Ålesund

  • Ålesund, Åndalsnes, Dombås, European Highways, Road-trips

    Drive it Yourself: Dombås to Ålesund via Åndalsnes on the E136

    Drive it Yourself: Dombås to Ålesund via Åndalsnes on the E136

    Here’s my guide to the drive from Dombås to Ålesund on the E136. In June 2023 Sean and I decided to take advantage of a sunny weekend and head out to the fjords for a road-trip. I have only ever driving along Trollveggen once, and I vaguely remembered it. However, I had heard over and over again how beautiful it was and realised this was the perfect chance to see the mountains. The drive is short but so beautiful and a great thing to do before climbing up Trollstigen. 

    In this article...

    Download this Guide

    All of our guides can be downloaded via our online store. 

    We offer downloadable versions of our self-guided drives on our online store. 

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    Online Guide

    • Information about points of interest
    • Images of each point of interest
    • Historic overview of the neighbourhood
    • Directions between points
    • Historic photos
    • Information about facilities along the way

    Downloadable Guide

    • Information about points of interest
    • Images of each point of interest
    • Historic overview of the region & towns
    • Directions between points
    • Historic photos
    • Facilities including supermarkets, toilets, petrol, hotels, cafes, restaurants with addresses.

    Watch on Youtube

    All of our roadtrips are available on YouTube to watch. They include information about the area provided in text and voiceover form, plus they show the drive in full (sped up in some spots!) so you can get an idea what the drive is like. 

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    Dombås to Ålesund on the E136

    Dombås Travel Guide

    This drive begins in Dombås, an important transportation hub. You can read about Dombås on our travel guide below. 

    Dombås Travel Guide

    E136

    Highway

    The E136 highway goes between Ålesund and Dombås, connecting the coastal city with the E6 highway that runs through Norway. The E136 is the main road running between Eastern Norway and the Ålesund/Molde region.

    The old road was, in historic times, an important road for the farmers of the northern part of the Gudbrandsdalen valley and the surrounding mountain villages. They would use the road to get access to the sea, where they could buy items like salt.

    This was one of the first roads between Eastern and Western Norway to be paved as a driving road. Old stations still exist along the road where those travelling in carriages would stop to rest.

    The road runs parallel to the Rauma Railway, a scenic train. Construction for the railway began in 1912 and it was open in 1924. The railway is today mostly a scenic train.

    Lesja Municipality

    Lesja is a mountainous municipality located in the traditional Gudbrandsdalen region. Most of the municipality is above 900m above sea level. The main industry here is agriculture, employing around 30% of the population.

    Rauma Valley

    Valley

    The Romsdalen valley is one of the most spectacular valleys in Norway. Large parts of the valley are narrow and run between high alpine mountains. The valley floor rises from the Romsdalsfjorden and the Rauma river runs through the valley.

    Lesjaverk

    Valley

    Lesjaverk is a small village located at 633m above sea level. In 1659, an ironworks was established here. The mines had a very uneven supply of ore and business here was never stable. However, the iron ore was of very good quality due to the amount of chromium in the ore. The ironworks closed in 1812 as the operation was of never any great importance. Remnants of the mine exist around the village.

    Bjorli

    Village

    Bjorli is a small village that is popular for skiing, with the Bjorli Ski Centre being located here. The area has stable snow conditions and a long ski season. Bjorli is also a good base for the Dovrefjell-Sunndalsfjella National Park. One scene in ‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince’ was filmed in this area because of its unique mountainous terrain.

    Møre og Romsdal County

    Rauma Municipality

    Rauma municipality is known for its incredible diversity of nature. In the outer parts, the mountains are low and the slopes are gentler. In the inner parts, the slopes are steeper and many mountains have vertical walls. The highest mountain is Pyttegga, at 1999m above sea level.

    Agriculture has traditionally been the most important industry in Rauma, but the number of farms has been greatly reduced since the last half of the 20th century. In the mid-19th century the area became industrialised with textiles factories, and Rauma wool was established in 1927. Today tourism is an important industry.

