Bryggen is Bergen’s iconic waterfront quarter, a row of colorful wooden buildings that lean at charming angles along the Vågen harbor. This UNESCO World Heritage Site was once the heart of the Hanseatic League’s trading empire in Norway, and the current structures — mostly dating from the 18th century after a series of fires — faithfully follow the medieval layout of narrow wooden alleyways, warehouses, and merchant dwellings that characterized the original settlement.

Wandering through the narrow passages behind the iconic facades reveals a hidden world of artisan workshops, boutiques, and tiny galleries tucked into ancient timber buildings. The Hanseatic Museum offers a vivid recreation of the austere life of German merchants who lived and worked here, while the Bryggens Museum, built over archaeological excavations, displays artifacts from Bergen’s medieval past.

Pro tip: Duck into the narrow alleyways behind the main facades to discover hidden courtyards and workshops that most tourists walk right past. For the classic postcard shot of Bryggen’s colorful waterfront, cross to the opposite side of the harbor near the Fish Market. Then ride the Fløibanen funicular up Mount Fløyen for a panoramic view of the entire harbor and city below.