For a Half Day

Fjord trip: Bergen Fjord Sightseeing (tel: 5525 9000; www.whitelady.no) offers a four-hour tour around the fjords closest to Bergen. The boat departs from the pier at Torget at 1000 (May-Sep) and 1530 (Jul-Aug). Numerous other waterborne tours are available, and all can be booked through the tourist information office (see Sightseeing). Maritime Tours (tel: 5530 8080; www.maritimetours.no) also operates day tours of the magnificent Osterfjord aboard a vintage vessel, departing from Bryggen daily (Jun-Sep).

Troldhaugen - The Edvard Grieg Museum: Designed by the composer Schack Bull, Edvard Grieg's attractive Swiss-style house was built in the 1880s in lush surroundings on a promontory jutting out into Lake Nordås. The hut in the garden where he composed many of his great works still contains his desk, upright piano and rocking chair. Up until 1985, concerts regularly took place here. They are now staged in the concert hall, Troldsalen, usually every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday in the summer (mid June to mid Aug), and Sundays in September (free bus from Bergen city centre).

For a Whole Day

Norway in a nutshell: This tour uses a combination of water- and land-based transport to create a full-day excursion through Norway. Highlights include the Flåm Railway which, with one of the steepest gradients in the world, twists and turns its way 900m (2,952ft) down to the fjord, passing snow-capped mountains and beautiful waterfalls. Once in Flåm, a boat winds through Aurlandsfjorden and Nærøyfjorden - one of Norway's narrowest fjords. Trains depart daily all year round from the central railway station at Strømgaten 4. Departure times vary according to the season, but the total duration of the trip is 10-12 hours. There is no guide but a pamphlet explaining the route is provided with the ticket. Bookings can be made at the Tourist Information Office (see Sightseeing) or directly from Fjord Tours AS (tel: 8156 8222; www.fjord-tours.com).

Lysøen: You don't need to be a music fan to enjoy a visit to Lysøen. The 'Island of Light' was built as a summer residence for the Norwegian violin virtuoso Ole Bull in 1873. The delightful villa, which is an unusual combination of architectural styles inspired by Ole Bull's travels, is open to the general public in summer, with guided tours taking place daily. Pack a picnic and wander in the beautiful grounds before catching the ferry back to the mainland - there are idyllic, secluded bathing spots, as well as 13km (8 miles) of paths to explore (tel: 5630 9077). Lysøen is about 30km (18.5 miles) south of Bergen's centre. Take the E39 south, then follow signs for Fana on the 546, and from there head towards Søvik, from where the tiny ferry (passengers only) departs.