    Trollveggen

    Mountain Wall

    You are now beginning your drive along Trollveggen, the ‘Troll Wall’ in English. It is Europe’s highest vertical cliff and is approximately 1,700 metres high, with around a 1,000 metre vertical drop. The area has been popular with climbers since the 1960s.

    Kors Kirke

    Church

    Soon we will pass Kors Kirke on the right. This church is from 1797 but was moved from its original location to here in 1902. There has been a church in the valley since the 15th century.

    Trollveggen Visitor Centre

    Trollveggen Visitor Centre is located close to the start of the Trollstigen Tourist Road. Here you’ll find restrooms, a cafeteria and a souvenir shop. There is also some information about Trollveggen and the surrounding area. 

    Trollstigen Tourist Road

    Shortly before arriving at Åndalsnes, you’ll pass the turn-off to the Trollstigen Tourist Road, one of Norway’s 18 national tourist roads. It is a lengthy detour, but is well worth doing!

    Trollstigen Tourist Road

    Åndalsnes

    Åndalsnes is a scenic fjord-side town with all the major facilities you need during a road-trip. It is also am excellent place to stay if you want to break up the drive. 

    Åndalsnes Travel Guide

    Veblungsnes

    Village

    Veblungsnes is a small village just across the river from Åndalsnes. It is a historic farm that has existed for hundreds of years. In the last 200 years it has developed into a village. The Rauma wool company is located here. The local church, Grytten Church, is from 1829.

    After passing through the village, you’ll go through the 6.5km-long Innfjord Tunnel. 

    Innfjorden

    Village

    Innfjorden is a small village located within Rauma municipality. The village is primarily agricultural. The Innfjorden fjord that the village sits along is a branch of the Romsdalsfjorden.

    Vestnes Municipality

    Vestnes is a mountainous municipality that is mentioned in the Norse sagas, when a chieftain lived here. The municipality is divided into three by two fjords. The main industry here is agriculture, with some maritime industry and boat building.

    Vikebukt

    Village

    Vikebukt is a small village with around 650 people living here. The larger town of Molde is located just across the fjord, but a ferry is needed to get across there. The village has been inhabited since the Viking Age, and today a number of burial mounds can be found throughout the area.

    After driving through Vikebukt you cross the Tresfjordbrua Bridge. 

    Vestnes

    Village

    Vestnes village is located on the shore of the Tresfjorden, which is a branch of the Romsdalsfjord. It is the administrative centre for the municipality. This is also where the E39 merges with the E136, which you have been travelling on so far. From Vestnes it is possible to take a ferry across to Molde.

    Ålesund Municipality

    Ålesund

    Ålesund is one of the larger towns along the west Norwegian coast. It is most famous for its Art Nouveau architecture and modern fishing industry. Read our guide to Ålesund below. 

    Ålesund Travel Guide

    If you liked this drive, or if you have any travel tips, please leave a comment in the section below!

    Previous Drive

    Lom to Dombås

    See the previous day’s drive from Lom to Dombås via Highway 15 and the E6. 

    Lom to Dombås

    Next Drive

    Trollstigen Tourist Road

    On the next drive, we take the Trollstigen Tourist Road from Åndalsnes across to Geiranger. 

    Trollstigen Tourist Road
  • Ålesund, Hurtigruten, Walking Guides

    Highlights of Ålesund Self-Guided Walking Tour

    Highlights of Ålesund Self-Guided Walking Tour

    Located on the west coast of Norway, Ålesund is a town not to be missed. The town is famous for its Art Nouveau architecture and has regularly been voted Norway’s most beautiful city. But it’s beauty arose from devastation; in 1904 a fire devastated the entire city, with almost all the wooden buildings in Ålesund destroyed. Like a phoenix, Ålesund rose from the ashes and is now a lively, thriving community.

    This walking guide is designed for people visiting on the coastal ferry but is suited to everyone. The walk starts at the Hurtigruten pier and ends at the hiking path for Mt. Aksla.

