Ulriksbanen: Bergen's highest summit view

A cable car ascent to 643 meters with panoramic views of Bergen, the fjords, and surrounding islands on clear days, plus access to the five-hour Vidden hiking trail to Fløyen.

Ulriksbanen is an aerial tramway from the outskirts of Bergen to the summit of Mount Ulriken at 643 meters. The highest of the city's seven mountains. The ride takes under ten minutes. At the top, the urban world drops away. You're standing in a wind-scoured alpine environment with views across the Bergen peninsula, the fjords, and a scatter of islands fading into the horizon.

Bergen is one of the rainiest cities in Europe. Low clouds will turn your expensive ticket into a grey nothing. Check the live webcam on the Ulriken website before you buy anything. If the summit is socked in, skip it and come back another day. Round-trip tickets run roughly 35 to 40 EUR per adult.

Walk past the main viewing platform where the crowds cluster and follow the shorter trails to find quieter spots with different angles. The restaurant, Skyskraperen, serves Norwegian food with a view, but it´s pricey.

Beating the Crowds

Cruise ship days flood the summit with day-trippers, peaking around midday. Go early morning or late evening in summer to avoid this. If you're reasonably fit, hike up via the Oppstemten trail instead. Stone steps built by Nepalese Sherpas. Takes about an hour. Then buy a one-way ticket down for less.

The Vidden trail connects Ulriken to Fløyen across exposed mountain terrain. Five hours. Summer only. Pack windproof and waterproof layers regardless of season. The summit temperature drops sharply from the city below.

Check the live webcam on the Ulriken website before buying tickets. If the summit is clouded over, save your money and try again the next day.

Highlights

Walk the Vidden trail that links Ulriken to Fløyen across open mountain terrain. Five hours. Summer only.

Quieter viewpoints along the shorter summit trails offer different angles than the crowded main platform. Walk five minutes past the upper station to find them.

The Oppstemten hiking trail to the summit features stone steps built by Nepalese Sherpas. It takes about an hour and lets you buy a cheaper one-way ticket down.

Open in Google Maps

http://www.ulriken643.no/

Best time to go

Early morning or late afternoon on a clear day to avoid crowds and secure good visibility.

Time needed

2-3 hours

Getting there

Take bus 5 or 6 from Bergen city center to the Haukeland sjukehus stop. From there, walk about 10 minutes uphill to the base station. In summer, a dedicated shuttle bus runs directly from the city center to the base station.

Hotels nearby

2.5km