Worth remembering
- The RIB Ålesund fjordsafari reaches the Hjørundfjord in 105 minutes and costs from US$157.[1]
- The Fjord Tour Round Trip from Ålesund runs 5 hours through the Hjørundfjord and Øye and costs from US$115.[2]
- A small group town walk covering Art Nouveau, sea views and hidden gems runs 2 hours from US$68.[3]
- The Aksla viewpoint sits at the top of a stone staircase of 418 steps.[4]
- The Trollstigen sightseeing tour takes 6 hours, is rated 4.48 from 740 reviews and costs from US$190.[5]
- Top choice RIB Fjordsafari from US$157 Duration105 minutes[1]Rating4.88 from 150 reviews[1]Guide languageLive guide: English[1]RouteHjørundfjorden[1]CancellationUp to 24 hours before[1] Check availability
- Trollstigen Sightseeing from US$190 Duration6 hours[5]Rating4.48 from 740 reviews[5]Guide languageLive guide: English[5]RouteTrollstigen[5]CancellationUp to 24 hours before[5] See this tour
- Fjord Tour Round Trip from US$115 Duration5 hours[2]Rating4.22 from 60 reviews[2]Guide languageLive guide: English[2]RouteHjørundfjorden, Øye, Ålesund[2]CancellationUp to 24 hours before[2] See this tour
Those taking the 418 stone steps are certainly rewarded, but it's not for everyone.
Our Verdict: Put the Fjords First
Booking notes
Alesund Things to Do: Start on the Water
Alesund sits on the Norwegian northwest coast, and almost everything on a first visit happens within sight of the harbour. The city is spread across seven large islands,[8] so water, bridges and low green mountains frame nearly every street. It was founded in 1838,[9] and after a fire the town was rebuilt in Jugendstil (Art Nouveau), the architectural style of the time.[10] That rebuild is what you see today in the centre, and it is reason enough to walk a few blocks before you go anywhere else.
Knowing what to do in Alesund comes down to two things: time on the water and time on foot. The fjords around the city are the big draw, and boats reach them far more directly than roads do. The town itself is small, walkable and busy in bursts: in 2024 Alesund had 656,678 day cruise passengers, the highest number among Norwegian ports.[11] On those mornings the waterfront, the viewpoint and the popular tours fill early. Booking anything with a fixed start time before you arrive is the easy fix.
The RIB Fjordsafari to the Hjørundfjord
Our pick on the water is the RIB Ålesund - Fjordsafari Hjørundfjord, a rigid inflatable boat trip that goes out to the Hjørundfjord.[1] It costs from US$157 and lasts 105 minutes, with a live tour guide who speaks English.[1] The listing is rated 4.88 from 150 reviews, you can reserve now and pay later, and free cancellation applies up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.[1]
A RIB sits close to the water and moves quickly. The mountains come at you rather than drifting past, and on the open stretches you will take spray and feel the cold off the fjord. Wear the layers you would wear for a cold, windy day on deck, and keep a thin hat and gloves within reach even when the town feels mild. The outing is short enough to sit alongside a town walk on the same day.
Compare the two ways to see the same water. A RIB covers ground quickly and keeps you out in the open air, while a cruise deck lets you sit down and move around. Several listings sail into the Hjørundfjord, including the round trip cruise from Ålesund at 5 hours and from US$115.[12] Pick by pace rather than by scenery.
A RIB turns at speed beneath the peaks of the Hjørundfjord.