    The online version is simplified; if you want something with directions, depth and recommendations of things to do, consider buying our downloadable version. 

    In this article...

    Ålesund Travel Guide
    Norway Travel Guide

    Downloadable Version of This Guide

    We offer downloadable versions of our self-guided walks on our online store. 

    View at the Store

    Online Guide

    • Information about points of interest
    • Images of each point of interest
    • Historic overview of the neighbourhood
    • Directions between points
    • Historic photos

    Downloadable Guide

    • Information about points of interest
    • Images of each point of interest
    • Historic overview of the city
    • Directions between points
    • Historic photos

    Ålesund Self-Guided Walking Tour

    This walk begins at the Hurtigruten pier. 

    Skateflukaia & Skansekaia

    These are two piers that are located between the Hurtigruten pier and the tourist office. 

    Here you’ll find a national monument commemorating the Shetland Bus, which ran between Ålesund and the Shetland islands between 1940 and 1945. During World War II Ålesund was described as ‘Little London’ because of the illegal resistance activity in town and because so many people managed to escape to England via Ålesund.

    The monument was unveiled by Crown Prince Haakon on the 8th of May 1995. 

    There is another monument here for the fire of 1904. It is a row of four columns with images of the devastation from the fire. 

    Kongens gate

    Kongens gate is where you will see some beautiful examples of the Art Nouveau architecture. Start at the higher numbers and work your way down. 

    Kongens gate 28

    This is home to the Bjørknes School. You can see a difference in architecture compared to number 25. Both were built in the same period after the fire, but number 28 is more inspired by Central European art nouveau, while number 25 is inspired by Old Norse design, and it has taken inspiration from stave church buildings in Norway that fused Norse and Christian religions.

    Kongens gate 25

    The building burnt down in 1970. The only thing that was intact after the fire was the façade facing Kongens gate. There were discussions about demolishing it, but the town planning manager convinced the owner that it could survive.

    Kongens gate 21

    Number 21 is inspired by the Norwegian dragon style, which drew its motifs from the Norwegian Viking period.

    Kongens gate 18

    Kongens gate 18 is interesting because the building is actually a copy of the building that used to stand there. The original building was very dilapidated by the 1970s, so it was torn down and rebuilt as a copy. 

    Kongens gate 10B

    Kongens gate 10B is the most unique building on the street. The shape results from the rebuilding after the fire. It broadens out as it goes back. The building is so narrow that access to the upper floors is via the neighbour’s front door. The architect Karl Norum designed the building. The stone cladding is heritage listed.

    The Thousand Steps and Lihauggata

    Despite being known as ‘The Thousand Steps’, these 53 steps lead up to Lihauggata, one of the few remaining hills in town.

    Many of the original hills have been blasted away and flattened out as Ålesund was developed.

    The only victim of the town fire lived here. Ironically enough, she was the next-door neighbour of the fire station, which was also here. She was an older lady who safely escaped the fire, but decided she must take her possessions with her, so she returned to her home.

    Kongens gate 6

    This is a good example of well-preserved Årt Nouveau where the old style is looked after.

    Avisgutten

    On Kongens gate you’ll see a statue of a paperboy. It was donated to Ålesund by the newspaper in 1998.

    St. Olavs Plass & the Rønneberg Building

    At the end of Kongens gate you’ll cross a square called St. Olavs Plass.

    Walk out of Kongens gate, cross St. Olavs square and continue towards the Rønneberg Building (Notenesgate 9). The Rønneberg building was built for the Carl E. Rønneberg and Sons company in 1907 by the waterfront and was a trading company. This area is where the most traditional Ålesund companies have been since 1812. The building is clad in local light marble.

    Most of St. Olavs Plass and the roads here are built on reclaimed land.

    Arbeideren

    Arbeideren is the former trade union building that was completed in 1906. The distinctive façade is a mix of Art Nouveau detailing and ornamentation.

