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Top Tours in Alesund, Norway

Alesund tours.

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Ålesund the Ultimate Sightseeing Tour

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Please be Advised:

• Book Locally
• Why Book Locally
• Our tours tend to sell out
• Booking process is in EURO

Do you have a Question?

Do not hesitate to give us a call. Our team of experts is happy to assist you!

(+47) 922 72 247

Why Book With Us?

• High Quality at a Fair Price
• Excellent customer service
• Tour itineraries based on experience
• You’ll receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours in advance
• Back in time guarantee (for cruise ship passengers)

Details about this scheduled guided day tour:

From the meeting point the bus will take you through several underwater tunnels to reach the first destination, the Island of Giske. This island is relatively flat and very fertile. You will find many farms and grazing cows and sheep. Giske is known as the birthplace of the famous Viking Rollo, who was the first Duke of Normandy and an ancestor of the British Royal Family. A photo stop will be made at the marble church, built in the 12th century. The excursion continues to the beautiful island of Godøy and its typical fishing village Alnes. Here you can enjoy an amazing view over the Atlantic Ocean, visit the lighthouse or go for a stroll on the beach.

After visiting the beautiful islands, you will be taken several centuries back in time to the years where most Norwegians lived a hard life, often were very poor and lived from agriculture and fishing. You will learn all about it at the Sunnmøre Museum. Our guide will lead you through the open-air part of the museum where 55 old houses are located. Some are open, meaning you can take a peek inside. Several exhibitions can be visited inside the main building and in the boat house you will learn even more about how life in this part of Norway changed over the centuries.

The excursion continues to Storhaugen viewpoint, from where you can enjoy the spectacular view over the city and its surrounding islands. After driving down the house-mountain, the bus will take you through the city center. The town has an unusually consistent architecture; Art Nouveau. Most of these colourful houses and buildings have been built between 1904 and 1907, after the fire which destroyed over 800 houses in the city center in January 1904.

Meeting Point

Cruise Terminal / Keiser Wilhelms Street 6, 6003, Ålesund ( Google Maps ). The meeting point is within walking distance from the port/pier and most of the hotels. Be at the meeting point 15 minutes before the scheduled departure time.

We do adapt to the departures of cruise ships.

Guided Languages

What is included.

• Guided Tour
• Admissions (Lighthouse & Sunnmøre Museum)
• Storhaugen viewpoint

Attention Points

• Tour duration; 4½ hours
• Difficulty; level 1, easy, suited for everybody
• We advise all our guests to wear appropriate shoes and clothing
• In order for our excursions to be available for everyone, the time of departure/arrival of each excursion is set to match the itineraries of the cruise ships. In case a time of departure needs to be adjusted, you will be notified in time
• The old marble church on the island of Giske
• The lighthouse in Alnes on the island of Godøy
• Visit to the Sunnmøre Museum
• Panoramic view from Storhaugen viewpoint
• City sightseeing

Download a PDF fact sheet with all the information about the selected tour

Itinerary from the Meeting Point

• Drive to Giske; photo stop
• Drive to Godøy; visit
• Drive to the Sunnmøre Museum; visit
• Drive to Storhaugen viewpoint; photo stop
• Sightseeing through the city center of Ålesund
• Drive back to the meeting point

*The order of stops may vary

Frequently Asked Questions

I travel on a cruise ship. will i be back in time for the ship’s departure.

Yes, absolutely. We have a back-in-time guarantee for guests travelling on cruise ships. To this end, we kindly ask you to fill in the name of your ship during the booking procedure.

I travel on the Hurtigruten Coastal Steamer. Are your tours suited for me?

That depends on the date of your arrival, and the kind of tour you are looking for. We kindly ask you to contact us per e-mail with specifics.

I travel on a cruise ship. What happens if the ship decides to cancel a port call due to, for example, bad weather?

Rest assured that in such cases, you are entitled to a full refund.

Do you pick up passengers at the Cruise Terminal?

Yes, we always have staff (wearing bright yellow jackets with our company logo) ready to welcome our guests on the Cruise Terminal, just outside the security gates. Our buses will be parked on the Terminal, or as close by, always within walking distance.

I will be staying at a hotel/AirBnb, where do I find the meeting point?

Our staff (wearing bright yellow jackets with our company logo) will be just outside the security gates of the Cruise Terminal. Our buses will also be parked on the Terminal, or as close by, always within walking distance. The address of each meeting point can be found on our website under “Contact Us”.

