Things to do in Ålesund
And where to stay, the best time to visit, what a day costs, and the traps to skip.
Best time to visit Ålesund
• a note or something on ✦ an occasion worth the trip
Spring waterfalls at full power, Runde birds return, days lengthen, Trollstigen still closed early.
Peak summer with long days, all excursions running, Trollstigen open, cruise crowds and book ahead season.
September is calm and golden; from October excursions wind down and November is worst for a first visit.
About 6 hours daylight in midwinter, aurora possible not promised, ski touring builds and many tours close.
What's on
- Slinningsbålet late June
One of the world largest bonfires, built by hand on a harbour islet for midsummer.
- Boat Festival (Båtfestivalen) July
The town boat festival in July.
- Jugendfest Usually late August
Music festival at Aksla Stadion, also listed as JUGEND.
- Matfestivalen 27-29 Aug
The Norwegian Food Festival centred on St. Olavs plass, the best week to eat in Alesund.
Worth the trip for
Best things to do in Ålesund
Fjellstua Viewpoint
The defining view down Brosundet over Art Nouveau rooftops to the islands and open sea.
Jugendstilbyen
A slow loop teaches your eye to read the turrets, spires and pastel Art Nouveau stonework.
Jugendstilsenteret
The national Art Nouveau centre in the 1907 Swan Pharmacy explains the fire and rebuilding.
KUBE
The adjoining art museum in the 1906 former bank building pairs with the Art Nouveau centre.
Atlanterhavsparken
A large saltwater aquarium built into the coast, strongest for families and rainy days.
Sunnmøre Museum
Relocated historic houses and traditional boats, including Viking ship replicas, by the fjord.
Ålesund Museum
The better single stop for the 1904 fire and the famous Uraedd lifeboat story in an hour.
Brosundet
A 45 minute canal and harbour loop past old fishermen warehouses is the best free hour in town.
Where to stay in Ålesund
Brosundet / Sentrum
first trip, all-round base
Art Nouveau centre on the canal, walkable to sights, restaurants and fjord boats.
Harbour west end / Aspøya
quieter central base
A few minutes west along the harbour, same walkability with a more residential feel.
Airport / Vigra and Giske
early flights and road trips
Parking and convenience for a flight or golf, but you lose the town as a base.
Beyond the town
special countryside night
Rural fjord properties that outrank town hotels for a splurge night on a road trip.
Best restaurants in Ålesund
Apotekergata No. 5
Hotel Brosundet ambitious Sunnmore kitchen, best for the tasting menu or shared plates.
Bryt Tapasbar
Norwegian ingredients in Spanish tapas form in a beamed clipfish storehouse over Brosundet.
XL Diner
The bacalao institution since 1999, with huge portions and Spanish style bacalao and fish soup.
Fisketorget Delikatesse
The town fish market deli where the creamy fish soup is the dish guides converge on.
Dampsentralen
A big airy bistro in the old power station that works for mixed groups with varied tastes.
Maki
Japanese technique applied to Norwegian fish landed metres away, best as sashimi and nigiri.
Anno
Traditional Norwegian dishes and pizza at local prices in a cozy town centre room.
Jafs Brokiosken
Fish and chips at the bridge in the centre, eaten on the harbour wall.
Best bars in Ålesund
Molo Brewhouse
The town own craft brewery in the old customs house, with 25 taps and a big terrace.
Vino Bar
The wine bar locals rate highest in town.
Arkivet Bar
A quiet well made drink in a beautiful room at Hotel Brosundet.
Best coffee in Ålesund
Jacu Coffee Roastery
Alesund own roastery, the local coffee source served across the town cafes.
Racoon Coffee
A cafe serving Jacu beans at a price that counts as cheap for Norway.
Invit
A cafe for coffee, pastries and sandwiches in the centre.
Apotekeren Café
The cafe in the old pharmacy, a stop for cake on a town walk.
Lyspunktet Café
A local student leaning cafe for burgers and a casual lunch.
