Best hike

Seven jagged mountaintops surround Bergen, and a multitude of marked scenic hikes run up, down, and through them. The most easily accessible of the trails are on Mount Ulriken and Mount Fløyen (pictured).

From the Montana bus stop on Route 12, climb the 1333 sherpa steps to the top of Mount Ulriken – Bergen’s tallest peak – or take the paved and well-trodden forest paths up the side of Mount Fløyen. A five-hour walk through the mountain plateau joins the two, although it requires a relatively good level of physical fitness to complete. No matter which way you choose to traverse the peaks, the panoramic views are all the same: utterly breathtaking.

Best attraction

Norway isn’t known for its glitz, glamour and thumping nightlife. It’s more “slow-cation” kind of country, where the unparalleled beauty of its rugged mountains, deep fjords, and turbulent seas take centre stage. Soak it all in on Bergen’s Fløibanen funicular – a steep railway that ascends Mount Fløyen from the city centre. It takes the most challenging part of climbing the mountain out of the equation. At the top, it’s not only the views that await – there’s varm sjokolade (hot chocolate) and skillingsboller (Bergen’s cinnamon bun) at Fløistuen Café, too.

Picture: Bjoern A. Bjerke / Visit Norway

Best restaurant

It doesn’t get fresher than raw, and Cornelius – a dedicated seafood restaurant on an island 25 minutes by boat from Bergen – takes that seriously. Their 30-minute Raw Bar sessions combine lectures and tastings, where they serve everything from the finest of freshly plucked Norwegian sea urchins to scallops and langoustine, all completely uncooked. Raw isn’t their only schtick, though. Cooked seafood towers and “meteorological sharing menus” (menus tailored to the weather, tides and seafood availability that day) are the restaurant’s other signatures showcasing the region’s finest. Transfers from Bergen city centre are included in your booking.

Picture: Ida Skeie / Visit Norway

Best hotel

If you haven’t heard of Edvard Grieg, you’ve most likely heard his music. “In the Hall of the Mountain King”, from his famed work Peer Gynt (written for the Henrik Ibsen play), has featured regularly in films. Grieg put Norway firmly on the musical map, and the hotel Opus XVI pays homage to this maestro born in Bergen. It’s a family business – the architect behind the build of the bank-turned-hotel is one of Grieg’s cousins, and descendants of the family still operate the hotel today. His opuses lend their names to the Scandi-chic rooms and suites, and a small exhibition in the lobby details Grieg’s life and works. If you didn’t know much about him before your stay, you certainly will after.

Best wellness

While the sauna is said to have originated in Finland, the Norwegians are no strangers to a good steam. Board the City Sauna & Cruise in Laksevåg (a six-minute drive from the cruise port), and not only can you enjoy the therapeutic benefits of the sauna’s dry heat, but you’ll also be privy to some of the most beautiful views of the city. Sit back and relax as a guide manoeuvres the floating sauna along the coastline, stopping only for quick, icy dips.

Best tour

The waterfalls are among the best things to come out of Norway’s rain, and you can leave the city for six hours to sightsee some of the most beautiful with Velkommen Norway. Watch from the bus window as ephemeral falls tumble down the side of Hardangerfjord post-rainfall; they’re a warm-up to the three larger permanent waterfall stops on the tour – Mørkhølen Fossen, Fossen Bratte, and Steinsdalsfossen (you can walk behind the falls of the latter). The tour begins and ends outside Bergen’s fish market and passes through one of Norway’s 18 official scenic routes.

Picture: Visit Norway

How to get to Bergen, Norway

Reaching Bergen is simple, with flights and trains departing from Oslo daily. Once you’ve arrived at Bergen Flesland Airport, take the City Light Rail to the centre.

What to pack for Bergen, Norway

Much like Melbourne, Bergen’s weather is entirely unpredictable and can change in an instant. No matter what time of year you’re visiting, make sure you’ve packed a warm jacket (or make a plan to buy one while you’re there)

What to know before visiting Bergen, Norway

There’s no wetter place in Norway than Bergen. On average, the city receives about 2400mm of rainfall each year, so the chances of experiencing a shower are high. But don’t let it dampen your spirits; a little rain never hurt anybody. As the Norwegians say: “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.”

The No.1 rule of visiting Bergen, Norway

If the sun is shining, it’s an unwritten Norwegian law that you must be outdoors and enjoying friluftsliv (the “free air life”). Do as the locals do and head to the harbour for utepils (outdoor beers), or lace up your hiking boots and hit one of the many trails on the outskirts of town.

Picture: Endre Knudsen / Visit Norway

See also: 

Hotel review: Opus XVI in Bergen, Norway

6 best things about cruising Norway

48 hours in Bergen, Norway: The ultimate itinerary