7. Ålesund's Coastal Charm on our Norway Itinerary
Segment number 7 of Bubbly Tourist's perfect 7 - 10 Day Norway itinerary is the picturesque port town of Ålesund that sits on the mouth of the Geirangerfjord in Western Norway. The beautiful and charming coastal town of Ålesund with surrounding archipelago is the final destination and perfect way to end Bubbly Tourist's 7 - 10 day itinerary of Norway. Ålesund is known for its art nouveau architectural style in which most of the town was rebuilt after the fire of 1904, its panoramic views from Mount Aksla, the surrounding archipelago, and nearby fjords. The municipality of Ålesund achipelago consists of seven of the large outer islands that extend into the Atlantic ocean: Aspøya and Nørvøya (Ålesund center), Hessa and Oksenøya (residential Ålesund), Ellingsøya, Humla, and Tørla. The two fjords that border Ålesund are quite impressive - Hjørundfjord and Geirangerfjord. The latter, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, will take you all the way to the village of Geiranger in only 2 hours by car from from Ålesund, and is also visited in Segment 6 (along with Olden) of our perfect 7 - 10 day itinerary of Norway.
Bubbly Tip: It rains a lot in Norway so bring proper rain gear including coats, shoes/boots and umbrellas. And bring layers because you'll need to be able to layer up or strip down depending on the hour of the day. Don't feel like packing everything? Well there's plenty of fashionable stores throughout the country that set the standard with cool and stylish raincoats.
What to See and Do in Ålesund
Panoramic View from Mount Aksla
Mount Aksla, which sits high above Ålesund city center, offers incredible panoramic views of Ålesund and its surrounding Archipelago. It is highly recommended. It's accessible three ways: by car, by public transport, or by a steep hike. Bubbly Tourist drove straight to this site upon arrival into Ålesund and was able to find plenty of parking. Most tourists will hike it or take the public transportation which includes a hop-on hop-off bus and the sightseeing "city train". The most popular way to reach the top of Mount Aksla is by walking up the 418 stone steps from Byparken, a public city park that includes many rest stops along the way.
Hellebroa Bridge
The Hellebroa Bridge in center town that connects the two islands of Aspøya and Nørvøya in central Ålesund is located very near to the cruise terminal. It is not a destination unto itself but a central point in the city through which all traffic flows. It makes an excellent meeting point and also has various statues (the wanderer and the fisherman) and other destinations that are just minutes from it.
Art Nouveau Architecture
Jugendstil is the type of Art Nouveau architecture for which Ålesund is known. After the fire of 1904, the Art Nouveau designed building of Swan Pharmacy (Svaneapoteket i Ålesund) was built between 1905 and 1907, and it includes an apothecary as the town's best preserved Art Nouveau interior. The building itself was designed by Norwegian architect Hagbarth Martin Schytte-Berg and was the first listed Art Nouveau / Jugendstil monument in Ålesund. The building is now the Art Nouveau Center or Jugendstilsenteret and is an interpretive center exhibiting both modern multimedia exhibitions and international art. The museum was opened by Queen Sonja of Norway in June, 2003.
Sentrum (Central) Ålesund
Not far from the Paper Boy Statue (Avisgutten) in central (sentrum) Ålesund on Nørvøya, are a few blocks of small stores, cafés and restaurants where you can spend a little time shopping. There are also a fair number of trolls about and about with whom your picture can be taken. Enjoy the art nouveau buildings on the cobblestone streets, take in the odd statue and stop for the periodic coffee or refreshment. The area is not huge but it is quite representative of Ålesund. It's also your path to take on your way to Byparken and the stairs that lead up to Mount Aksla.
Ålesund Harbor
In Ålesund, you're never far from the water. In fact, most of Ålesund's center is surrounded by the small Ålesund Harbor. It's very picturesque and photo-worthy. Walk about the streets by the harbor to admire the architecture and snap as many photos as you can. It's part of what makes Ålesund so special.
Ålesund by Night
Looking for the perfect place where to stay, where to eat, and/or where to have a drink in Ålesund, Bubbly Tourist has the recommendations for you below.
Where to Stay in Ålesund?
