Fløyen is the mountain above Bergen, 400 metres high, and the most popular viewpoint in the city. On clear days the view over the harbour, the peninsula, the islands of Askøy and Sotra, and the open sea is the best you will get without serious effort. On cloudy days you may see nothing but fog.
At the top there is a restaurant, a souvenir shop, a playground, and a large open area. You will also see goats roaming freely. They are kept here to graze and keep the grass short.
The real value of Fløyen is the network of walking trails that starts here. There are easy loops through the forest suitable for families, and longer hikes into the hills behind the city. The most famous is the Vidden trail, a 15-kilometre walk across the mountain plateau to Ulriken, the highest of Bergen's seven mountains. It takes about five to six hours. There is also a route over all seven mountains, which is over 30 kilometres and a full day.
One thing to be aware of: if you go up in the evening to avoid the crowds, the view will be contre-jour as the sun is in the west, the direction you want to see. Morning light is better for photos, but that is also when the cruise ship crowds arrive.
At the top there is a restaurant, a souvenir shop, a playground, and a large open area. You will also see goats roaming freely. They are kept here to graze and keep the grass short.
The real value of Fløyen is the network of walking trails that starts here. There are easy loops through the forest suitable for families, and longer hikes into the hills behind the city. The most famous is the Vidden trail, a 15-kilometre walk across the mountain plateau to Ulriken, the highest of Bergen's seven mountains. It takes about five to six hours. There is also a route over all seven mountains, which is over 30 kilometres and a full day.
One thing to be aware of: if you go up in the evening to avoid the crowds, the view will be contre-jour as the sun is in the west, the direction you want to see. Morning light is better for photos, but that is also when the cruise ship crowds arrive.