Norway: Bryggen, Bergen
Score: 73

"Bryggen consists of a single row of medieval timber houses, on the quayside in Bergen. The city easily deals with the small numbers of visitors who do not visit as part of a cruise."

"Old, beautiful Hanseatic buildings are well kept in spite of considerable structural work needed. The harbor architecture blends seamlessly in with the rest of the city center, overlooking the fjords and sheltered by hills."

"One of the best managed urban World Heritage sites I have visited.Surrounding urbanization compliments rather than competes."

"Overdone to cater to tourism and appears to be over-commercialized, sacrificing authenticity. 'Facadism' cannot be the only answer for conservation."

"Since this part of Norway was just chosen as a World Heritage site, a visitor management plan is completely lacking, but the scenery is beautiful and the roads to Geiranger are improving."

"To float into the Geirangerfjord is an astonishingly complete natural experience—steep, lush and rocky canyon walls, endless waterfalls, a snow-capped backdrop and inconceivably deep, emerald green water. There are a wealth of farms, now largely abandoned (Skagefla, Knivsfla and Blomberg) along Geirangerfjord's banks, one of which is only accessed by climbing a flimsy rope ladder which spans hundreds of meters from the water, along the cliff face, to the farm plateau. Some information on its history is available, but there's not yet an emphasis on touring there."

"The West Fjords have sensational scenery, are well-preserved and are clean. The people there are willing and helpful. There are great outdoor activities, and good hotel options and restaurants, but they close rather early! In May-June there's no feeling of mass tourism, visitors can just take ferries like normal Norwegians going about their business."

"The presence of the 'shelf farms' and human population scattered along this dramatic coastline is unique and wondrous. But is this farming sustainable, and can it continue? Or will the settlements become subject to the pressures of camping and cruise tourism, as some signs (and obtrusive) signage begin to indicate?"

"The Norwegians know they have a good thing going, and they want to preserve it.They're doing all the right things and there's little doubt they'll succeed in maintaining a destination that meets all the criteria for sustainability."