a coffee or lunch stop within a 5 to 10 minute walk after you finish.

What is the most practical time to arrive?Arrive around 11:00, because you get the quietest rooms and you have the full 4-hour window before closing at 15:00.