8 Best Sights in Bryggen, Bergen

A trip to this merchant city is incomplete without visiting the historic Hanseatic harborside, Bryggen. A row of mostly reconstructed 14th-century wooden buildings that face the harbor makes this one of the most charming walkways in Europe, especially on a sunny day. Several fires, the latest in 1955, destroyed some of the original structures, but you'd never know it now. Today the old houses hold boutiques and restaurants, and wandering through the wooden alleys here will be a highlight of your trip. Bryggen has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1979.

In a strikingly modern building on the waterfront, and on the open market square by the harbor, the busy fish market is one of Bergen's most popular attractions. Turn-of-the-20th-century photographs of this pungent square show fishermen in Wellington boots and raincoats and women in long aprons. Now the fishmongers wear bright-orange rubber overalls as they look over the day's catch. You'll want to come at lunchtime, when you can enjoy the catch of the day while watching the boats in the harbor. Try a classic Bergen lunch of shrimp or salmon on a baguette with mayonnaise and cucumber. Fruits, vegetables, and flowers are also on offer, as are handicrafts.

A magnificent view of Bergen and its suburbs can be taken in from the top of Mt. Fløyen, the most accessible of the city's seven mountains. The eight-minute ride on the funicular takes you to the top, 320 meters (1,050 feet) above the sea. A car departs at least every half hour. On the top is a restaurant and café, a shop, and a playground, not to mention friendly mountain goats. Several hiking trails on top of the mountain allow you to explore the scenery. After you visit, you can stroll along the path that goes back to downtown (keep in mind it's a long walk, albeit downhill) or explore the mountains that lead to Ulriken, the highest of the mountains surrounding Bergen.

The cathedral’s long, turbulent history has shaped the eclectic architecture of the current structure. The Gothic-style choir and the lower towers are the oldest, dating from the 13th century. Note the cannonball lodged in the tower wall—it dates from a battle between English and Dutch ships in Bergen harbor in 1665. One of the nicest ways to enjoy the cathedral is attending one of the frequent organ concerts held here.

The major buildings at the medieval Bergenhus are Håkonshallen (Håkon's Hall) and Rosenkrantztårnet (Rosenkrantz Tower). Both are open to visitors. Håkonshallen is a royal ceremonial hall erected during the reign of Håkon Håkonsson in the mid-1200s; it sometimes closes for public holidays or special events. It was badly damaged by the explosion of a German ammunition ship in 1944 but was restored by 1961. Erected in the 1560s by the governor of Bergenhus, Erik Rosenkrantz, Rosenkrantztårnet served as a combined residence and fortified tower.

This museum contains archaeological finds from the Middle Ages. An exhibit on Bergen circa 1300 shows the town at the zenith of its importance and has reconstructed living quarters as well as artifacts such as old tools and shoes. Back then, Bergen was the largest town in Norway, a cosmopolitan trading center and the national capital.

The name means "Little Upper Street," and this charming thoroughfare is one of the oldest in the city. Along a bumpy cobblestone lane, these 19th-century clapboard houses are a glimpse of Bergen 100 years ago.

In continuous use since the early Middle Ages, Bergen's oldest existing building dates from around 1170. The twin-spired church's oldest treasures include the altarpiece from the end of the 15th century, the incredibly ornate pulpit, and the remaining wall paintings depicting biblical scenes.