    It is now one of Norway’s finest public festivity centres and it is an important part of Ålesund’s social and cultural life.  

    On the other side of the building from where you are you can see ‘Arbeiderforening’ written on the building, which refers to the trade union. 

    Ålesund Strait

    Ålesund is spread out over multiple islands. The islands are interconnected by bridges and subsea tunnels. Ålesund’s town centre is built around the narrow sound Ålesundet, between the islands Åspøya in the west and Nørvøya in the east.

    From here you get a good view of the strait that runs through Ålesund. The ‘sund’ in ‘Ålesund’ means ‘strait’. 

    Art Nouveau Centre

    This is the old Swan pharmacy, built as a chemists shop and private residence for the Øwre family. The building was later bought by the Ålesund Savings Bank and was restored externally.

    The actual chemist’s shop is still intact inside. The chemist’s shop is one of the oldest institutions in Ålesund. From as early as 1819 there was a chemist here, until it closed in 2001 and the Art Nouveau Centre moved in. The centre has exhibitions spread across three floors. They have art nouveau ads, jewellery, and several multimedia presentations. The cobblestone is from 1915 – before then it was unpaved and quite dusty and muddy. 

    The Herring Wife

    Across the street from the Art Nouveau Centre is a statue of the herring wife – commemorating the role women had here in Ålesund. They were primarily the sellers of the fish. 

    Ålesund Church

    The church was ready to be consecrated in September 1909, so it is not an old church. However, the old Ålesund Church used to stand on the same site. 

    The first Ålesund Church was built in 1854. It was 50 years old when it burned down. The architectural competition jury received 63 proposals in response to its invitation to tender a new church.

    The church is heavily inspired by medieval times and therefore had small windows, making it very dark. The architect combined Norwegian church architecture with Jugendstil.

    Nedre Strandgate, Prestbrygge and Storneskaia

    This area is where historically the klippfisk (clipfish in English) was loaded onto boats. 

    Ålesund is one of the biggest export ports in Norway for klippfisk. This is without a doubt the most important basis for Ålesund’s growth as a trading town.

    Ålesund Town Hall

    Ålesund Town Hall is one of the classic 1970s style office buildings in Norway. It has been voted the second-ugliest building in Norway, and rightly so!

    Kaiser Wilhelms Gate

    The area here is called Kipervika and is named after the barrel makers who lived here. In the 1950s the sea came up to where the benches are. 

    The street is named after Kaiser Wilhelm. He often holidayed in the Norwegian fjords on his yacht Hohenzollern and was a great admirer of the west country landscape on the Sunnmøre Fjords. When he heard about the fire in Ålesund he ordered three fully loaded ships carrying food, medicine, building materials and blankets to Ålesund. Help also came from other parts of the world, but the assistance from Kaiser Wilhelm II was magnificent and he stole the show and overshadowed the other providers of assistance.

    Ålesund's Old Prison

    On the corner of Rådhusgata you’ll see the old prison. The building dates to 1864; during the fire in innards were destroyed but the stone walls survived. The state lion is above the entrance. It was formerly the district Court and prison. 14 prisoners were inside at the time of the fire. When the gaoler realised the prison as going to catch fire, he left them go but told them to come back the next day. Today it’s a prison admin building.

    Ålesund Town Park

    The park was designed in 1885 with the purpose of being for the pleasure and recreation of the townsfolk, who were beginning to be inconvenienced by the noise of wagons and other racket. The pattern was the English park landscape, with footpaths winding around hillocks and between the verdant trees and flower beds. The park got a major facelift in 2010.

    The vegetation is found in other parts of the country. A surprise is the Chilean tree, the monkey-puzzle tree. It was brought to the town from South America by sailors from Ålesund at the beginning of the 1900s.

    Thanks for coming!

    I hope you enjoyed this walk around Ålesund. Be sure to go and have the best fish and chips in town close to the pier before leaving! You can find more information about Ålesund via our travel guide page. 

