Alesund

Top 10 Things to See and Do in Ålesund, Norway

Alesund is in the center of the fjord region of Norway, making it a popular stop for cruise ships. Norway’s wealth from the oil industry has changed this coastal area forever, as you now can reach small nearby island villages with picturesque lighthouses by simply driving through a myriad of coastal tunnels. The excellent infrastructure and art nouveau architecture, combined with the nearby summer puffin breeding habitat at Runde, the towering Sunnmøre Alps and the possibility of northern lights in winter has made Alesund extremely popular.

View Ålesund from Aksla, Diego Delso@wikimedia

Here are the top 10 things to see and do in Alesund:

1. Climb to the Mount Aksla Viewpoint (Fjellstua) – Hike up the famous 418 steps from the town or take the tourist train for views over Alesund and the Sunnmøre Alps. In the evening enjoy the lights of the city after sunset.

2. Visit the Art Nouveau Centre (Jugendstilsenteret) to understand the history of Alesund’s architecture. Alesund was rebuilt with its unique art nouveau architectural style after a fire in 1904 destroyed nearly all of the town.

3. Wander through the colourful streets and along the scenic Brosundet Canal. See the Alesund Church. Continue your walking tour out on the small pier past the Molja Lighthouse. The Lighthouse is now available for the night from the Hotel Brosundet as a one room suite.

4. Atlantic Sea-Park (Atlanterhavsparken) – take a short bus ride or excursion to one of Northern Europe’s largest saltwater aquariums, featuring seals, otters, penguins and local marine life in natural exhibits by the sea.

5. Sunnmøre Open Air Museum – Take a short bus ride or excursion to this open-air folk museum with its historic houses, boats and exhibits telling the story of coastal life around Alesund.

Jugendstilsenteret Museum, mrcbtree@pixabay

6. Alnes Lighthouse (Alnes fyr) – Take a local bus or an excursion to visit Alnes lighthouse on Godøy Island. You will travel through modern undersea tunnels to access the historic island. Enjoy the sea views, a small maritime museum and a café. Visit the 12th century white marble Giske Church along the way.

7. Kayaking and Boat Tours – Paddle through the canals or join a fjord cruise to see Alesund and the surrounding coastline. Check out Cruise Service for archipelago tours, Hjørundfjord fjord cruises and even a full day 11 hour return trip to Geirangerfjord.

8. Hike Sukkertoppen (Sugar Top) – This moderate hike on Hessa Island rewards you with views over islands, fjords and mountains. You can reach the starting point by bus. The round trip hike takes a couple hours.

9. Birdwatching at Runde Island – Famous for puffins in summer and large seabird colonies. You can reach Runde by a local ferry and bus or book an excursion.

10. Take a full day 8 hour excursion from Alesund to the famous Troll Road (Trollstigen) and the Troll Wall (Trollveggen).

Things to Buy in Alesund

Alesund offers a variety of locally made souvenirs as well as standard Norwegian tourist favorites. Here are some popular items that tourists often purchase:

Norwegian Wool – sweaters, scarves, mittens and hats featuring classic Nordic patterns.

Sami Handicrafts – textiles, belts, silver jewelry & leather items representing the indigenous Sami culture.

Hand-Blown Glass & Local Ceramics – glassware, ornaments, mugs or bowls reflecting Ålesund’s coastal colours and heritage.

Norwegian Chocolates & Sweets – local treats like Freia chocolate, marzipan or salty licorice.

Prints & Decor Inspired by Art Nouveau – small prints, home decor items and art pieces that reflect the city’s style.

Rose-Painting & Wood Carvings – traditional Scandinavian rosemaling-painted boxes or carved wooden figure souvenirs.

Viking-Inspired Jewelry & Souvenirs – pendants with runes, Thor’s hammer motifs or Celtic-style designs.

Troll Figurines – troll souvenirs in wood, ceramic or resin inspired by Norwegian folklore.

Things to Try in Alesund

Kvæfjordkake (“World’s Best Cake”): A layered cake with meringue, vanilla cream, and almonds. You will even find it on dessert menus on coastal ferries because Norwegians love it!

Brunost (Brown Cheese): Made from goat’s milk, this sweet and caramel-like cheese is a staple in Norway. Try it on bread, waffles or crispbread. Norwegians love it with jam, such as cloudberry, too. Buy it in vacuum-sealed packs to take home.

Fresh Seafood – try local salmon, cod, shrimp, crab, dagens fisk (fish of the day). Visit Fisketorget Delikatesse, Sjøbua, Apotekergata No. 5 or Anno Restaurant.

Raspeballer (Potato Dumplings) – grated potato dumplings, served with bacon, sausage or lamb.

Rømmegrøt –  Creamy porridge made from sour cream, flour, and milk is a classic Norwegian comfort food served with sugar, cinnamon, and cured meats.

Vafler (Norwegian Waffles) – Heart-shaped waffles served with jam, sour cream or brunost — perfect as a snack or dessert.

Bacalao (Salted Cod Stew) – A Norwegian dish made with dried, salted cod stewed with tomatoes, onions and potatoes.

Klipfish (Dried & Salted Cod) –  traditional preserved cod with intense flavour.

Smoked Fish – smoked salmon, trout or mackerel.

Akevitt — a traditional herb-flavoured after dinner drink.

Best Time to Visit Ålesund

Constantly changing weather throughout each day and lots of precipitation is typical for this coastal location. The height of summer is July and August, when average highs in the high 60s F (low 20s C) can be expected, while average lows are 50 F (10 C). From December – February, average high temperatures hover around the freezing point. The summer months are the most popular for tourism, but with increased global tourism, cruise ships are visiting in May, June and September too. The northern lights are a draw for visitors to Alesund in the winter, especially on the Havila and Hurtigruten coastal express route. Alesund is close to the Arctic circle, so the summer days will have light for almost 24 hours, while in winter darkness will prevail instead.

Getting to Ålesund

Cruise Ship: Most international tourists arrive in Alesund by cruise ship. With the approaching 2032 zero emission requirement for cruise ships visiting Flam and Geiranger, the number of cruise companies interested in Alesund is expanding.

Hurtigruten or Havila Coastal Express: These two rival coastal ferries are more like small cruise ships that also carry cargo to 34 ports between Bergen and Kirkenes. You can travel either direction, ride as far as you’d like and finish at any port, including Alesund. Traditional cruise ship tourists will find the coastal express route a unique experience that harkens back to an older era where tourists mix with local travellers and where boarding or disembarkation times might be in the middle of the night. See our Bergen page for more information.

Bus and Ferry: You can visit Alesund on the Geiranger in a Nutshell route. From Bergen this route reaches Alesund by taking a 5 hour ferry to Måløy and then a 5 hour bus ride via Nordfjordeid. If you choose to take the route in the opposite direction, you arrive in Alesund from Geiranger by the popular Geirangerfjord ferry.

Car: You can reach Alesund from Bergen in about 7 hours by car including a couple ferries on the way. Visiting Alesund with your own vehicle is best done as part of a more extensive visit to Norway.

Air: Alesund Airport is serviced mainly by Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), Norwegian Air Shuttle, Widerøe, KLM and Wizz Air. Some flights are also provided by Lufthansa and Air France. Connecting airports include Bergen, Oslo and Trondheim.

Currency, Electrical Adapters, Visa Requirements

Visit our Norway web page for information about Currency, Electrical Adapters and Visa Requirements.