Fishing -- In the region around Bergen, anyone can fish in the sea without restrictions. If you plan to fish in fresh water (ponds, streams, and most of the best salmon and trout rivers), you'll need a permit. These are sold at any post office. You'll also need the permission of the owner of the land on either side of the stream. The best fjord fishing, where you can angle for such catches as cod, mackerel, haddock, and coalfish, is offered by Rjfylke Fjord Tour (tel. 91-15-90-48). Twice-daily 2-hour fishing trips depart from Bergen Harbor.

Information and fishing permits, which cost 95NOK to 150NOK ($15-$23/£7.80-£12), are available from Bergen Sportsfiskere (Bergen Angling Association), Fosswinckelsgate 37 (tel. 55-32-11-64). It's open Monday to Friday from 9am to 3pm. Rjfylke Fjord Tour (tel. 91-15-90-48) offers 2-hour fishing trips departing from Bergen twice daily.

Golf -- The best golf course is Meland Golf Club, lying 36km (22 miles) north of Bergen at Meland/Frekhaug (tel. 56-17-46-00). This is an 18-hole, par-73 golf course with a pro shop, lockers, and changing facilities. The setting is on 90 hectares (222 acres) in the midst of forests, lakes, and mountains. Greens fees Monday to Friday are 375NOK ($58/£31), going up to 475NOK ($73/£39) on Saturday and Sunday.

Swimming -- The Sentralbadet, Theatersgaten 37 (tel. 55-56-95-70), has a heated indoor pool. An open-air pool whose season is limited to the fleeting Nordic summer is at Nordnes Sjøbad, Nordnes. For hours, check with the Bergen tourist office. At either pool, adults pay 80NOK ($12/£6.55), children 42NOK ($6.45/£3.45).

Tennis -- Paradis Sports Senter, Highway R1, Paradis (tel. 55-91-26-00), 6.5km (4 miles) south of Bergen, is the best place to get your game on. The club has five indoor courts, four squash courts, four badminton courts, a health club and gym, and a solarium. It's open Tuesday and Thursday 9am to 10pm, Monday and Wednesday 9am to 11pm, Friday 9am to 9pm, Saturday 10am to 6pm, and Sunday 11am to 9pm.

Walking -- Only 10 minutes away from town by the funicular, several roads and footpaths lead to Mount Fløien, an unspoiled wood and mountain terrace with lakes and rivers. The Bergen Touring Club, Tverrgaten 4 (tel. 55-33-58-10), arranges walking tours farther afield and supplies information on huts and mountain routes all over Norway. It also provides maps and advice on where to hike. The office is open Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm (until 6pm on Thurs).