Set around a harbour, Bergen is a beautiful and calm city to visit, with plenty of things to see. The two most famous attractions here are the area of Bryggen, with its colourful wooden houses, and the funicular railway to the top of Mount Floien, where the views are magnificent. The city also has some interesting old churches and a fantastic aquarium.

Bergen Aquarium
Bergen Aquarium is the highlight of a trip for many children. It boasts dozens of indoor tanks and a large outdoor tank with seals and penguins. Located on Nordnes Peninsula, the aquarium is one of Europe’s biggest and shows off the marine life of Norway as well as a collection of tropical fish, snakes, and crocodiles. The seals and penguins are the biggest hits at feeding time. 
Phone: +47 55 557 171; www.akvariet.com/eng

Bergen Cathedral
Bergen Cathedral is one of the oldest structures in Bergen, hailing from the mid-1100s and having started out as St Olav’s Church. It has seen turbulent times and been ravaged by fire no less than five times. Keep an eye out for the 350-year-old cannonball stuck in the wall and the pretty stained glass windows. The church grounds are also a highlight. 
Phone: +47 55 552 000

Bergenhus Fortress
One of the best preserved and oldest forts in Norway lies amid a city park (the fortress’s grounds) not far from the Fish Market and is ideal for spending an hour or two. It served as a royal residence in the 1100s and once you’ve toured the chambers and tower, you can take in the fine views. The park surrounding the fortress gets busy in summer with locals and tourists alike. 
Phone: +47 55 546 387

Bryggen
Bryggen is the old quarter of Bergen and a quintessential view of medieval Bergen. It is one of rows of painted wooden houses and cobblestoned walkways, and has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Bryggen used to be at the heart of Norway’s old capital and today is a mix of houses, cafés, shops, galleries and museums. The Bryggens Museum is here, as is the must-see Fish Market.

Mount Ulriken
Mount Ulriken provides even better views of Bergen than that of Mount Floyen and is twice the height, at over 640 metres above sea level. Luckily, a cable car provides access to the mountaintop from just south of the city centre, while walking tracks from the cable-car station at the summit lead to the Floibanen funicular railway, a four- to five-hour walk. 
Phone: +47 55 202 020 (cable car)

Statsraad Lehmkuhl
The Statsraad Lehmkuhl is a tri-mast barque that cruises the harbour and farther afield. It was built in 1914 and can usually be found at Bergen harbour shed 7, near Bergenhus Fortress. The shortest mini cruises take around five hours and include lunch, while week-long cruises are also available for the more adventurous. 
Phone: +47 55 301 700

Troldhaugen
The home of Norway’s most famous composer, Edvard Greig, best known for Ibsen’s play, Peer Gynt, is a popular museum. The house is kept as it was with 19th-century décor and furnishings, while the composer’s ashes are nearby at the mountain tomb. You can also see his ‘composer’s hut’ at the lake and perhaps a concert at the onsite concert hall in summer. 
Phone: +47 55 92 29 92; www.troldhaugen.no

Bergen Card: offers significant discounts for travel as well as free entry to Bergen museums and discount parking. Cards are valid for 24 and 48 hours and can be purchased at the tourist office.