Bryggen

Bergen's UNESCO waterfront with historic wooden buildings, craft shops, and museums. Safe overall but watch for pickpockets at the Fish Market. Worth exploring but restaurants are pricey and tourist-focused - better food value elsewhere.

Bryggen is Bergen's UNESCO World Heritage waterfront with colorful wooden buildings from the Hanseatic trading era in the 1200s. During the day, tourists crowd the narrow alleyways photographing the facades, browsing craft shops, and visiting museums. The Fish Market next to Bryggen gets packed - watch your belongings since pickpockets work this area. Behind the famous buildings you'll find wooden passages with small workshops where painters and craftspeople actually work, plus some restaurants in 300-year-old buildings. Come early morning before tour groups arrive, or during golden hour when the light hits the buildings. After sunset the crowds leave and it gets quieter, though restaurants stay open. The area is well-lit and safe to walk at night, but there's not much to do once shops close. Restaurants here are expensive and aimed at tourists - locals go elsewhere for better value. You'll see people eating alone at cafes during the day, but dinner spots tend to fill with couples and groups. Better as a place to spend a few hours than a base for your stay.