Norway’s second-largest city is a convenient jumping-off point for tours of the nearby fjords, but it’s far more than just that. Bergen deserves at least a day in itself, and now that we’ve finally discovered a recommendable hotel in the city center, you can explore in comfort. On this most recent trip, we had great fun touring the city on foot, by funicular, by cable car and by boat. In between, we relished the superlatively fresh seafood.

Ascend via Cable Car and Funicular

After dinner one evening, we took a funicular from the city center up to the summit of Mount Fløyen, where we were rewarded with a spectacular panoramic view over Bergen’s harbor. At the top is a charming shop and café selling souvenirs and pastries and the recently redone 100-year-old Fløirestauranten. The Brasseriet dining room offers à la carte meals, and adjacent Schou serves multicourse “sensory” dinners. On the way down, we took an enchanting tree-lined path with small waterfalls and bubbling brooks. It seemed as if a gnome might pop out to greet us at any moment. Time permitting, also take a taxi to the new Ulriken Cable Car. From the top, at about 2,100 feet above sea level, you will have magnificent views of the sea, fjords and mountains surrounding Bergen. The areas around both the funicular and cable car offer all levels of hiking and biking trails.

Lunch on Fresh Crab

In the summer, Bergen hosts a pop-up fish market next to the harbor with seafood stalls and tented areas for dining. Carnivores will be enticed by the counter selling moose burgers and reindeer sausage. We particularly enjoyed Bernard Torghandel, where we feasted on some impeccably fresh and tasty king and snow crab.