A Great Day For Panoramic Views In Bergen Norway
As we arrived at the harbour, we saw there were panoramic views in Bergen we didn’t want to miss. We were greeted by colourful buildings along the shore and in the old town. There were lots of tour options in Bergen. But we wandered the town. And then hopped on the Floibanen funicular for a ride to high above the city. It was definitely worth it for the views.
The Bergen Harbour
As we travelled through the Norway fjords, we made sure to be on deck as we came into port. The city was spread out in front of us and climbed up the hills. On our visits to the scenic small towns in coastal Norway, we loved the colourful houses that greeted us. And Bergen was yet another treat for us.
The Oceania Cruises Marina docked right close to downtown. So it was an easy walk into the old town. On most of our stops in Norway, we were the only ship in port. But on this day we docked right next to the Viking Sky ship.
We always loved the variety of ships we found in the harbours. Such a fun mix of pleasure craft and working boats. In Bergen, we were entranced with the large tall ship Amerigo Vespucci that was tied up along the quay. This ship belonged to the Italian navy and was used for training.
We had a picturesque start when we visited Bergen.
Sightseeing Options In Bergen
There were many options for tours in Bergen. The ship had a whole list of tours to book. A Hop-On-Hop-Off bus provided a route to many of the local tourist spots.
There were also harbour tours available for a different perspective on the city. We saw the ferry pull into Bergen. So we knew there were lots of other day trips to take on the water from Bergen.
On our walk, we passed a bike rental stand. This was an option to explore the flat roads at water level. But I was not sure I wanted to head up the hills around Bergen on bike.
In the end, we chose to wander in Bergen. We had one main destination in mind as we headed for the panoramic views in Bergen.
Sights Along The Way
As we walked along the water, we saw yet more of the colourful houses we saw in the small scenic towns on the Norway coast. Decorative buildings were everywhere we looked. And as we wandered higher in the city, we got a great view over the colourful roofs.
We passed the Bryggens Museum with the statue of Snorri Sturluson beside it. St Mary’s Church was in the main area. But was not open when we went past.
As we walked along the cobblestone streets at the higher level, we could not pass the sign at the Bar Barista without a picture.
We enjoyed our walk through the older part of town. But as the skies cleared, we wanted to make sure we did not miss our panoramic view over Bergen.
Heading High Above Bergen
We loved to use funiculars for panoramic views when we visited cities. One of our favourite ones gave us an amazing view down onto the Douro River in Porto, Portugal.
From the ship we saw the observation platform high above the city. It was easy to find the station at the bottom of the funicular for the Floibanen in Bergen. The funicular went 320 m (about 1,050 feet) up Mount Floyen.
We did not get tickets before we arrived and were not there with a group. But it was easy to buy a ticket online while we waited in the line. We were certainly glad we had cellular data coverage while cruising. Even without lining up for tickets, it was well over 30 minutes before we got on the funicular.
With a standing spot by the window, we got a great show as the funicular climbed up the mountain. When we exited at the top, we looked back down at the path we came up.
When we visited the small scenic towns along the coast in Norway, we were always delighted when we found a spot for a panoramic view. So we were delighted with our first view out over Bergen.
Amazing Panoramic Views In Bergen Norway
There was much to do when we reached the top of Mount Floyen. There were 10 different hiking paths. And there was even a hike to Lake Skomakerdiket. A children’s playground drew the families. But we were concerned about timing and chose just to wander close to the station.
Our first view out over Bergen confirmed why we chose to head high on this visit. Far below we saw our ship in harbour. We slowly moved around and got views of new sections of Bergen.
There was a small restaurant at the top. We found a spot by the railing and enjoyed a snack and glass of wine with the most amazing view. We would have gladly stayed there for hours.
It was definitely worth a trip up on the funicular for the stunning panoramic views.
Some Time With The Goats
When we walked along the paths at the top, we saw the sign for goats. After some time with no sight of the goats, we thought we missed them. But then we saw a group of goats head out of the woods as their bells jangled.
It was clear that the goats were used to people being close. They wandered where they went with groups following. David set up several times for a close up view. I tried not to comment about “old goats”.
Our patience paid off. We saw the goats and the panoramic views in Bergen.
