Damsgårdsfjellet: A Complete Guide to Bergen’s Most Underrated Hike

Bergen is one of my favorite cities in Scandinavia, and one of the main reasons I’ve returned multiple times is because of its beautiful nature. In my opinion, no other city in the region can compete with the abundance of outdoor activities in and around Norway’s second-biggest city. Damsgårdsfjellet, despite being underrated, is a must-do hike when you visit. 

While many people who visit Bergen go to Fløyen and Ulriken instead, Damsgårdsfjellet offers a view just as impressive from the top. While you won’t find a cable car here, reaching the peak and admiring Bergen—along with its nearby mountains—is a memorable experience. 

After having the Damsgårdsfjellet hike on my Nordic to-do list for over 5 years, I finally got the opportunity to tick it off on a sunny day in June. Based on my experiences, I’m putting together this complete guide to prepare you for the ascent.

Keep reading to learn about the hike difficulty, what conditions are like on the trail, and how Damsgårdsfjellet compares to Ulriken and Fløyen. 

Getting to Damsgårdsfjellet

We walked to Damsgårdsfjellet as our accommodation was on the fringes of Bergen’s city center, but getting there by public transport is easy. We took the bus back into Bergen afterward, which took around 20 minutes. 

You can take the bus to either Melkeplassen or Hamrehaugen. The trail starts near here. We spotted the starting point after walking up the hill from Frøya Idrettspark. It’s marked with a map of hiking trails in the Bergen region. 

The 19 bus will take you to Melkeplassen and Hamrehaugen. To buy your tickets, you can download the Skyss Billett app—available on iOS and Android. 

What Are the Conditions Like on the Trail? 

The trail itself is pretty easy to stick to. Most of the way up to Damsgårdsfjellet features rocks, though these can get slippery if it has been raining (which, as this is Bergen, is very likely year-round). 

To guide you along the way, you will see various blue dots throughout the trail. We personally had no issues going up; everything was well-marked, with these dots appearing on both trees and rocks. 

Hiking to the Top of Damsgårdsfjellet

In total, it took us around an hour to reach the top of Damsgårdsfjellet. Unlike when we hiked Grefsenkollen in Oslo, which was easy the whole way up, I put my camera away for the most part on Damsgårdfjellet. I only took it out when I wanted to take photos. 

The main reason for that is that I needed my legs and hands to navigate some parts of the trail. In particular, the initial part of the trail is very steep. It was more challenging than a lot of trails I’ve done while visiting the Faroe Islands, to be honest. 

Despite that, I never felt unsafe while hiking Damsgårdsfjellet. The first part has some railings, which provide a bit of support when needed. As you head further up the trail, you’ll need to clamber over some more rocks. If you need a break, you’ll find some slabs suitable for sitting down on. These provide a nice view of Bergen as it is, too. 

As you approach the top of Damsgårdsfjellet, the hike gets easier. The summit itself is pretty flat, and to be honest, it was a welcome change from the somewhat challenging start to this hike. The summit is marked with a point telling you that you’re at the top. 

The View From the Top 

Once you reach the summit, you’ll get a fantastic view of Bergen’s city center. Since Fløyen and Ulriken are both on the other side, you will see Norway’s second-biggest city from a slightly different perspective. 

In addition to the city center, you can spot Ulriken and its mast on a clear day. Other mountains, such as nearby Olsokfjellet, are also visible, as are the various forests close to Bergen. You get a real perspective of how much of an outdoor paradise this city is from the top of Damsgårdsfjellet. 

While at the top, you can enjoy a view of the North Sea as well. 

When Is the Best Time to Hike Damsgårdsfjellet?

While the trail is open year-round, I’d say that April to October is a good time to hike Damsgårdsfjellet. We did the hike on an evening in June, which was ideal. Temperatures were still reasonable; it rarely gets too warm in Bergen whenever you’re here. The lighting was nice at this time, too… it would’ve been a bit too harsh earlier in the day. 

Even though Damsgårdsfjellet didn’t make me feel unsafe, I personally would not like to do this hike when it’s been raining, as I can see it being slippery. I also wouldn’t hike in the winter.

This hike is definitely best done on a sunny day, too. Having been to Ulriken via cable car on a foggy day when I previously visited Bergen, I can say that I think it’s pointless hiking Damsgårdsfjellet when the clouds are lying low.The view is one of the best things about the hike, and since you have to come outside the city center to get here, what’sthe point if you can’t see anything? 

The Hike Is Beginner-Friendly… With a Caveat

Damsgårdsfjellet is somewhat beginner-friendly, but you will need to be prepared for the steep incline at the start of the trail. This part felt more like climbing than hiking to me. Beyond that, though, I’d say that the hike is suitable for anyone with reasonable fitness levels—including children. 

How Does Damsgårdsfjellet Compare to Fløyen and Ulriken for Difficulty?

In my opinion, Damsgårdsfjellet is somewhere in the middle. Fløyen is still the easiest hike I’ve done in and around Bergen, while Ulriken has multiple trails—some of which are pretty challenging. Hiking down from Ulriken was also worse on the legs than Damsgårdsfjellet, even when I wore the same boots for both. 

What to Wear While Hiking Damsgårdsfjellet

I say this in a lot of my hiking guides (and for good reasons), but appropriate outdoor clothing is particularly important at Damsgårdsfjellet. You need to feel comfortable so you can enjoy the challenge without being annoyed, while also ensuring that you can move properly throughout the trail. I wore my most comfortable pair of hiking pants on purpose because I wasn’t sure what to expect. 

While we had consistent weather (we might be the only people who’ve visited Bergen for multiple days and had more sun than rain), this is not the case much of the time. The city is notorious for its rain, and conditions can change quickly. Despite being June, it still felt quite chilly at the top; for this reason I suggest wearing more than one layer. 

Gloves are probably not necessary in the summer, but you should consider bringing them if you visit in the shoulder season. A good windbreaker is also a smart idea. 

Conclusion

Damsgårdsfjellet is the best hike I’ve done in Bergen so far, and I loved how quiet it was compared to Fløyen and Ulriken. We saw hardly anyone on the trail for the entire time we were there, and while the initial parts were challenging, I personally found them fun. It felt nice to have something that wasn’t overly easy but—at the same time—was still doable. 

If you’ve got some spare time in Bergen, you should definitely make some time for this trail. The starting point is an easy bus ride from the city center, and it’s more accessible than a number of hikes in Norway. For more tips for your trip, check out my guide on the best things to do in Bergen.

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