3 / 5 - 2 reviews
How to get there
A one hour flight from Oslo
When to go
All year round
Minimum stay
1 to 2 days
Ålesund (Norway)
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Nick
Practical information about Ålesund
Reviews of Ålesund
A real surprise and a great experience in this Norwegian town.
My suggestion:
The town centre is the starting point for choosing daytime activities and exploring the surrounding area, the coastline and the fjords. Take wet-weather clothes because an umbrella is fairly useless when the rain's coming at you horizontally.
Summary:
Ålesund is a town in the "Art Nouveau" style that's built on five main islands, which sometimes makes you wonder just where you are. It is said that Ålesund has the most bars, cafés and restaurants per inhabitant and the streets are full of the small shops and galleries of local artisans.
On our first day there, we climbed the 418 steps which lead to a view across the town from Fjellstua. It's definitely a good idea to take packed lunches because the restaurants there are very expensive. However, the view is worth the effort. Later, we drove via the tunnel that links the island of Godøy, where I recommend that you spend a bit of time visiting the Alnes Fyr lighthouse with its crashing waves. There were even some courageous surfers braving the waves in the icy sea!
We had dinner in an Anno restaurant, located on the strait which crosses the town and we were rather surprised when the place was then transformed into a very lively bar for the night. When it comes to the time of year, I would recommend the end of August, so you can enjoy the annual food festival that takes place in the town. I think the best combination you can get is good food and fine weather for a stay in Norway!
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flickr cc edwarddalmulder
A port that is famous for its Art Nouveau houses.
My suggestion:
Alesund is a nice place to go if you are interested in architecture, and it's a good base for visiting the surrounding area if you have rented a car. But in my opinion it's not an essential stop on a visit to Norway.
Summary:
The town is famous for its Art Nouveau buildings.A walk up to the top of Mount Aksla gives you a panoramic view of the town, the fjord and the surrounding islands. However, to get to the top you have to climb up several hundred steps. Although there are alternative ways, such as by road, or the mini train from the centre of town in summer.
If you have children then while you are in town you could also visit the aquarium which is a few kilometres away. It has examples of many of the marine species that are found in the Atlantic ocean and off the Norwegian coasts, which will please both old and young.
There are lots of places where you get good views and which are nice to visit but unfortunately, if you don't have your own car, they are difficult to get to using public transport.
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Edward Dalmulder
©
Nick
105 travellers' photos