Glad We Went For Panoramic Views In Bergen Norway
There was a lot to see and do in the colourful city of Bergen. On a short day in town, a trip up the funicular provided such panoramic views in Bergen. We saw some of old town as we wandered. But it definitely was just a small taste test.
We cruised out of Bergen and under the big Askoy Bridge. We had such an amazing time as we visited the Norway fjords. But this was our last Norway port. So it was time to head to the second part of our cruise through the Nordic countries.
Have you seen the panoramic views in Bergen Norway? What should be top of our list for a return visit? PIN To Pinterest:

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This brings me back to so many great memories of my days in Bergen! I love Bergen, it’s such a great Norwegian town. I also really liked the funicular. It is so handy to the center of town, but you’re right the lines can be long! The views from the top are amazing. I wish I would have had more time to try out the hikes on the top.
Elizabeth, We too wish we had more time at the top to explore. A good reason to go back. Linda
Bergen looks beautiful! I love it when cruise ports are close enough to walk into town. I’ll definitely do the funicular if I visit to experience those amazing views. Hopefully I’ll also get to meet your goat friends, too! 😀
Carrie Ann, We did love just wandering in the Norway towns. Always great spots. I am sure the goats will welcome you warmly if you head up for panoramic views of Bergen. Linda
I love that you included that infographic with all of the options and how far away they are from the dock. Also, I would have definitely taken the bikes. I love peddaling around new places.
That bar barista sign is the best. So cute!
Lourdes, Most of Bergen was definitely walkable or easy for a bike ride. Linda
It always amazes me how clean everything always looks in Scandinavia. And loved the pictures of the goats! Chloe
Chloe, Bergen was a fun stop with great panoramic views. And I was happy David got his time to commune with the goats! Linda
I always wanted to visit Norway for the lights, but now it seems I have all the more reasons to visit the place. Hiking the Mount Floyen will be such a memorable experience. Probably will plan a leisure trip to Bergen.
Ramya, I hope you get to visit Bergen one day – summer or winter. So many things to see. I would love to go back for the Northern Lights. Linda
Amazing panoramic views for sure. I always like to use pano shoot mode on my phone for places like this. You should add some too!
Shayan, We did take panos when we were at the top. I have included them in other posts. This one was almost too wide. And I chose not to use my pano of the coast coming in. The trouble when we shoot over 500 pics a day is narrowing down what to include in the post. :-). Linda
I think I never fully understood the geography of Bergen. I always see photos head on from the water, I’ve never seen the views from the top! I’m glad you got a standing spot on the funicular that allowed you to have a breathtaking view from the start, it clearly made for a great photo. What an exceptional scene to marvel at as you ate lunch! I’m with you on the bike ride to the top – would totally not be my thing either! Funicular all the way!
Stephanie, We are so glad we did go up for a high view. We just wish we had time to enjoy more of what was at the top. But wine and a view was the perfect choice for this trip. Linda
I love how the town of Bergen weaves along the shore, such a beautiful scene! And seeing the Amerigo Vespucci seems like it would take you back to a time long ago while wandering this gorgeous setting. I can’t believe how close you got to the goats too!!
Kate, It was a fun day wandering around Bergen. So glad we got that panoramic view! And the old goats got to meet!!!! Linda
The colorful houses along the water are so cute! That’s crazy that you still had to wait for 30 minutes despite buying tickets online for the funicular. The views are beautiful though and so worth the wait. I think I’d need more than a day here to fully experience and enjoy the hikes too!
Jas, We definitely want to go back to Bergen one day and experience more of the city. And spend more time high on Mount Floyen. Linda
Oh, what a fun day! The goat on the picnic table was hilarious. Did he charge you for the shot? 🙂 And what’s the story on the witch sign? Is that “no witches” or “no flying”? Great shots that captured a perfect day. Thanks for sharing them.
Nancy, It was fun to get so close to the goats. It was obvious that they were used to people close by! Could not resist the witches pic either. A fun stop for sure. Linda
Bergen looks so beautiful! I want to visit Norway so badly. I think I would love to see it on a beautiful sunny day like this, but I would also like to see it in the winter 🙂 I would definitely spend sometime with the goats!
