A weekend in Ålesund (often written Alesund in English) is enough for the main sights. Climb the 418 steps up Aksla for the view, walk the Art Nouveau streets in the centre and spend a few hours at the Atlantic Sea Park. If you have a car, add Alnes lighthouse on Godøy for the open sea.
The town looks the way it does because of a fire. In January 1904 almost the whole centre burned, and it was rebuilt in stone in a few years. That story runs through most of the tips below.
Getting there and around
By air: Ålesund Airport Vigra has direct flights from Oslo with Norwegian, SAS and Widerøe. In October 2026 there were 187 direct departures, about 48 a week.
Airport bus: Vy’s airport bus FB65 runs from Moa via Ålesund bus station to the airport, and the trip from Moa takes 50 minutes. Departures from the airport are timed to flight arrivals.
In town: The centre is walkable. Bus 1 towards Hessa goes to the Atlantic Sea Park.The view from Aksla
1. Climb the 418 steps
The steps start in Byparken in the centre. The walk up takes about 15 minutes. Take your time on wet steps in winter.
2. Fjellstua at the top
The café and restaurant at the top has served the view since 1903. It is open Tuesday to Sunday 10–17, and until 18:30 on Thursdays. It is closed on Mondays.
3. Kniven and Rundskue
Walk on from Fjellstua to the Kniven viewpoint and the Rundskue tower at the highest point of Aksla. On the way you pass remains from the Second World War. The municipality warns of rockfall near the park path, so keep to marked trails. Ålesund municipality says you may not drive to Fjellstua, so plan to walk up.
Art Nouveau Ålesund
4. Understand the 1904 fire
The fire started on the night between 22 and 23 January 1904 and burned for 15 hours. 850 houses were lost and more than 10,000 people lost their homes. One person died. The German emperor Wilhelm II sent three ships with supplies.
5. Walk the rebuilt centre
Most of the burned town was rebuilt by 1907. A new law said only stone and brick could be used inside the town. Walk slowly and look up at the towers, turrets and decorated facades.
6. Jugendstilsenteret
The Art Nouveau Centre is in the old pharmacy building at Apotekergata 16, finished in 1907. The original pharmacy interior is still there. From October to April it opens Tuesday to Sunday 11–16.
7. KUBE
The art museum next door is in the 1906 Norges Bank building, rebuilt in 2005. It shows changing exhibitions of art and design. Both buildings are closed 23–26 December, 31 December and 1 January.
8. Brosundet in the evening
The narrow canal through the centre is lined with old warehouses and restaurants. It is the photo everyone takes, and it is worth it after dark.
Sea and coast
9. The Atlantic Sea Park
The aquarium, science centre and fish-farming exhibition share one ticket. Adults pay NOK 275 and children 3–15 NOK 135. There is no student discount.
10. Walk there on the Hans-Marta trail
The park is about 3.6 km from the centre. If you walk along Kirkegata and Steinvågvegen, you pass Art Nouveau houses and get views over the fjord and islands. By bus, take line 1 to Tuenesvegen and walk 10–15 minutes.
11. Alnes lighthouse on Godøy
The red-and-white lighthouse from 1937 is a 30-minute drive from Ålesund through the Godøy tunnel. From November to March it is open daily 10–17. The tower ticket costs NOK 100 for adults and NOK 50 for children. It is 78 steps to the top.
12. Dinner at the lighthouse café
The café serves home-made food and waffles, with a daily dinner special from 13:00. The kitchen closes 30 minutes before the café. On Thursdays the special is potetball, the local potato dumplings.
History outside the centre
13. Sunnmøre Museum
An open-air museum with 56 old houses and one of Norway’s largest boat collections, including Viking ship replicas. From October to April it opens Tuesday to Sunday 11–16. Adults pay NOK 120, and under-18s are free.
14. The Medieval Age Museum
It is on the same site as Sunnmøre Museum. Entry is included in the Sunnmøre Museum ticket from 22 June to 17 August.
15. Giske church
A medieval marble church on the island of Giske, north-west of Ålesund. It is mainly open to visitors in summer.
Our verdict
On Saturday, walk the centre, see Jugendstilsenteret and climb Aksla before sunset. On Sunday, go to the Atlantic Sea Park or drive to Alnes. Skip Giske in winter unless you have checked that the church is open.
More city guides are in our Norway hub. If you are travelling on, read things to do in Bergen or things to do in Trondheim. Norwegian readers can use our version for Norwegians.
The 418 steps to Fjellstua take about 15 minutes, and the Atlantic Sea Park costs NOK 275 for adults.