Ulriksbanen, Bergen: Visitor Information and Tickets

Ulriksbanen is Bergen’s cable car to Ulriken, the highest of the city’s seven mountains. If you want a fast panoramic viewpoint without committing to a full summit hike, Ulriksbanen tickets give you direct access to Ulriken’s ridge walks, photo platforms, and the Vidden trail link.

Last update: January 2026

Quick overview and key details

Quick visitor snapshot

• Best for: first-time Bergen visitors, viewpoints, short hikes, couples, and families who want a mountain experience without a long climb

• Time needed: 60 to 120 minutes for the gondola plus a short ridge walk, or 4 to 6 hours if you continue on the Vidden hike

• Cost range: about €10.41 to €91.12 (NOK 120 to NOK 1,050) depending on ticket type and group size, prices verified January 2026

• Best time to visit: early day for clearer views and fewer queues, or late afternoon for softer light on clear days

• Common pitfalls: arriving on a low-cloud day (views disappear), underestimating wind chill, and starting the Vidden hike too late

Essential facts

• Address: Haukelandsbakken 40, 5009 Bergen, Norway

• Website: Ulriken643 official site and Ulriksbanen visitor page

• Phone: Not reliably published in a stable format across sources. Use the Ulriken643 contact options before your visit if you need confirmations.

• Email: Not reliably published on the pages checked. Use the Ulriken643 contact options.

• Nearest public transport stop: Montana (bus 2) with a short walk to the lower station, plus Bybanen line 1 to Haukeland sjukehus for onward bus connections

• Wheelchair accessible: Partial. The gondola and main top-station facilities are step-free, but outdoor trails on Ulriken can be uneven and steep. See Ulriken643 facilities and accessibility information.

• Photography: Yes for personal use. Drone use is governed by Norwegian rules and location restrictions.

• Guided tours: Not reliably published as a standard offering. Check current options via the Ulriken643 official site.

• Audio guides: Not reliably published.

• On-site facilities: Toilets and indoor seating at the stations, plus dining at Skyskraperen Restaurant on Ulriken. Lockers: not reliably published.

• Annual visitors: Not reliably published.

For broader trip planning around this attraction, start with the Bergen travel hub and keep your transport plan aligned with the Bergen public transport guide.

Ulriksbanen Tickets: How to Book and Save Time

Ulriksbanen tickets are sold as single (one-way) and return (round trip) fares, with the simplest time-saver being buying online so you can head straight to boarding rather than queueing at the station on busy summer days. As of January 2026, the official prices published for one-way travel are €22.13 (NOK 255) for adults, €10.41 (NOK 120) for children aged four to 15, and €54.67 (NOK 630) for a family ticket (two adults plus up to three children). A return ticket is listed via Bergen’s tourism authority as €37.75 (NOK 435) for adults, €15.62 (NOK 180) for children, and €91.12 (NOK 1,050) for a family return ticket.

The most common choice is a return ticket because it keeps your timing flexible on the mountain. A one-way ticket makes sense if you plan to hike down (or do the Vidden traverse and descend via a different route), but the trade-off is that weather and fatigue can make the walk back slower than expected. For peak periods from late May through August, assume mid-day queues form when cruise traffic and day-trippers converge, so buying online and riding earlier gives you the best chance of clear air and fewer lines.

For transport add-ons, Ulriken643 sells a combined shuttle option for the Ulriken Express bus during its operating season. The published add-on pricing for the shuttle is €3.47 (NOK 40) adult, €1.74 (NOK 20) child, and €10.41 (NOK 120) family, verified January 2026.

Refund and reschedule rules vary by product and campaign. If you need certainty for a tight itinerary, check the official ticket price page and the Ulriken643 terms and conditions before purchase. Mistake to avoid: do not treat a low forecast as irrelevant, because Ulriken’s view value collapses quickly when cloud base sits on the ridge.

Internal planning note: if you are building a multi-stop Bergen day, anchor your schedule around the Norway Travel Information 2026 overview so you keep daylight, transit cadence, and seasonal closures in mind.

Opening hours and best time to visit

Ulriksbanen operates with seasonal opening hours, and you should treat the official calendar as the source of truth because wind, maintenance, and special events can alter service. As of January 2026, the published pattern is 10:00 to 18:00 from October through March, and 09:00 to 23:00 from April through September. The operator also lists an annual maintenance closure window that can affect early January travel, so check dates if you are visiting in the first two weeks of the year.

