How to Get to Ulriken: Transport from Bergen City Centre

Shuttle bus (seasonal) — the easy option

15 minutes from the Bryggen area, roughly every 30 minutes, April to October. Our own shuttle runs from the city centre to the base station throughout the cable car’s opening hours. The pickup point sits in the middle of Bergen’s tourist zone, so it slots straight into a day of sightseeing.

No booking needed — turn up and wait for the next departure. Pay by card at the pickup point or on board; cash is rarely used anywhere in Norway now. Through the summer holidays the buses run more often and later into the evening. Check the current timetable before you set out, as the service is seasonal and weather can affect it.

Bybanen light rail — year-round

Take the light rail to Haukeland, then walk 10–15 minutes uphill. The route is signposted through the Haukeland neighbourhood, on public roads with pavements the whole way. Departures run every 15–20 minutes during the day, less often in the evening.

A single ticket costs around 42 kroner, bought through the Skyss app, at a machine or at a ticket office. This is the option locals use, and the only one that works reliably in winter. The catch is the walk at the end, which is a genuine climb if you are carrying a heavy pack.

City bus

Several routes stop near Haukeland hospital, including route 2 from the centre, leaving a 10–20 minute walk depending on which stop you use. The advantage is flexibility if you are starting somewhere other than the city centre; the disadvantage is that no bus goes directly to the cable car. Check the Skyss travel planner for current routes. For most visitors starting downtown, the shuttle or the light rail is simpler.

By car

Haukelandsbakken 40, 5009 Bergen. 10–15 minutes from the centre. Free parking. The station has its own car park, and unlike central Bergen — where parking runs 100–150 kroner an hour — it costs nothing. There is no time limit and no pre-booking.

Spaces are limited, though, and the car park fills up on peak summer weekends between roughly 10:00 and 18:00. Come early or take public transport on a sunny Saturday. In winter and in poor weather, driving is the most comfortable option, and it is the one we recommend for families with several small children or anyone with mobility limitations.

By bicycle

Three to four kilometres from the centre via main roads, with bike racks at the station. The final stretch up Haukelandsbakken is a noticeable climb — straightforward on an e-bike, a proper effort on a city bike. Bikes cannot travel on the shuttle or the light rail, so this only works if you are cycling the whole way. For experienced riders, cycling up and then exploring the mountain trails makes a full day of it.

On foot

You can walk from the city centre in 45–60 minutes. It is not a scenic walk — mostly urban streets — but it is perfectly doable.

The better walk is the one locals do: hike up from Montana, roughly 3.5 km and 550 vertical metres, taking 30–60 minutes depending on fitness, then ride the cable car down. The trail is well marked and popular with Bergen’s hiking and trail running communities. It gives you the ascent on foot and saves the descent on your knees.