    Ålesund Travel Guide
    Norway Travel Guide
  • Ålesund, History

    The History of Ålesund

    The History of Ålesund

    Ålesund is today famous for its famous art nouveau architecture, but the city has a fascinating past all the way back to the time of the Vikings. The settlement at Ålesund didn’t emerge until the 18th century, but the area around Ålesund is mentioned in all the Norse sagas as a wealthy trading area. After Ålesund got market rights to compete against Bergen’s monopoly, people began settling here to take part in the rich cod fisheries. A fire in 1904 completely devastated the city, but Ålesund rose from the ashes as one of the most beautiful cities in Norway. Here is my overview of the history of Ålesund.

    In this article...

    Ålesund Travel Guide
    Finland Travel Guide

    The Viking Sagas

    Ålesund isn’t mentioned for the first time until the 18th century, but places around Ålesund are known from the Viking Age. For example, Steinvåg is mentioned in connection with St. Olav’s visit in 1029, and in 1184 King Sverre (who founded Trondheim) visited the area.

    However, there is one place in particular that is famous from the Viking Age.

    Borgund

    To the southeast of Ålesund city centre is a place known as Borgund (not to be confused with the famous stave church of the same name). Borgund is the oldest known dwelling in the region. This is where the history of Ålesund begins.

    Archaeological excavations have shown settlement from the 11th century onwards. The remains of up to four marble churches have been found, indicating the area was very wealthy and important. One of the medieval churches, Borgund Church, is still standing today. Excavations show there there 40-50 dwellings here.

    The reason for Borgund’s importance was the rich fisheries in the Borgund Fjord, in particular the cod fisheries. The town functioned as a gathering and distribution centre for products from the region that would then be sent on to Bergen and sold to the Hanseatic League. Exchange goods, such as ceramics from Germany and textiles from England, were brought back from Bergen.

    Borgund survived partly in thanks to a powerful family called the Giske Family.

    Visiting Borgund Today: Borgund is located just outside of Ålesund. You can visit the church or one of two museums on the side; The Medieval Museum (https://www.vitimusea.no/musea/middelaldermuseet) or the Sunnmøre Museum (https://www.vitimusea.no/musea/sunnmoere-museum)

    You can read about the excavation work on the University of Bergen website (including pictures): https://www.uib.no/en/rg/borgund-kaupang/134757/excavating-borgund

    Giske

    The Giske Family was a Norwegian aristocratic family from the Viking Age through to the 17th century. They lived on an island called Giske, which is today just north of the city of Ålesund and accessible by road tunnel.

    The family is mentioned in the Norse Sagas and were connected to both St. Olav and the King Harald Hardråde through marriage. One of the Giske’s fell at the famous Battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066, which is regarded as the end of the VIking Age.

    Through marriage and purchasing, the Giske family became one of the wealthiest families in Norway. The last Giske died in 1605 (a widow with no children), and at the time the estate owned 192 properties.

    It is possible to visit the island of Giske today. Their church, Giske Church, still stands today. Burial mounds are also located on the island and can be visited.

    Ålesund's Early Years

    Due to Bergen’s monopoly on trade in Norway, Borgund eventually declined in importance. However, Bergen’s monopoly did not last forever; starting in the 1700s there was increased demand to open more market towns along the Norwegian coast. The site of present-day Ålesund was chosen was one of these new market towns. There were people living here at the time; Ålesund was first mentioned in 1766, when a Norwegian priest called Hans Strom mentioned Aalesund (the old spelling of the town name).

    Ålesund received trading rights in 1793. However, this did not immediately result in success; it took another 60 years before major growth started. Full market town rights were granted in 1848, and after that the city began to see growth.

    Ålesund’s town centre was built around the narrow Ålesundet sound between the islands. The first settlers came from Bergen; living and trading here for part of the year.

    Rapid Growth & Wealth

    The modern founders of the town are considered to be the member of Parliament, Peter Tonning, and the fish exporter Carl Rønneberg. They ensured that Ålesund was given rights to trade and export without going through Bergen. Because of this, Ålesunds growth coincides with Bergen’s decline.