The best timing is usually earlier in the day because Bergen’s weather often shifts quickly and low cloud tends to roll in later. The trade-off is that mornings in shoulder season can feel colder and windier, so you may sacrifice comfort for a higher probability of clear views. If you want photographs with softer light, late afternoon can be excellent on clear days, but you risk queues and a faster temperature drop at the summit.

Season choice depends on what you value. Late May through mid June offers long daylight and a lively city calendar, but it brings higher prices and more crowd friction. If you prefer a calmer city break, February to early March can feel quieter, but you accept short days and more weather volatility. For a decision-ready view of those trade-offs, align your plan with Best time to visit Bergen and verify Ulriksbanen’s latest schedule on the official opening hours page.

How to get there

Ulriksbanen’s lower station sits in the Montana area, a short ride from central Bergen. The cleanest public transport approach is to use Bergen’s network planning tools, then aim for the Montana stop on bus 2, followed by a short uphill walk to the station entrance. If you are arriving by light rail, Bybanen line 1 takes you to Haukeland sjukehus, where you can transfer to bus connections toward Montana. Use the Skyss public transport planner to confirm the fastest route for your specific start point and time of day, then sanity-check the walking portion using the route notes in the Bergen public transport guide.

Walking from the city centre is possible if you want a warm-up hike. From the harbourfront area around Bryggen, expect a steady uphill walk that typically takes 60 to 90 minutes, depending on your route choice and stops. The trade-off is simple: you save money, but you arrive with less energy for ridge walking at the top.

Taxi and rideshare work well for small groups, especially in rain. Bergen’s main licensed providers include 07000 Bergen Taxi and Norgestaxi Bergen. For a transparent estimate, use the published price components and treat any total as an example rather than a guarantee. For instance, on Norgestaxi’s Bergen daytime table, a start fee plus per-km pricing can put a short city-centre trip into a mid-range cost band depending on traffic and any pickup fee.

If you drive, the operator notes that the closest major parking option is the garage under Haukeland University Hospital, around a five to 10 minute walk from the station. The published tariff for Haukeland parkeringshus includes a higher daytime rate and a lower evening and weekend rate, so check timing before you commit.

From Bergen Airport (Flesland), the standard route is Bybanen line 1 into the city with a transfer at Haukeland or in the centre, then onward by bus or taxi. If you are short on time, price a direct taxi using an official provider’s price page such as Bergen Taxi price tables.

Insider navigation tip: if the weather looks marginal, go to Ulriken first and keep your lower-priority indoor stops as a fallback, because the view window can close quickly.

The Visitor Experience and Highlights

Your visit starts at the lower station in Montana, where the practical goal is to get through boarding efficiently and keep your outer layers ready. Even on days that feel mild by the harbour, the wind at the upper station can be sharp, and you often feel the temperature change within minutes of stepping out. As the gondola climbs, Bergen’s neighbourhoods compress into a patchwork of roofs and water, and you get an immediate sense of how the city sits between mountains and the sea.

At the top, most visitors begin with the obvious: step out onto the open viewing areas and let your eyes adjust. When the air is clear, you see the harbour lines, the islands beyond, and the ridges that shape Bergen’s skyline. The sensory detail that stands out is the sound: wind rushing across rock and railings, punctuated by the quiet hum of the cabins arriving and departing behind you.

From there, follow the ridge paths near the station for short, high-reward walks. You are close enough to return quickly if clouds roll in, and you can still find quieter corners by walking a few minutes away from the main viewpoint clusters. If you want more solitude, skip the first obvious photo platform and walk a little farther along the signed paths. You trade a few minutes of uphill effort for a calmer experience.

For many visitors, the highlight is combining the gondola with a longer route. The classic option is the Vidden trail toward Fløyen. It is one of the most iconic Bergen hikes because it links two major viewpoints, but it is also where planning failures happen. If you start too late, you end up walking the last hours in poor light or in worsening weather. If your priority is the panoramic ridge walk rather than the bragging rights of the full traverse, stay near the top area and focus on shorter loops.

When you want a warm indoor reset, the building at the summit anchors the experience. A meal or coffee at Skyskraperen Restaurant on Ulriken adds comfort and buys you time if you are waiting for a cloud break. Families often use this stop as a pacing tool, while solo travelers and couples can treat it as a weather hedge. If you only have a half day, skip longer ridge detours and put your extra time into a second viewpoint window later the same day.

