Bergen, Norway

With it's current population approaching 300,000, Bergen is Norway's second largest city. It was, in fact, the largest city in Norway as recently as 1830 and actually served as the country's capital back in the 13th century. The current capital city, Oslo, is currently three to four times larger than Bergen. The city was founded in 1070 and, following steady growth, had become a bureau city of the Hanseatic League by the end of the 13th century ensuring great wealth for the many merchants in town. 
The area around the original quays, now a World Heritage Site, came to be known as Bryggen and is presented to tourists as a series of retail stores. Sadly, there are few historical building examples in the city owing to numerous fires over the centuries which burnt razed large areas.
Bergen Port continues to be Norway's busiest, both in terms of freight and passengers with more than 300 cruise ship calls bringing nearly a half a million passengers to Bergen each year. More pictures here.

Alesund, Norway

Alesund is located in More og Romsdal county at the top of Norway’s Western Fjord country. With the Sunnmøre Mountains as a backdrop, the town of almost 50,000 people straddles several islands stretching out into the Atlantic and all connected by bridges. 
A fire in 1904 destroyed much of the town which was subsequently rebuilt in stone using a dramatic Art Nouveau style. This style flourished between about 1890 and 1910 throughout Europe and the United States and is characterized by the use of long, sinuous lines.
Alesund is also home to one of Norway’s largest fishing harbors, is a base for cod and halibut fishing trawlers and is also
the headquarters of the Arctic sealing fleet. Slideshow here.