As always, Bubbly Tourist recommends you stay in the old town or someplace walking distance to all the sights of the city. In the case of Ålesund, we chose the Thon Hotel Ålesund. We also recommended the Thon Hotel in Oslo as this chain tends to be good value in good locations. The rooms are comfy and the breakfast spread is amazing with a two story dinning room overlooking the harbor.
Bubbly Tip: If you leave early before breakfast is served, ask for your breakfast to go and they'll prepare a meal for you to take with you.
How to Choose Where to Stay?
Bubbly Tourist has the process of choosing where to stay down to a science. We recognize that there are a number of factors that go into the decision of choosing lodging that is highly personal. With this in mind, we guide you through our own process of how to narrow down your options to the best possible choice based on the criteria that matter most to you.
In Search of Bubbly in Ålesund
Right around the corner from our hotel in Aspøya in the heart of Ålesund, is a chic wine bar with a great selection of wine and of course, bubbly. Bubbly Tourist highly recommends this gem of wine bar. The Vino Bar is warm and cozy, has great decor, the service is excellent and because of all of that plus its extensive wine list, it attracts the locals. Highly recommended.
Where to Eat in Ålesund?
There are a couple of favorite restaurants in Ålesund right in the heart of the city. Right across the street from the Vino Bar, is the Apotekergata No. 5. It has excellent reviews but is very expensive. Another more affordable option is XL Diner. It's a more informal restaurant that is right on the harbor with good views. Their focus is on dry, salted cod, so if you're interested in tasting traditional Norwegian fare, then this is your place.
Where to have a Drink in Ålesund?
There are a number of pubs and good cocktail bars around town. Next door to XL Diner on a quay is the MILK Bar and Lounge. With great views of the harbor, it's a nice stop for a drink. And for food and excellent cocktails based on recommendations by locals, Bubbly Tourist went to Bro Kystgastronomi. It's also right on the harbor next to the Wanderer statue which makes it very convenient. Highly recommended.
Ålesund Day Trips
Runde Island or Bird Island
Runde Island, also known as Runde Fuglefjell or Bird Island, is where you can see the cute puffins. The best time on Runde to see them is from mid-April to early August and in the evening. In addition to seeing puffins, you can hike, dive, and fish on Runde. Hike up the mountains along marked paths to see the colonies. To get there, take the ferry from Hareid to Sulesund, or take a tour that includes a fast-speed ferry from Ålesund. You can also drive to the island from Ålesund which takes about two hours. Full disclosure: even though Bubbly Tourist loves puffins and desperately wanted to see them, we weren't able to make the time to get there.
Geiranger on the Geirangerfjord
The beautiful village of Geiranger on the magnificent Geirangerfjord is only 2 hours by car. At Eidsal, you'll take the car ferry across the Geirangerfjord and you'll be on the officially designated Norwegian Scenic Route, the Geiranger-Trollstigen Road. Just prior to reaching Geiranger, you'll reach the Flydalsjuvet Lookout with views up and down the Geirangerfjord. If the weather is cooperative, you may wish to drive through the village of Geiranger up the Dalsnibba mountains to visit the Geiranger Skywalk. There's a toll to pay to access the Skywalk, and it will be cold and windy (and maybe rainy), but the views from 1500 meters (almost 5000 feet) are at the same level as the surrounding glaciers plus there are jaw-dropping views all the way to Geiranger. If you're following our perfect 7 - 10 day itinerary of Norway, then you would have been through Geiranger in Segment 6 after visiting Olden.
Next after Ålesund
Ålesund Vigra Airport
In part why Bubbly Tourist chose Ålesund as its final destination in Western Norway is because of its access to other major cities. The Ålesund Airport (AES) is only a 20 minute drive from city center and is accessible via a massive underwater tunnel. From Ålesund, you can fly direct to Oslo or other Norwegian cities like Bergen and Trondheim, or internationally to Alicante, Amsterdam, Gdansk, London, Riga, Las Palmas, and more.
Elsewhere in Scandinavia
Stockholm, Sweden
From Ålesund, you will be able to take a connecting flight in Oslo to visit the stunningly beautiful city of Stockholm, Sweden. Take the early morning flight and you'll be in Stockholm by noon for our next segment of Bubbly Tourist's 10 - 14 Day Itinerary of Scandinavia.
Bubbly Tourist Bon Voyage!