You are never far from the water in the wonderful Norwegian town of Ålesund.
One of Norway's most distinctive looking towns, Ålesund is packed with fascinating architecture and history in a truly spectacular natural setting.
Art nouveau touches and a delightful pastel palette grace many of the downtown buildings, while the Sunnmøre Alps provide a dramatic backdrop to this town surrounded by water.
There’s enough to do in and around the town to keep you busy for a few days, so Ålesund is a must-do stop or even a base for any road trip along Norway’s west coast. With direct flights from Amsterdam and Copenhagen as well as Oslo, Ålesund is also a great choice for a long weekend break from much of Europe.
Enjoy an architectural walk
There’s no better way to get your bearings in this compact town than with a walk to take in the fabulous architecture and waterfront views. Make sure to explore both sides of the main waterway that splits the downtown area in two.
Sadly, the art nouveau look of downtown Ålesund was a result of tragedy. After a fire left much of the former wooden town in ashes, it was rebuilt with German money in the style favored at the time.
The result is an urban landscape that’s unique in Norway. Include Apotekergata, St. Olavs plass and Kongens gate on your walk to get a good appreciation for the variety of architecture in the town.
Art nouveau center
Although the town’s architecture is a museum in itself, the art nouveau center Jugendstilsenteret is worth a visit to explore the story in more depth.
The building containing Ålesund's art nouveau center Jugendstilsenteret is one of the town's best ... [+]
The permanent exhibition Tidsmaskinen (Time Machine) is a multimedia show of film, images, light and sound that takes you back to the 1904 tragedy.
The center’s reception area retains the original fittings from the building’s former life as a pharmacy, while upstairs you’ll discover original fittings, furniture and ceramics.
If you’ve bought a ticket to Jugendstilsenteret, that same ticket grants you access to the KUBE art museum in the former bank building next door. KUBE functions as a regional art center and while not a major attraction for international tourists, its worth looking in to see if there are any interesting temporary exhibitions.
Climb the steps to Aksla
If you’ve ever been to Ålesund before or even just researched the town, you’ll know of the iconic view that shows Ålesund in its sensational natural setting.
The sensational view from the Aksla viewpoint is the reward for climbing more than 400 stone steps ... [+]
The viewpoint lies atop a hill known as Aksla, easy to spot from much of downtown Ålesund. To get there, you can either drive, take a tourist bus or do as the locals do and take the more than 400 stone steps that start in the city park. Enjoying an ice cream from the cafe as you take in the view is your reward.
Atlantic aquarium
At 225 Norwegian kroner ($21.50), entrance to the Atlantic Sea Park is not cheap but worthwhile if you have children. There’s lots to see in the largest saltwater aquarium in Northern Europe, with plenty of species native to North Atlantic waters.
Outside, things get more interesting with a small penguin colony gifted to the aquarium from Chile the star attraction. Check the website in advance of your visit for feeding times.
The aquarium runs a shuttle bus in high season, although it can also be reached by local bus and a 12-minute walk. To walk all the way from downtown Ålesund, allow about 45 minutes.
Sightseeing trip to the Hjørundfjord
Iconic fjord scenery combined with a thrilling ride on a RIB-boat is hard to beat on a sunny day. Whether you prefer a speedy trip on a RIB-boat or a more relaxed sightseeing tour, local company 62º Nord are experts in the area.
A boat trip to the Hjørundfjord is a wonderful day trip from Ålesund.
Surrounded by the towering peaks of the Sunnmøre Alps, the Hjørundfjord is lesser-known by international tourists but a top choice among locals, Norwegian tourists and European royalty for hundreds of years. If you’re struggling to decide on a sightseeing trip, the Hjørundfjord itself and the journey there will not disappoint.
Explore Ålesund by kayak
May to September is kayaking season in the waters in and around Ålesund. With so much water around, a kayak is a fantastic choice to get a different perspective on the town.
Kayak tours range from two-hour art nouveau tours that stay close to the town, right through to all-day trips for the more adventurous that combine kayaking with hiking.
Hike for a view
Speaking of hiking, the nearby Giske archipelago is perfect to get yet another perspective on Ålesund and its wonderful natural setting.
The Godøyfjellet peaks on Godøya island make for good intermediate hikes that offer wonderful views of Ålesund below and the Sunnmøre Alps beyond.
The 1,630-feet peak Storhornet appears imposing from the town, but is not as difficult a hike as it first appears.
From the trailhead at Alnes you should allow up to five hours to complete the hike, although with fantastic views available along much of the trail you don't need to make it all the way to the summit to get a spectacular view.
