Bergen is Norway's most beautiful city — a compact harbour town encircled by seven mountains, where the UNESCO-listed Bryggen wharf's painted wooden merchant houses have stood since the Hanseatic League counted cod here in the 14th century. The Fløibanen funicular climbs to Mount Fløyen in eight minutes, delivering the definitive panorama of the city, its fjord and the mountains beyond. Bergen's fish market is one of Norway's finest, with salmon, king crab and cloudberry jam; the Kode art museums hold work by Edvard Munch and the Bergen expressionists. The city is the departure point for the UNESCO Nærøyfjord — one of the narrowest, most spectacular fjords in the world — and the famous Norway in a Nutshell scenic railway round trip.
- Suggested duration: 3–4 days
- Best time to visit: May to September for fjord excursions; winter brings aurora borealis chances and atmospheric snow-covered Bryggen.