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The heart of Bergen is Torgallmenningen, the city's central square, which runs from Ole Bulls plass to Fisketorget on the harbor, facing Bryggen. From here, the rest of Bergen spreads up the sides of the seven mountains that surround it, with some sights concentrated near the university and others near a small lake called Lille Lungegårdsvann. Fløyen, the mountain to the east of the harbor, is the most accessible for day-trippers. Before you begin your walking tour, you can take the funicular (cable car) up to the mountaintop for a particularly fabulous overview of the city.
Opening its doors in 1978, the newest of the museums in the KODE complex hosts temporary art exhibitions. The biggest draw here is the bookstore, which has an impressive collection of volumes on art, architecture, and design. Fjåk is a casual eatery that's perfect for lunch, coffee in the afternoon, or anytime chocolate fix.
If you're here to see the amazing works by Edvard Munch—the painter who gave the world The Scream—this is the museum for you. The museum is dedicated to Munch and other Norwegian artists like J.C. Dahl, Harriet Backer, Erik Werenskiold, and Gerhard Munthe. The building itself was designed by architect Ole Landmark in 1916 to house the huge collection amassed by businessman Rasmus Meyer.
In a building strongly resembling a huge battery—it was originally the headquarters for an electrical power company—KODE 4 lets you travel through art history with a collection ranging from the 13th century to the 20th, including works by international luminaries like Pablo Picasso and Norwegian favorites like Nikolai Astrup. KunstLab, an art museum geared toward children, is on the ground floor. Foodies will find themselves drawn to Lysverket, a Michelin-starred restaurant specializing in seafood.