To keep your Bergen day coherent, pair Ulriken with a lower-elevation historic stop when the forecast is unpredictable, such as a walk in Bryggen, Bergen once you are back in town.

Planning Your Time

A realistic plan depends on whether you want a quick viewpoint hit or a true mountain day.

• Quick visit: 60 to 75 minutes. Ride up and down, take 10 to 20 minutes for photos near the station, and add a short ridge walk if visibility is good.

• Standard visit: 90 to 120 minutes. Add a longer ridge walk, a café stop, and a buffer for short queues.

• Thorough visit: 3 to 5 hours. Build in a longer walk on Ulriken’s trails and time for changing weather windows.

• With a long hike: 4 to 6 hours for a Vidden-style traverse, plus extra if conditions slow you down. This is a commitment day.

Queue time expectations are highly seasonal. In summer and on weekends, mid-day queues can form quickly, while early morning and late evening tend to be smoother. Re-entry is not reliably published as a formal policy, so assume your ticket covers the rides you purchase and do not plan a stop-and-return day without checking the operator’s ticket terms.

For itinerary context and practical trade-offs, keep your broader Bergen schedule anchored to the Bergen travel hub.

Accessibility and Constraints

Ulriksbanen works well for many visitors with mobility constraints because the gondola removes the need for a steep ascent. The cabins and stations are designed for step-free access, and the main summit building supports indoor rest breaks. The main constraint is that Ulriken’s outdoor environment is still a mountain: paths can be uneven, wet, and exposed to wind, and the most rewarding viewpoints often involve short inclines on compacted gravel or rock.

Strollers are generally workable on the gondola and around the station zones, but you should expect friction once you leave the immediate top-station area. Not ideal for visitors with severe mobility limitations who need fully smooth surfaces for longer outdoor movement, because mountain paths and weather exposure can limit where you can go safely.

Service animal policies are not consistently published across all sources. If this affects your visit, confirm using the official Norway travel planning context and the operator’s own accessibility guidance on Ulriken643 facilities and accessibility information.

Rules and Security

Ulriksbanen is not a high-security attraction in the museum sense, but you should still expect practical constraints around safety and crowd flow. Large, rigid luggage is inconvenient in the cabins on busy days, and wet gear can make floors slippery in station areas. Food and drink rules follow standard public-venue expectations: keep hot drinks controlled and avoid leaving litter on trails.

Drone flying is governed by national rules and local restrictions, especially around people and airports. Before you fly, review the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority guidance on drone rules in Norway and assume you must keep a safe distance from other visitors. Commercial filming and any sponsored content use can require permissions. If you need written confirmation, use the operator contact channel linked earlier.

If you are visiting Norway as a short-stay traveller and need to align plans with entry rules, keep your travel documents consistent with Norway visa and entry guidance so last-minute changes do not derail your timetable.

Costs and On-Site Spending

Your baseline cost is the ticket, but the real spend depends on whether you add transport, food, and optional upgrades. As of January 2026, published one-way fares are €22.13 (NOK 255) adult, €10.41 (NOK 120) child (four to 15), and €54.67 (NOK 630) family. Return pricing is commonly used for day visitors and is listed as €37.75 (NOK 435) adult, €15.62 (NOK 180) child, and €91.12 (NOK 1,050) family. The EUR amounts in this article are conversions using the ECB reference rate from 28 January 2026.

If you use the seasonal Ulriken Express bus, the published ticket add-on is €3.47 (NOK 40) adult and €1.74 (NOK 20) child, with a family add-on of €10.41 (NOK 120). If you drive, your spend can shift toward parking, and the rate at Haukeland parkeringshus varies by time of day.

On-site spending tends to concentrate around food and warm breaks. The main named venue at the summit is Skyskraperen Restaurant. Typical menu price bands are not reliably published in a stable way, so treat dining as a comfort upgrade rather than a fixed budget line.

To keep your day cost-controlled, plan your food strategy and transport choice around your broader Bergen timing and weather trade-offs described in Best time to visit Bergen.

Local Insider Tip

Tip: If you are visiting between 1 April and 15 October, use the Ulriken Express bus from Torgallmenningen 1A on a clear morning and ride up immediately. The operator publishes departures roughly every 30 minutes between 09:00 and 18:30, and the morning rides tend to beat both the cloud build-up and the mid-day queue peak. See the operator’s details on how to find Ulriksbanen and the Ulriken Express bus.

