The top things to do in Bergen

As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bryggen is one of the most popular places to visit in Bergen. This ancient merchant quarter makes up the oldest part of the city and is the only preserved business district from the Hanseatic period. The stretch of wooden houses lining the eastern side of the fjord entering Bergen have been ravaged by fires time and again, the last being in 1955.

Today you will find restaurants, craft workshops, artist's studios and boutiques in the neighborhood. Also check out the Hanseatic Museum, housed in one of the old Hasana buildings on the waterfront, and Bryggen Guiding.

For the best views of Bergen, head up Mount Fløyen on the Fløibanen, a funicular railway that climbs more than 300 meters in about six minutes.

At the top, you’ll get the full 360-degree view of Bergen city, across the sea to colorful ships in the harbor and mountains beyond. At the top, there’s a café, restaurant and plenty of space to walk. Families will appreciate the playground near the station.

If you have time and energy, Fløyen is also the starting point for several short hikes. Trails are well-marked, and most are manageable for visitors of all ages.

If Mount Fløyen isn’t tall enough for you, check out Mount Ulriken, the highest of the seven mountains surrounding Bergen. It is roughly 820 feet taller than Fløyen and far more rugged, though like its smaller counterpart, the top of Ulriken can be reached by a gondola that grants supreme views.

To save time, many visitors take on one or the other, but if you're voracious for vistas, two in one day never hurt anyone.

After you work up an appetite conquering mountains, swing by the Bergen Fish Market. The market is one of the most visited outdoor markets in Norway.

Located in the heart of the city, it sells everything from flowers to fruits to whale meat. Although it's rather expensive, most visitors find the experience worthwhile.

The Troldhaugen Edvard Grieg Museum offers land-destined visitors on fjord cruises a glimpse at the life of Edvard Grieg, the world-famous Norwegian pianist who’s widely considered one of the leading Romantic-era composers.

Troldhaugen, which means “troll house” in Norwegian, consists of the Grieg museum, Grieg’s villa where he wrote his music, and both his and his wife’s grave sites. You can even listen to a recital of the composer’s tunes by a live a pianist.

If you have any interest in church history, architecture or the decorative arts, Mariakirken (St Mary’s Church) is a necessary stop in Bergen. Nestled close to the water, it is the oldest building in the city and has burnt down and been rebuilt several times. It recently underwent an extensive restoration process.

Dating from the 12th century, it is a great example of the Romanesque church architectural style. There are several historic pieces inside, from a delicately carved altar cabinet to statues of each of the apostles standing in their own niche.

If time allows, the Flåm Railway should be at the top of your Bergen itinerary. This epic train ride between the villages of Flåm and Myrdal is considered one of the most scenic in the world, passing waterfalls, valleys and steep cliffs. Tourists flock from Norway and beyond to experience the wonders of this spectacular railway - and they are rarely disappointed.

As Myrdal is also a station on the Bergen Line, it's easy to connect a trip on the Flåm Railway with onward trains running between Bergen and Oslo.