At 643 metres, Ulriken is the tallest of Bergen's seven mountains and the one that rewards the extra effort with truly exceptional views. On a clear day you can see all the way to Hardangerfjord. While Fløyen gets the crowds and the postcard, Ulriken gets the hikers — people who want wilderness within 20 minutes of the city centre.
The Ulriksbanen cable car
The Ulriksbanen cable car runs from a terminal at Haukeland Hospital to the summit in about six minutes. It's been running since 1961 and the cabins hold 25 people. Tickets cost ~167 NOK return. A shuttle bus runs between the city centre and the cable car terminal — check ulriken.no for the current schedule. Alternatively, it's a 10-minute taxi ride from central Bergen. The cable car operates year-round with reduced hours in winter.
The Fløyen–Ulriken ridge hike
This is the hike that separates Bergen visitors from Bergen travellers. The ridge trail connecting Ulriken to Fløyen takes 2.5 to 3 hours and involves genuine mountain terrain — rocky paths, elevation change, and views on both sides of the ridge. You can do it in either direction: cable car up Ulriken, hike to Fløyen, funicular down. Or reverse it. The trailhead is clearly marked at both summits. Wear proper shoes. Bring water and layers — the ridge is exposed and weather changes fast.
What to do at the summit
Ulriken643, the restaurant at the summit, is better than you'd expect — good Norwegian food, extraordinary views from the terrace, and a bar that stays open until late. The summit itself has a trig point, multiple viewpoint platforms, and in clear weather, views of over a dozen fjords and mountains. The hiking trails from the summit extend in all directions into the Vidden plateau — the high moorland between Bergen's mountains that most visitors never see. A half-day on Vidden in any season feels like the end of the world.
Prices at a glance
Cable car return. One-way available. Restaurant at summit is separate.