    Thanks to the natural harbour, Ålesund grew very quickly. The nearby rich fisheries and the harbour brought people from all over the west. Eventually fish processing factories were established, and the expanding fishing fleet grew here as well. Eventually steamships began docking at Ålesund and larger factories were built.

    In 1872, author Magdalene Thoresen described the city as follows:

    It is a fresh sight to see this small coastal town with its newly built houses, scattered over the bare mounds that often look like reefs, and you get the impression that it was built in a hurry, built up by chance and the mood which comes with a fast, dangerous profession. Here, no even, calm deliberation goes through anything; even the large, dizzying warehouses and individual magnificent buildings speak only of the rapid rise of profit and the boldness of large speculations. Of course, there are also buildings which clearly show that here prosperity resides in safe enclosure, here no more daring. But most of it gives the impression of rapid rise

    Ålesund continued to experience wealth and rapid growth until the fire of 1904 struck.

    1904 Fire

    Because of the rapid growth of the city, the towns buildings were somewhat randomly built timber buildings. This was a huge reason why the city was so quickly devastated by fire.

    On the 23rd of January 1904, a fire started in the Aalesund Preserving Company’s factory at around the same time a storm from the southwest was blowing through. Overnight, the fire destroyed over 800 buildings and 10,000 of Ålesund’s 12,000 people were left homeless.

    Only one person died; an elderly woman who had safely evacuated her home but decided to go back to retrieve her purse. Ironically, she lived closest to the fire station.

    One other man refused to leave his home so his friends and family carried out all his furniture and belongings to save them from the fire. After the fire, the house survived but all the furniture was destroyed.

    Financial Help

    The news of the destruction of Ålesund spread all throughout Europe, and money began pouring in to help rebuild the city. One of the biggest contributors was Kaiser Wilhelm II, who had spent many vacations in the area. He sent five support ships full of food, medicine, construction materials, blankets, and other forms of aid to the town. The main street in Ålesund is named after him because of this.

    Architectural Style

    After the fire, the city decided to employ fresh Norwegian architects to design and rebuild the town. The approximately 50 architects selected to design the town had just studied abroad and become influenced by the Jugendstil, or Art Nouveau, style, and decided to rebuild the town in a very uniform style.

    Art Nouveau in Norway takes a lot of influence from medieval buildings such as stave churches but also motifs from the Viking Age and Norse Sagas. Additionally, lots of nature elements are used on the buildings.

    Learn more: In Ålesund you’ll find the Jugendstilsenteret, a museum all about Ålesund’s art nouveau architecture. The museum also covers how the city was devastated by fire but quickly rebuilt itself.

    Rebuilding

    Ålesund was rebuilt very quickly. By 1906, a major part of the town had been rebuilt with well-planned streets and strict building specifications. Timber was forbidden in the town centre but still exists around the town.

    The big reason for the rapid rebuilding was that there were so many tradesmen without work at the time, so it was easy to hire people.

    World War II

    After the Nazi invasion of Norway on the 9th of April 1940, Ålesund was not immediately occupied. It was free territory during the initial phase of fighting in Norway. The government used the Ålesund coastal radio station to communicate with the United Kingdom, and because of this Ålesund was bombed in late April 1940.

    After the Nazis occupied Ålesund, the mountain Aksla was used for military fortifications.

    Ålesund became known as ‘Little London’ by the Gestapo because of the resistance work that took place here. The large transport group known as the Shetland Bus used Ålesund as one of their major bases for transporting goods between Shetland and Norway. Several members of the group were caught and executed for their participation in the group.

    Ålesund Today

    Today Ålesund is one of the main centres in Western Norway and is also home to Norway’s largest and most modern ocean-going fishing fleets. There are also shipyards, mechanical workshops and other industries here.

    You can read about Ålesund, as well as what to do when visiting, on my Ålesund travel guide page.