Kelly, We definitely would love to go back to Bergen and Norway in the winter too. I am sure it would be magical in another way! Linda
I missed visiting Bergen in our Norway tour. As usual, your photographs are simply awesome! Riding the funicular definitely is a lot of fun. I am bookmarking your post for my next visit to Norway. 🙂
Jan, I do hope you get back to Norway and get to visit Bergen. There was lots to do but we were glad we chose to go up in the funicular. Lots to do there for a return trip too. Linda
We also visited Bergen by a cruise, loved the city but wished we had been able to spend longer there. We enjoyed coffee and cake from the mountain viewpoint that you mention.
Bergen, We were glad we went high on our cruise stop. But wish we had more time at the top to explore. Would have loved to find the lake. But just means lots left for a return visit. Linda
Bergen is really pretty and I loved the view of Bergen harbour. Bar Barista is really cute and I would also love to have picture with those caricatures. Glass of wine with amazing view, what else one can ask for in this beautiful place. Even taking photos with those unique goats must be fun here.
Yukti, We did love our day just wandering in Bergen. It was worth the trip to the top. Linda
This post really made me nostalgic. I can never forget the coastal towns and Norway fjords. I lived in Oslo for more than a month. And I had done a one day trip to Bergen too. The colourful houses and the panoramic views are unforgettable. Bergen is a treat for travellers for sure.
Manujulika, I am glad this brought back some good memories! Linda
I just love the colorful shorelines in Norway. The Floibanen funicular sounds like a great way to get some different views of the area. The restaurant at the top sounds like the perfect place to stop. A highlight for me would be visiting with the goats, I’m glad they wandered back out and you were able to see them. All of your Norway adventures are making me want to visit!
Melissa, Certainly as we worked on our Norway posts, it made me remember we need to plan a return visit. So many great spots to visit. Linda
I haven’t been to Bergen yet, but I want to come back to Norway. So I hope to visit Bergen too. I would love to hike to the top of Mount Floyen. The views are amazing. And it so great you saw the goats! Fabulous photos! Bar Barista looks so great too.
Agnes, I hope you do make it back to Norway and get to visit Bergen. One day was not enough to see it all. But we loved the views we did get. Linda
Those views are just so stunning. The little colorful villages, the greens and the fjords – every bit would make me stop. I fear that a one day trip might end up being longer. The place where you took your break for food has some stunning views indeed. I wonder when I will be able to see all this for myself.
Ami, I hope you do get to visit Norway one day. Bergen was a great stop but one day was not enough. But a great reason to go back. Linda
This town looks so charming, and the views are spectacular! I hope I get to Norway one day.
Alison
Alison and Don, Every town in Norway brought a new treat. It really was a dream trip. Hope you do get there one day. Linda
Have I told you that I live like a 6 hour trainride away from Norway (in Sweden) but I have never visited? Nor have a ever been to Denmark and that would take me like 5 hours with a train.
Shame on me right?
I would love to visit Norway though, even though it so close to Sweden the countries are so different 🙂
Ann, I hope that may posts on Norway have piqued your interest and that you will make the short trip when it is safe to do so. Would love to explore more of Sweden one day. Linda
Bergen is our fave town in Norway. Love all the timber house and the old town. And just like you, we love wandering. We didnt get to see any goats though. How fun!!
Bergen was a great spot to finish our tour of the Norway fjords. Would definitely go back to explore more. Linda
Wow! These are beautiful. It is nice to know that there many options for tours in Bergen. It is also amazing to see so many tourist spots in less than an hour making it ideal for quick stops or a day tour. We would surely love to visit sometime in the future.
Clarice, Bergen was a great city to wander in with lots to see. But we still ran out of time! Good reason to go back. Linda
Since in 2020 we all have a travel-cancel-story, Norway is mine. I finally decided to visit Norway around Easter and booked a flight about one week before everything shut down. So I’m still waiting for my turn to visit – and meanwhile, I read and bookmark all your posts since they are so inspiring. Especially this one on Bergen is really nice. Getting to see all this beauty on the spot must be pretty amazing.
Renata, I hope you do get to visit Norway when things open back up again. It was an amazing trip. And we know we want to go back to see more. Linda