Cheap flights to Alesund from PLN79*

Ålesund is an Art Nouveau town set on seven islands on the west coast of Norway, with mountains rising into the sky on the mainland in the distance. What more could you ask for in a Norwegian holiday? Fresh seafood from the country’s most important fishing city, for one, and visits to an island bird haven or an aquarium with happy seals lounging by the sea. Take hikes short or long for breathtaking views of the town, the islands, fjords and open sea, and come back to a relaxing and cosy downtown in the evening.

 

An Art Nouveau island getaway

Ålesund is all about Art Nouveau architecture. There’s a sad reason for that: the Ålesund fire of 1904, which destroyed the mostly wood-built town, leaving 10,000 people homeless. The town was rebuilt in the Art Nouveau style, known as Jugendstil, giving it an unusually consistent but imaginative look. Beyond the city centre, you’ll want to island-hop or mountain-climb to see the town’s stunning setting from every angle, in addition to wildlife and natural wonders.

 

Architecture, islands, seafood and sea life

Not only can you walk to the streets to experience Ålesund’s Art Nouveau beauty, you can visit the Jugendstilsenteret to learn more. Ålesund Church also charms visitors with its Norwegian marble exterior and Art Nouveau frescoes inside. For more about earlier Norwegian architecture and history, head to the outdoor Sunnmøre Museum for a walk through a traditional farm community and medieval town buildings, or the Ålesunds Museum for a tour through the town as it was before the 1904 fire – reconstructed, of course.

Set on seven islands, Ålesund is naturally Norway’s most important fishing port. That’s also why it’s the perfect home for the Atlantic Sea Park aquarium, Atlanterhavsparken, built into the coast. See sea otters, penguins and seals at play and at rest, and pet crabs and lobsters. Beware of the giant octopus climbing up the side of the building! Or why not take a kayak tour around the town to admire Ålesund’s setting from the sea? To see Ålesund from above, climb the 418 stairs to the viewpoint on Mount Aksla – halfway up there’s a glass overlook that seems to float over the town. After the full climb, walk on to the Fjellstua glass-sided restaurant, or beyond to another viewpoint at Kniven.

 

Seafood smorgasbord

Ålesund is a seafood smorgasbord – start on the wharf to buy fresh-caught and fresh-cooked shrimps and brown crabs right from the fishermen’s boats. The most famous dish is klippfisk, dried and salted cod, which is also used to make traditional Spanish and Portuguese bacalao. XL Bistro is perhaps the best place to try klippfisk: it's been called Europe’s best bacalao restaurant, but with a very Norwegian view of islands and the sea. Cosy Sjøbua is another waterfront option for monkfish, mussels, or scallops, to name just a few specialities.

Since the seafood’s so fresh, why not go for sushi? Zuuma Sushi & Grill is the best, also with a gorgeous view to the sea. On a sunny day in the Art Nouveau centre, sit outside at Anno for a casual meal. If you prefer a pub lunch, try one of 18 home brews on tap at Molo, located on the pier for which it’s named, and pair your beer with a burger. Or have the freshest of fish and chips at Brokiosken Jafs.

 

Vintage treasures and sunset scenery

Find a gem of original Norwegian art and antiques at Galleri Artifex, or peruse the vintage treasures at Trankokeriet Antikk. Visit Ingrids Glassverksted in the old harbour district for handmade glassware, and if you’re lucky, you might catch the artists in action, too. Foodies may also want to stock up on Norwegian gourmet mementos at Matbuda.

Catch the sunset on the water, cocktail in hand, at the magical Milk Bar & Lounge, a glass-encased space over the water in the heart of Ålesund. If you’re more of a beer person, check out the laid-back Piano Bar, offering a good selection of beers on tap. Ready for more? Move on to Ålesund’s only nightclub, Terminalen Byscene, with great live music.

 

Wildlife and wild hikes

Start with a trip to the small island of Runde, home to 150 people and half a million birds. From February to August, more than 80 species build their nests and care for their young on the island. Another island adventure is to Alnes Lighthouse on Godøya – stop on the islet of Giske to see the church, the oldest in the area. Oh, and the route to Alnes goes through tunnels and over bridges with stunning views.

The Sunnmøre Alps, which rise almost two kilometres above the fjord, offer myriad opportunities for hiking. To name just one, though that’s difficult, climbing Mount Saska is a great way to see the full length of the Hjørundfjorden in one direction and Ålesund in the other. Start in the village of Urke (a two-hour drive from Ålesund) and finish near the top by climbing stairs built recently by Nepalese sherpas out of the nearby rocks. Also accessible from Ålesund is the challenging Trollveggen, the Troll Wall, Europe’s tallest vertical, and the Trollstigen, the Troll’s Path, a road with 11 hairpin turns to the summit of 858 metres. Spectacular views and waterfalls abound. The troll sights can also be visited from the town of Molde, another WizzAir destination.

 

Ålesund airport

You’ll already be island-hopping when you arrive at Ålesund airport, two islets away from the centre. It’s a three-bridge, 25-minute ride into town by airport bus, taxi, or hired car. The airport, while small, has all the amenities in terms of shopping and food essentials.

 

Ålesund weather

May through September are the best months to visit Ålesund, though the chance for rain increases in August and September. The highest temperatures are in August, meaning 15°C, and the winters are mild, mostly above freezing, with plenty of snow.