    Ålesund Travel Guide
    Finland Travel Guide
  • Ålesund, Hurtigruten

    Top Things to do in Ålesund, including with Hurtigruten and Havila

    Top Things to do in Ålesund, including with Hurtigruten and Havila

    Ålesund’s beautiful architecture stands out, making it feel much more like being in Prague or central Europe over being in Norway. In 1904 a fire destroyed practically the entire city centre, and the city was rebuilt in a uniform style mostly thanks to funding from Kaiser Wilhelm, who loved vacationing in the region.

    Ålesund has been voted one of the most beautiful cities in Norway. While I must admit Bergen is a little more beautiful (I do live there, after all!), there’s no denying that Ålesund is probably a close second.

    Ålesund Travel Guide
    Norway Travel Guide

    In this article...

    Things to do in Ålesund

    The best things to do in Ålesund depends on how much time you have. If you are taking the Hurtigruten or Havila in winter and spring, it spends 10 hours in Ålesund, giving you a chance to enjoy a lot the city has to offer. Otherwise, you can spend a couple nights here and venture out into the magnificent fjord region.

    This guide is written for people coming both on the coastal ferry and coming independently.

    Join a walking tour

    I always recommend walking tours in Norwegian cities. There is so much history and so many stories in each place that you need a local telling you all about it. Ålesund has famous Art Nouveau buildings that you don’t want to miss, so get a local expert to show you around.

    Link: Ålesund City Walk

    Hurtigruten Excursion

    Havila Excursion

    See Ålesund by kayak

    The waterfront warehouses make them perfect for some kayaking. You can do an architecture-themed kayaking tour or go out to an archipelago near the island of Ellingsøya. The first is offered as a Hurtigruten/Havila excursion.

    Ålesund’s Kayak More Tomorrow rents out kayaks and organises day trips around the archipelago.

    Havila Excursion

    Hurtigruten Excursion

    Hike up Mt. Aksla

    No trip to Ålesund is complete without a visit to the top of Mount Aksla. It’s not a long hike – there’s 418 steps to the top – and from the top you’ll get an incredible view out to the city. The mountain is only 130m (426ft) high, and it should take you around 30 minutes to get to the top. Typically, if you see one photo of Ålesund it’s generally the photo from the top of Mt. Askla. If you are unable to go up the 418 steps, you can get a taxi to take you to the top – it has road access! Many bus tours of Ålesund will take you to the top. Once at the top, reward yourself with a stop at the restaurant Fjellstue.

    The hiking path begins at the city park (Byparken) and is clearly marked on Google Maps.

    Hike up Sukkertoppen

    See that mountain in the background of the above photo? Why not hike that one too! That’s Sukkertoppen (Sugar Loaf Top), a 314m (1030ft) mountain that isn’t too tricky. The hike begins in the parking lot of the Hessa School.

    Click here for more information

    Havila Excursion

    Visit the Museums

    Art Nouveau Centre & KUBE Gallery

    The main museum to visit in Ålesund is called the Art Nouveau Centre (Jugendstil Senteret, Apotekergata 16). The museum is located inside the old pharmacy building and is well preserved from when it was built in the early 20th century. The museum chronicles the famous fire of Ålesund in 1904 and subsequent rebuilding process.

    Next door is KUBE, a former bank building that now has an art gallery with temporary exhibitions.

    If you are interested in the early history of Ålesund, visit the Aalesund Museum. It has photographs, artefacts and paintings of Ålesund from before and after the reconstruction. It explains what life was like in Ålesund before the fire, and there is information about Ålesund’s critical importance as a Norwegian resistance base during World War II.

    To learn about Ålesund’s fishing heritage, visit the Fishing Museum (Fiskerimuseet, Molovegen 10) next door. It’s in a warehouse from 1861 (one of the few buildings to survive the fire) and has exhibitions on the development of fishing across the centuries and special sections on the klippfisk production.