Where is your meeting point? How do I find you?

Our staff members (wearing bright yellow jackets with our company logo) will be waiting just outside the security gates of the Cruise Terminal, carrying the logo of Norway Excursions. Our vehicles also carry the logo of Norway Excursions. Should you not see our staff members on the pier immediately, rest assured that they will at the meeting point at least 30 minutes before the scheduled departure of the tour.

Can I reserve a seat now and pay upon arrival?

We always ask our guests to pay in advance/upon booking. Tickets can also be purchased on the spot if there are available seats on the day of the excursion. However, our excursions tend to sell out and unless you have booked in advance, availability cannot be guaranteed. Please note that any promotional offers or discounts are not applicable to sales on the spot.

We would like to book a Private Tour. Do I have to pay the full amount at once or can it be split?

It is possible to pay the full amount at once. If preferred, it is also possible have each couple/participant of your group pay their own share. Should you prefer to split the payment, we kindly ask you to contact us and we will follow up accordingly.

What happens if I don’t find you/make it to the bus in time?

We kindly ask you to contact us by phone in such cases. The phone number can be found on your ticket or our website. However, rest assured that we do not start a tour without going through our guest list. If anyone is missing, we will also try to call/contact them, using the contact information provided during booking. Please make sure to enter a phone number you can be reached on, with the correct country code.

I have dietary restrictions. Can I still have lunch on your tours?

In most cases, yes. We will always do our very best to accommodate guests with food allergies or restricted diets due to religious or other reasons. We kindly ask you to make a mention of your dietary restrictions during booking, or to send us an e-mail to inquire about your specific wishes.

How big are your groups and what type of vehicle do you use?

The size of our groups depends on the number of bookings we get for a given tour. We do adapt the size of the vehicle to the final number of participating guests. If a small group/vehicle is important for you, we can also gladly arrange a private tour for you.

I use a wheelchair. Can I still join your tours?

We always strive to welcome guests with mobility- or other issues. We kindly ask you to contact us via e-mail to discuss the specifics.

I see you charge in EURO. Can I pay in my own currency?

It is possible to pay in the currency that is related to your credit card. When you arrive on the payment page, you can select that option. We always recommend using our default setting. For live currency rates you can visit www.xe.com. NB: When it comes to foreign currencies, your bank might charge a fee. For more information, we kindly ask you to contact your bank directly.

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DESTINATIONS , EUROPE , NORWAY

Ålesund, norway: an art nouveau walk in a fairytale town.

Ålesund , a fishing town and port on Norway’s west coast, has a distinctive architectural style borne out of devastation.

On a stormy night in January 1904, a fire raged through the town, destroying 850 houses and leaving 10,000 people homeless. Mercifully, only one person perished.

In just four years, a frantic reconstruction project replaced the charred wooden buildings with those built in an  Art Nouveau  style with a local folkloric twist. The result is a collection of stone and brick buildings with a myriad of turrets, spires and medieval ornamentation, including intertwined animal and human faces, dragons and elaborate flowers.

Let’s explore all these buildings and more on this self-guided  Ålesund Art Nouveau walking tour .

The walk is around 1 mile and is a perfect way to spend a day in Ålesund if you are visiting this beautiful town on a Norway fjords cruise.

IN THIS ARTICLE

Walking Tour Map of Ålesund, Norway

To help you on your way, here’s a map of this Ålesund Art Nouveau walking tour. Click here or on the map to send to your phone to follow the walking route and get directions.

Art Nouveau Walking Tour of Ålesund, Norway

Climb the 418 steps to the top of aksla hill for a panoramic view of ålesund.

This self-guided Ålesund Art Nouveau walking tour starts at the town’s park.

Developed in 1885 and modelled on an English park landscape, curiously Byparken has a monkey puzzle tree amongst its copper beech trees. Pride of place is given to a large statue of Rollo, a Viking chieftain who was born in Ålesund and established the dukedom in Normandy in 911.

A hundred meters from Rollo, a set of 418 steps snake their way to the top of  Aksla Hill .  

The number of steps is significant. Each step represents a day, and the normal turnaround for a case sent to the City Hall in Ålesund is 418 days. Before the steps’ renovation in 2015, the stairs were built mainly by Lego but visitors couldn’t stop themselves from taking home bits as souvenirs!

The views from the summit are well worth the climb.

Ålesund has a superb setting, built on three islands stretching into the sea, with the Sunnmore Alps as a backdrop. On a clear day, you can see right out to the coast and the islands beyond.