Practical Tips for Your Visit

• If clouds sit on the ridge, do a short up-and-down for a weather check, then return later the same day if conditions improve.

• Choose a return ticket unless you are fully committed to hiking down, because wind and rain can make the descent slower than you expect.

• Use the Ulriken Express bus in its season if you want the simplest logistics, especially in wet weather when the walk from stops feels longer.

• If you drive, park at Haukeland and accept the five to 10 minute walk, because near-station stopping is primarily for drop-off.

• For photos, carry a small microfiber cloth, since mist and drizzle can coat lenses quickly at the summit.

• Money-saving move: skip a paid add-on unless it protects your schedule, and keep your second stop in town free, such as a walk through central Bergen.

To compare Ulriken with other Norway attraction logistics and common opening-hour caveats, see how similar issues are handled in the Stavanger Cathedral visitor guide.

Nearby Attractions & Combos

A practical Bergen combo is to treat Ulriken as your weather-dependent high point, then connect it to low-elevation stops that still work in rain. If visibility is strong, consider the Vidden traverse toward Fløyen as a full-day hike, then return to the city for an evening waterfront walk.

For a history-first pairing, build your city-centre hours around Bergen’s UNESCO area. Bryggen is walkable and free outdoors, and you can deepen the visit through official heritage context on the UNESCO Bryggen page. A second classic pairing is the Fløyen viewpoint and funicular, which complements Ulriken with a shorter, more family-friendly mountain zone. Use the official Fløyen and Fløibanen site to confirm operations and any seasonal service changes.

If you prefer a low-effort itinerary, ride Ulriksbanen as a two-hour block, then commit the rest of the day to slow walking and indoor stops in the centre rather than adding another mountain.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I need to book Ulriksbanen tickets in advance?No, you can usually buy on the day, but online booking reduces friction in busy months. If you want the smoothest experience, use the official Ulriken643 ticket page and ride early.

Q: What is the price for Ulriksbanen tickets in 2026?A one-way adult fare is €22.13 (NOK 255) and a return adult fare is commonly listed as €37.75 (NOK 435), prices verified January 2026. Check the official price list for updates on the Ulriken643 prices page.

Q: What time does Ulriksbanen open?The published schedule varies by season, with a typical pattern of 10:00 to 18:00 in October through March and 09:00 to 23:00 in April through September. Confirm your date on the official opening hours page.

Q: Can Ulriksbanen close due to weather?Yes, strong wind and severe conditions can suspend operations for safety. If your schedule is tight, build a fallback plan in central Bergen using the Bergen travel hub.

Q: How do I get to Ulriksbanen by public transport?The most direct option is bus 2 to Montana, followed by a short uphill walk to the station. Use the Skyss journey planner and cross-check with the Bergen public transport guide.

Q: Is Ulriksbanen wheelchair accessible?Partially, because the gondola and station facilities support step-free movement, but outdoor mountain paths can be uneven and exposed. Review specifics on Ulriken643 facilities and accessibility information.

Q: Can you bring a stroller on Ulriksbanen?Usually yes for the gondola and the main station areas, but trail terrain at the top can be limiting. If this is central to your plan, verify the latest notes on Ulriken643 facilities and accessibility information.

Q: Can I hike down from Ulriken instead of taking the cable car both ways?Yes, a one-way ticket supports that plan, but you should treat it as a weather-dependent decision because rain and wind increase slip risk. If you want a safer pacing plan, buy a return ticket and decide after you see conditions.

Q: Can I do the Vidden hike from Ulriken to Fløyen?Yes, it is a classic Bergen ridge traverse, typically planned as a half-day to full-day outing. Only start it if you have adequate daylight and you have checked the forecast and the Ulriksbanen operating window.

Q: Is there parking at Ulriksbanen?The operator recommends the garage under Haukeland University Hospital, about five to 10 minutes on foot. Review current tariffs for Haukeland parkeringshus before you drive.

Q: Are there toilets and food at the top station?Yes, there are facilities in the station area and the main dining venue is Skyskraperen Restaurant. For detailed facility notes, use Ulriken643 facilities and accessibility information.

Q: Are drones allowed on Ulriken?Drone flying is regulated nationally and you must follow safety and restricted-area rules, especially around crowds and airports. Start with the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority guidance on drone rules in Norway before planning any flight.