    Visit the Marine Life at the Atlantic Sea Park

    Many people head straight to the Atlanterhavsparken, or the Atlantic Sea Peak, which is a huge aquarium famous in the country. Hurtigruten offers an excursion to the aquarium as well. It is a large-scale recreation of the Atlantic marine environment, including several enormous fish tanks; there’s also an outside area with walking trails and a place to go for a walk.

    Hurtigruten Excursion

    Havila Excursion

    Sunnmøre Museum

    4km outside the city centre is the Sunnmøre Museum. The buildings, which date from the Middle Ages, are arranged to display various aspects of local life. The buildings include cow sheds, shore-houses, stables, and dwellings. Outside are many ships – both original and replica – representing traditional 17th century vessels. The museum is home to the Kvalsund ship – the oldest complete boat ever found in Norway, dating back to 690 AD. It is believed the 18m (60ft) oak and pine warship had been buried in sacrifice to the gods before it was discovered in 1920.

    Hurtigruten Excursion

    Visit the Vikings at Giske

    Located just outside the city, Giske is a historic island known from the Viking Age. On the island you can do a 3km long ‘culture trail’. On Giske, the 12th century church is worth stopping by. The church is built of white marble and is Norway’s only marble church. There’s a small graveyard with a lot of graves with the surname Giske, indicating the importance of the island in Norway. Inside is a family tree showing the Giske family all the way back to the famous Viking Rollo. At Godøya, which resembles a giant piece of rock, you can do a nature walk of Valderøya to the grassy residential paradise of Giske itself. There are Roman and Iron Age finds on Valderøya, while the Mjelthaugen burial ground on Giske dates back to the Bronze Age.

    Try the Local Delicacies

    Bacalao is made from klippfisk from Norway

    Due to Ålesund’s importance as a fishing port, fish products are one of the most common menu items. They are also some of the best! Ålesund is a great place to try klippfisk, which is the salted and dried cod used to make bacalao. The downtown XL Diner specialises in klippfisk. Maki (Apotekergata) is a four or five course tasing menu with coastal flavours.

    Invit (Apotekergata 9b) is a café with perfect views to watch the yachts sail by, or you can head to Lyspunket (Kipervikgata 1) for a quiet lunch with Mexican-inspired dishes made with Norwegian lefse instead of corn tortillas. They also have lovely soup dishes.

    Shop Like a Local

    In Ålesund you can find some excellent places to go shopping. Artifex Kunst & Antikk sells second-hand goods and local art, while Jukebox sells records. If you want a big shopping mall, head to Ålesund Storesenter.

    Take a Day Cruise

    Ålesund is perfectly situated close to the popular Geirangerfjord and Hjørundfjord. In summer, it is possible to take a day ferry out to the Geirangerfjord, and it is highly recommended. If you are travelling with Hurtigruten or Havila, they go inside the Geirangerfjord from June to September, and then the Hjørundfjord during September and October.

    Havila Excursion

    Take a Day Trip

    Take a Day Trip by Car

    Ålesund is a short drive from one of Norway’s 18 national tourist roads, Trollstigen. It is a great way to get to the town Åndalsnes, where you can take the Romsdal Gondola to the top of the mountain for an impressive view over the city. If you’re taking the Hurtigruten or Havila, they have a day trip by bus to Åndalsnes and the Romsdal Gondola.

    Hurtigruten Excursion

    Another great place to go for the day is the Atlantic Road, which is between Kristiansund and Molde.

    If you want to stay a little closer, drive out to the island of Godøy and visit Alnes Lighthouse. This is also an excursion offered by Hurtigruten and Havila in the winter months. You can combine it with a trip to Giske if you want to learn about the Vikings. Alnes Lighthouse was built in 1876 and is still in operation, though today it is automated. The tower is open for visitors between May and October, and the old keeper’s house is now a café and exhibition hall. It’s only 30 minutes from Ålesund, so why not head out there?

    Hurtigruten Excursion

    Ålesund Travel Guide
    Norway Travel Guide