Fjord Cruises, from Round Trips to Geiranger
If you would rather sit still, the Fjord Tour Round Trip from Ålesund is from US$115 and lasts 5 hours, with a live English guide, an audio guide and wheelchair access.[2] Its route runs through the Hjørundfjord and Øye before returning to the city, and it is rated 4.22 from 60 reviews.[2] The MS Bruvik fjord tour with lunch takes 7 hours from US$156 and is rated 4.54 from 19 reviews, with a stop at Sæbø.[13]
Geiranger is another day out, 67 miles (108 km) from Ålesund.[14] A one way sailing on an electric boat takes 3 hours and costs from US$112, rated 5.00 from 7 reviews.[15] The round trip version runs 8.5 - 9.5 hours from US$202 and is rated 4.75 from 758 reviews, with an audio guide and wheelchair access.[16] Both routes pass through the Storfjord, which is one of Norway's ten longest fjords, stretching 110 kilometers out to the Sulafjord and reaching a depth of 672 meters at its deepest.[17]
The Art Nouveau Town on Foot
The centre was rebuilt in stone, brick and mortar in Jugendstil (Art Nouveau), the architectural style of the time,[10] and the result is a compact grid of towers, turrets and ornament that is easy to cover on foot. A small group version covering Art Nouveau, sea views and hidden gems takes 2 hours from US$68 and is rated 4.97 from 171 reviews.[3]
Food is a good way to see the town too. A guided food walking tour runs 3 hours, costs from US$152 and is rated 4.93 from 74 reviews, with stops that include a bar and restaurant, Kongens gate, a pizzeria, a bakery and the Brosundet waterfront.[18] For something shorter, the Art Nouveau walking tour lasts 2.5 hours from US$72.[19]
The rebuilt centre is best explored without a fixed route. Start near the harbour, drift up through the shopping streets, and remember to look up. The ornament sits above shop level, on facades, towers and rooflines. An audio guide tour of Ålesund and the surrounding islands is a low effort alternative at 3 hours from US$136.[20] A German language afternoon city tour through the Art Nouveau city takes 2 hours from US$58.[21]
from US$157
The RIB Ålesund fjordsafari spends 105 minutes on the water out to the Hjørundfjord and is rated 4.88 from 150 reviews.[1]
Viewpoints, Islands and the Atlantic Sea Park
Mount Aksla is the classic view over the city, and the Aksla viewpoint is reached by a stone staircase of 418 steps.[4] If you would rather ride, a city highlights tour that takes in the Aksla viewpoint lasts 1.5 hours and costs from US$63.[22] A hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus is another way around the spread out sights, from US$41, valid 1 day from first activation, rated 4.10 from 518 reviews and wheelchair accessible with an audio guide.[23]
Out towards the coast, Atlanterhavsparken, known in English as the Atlantic Sea Park, is considered one of Northern Europe's largest and most unique saltwater aquariums.[24] A Giske island excursion covers Alnes Lighthouse, the Aksla viewpoint and Giske Church in 4 hours from US$93, rated 4.67 from 6 reviews and wheelchair accessible.[25]
If you would rather go at your own pace, an audio guide tour of Ålesund and the surrounding islands takes 3 hours from US$136.[20] Longer guided walks are listed too, including a 3 hour city walking tour in Russian from US$368.[26]
Inland Day Trips: Trollstigen and Stranda
The Trollstigen sightseeing tour to the village and fjord country lasts 6 hours, costs from US$190 and is rated 4.48 from 740 reviews, with breakdown scores of 4.6 for the guide, 4.5 for transportation and 4.2 for value for money.[5]
For a gentler day out, the Giske Island coastal landmarks excursion takes 4 hours from US$93, is wheelchair accessible and is rated 4.67 from 6 reviews.[25] If you want the fjords and the mountains in one loop, the All About the Fjords tour by boat and bus runs 6 hours from US$168 and is rated 4.21 from 28 reviews.[27] These are road days. Treat the coach time as part of the scenery.
How to Plan Your Days and What to Wear
Alesund receives 1730 millimeters of precipitation per year, ranging from 85 millimeters in dry May to 210 millimeters in wet December.[6] Anyone asking Alesund what to see on a short stop should plan around that: keep a waterproof outer layer in your bag and hold one indoor option in reserve. The town centre is small, but tours leave from different places. Check the meeting details for each booking on the day.
For onward travel, Ålesund to Bergen takes 45 minutes by plane, about 7 hours and 30 minutes by car, and about 9 hours and 30 minutes by bus.[28] Airport transfers run from US$134 for a 30 minute one way trip with an English speaking driver.[29] If you want an active hour, the Via Ferrata tour takes 1 hour, costs from US$62, is rated 4.89 from 252 reviews and skips the ticket line, with instructors who speak English, Norwegian and German.[30]
One last piece of planning: leave slack. Fjord weather changes quickly, boats and ferries keep their own timetables, and a tour that starts late eats into whatever comes next. Two anchors a day, one on the water and one on land, is a comfortable way to see Alesund without spending the trip watching the clock.
From prices for Alesund fjord and town tours
What a day on the water costs, from prices
Amounts are GetYourGuide from-prices:[1][2][5][23].
When to book your Alesund tours
Plan your Alesund day
Choose your water time
Decide first whether you want speed or a slow deck. Everything else in the day fits around that one slot.
Book the fixed start times
Tours with set departures fill up. Reserve the boat or coach you care about before you add a walk.
Keep the middle open
Leave a buffer either side of your tour for harbour walks, coffee and getting to the meeting point without rushing.
Pack for wet and bright
Layers, a windproof shell, gloves and sunglasses cover most days, whatever the morning looks like.
Save one indoor backup
The Art Nouveau centre, the movie experience and the aquarium all work when the rain settles in.
Ride the RIB out to the Hjørundfjord
from US$157Reserve now & pay later