Outdoor things to do in Ålesund
Geirangerfjord
The UNESCO fjord with near vertical walls, the Seven Sisters waterfall and abandoned cliff farms.
Hjørundfjord
A sharper, wilder and far less visited fjord cutting straight into the Sunnmore Alps.
Trollstigen
Eleven hairpins climb past Stigfossen waterfall to viewing platforms over the drop.
Runde
Seabird cliffs where puffins come ashore mainly in the evening in nesting season.
Uteguiden
The established local operator for town kayaking through Brosundet and fjord trips.
Sukkertoppen
The city hike from Hessa to a summit with city, coast and fjord in one panorama.
Storhornet
A proper half day mountain walk on Godoy that combines well with Alnes Lighthouse.
Slogen
A steep serious summit rising from Hjorundfjord, best done with a guide unless very experienced.
Best hotels in Ålesund
Hotel Brosundet
Two converted fishermen warehouses on Brosundet with beams, brick and canal views.
Hotel 1904
The town oldest hotel from 1904 in a genuine Jugendstil building with individual rooms.
Storfjord Hotel
A timber lodge in forest above Storfjord with sauna, fjord views and a noted kitchen.
Hotel Union Øye
A storied rural splurge at Oye on Hjorundfjord, about an hour from town.
Thon Hotel Ålesund
A reliable modern harbourfront hotel with fjord view rooms and a well reviewed breakfast.
Scandic Parken
The largest central hotel by Byparken at the foot of the Aksla steps.
Quality Hotel Waterfront
A solid mid range chain hotel on the water west of the centre with good breakfasts.
Quality Hotel Ålesund
The central sister to Waterfront, solid mid range with good breakfasts and centrality.
Is Ålesund expensive? What a day costs
| Budget | NOK 800 a person |
|---|---|
| Classic | NOK 1,650 a person |
| Splurge | NOK 3,200 a person |
A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room
What to book ahead
- Svai Sauna: a few days ahead
- Geirangerfjord: a few days ahead
- Trollstigen: a few days ahead
- Ålesund Vandrerhjem: weeks ahead
- Apotekergata No. 5: a few days ahead
- Bryt Tapasbar: a few days ahead
- XL Diner: a few days ahead
- Geirangerfjord cruise and Trollstigen tours sell out days ahead in June to August.
- Reserve Apotekergata No. 5 and Bryt for Friday and Saturday; walk ins are turned away.
- Hotel Brosundet Molja Lighthouse Room 47 books months ahead.
- Summer accommodation fills, especially the small cheap and mid range tiers.
Is Ålesund safe?
- Crime is very low and normal city awareness suffices anywhere in town.
- Real hazards are wind, rain, slippery viewpoints, cliff edges, mountain weather and cold water.
- Wear layers and a real waterproof shell every day and check yr.no each morning.
- Many shops close or shorten hours on Sundays; self caterers should shop on Saturday.
Ålesund travel tips: tourist traps to skip
- The cheapest all the fjords in one tour products with long transfers and little time anywhere.
- Atlantic Ocean Road as a half day must do; it is a full day for under an hour of ocean road.
- Paying private tour prices for Giske and Godoy, an easy cheap DIY by car or bus.
- Taxis from the airport when the Flybussen runs; taxi fares sting.
- Expecting a northern lights show; aurora here is a bonus, not a booking reason.
Getting around Ålesund: public transport and more
- Walk the compact centre. Take the Flybussen airport bus into town.
- Use FRAM buses for the islands, aquarium, museum and trailheads; pay by app or card.
- Rent a car by the day only for Trollstigen, Runde or Atlantic Road self drive days.
- No railway reaches Alesund; the nearest railhead is Andalsnes, then a bus of about 2 hours.
Who Ålesund suits
| Solo travellers | Good |
|---|---|
| Groups of friends | Good |
| Couples | Great |
| Bachelor parties | Good |
| Families | Good |
| Bachelorette parties | Good |
Make Ålesund your trip
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