Things to Do in Ålesund: Fjords, Views and Art Nouveau Streets

• Top choice Geirangerfjord round trip from US$202 Duration8.5 - 9.5 hours^[2]Rating4.75 from 758 reviews^[2]RouteStorfjorden to Geirangerfjord and backFree cancellationUp to 24 hours in advance^[2] Check availability
• Hjørundfjord cruise from US$115 Duration5 hours^[3]Rating4.58 from 282 reviews^[3]RouteRound trip into the HjørundfjordFree cancellationUp to 24 hours in advance^[3] See this tour
• Geiranger boat and bus from US$210 Duration10.5 hours^[7]Rating4.60 from 140 reviews^[7]RouteBoat one way, bus back by roadFree cancellationUp to 24 hours in advance^[7] See this tour

Things to do in Ålesund on a cruise day

Most people asking what to do in Ålesund are stepping off a ship, and the town suits that. The cruise dock is in town, literally a 2 minute walk from the port into the city.^[1] No taxi or shuttle is needed to reach the centre. In 2024 Ålesund had 290 cruise ship arrivals,^[12] so on a busy morning the harbour front and the path up towards the viewpoint fill early. Cover the streets near the dock first, then head out on the water or up the hill once the first wave of passengers has moved on. Wear shoes you can walk in for a few hours, bring a light rain layer, and keep a photo of the dock area on your phone so you can find your way back without fuss.

The centre is small enough to wander on foot, and almost every facade looks like it belongs on a film set. Ålesund is known for its Art Nouveau architecture: narrow streets, towers, turrets and ornamented fronts that catch the morning light. The Ålesund fire happened during the night of 23 January 1904.^[13] Look up above the shop windows as you go, as the small balconies, stonework and dragon heads are easy to miss at street level, and step a block back from the main street for quieter corners, small galleries and bakeries. Give the centre an hour of unhurried walking and you will see most of it, with time left for coffee and a look at the boats along the inner harbour.

The Geirangerfjord round trip by hybrid electric boat

The big day out from Ålesund is the Geirangerfjord round trip on a hybrid electric boat, listed from US$202 and rated 4.75 from 758 reviews.^[2] It runs 8.5 - 9.5 hours, so it fills most of a port day rather than a quick spin, and it is wheelchair accessible.^[2] An audio guide is included, in Danish, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian and Spanish.^[2] You can reserve now and pay later, and cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.^[2] Book ahead in summer, when seats on the water fill quickly, and claim a place on deck for the narrowest stretches of the fjord.

The route is the point. The boat leaves Ålesund and sails through the Storfjorden and Sunnylvsfjorden into the Geirangerfjord, past the Seven Sisters Waterfall and the Friaren falls, with time in Geiranger before the return leg.^[2] The fjord arm forms part of the West Norwegian Fjords, inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2005.^[14] The Seven Sisters waterfall is 410 meters tall in total, and the highest of the seven streams has a free fall of 250 meters.^[15] The distance from Ålesund to Geiranger is 67 miles (108 km).^[16] The water on this stretch is deep and still in places, so the cliffs and the small farms high above them stay reflected in the surface on calm days.

Waterfalls drop straight down the cliff face into the Geirangerfjord, one of the sights of the round trip.

Other fjord cruises and boat trips from Ålesund

If you want something shorter, or you are in port on a winter sailing, there are good alternatives. The Hjørundfjord round trip from Ålesund takes 5 hours and is listed from US$115, rated 4.58 from 282 reviews.^[3] The winter fjord cruise to Geirangerfjord takes 9 hours and is listed from US$325, rated 4.76 from 105 reviews.^[4] Both are led by a live guide who speaks English.^[3][4] The Hjørundfjord run is the gentler of the two, threading between steep slopes and tiny fjord villages where the boat stops long enough to look around.

One-way sailings suit anyone planning to come back by road or bus. The Ålesund to Geiranger silent fjord cruise on an electric boat takes 3 hours and is listed from US$112, rated 5.00 from 7 reviews.^[17] The boat out to Geiranger with a bus back takes 10.5 hours and is listed from US$210.^[7] For something faster, the RIB fjord safari to Hjørundfjord takes 105 minutes and is listed from US$157, rated 4.88 from 150 reviews.^[18] The two-hour archipelago cruise stays close to town and is listed from US$52.^[19] If you would rather see the mountain roads than sail back the same way, pair a one-way boat with a bus or coach return.

