Mount Ulriken
It is the highest mountain in Bergen, standing at 643 meters above sea level.
How to get to Mount Ulriken
It is possible to reach the base of the cable car by public transport. To do so, just take bus lines 2 or 3 and get off at the first hospital stop (Haukeland Hospital) and from there continue walking towards the address (Haukelandsbakken 40, 5009 Bergen). You also have the option of going on tourist buses that leave from the Bergen information center (city center), but this means is much more expensive for the tourist’s pocket.
If you have enough energy (my case hehe), it is also possible to go from the center to the base of the cable car on foot, even in a walk that lasts an average of 45 minutes. It is worth mentioning that Bergen is a small city and easy to get around without using public transport.
Ascend Mount Ulriken by cable car
For those who are not in the mood to face the trail and intend to just contemplate the wonderful view of Bergen from the top, the good news is that there is a cable car that takes tourists to the top of Mount Ulriken. The cable car is known as Ulriksbanen in Norwegian.
At the top of Mount Ulriken you will be treated to a breathtaking view of Bergen and its surroundings as well as the sea, beyond the outline of the fjords. And the most amazing thing is that you can see all the mountains that surround the city.
At the top of the mountain you will find a restaurant, souvenir shop, café, restrooms, a television tower and access to trails. A popular place for both locals who like to exercise and go hiking
about the trail
I find the trail that leads to Mount Ulriken a little challenging if you are not used to longer hikes or if you are not in good physical shape.
The trail even seems easy at first, but after about 30 minutes of walking the path is transformed as the climb begins to weigh and tiredness invades.
The path is made up of several stone stairs that I confess that when I saw it I wanted to turn back and give up the climb (I don’t want to discourage anyone hehe, since the effort was rewarded in the end). In addition, if it rains the day before, the path to the trail will be very slippery and muddy in some places.
And to access the beginning of the trail, it is right after the base of the cable car. As the cable car was closed on the day I went, I didn’t get to ask if there was any access there, what I did was follow the signs I saw along the way. So, to make it easier, my reference to indicate you is the address Johan Blytts vei 63-67, from where I started the trail (about 15 minutes of walking after passing the base of the cable car). It starts right here in the photo below ⇓
Overall, it took me a little over 2 hours to climb Mount Ulriken, because I stopped a lot to photograph the beautiful landscape. The duration varies according to the mood of each person, the descent was faster, it took me something around 1 hour.
The cool thing about doing the trail instead of going by cable car are the views from various angles of Bergen.
From Ulriken to Mount Fløyen
And for the more adventurous, arriving at the top of Mount Ulriken, it is possible to take the trail that leads to the most famous and visited mountain in Bergen, Mount Fløyen (the trail is known as the Vidden Trail). This was one of my goals, but as the cable car was closed, I ended up giving up as the trail to the top of Ulriken left me exhausted. The intention was to take the cable car to the top and from there make the trail to Fløyen, something that takes around 4 hours.
Well, I think the city left me wanting more, because I still want to go back and do this trail. If you’ve already done it and want to leave a comment telling your experience, I’ll be super happy.
Another option for those who are not in the mood to face the hike is to take the cable car and return along the trail, as the climb is the one that requires more effort.
useful tips
- from the top of the mountain the weather is very unpredictable, so be prepared for sun, fog or even rain, as Bergen is ranked as one of the rainiest cities in Europe.
- as the weather is unpredictable, even if you’re going in the summer, don’t forget to bring a jacket.
- don’t forget to wear a good pair of hiking shoes, as there are rocks and stones along the way.
And finally, I leave this photo here ⇓ that I took when I finished the trail on the path near the base of the cable car, the weather was already sunny and the view was wonderful, very different from the view I had at the top of the mountain.