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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.
This open-air museum transports you to the 19th century, when Bergen consisted mostly of wooden houses. Streets and narrow alleys are lined with more than 50 buildings, including a baker, dentist, photographer, and jeweler. Local artists often hold exhibitions here. The grounds and park are open free of charge year-round.
Focusing on fish found in the North Sea, the Bergen Aquarium is one of the largest in Europe. It has 60 tanks filled with dozens of species from massive salmon to sinewy eels (which tend to wrap around each other), and two outdoor pools that are the home of playful seals, otters, and penguins. There is also a section displaying alligators from different parts of the world. Kids can hold starfish and other creatures in the touch tanks, or watch as trainers feed their charges.