Aksla viewpoint and the steps above the town

Wondering what to see in Ålesund from above? Head for Mount Aksla. There are 418 steps from the town park up to the Fjellstua viewpoint.^[5] It is a steady climb rather than a technical one, and the reward at the top is the town, the islands and the open sea spread out below. Go early or late in the day, when the light is softer and the path is quieter. The climb is popular, so start earlier than you think you need to and stop often to look back at the roofs below.

If the steps sound like hard work, the city highlights tour takes 1.5 hours and is listed from US$63, with Aksla Viewpoint among its stops.^[20] The Hop On-Hop Off bus in Ålesund offers commentary in eight languages,^[21] and a one-day hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus is listed from US$50, rated 4.05 from 878 reviews.^[22] Both are useful if you are short on time, or if you are travelling with someone who would rather not manage the climb.

Walks, food and indoor stops in the centre

A guided walk is the quickest way to make sense of the streets. The Art Nouveau walking tour takes 2.5 hours and is listed from US$72.^[23] The small-group walking tour covers Art Nouveau, sea views and hidden gems, listed from US$68 and rated 4.97 from 171 reviews.^[24] The guided food walking tour takes 3 hours and is listed from US$152, rated 4.93 from 74 reviews.^[25] Small-group walks and food tours can fill, so reserve in advance where you can.

Wet hours are easy to fill. Atlanterhavsparken Aquarium lists the adult ticket price as NOK 275,^[26] and the guided food walking tour takes 3 hours, listed from US$152 and rated 4.93 from 74 reviews.^[25] Both work in any weather, and the food walk doubles as a way to learn the town between courses.

For something more physical, the Via Ferrata tour takes 1 hour and is listed from US$62, rated 4.89 from 252 reviews.^[27] It is a short, guided climb with fixed cables, and it suits anyone who wants a view over the town that they have earned.

Day trips beyond the town: mountains, islands and birds

Ålesund top attractions are not all inside the town. The Trollstigen sightseeing village and fjord tour takes 6 hours and is listed from US$190, rated 4.48 from 740 reviews.^[28] The boat tour to Geiranger with a return bus takes 10.5 hours and is listed from US$210, rated 4.60 from 140 reviews.^[7]

The Norwegian Scenic Route Geiranger-Trollstigen is always closed in winter and normally open from mid-May to October/November, depending on when winter returns.^[11] Closer in, the Giske island excursion takes 4 hours and is listed from US$93.^[29] A guided sea fishing trip takes 4 hours and is listed from US$221, starting from Ålesund harbour and sailing to fishing grounds near Alnes and Godøya.^[30][31]

Birders should note that between April and August, more than 30,000 puffins come to the cliffs at Runde to breed.^[6] Runde sits well south of Ålesund, so treat it as a trip of its own rather than something to squeeze into a port call. If birds are your reason for coming, plan Runde as a separate day and check the season before you travel.

When to come, what to wear and how to arrive

Ålesund's average temperature is 2.8 °C in February, the coldest month, and 14.8 °C in August, the warmest.^[10] Bring layers, a waterproof shell and shoes with grip. A hat and gloves earn their place on a boat deck even in midsummer, and a light scarf helps when the boat picks up speed. Weather here changes fast, so a packable shell that fits in a small day bag is the most useful thing you can carry.

From late September to late March the nights are long and dark, and you can see the northern lights in Ålesund during moderate to strong geomagnetic activity.^[9] Summer brings the mildest weather and the bright evenings that make a late walk along the harbour worth it.

Arriving by air, the Airport Express Bus (Flybussen FB65) runs between the terminal and Ålesund sentrum in roughly 15 to 25 minutes.^[8] If you are linking Ålesund into a longer coastal journey, Hurtigruten's northbound short voyage from Bergen via Ålesund to Trondheim is 3 days.^[32] Taxis and private transfers are also available if you would rather not wait for a bus after a long flight.

Planning your Ålesund day

1. Check your time in port

   Note your ship's arrival and all-aboard times, then work back from there. A fjord round trip can take most of a port day.

2. Book the big trip first

   Reserve the Geirangerfjord round trip or another cruise as the anchor of the day, then fit the rest of the town around it.

3. Keep the town for the edges

   The Art Nouveau streets, the harbour and the climb to the viewpoint all sit close to the dock and suit the start or end of the day.

4. Pack for wet weather

   Bring a waterproof shell and shoes with grip, and dress in layers. A thin hat and gloves make a boat deck far more comfortable.

5. Leave a buffer

   Allow spare time between the boat or bus returning and the walk back to the ship, in case of traffic or a queue at the gangway.

Answers before you go