If you only have three days in Norway, would you choose to stay in Oslo or Bergen? One is a bustling capital with numerous museums and modern architecture, while the other is a quaint, historic town surrounded by seven great mountains. After a few days immersing in the vibrant vibe of Copenhagen, I decided to seek after the Mother Nature, making my way to the gateway to the fjords of Norway.

Going from the airport to downtown Bergen takes around 45 minutes by the City Light Rail or 30 minutes by airport buses. If your accommodation is not located in the city center, it’d be wise for you to download the Skyss app in advance, which offers discounted bus fares. Spending 60krone on a 10-min bus ride to Sandviken district made me wonder if I should have just picked a room in the center, but when I pushed open the door of my Airbnb, my hesitations instantly vanished. Designed in modern northern European style, the apartment is bright, elegant yet exuding a cozy ambiance thanks to its yellow-hued sofa, fluffy carpet, and an array of paintings and art pieces. It looked exactly like my dream house.

Though staying in the apartment was like living my dream, the picturesque scenery of Bergen still managed to drag me out of it. The most representative landmark of Bergen has to be the colorful line-up of wooden houses facing the Vågen harbor. Listed as a UNESCO’s World Heritage site, Bryggen was built after a fire in 1702 that burnt the city into ashes. A reminder of Hanseatic commercial activities that date back to the 14th century, the traditional wooden houses have been converted to museums, retail stores, restaurants, and pubs. Strolling through the alleyways was like stepping back to the bygone era when Bergen was one of the largest trading ports of Northern Europe.

A stone away from Bryggen is the famous Fish Market, a popular tourist attraction where you can source a variety of local seafood, meat, cheese, fruits, and vegetables. Some of the stalls offer dining spaces where customers can enjoy grilled seafood they’ve selected at the counter. Even if you’re not planning to sate your appetite here, it’s an interesting experience to learn more about different kinds of fish and local produces.

We all know everything is expensive in Norway. For those who want to get a taste of local cuisine without breaking the bank, I’d recommend Anne Madam restaurant, a mere three-minute walk from the fish market. Apart from their popular options of salmon fish soup, which is creamy and delicious, and the huge portion of mussels with chips, the restaurant also offers a tasting menu of traditional food that includes a reindeer meatball. First time to try this game, I found it lean and soft. However, it had a salty and smoky flavor that was too strong for my palate. I preferred savoring it in a hot dog topped with the perfect combination of mustard, crispy onions and cranberry jam. This is exactly what you can get at the famous Trekroneren food truck.

Bergen is famed as a paradise for hikers and nature lovers thanks to its location wreathed by seven mountains. The two mountains that attract most travelers are Ulriken – the highest in town – and Fløyen, both offer spectacular views of the city. With time constraint, I only included Mt. Fløyen in my itinerary. There’re several routes leading you up to the mountain, but if you’re not so much of a hiker, you can easily reach the top in ten minutes via the Fløibanen funicular. From above, you can embark on your own adventure following a range of hiking routes with different levels of difficulty and duration, visit those lovely cashmere goats that help keep the greenery at bay, or just relax and enjoy a good meal at the picnic hut.

A trip to Norway isn’t complete without cursing to the fjords. A plethora of cruise options are available online and you can pick the one that best fits your schedule and budget. Operated by Norled, the Scenic Hardangerfjord Cruise to Eidfjord is the perfect day trip to breath in the beauty of the second largest fjord in Norway. Though the wicked wind could give you a headache when the catamaran is at full speed, it’s worth to climb to the upper deck in time to relish the splendid Folgefonna glacier and the Hardanger Bridge, the longest suspension bridge in the country.

The three-hour cruise ride will take you to Eidfjord, where you can join an excursion to the remarkable Vøringsfoss waterfall or explore around under your own steam. Following the yellow hiking route on the map provided by the tourist center, not only would you find the largest burial grounds from the Iron and Viking ages in Western Norway but also get a nice view of the fjord almost to the end of the journey.

The fairytale land of Bergen gave me a sense of calmness and serenity to contemplate life and imagine the possibilities of my future. I particularly love the sunset here, during which the town was ablaze with a golden hue that lit up the city as well as my heart.