Explore Ålesund’s Art Nouveau buildings along Kongens Gate

Leaving the park, walk back down the steep, cobbled streets towards the next stop on our Ålesund Art Nouveau walk,  Kongens Gate .

This street has a rich concentration of Art Nouveau buildings, each one with individual flourishes. Take a look at #21, 25 and 28 for example.

Number 21 is festooned with Norwegian dragons and the masts of #25 are inspired by Norway’s stave churches. Stylistically, number 28 screams central European Art Nouveau.

Further along Kongens Gate, look out for 53 steps spiralling their way up to Lihaugatta. Just across the street,  The Paper Boy , a sculpture donated by the newspaper Sunnmorsposten in 1998, makes his final delivery.

Wander along Ålesundet to Hellebroa

At the end of Kongens Gate, turn right and follow St Olavs Pass, walking south along  Ålesundet , the narrow stretch of water that separates two of the town’s islands, until you reach the  Hellebroa .

This bridge is a great spot to capture images of Ålesund’s pastel-painted buildings reflected in the water.

Just over the bridge, stop to look at the two sculptures in front of you.

The first is  The Boy Fisherman , symbolising all the optimism of youth and hope for the future.

Adjacent to it is  The Herring Wife,  a tribute to those women who worked at salting herring, which was one of the town’s main industries.

Visit Ålesund’s old town pharmacy

Across the street from these statues is Apotekergata 16 , one of Ålesund’s signature Art Nouveau buildings.

Built as a chemist’s shop and private residence, it was later restored externally but only partially restored internally. Consequently, the chemist’s shop area remains intact. As a registered pharmacist, it held a  nerdy  appeal for me!

The pharmacy only shut for business in 2001 and the building now houses  Ålesund’s Art Nouveau Centre .  

Visit the spiritual centre of Ålesund, Norway

Head north on Apotekergata and turn left onto Kirkegata to reach the town’s handsome stone church, the last stop on this Ålesund Art Nouveau walk.

Consecrated in 1909,  Ålesund Kirke  is built in an imposing Norman style and is renowned for its frescoes and stained glass windows. Well worth a peek inside.

Now, make your way back to the town centre for a refreshing Norwegian beer or a more potent Aquavit. You deserve it!  

Bonus Sights in Ålesund: Molovegan and Fisheries Museum

If you have time, make your way to Molovegen at the entrance to Ålesund’s harbour. Simply retrace your steps along Kirkegarten, into Apoterkergata and follow the road left into Molovegen.

The Molovegen is home to the handful of wooden houses that survived the 1904 fire and gives us a glimpse of what Ålesund would have looked like until the start of the 20th Century. Don’t miss taking a short stroll along the mole, the harbour breakwater, for great views back to Molovegen.

Time permitting, visit the  Fisheries Museum  at Molovegen 10. Open June – August; between September and May by appointment only.

How I Visited Ålesund on a Norway Fjords Cruise

Ålesund was the third port in my week-long  cruise along Norway’s fjords .

• Cruise operator:  P&O
• Cruise ship:  HMV Britannia
• Time in port : 8 am – 5pm

As the cruise ship docked in the centre of town, it was super easy to reach the centre from the terminal. Ålesund is a small town and easy to get around on foot.  

I spent most of my time in port exploring the town on this walking tour.

Enjoy Ålesund’s Art Nouveau Architecture

A cruise stop is the perfect opportunity to explore this unique town. If you have found this article helpful, take a look at my guides to the other stops on this Norway Fjords cruise.

• 10 Awesome Things to Do in Stavanger in A Day
• Fabulous Flam Railway! Tips for Riding Norway’s Most Scenic Train
• 10 Best Things to Do in Bergen in One Day
• Norwegian Fjords Cruise: Essential Tips, Review & Port Guides

Finally, if you are a cruise rookie, I also have advice on planning your first cruise and choosing cruise cabins , including single cabins for solo cruisers .

Happy travels!

About Bridget

Bridget Coleman has been a passionate traveller for more than 30 years. She has visited 70+ countries, most as a solo traveller.

Articles on this site reflect her first-hand experiences.

To get in touch, email her at [email protected] or follow her on social media.

