KODE

KODE is four buildings in a row beside the lake in central Bergen, each with a different emphasis: Norwegian art from the eighteenth century onward, including a substantial Munch collection built on Rasmus Meyer's early purchases; international art with works by Picasso, Klee and Paul Signac; decorative arts and design with silver, furniture and the Chinese collection of General Munthe; and rotating contemporary exhibitions. One ticket covers all four and also the composers' homes at Troldhaugen, Siljustol and Lysoen outside the city. The Munch holding is the largest outside Oslo, with paintings from across his career including several major works from the 1890s, and it is generally quieter than the Oslo museum.

What you actually see

• The Munch collection - the largest holding outside Oslo, across four decades.
• The international art - works by Picasso, Klee and other European artists.
• The decorative arts - silver, furniture and the Munthe Chinese collection.
• The four buildings - a connected museum row along the central lake.

When to go

Year-round; the museums are indoors and suit Bergen's frequent rain. Buildings close on different days and some sections shut for rehanging, so checking which are open avoids disappointment.

Honest expectations

Not all four buildings are open on the same days, and closures for exhibition changes are common. The ticket is valid across the group but the composers' homes are outside the city and seasonal. Labelling in some sections is limited in English.

Nearby

Bryggen and the fish market are a short walk; Troldhaugen lies south by light rail.