4 thoughts on “ Ålesund, Norway: An Art Nouveau Walk in a Fairytale Town ”

Thanks Bridget – we’ve just followed your walking guide around the town too – great views from up at the view point! We’re also in Ålesund as a stopping point on a Hurtigruten trip 🙂

My pleasure Kate! Glad you had a good stop in Alesund. I REALLY want to try Hurtigruten 🙂 Bridget

Thank you for your tour write up! Really useful on our stop off in Ålesund on a Hurtigruten trip!

Thanks Fionnuala. So pleased that you found it useful! I really want to try Hurtigruten :)) Bridget

Comments are closed.

• About Trudy

Live & Travel Well for a Healing Journey...

A picturesque walking tour of alesund, norway highlights.

As Norway’s most beautiful village, Alesund is best experienced on a walking tour.   Exploring this gem on an archipelago of 7 islands is like strolling through a picture book.  Overall, Alesund Norway highlights are surrounded by fjords, mountains and the Atlantic Ocean.  Additionally, Alesund is the gateway to Norway’s most famous fjord, Geirangerfjord. I enjoyed my own solo walking tour and love sharing tips. So, read on to discover the highlights and how to enjoy this port tour-free.

Alesund Norway Highlights – Marvelous Art Noveau Architecture

Alesund’s Art Noveau architecture arose from the ashes of the devastating fire of 1904.   Even more, this rare display of exquisite design in the middle of Norway gives you a strange sense of feeling out of place, in a good way. 

Since almost the entire town burned, it was rebuilt in the popular architecture style of the times known as Art Noveau.  For example, my photo above shows the Art Noveau Centre, located in central Alesund.  Formerly a pharmacy, it now exhibits the town’s best- preserved Art Noveau style.  Also, notice how this building and others reflect on the clear waters.

Photography Tips for Alesund

It’s best to arrive early by 8 am to begin photographing this stunning setting.  I enjoyed taking photos of the beautiful reflections of the Art Deco buildings on the water canals. Because I started early, the lighting with minimal crowds inspired awesome shots.

Alesund of Norway Highlights – Mt. Aksla for Views

In Ålesund, the Town Mountain is a popular viewpoint at Mt. Aksla , rising to 118 m high.  I walked the 418 steps up and down Mount Aksla for overall panoramic views of the town, archipelago and Sunmore Alps.  Also, buses make the journey here as well.

At the top, Fjellstua is an outdoor viewing platform with restaurants.  Even more, there are many hiking trails from here to connect with all the beautiful scenery. 

Lighthouses of Alesund – Molja and Alnes

Within walking distance from the town centre is the charming little red lighthouse, Molja.  For more than 150 years it served as a beacon for ships entering the Alesund Harbour.  However, now it is not used as a lighthouse, but as a hotel room.  Also, it has a ‘Love Room’ for newlyweds.

Additionally, the Alnes Lighthouse is about a 30-minute drive from Alesund on the island of Godøyfor.  I did not make it there, but it’s evidently worth the drive away from the crowds.

Other Things to Do in Alesund (Great for a Rainy Day.)

Alesund has a Hop-on Hop-off Bus for those preferring a tour by vehicle.  The Norwegian Aquarium is a fun marine menagerie with wildlife, such as, penguins, seals and otters.  Other iconic cultural sites here include Sunmore Museum , Alesund Church and Art Noveau Centre.  Also, consider exploring Alesund by Kayak and don’t miss the day trip nearby at Geirangerfjord!

Related: Gorgeous Geiranger Fjord and Village: Norway’s Most Famous Fjord

Trudy Wendelin, L.Ac

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Round trip to Runde bird island

● Ålesund - Hareid - Runde - Ålesund, ÅLESUND, Ålesund

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• View in Map

This tour by fast-speed ferry and bus takes you from Ålesund via Hareid and Fosnavåg to the bird island of Runde. The island is a popular destination all year round, but is spectacular in the summer due to its teeming bird-life.

This tour by fast-speed ferry and bus takes you from Ålesund via Hareid and Fosnavåg to the bird island of Runde. The island is a popular destination all year round, but is spectacular in the summer due to its teeming bird-life.  Between 500,000 and 700,000 sea birds inhabit the island in the season, most of them in the cliffs. The island also offers great hiking. Worth noticing: The puffin-season is from mid April to early August. They are leaving every morning out to the sea to catch fish for their little ones, and return to Runde between 18-20 p.m. So the best time to see them is in the evening.  Available all year around (see pictures for timetable) Departs from: Ålesund high-speed ferry terminal, Skateflukaia 

Last updated: 04/11/2024

Source: Ålesund & Sunnmøre

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