Alesund, Norway

Alesund is tucked amongst coastal islands separated by fjords, the city of Alesund is north of Bergen and south of Trondheim on Norway's western coast. Ålesund is known for its beautiful Art Nouveau architecture which give it its distinctive fairytalelike character.

A busy harbor - active for centuries - is where fishermen go to sell their cod to merchants who pack and ship the fish around the world. Local residents buy their shellfish, salmon and cod right off the boats moored in the Brosundet - the canal that bisects the city. Connected to the mainland by three of the world's longest sub-sea tunnels, Alesund's Giske Islands are home to a 12th century marble church, the historic Alnes Lighthouse and preserved Stone Age dwellings at Skjonghellaren Cave. Ornithologically minded nature lovers will want to visit Runde, Norway's southernmost and largest bird rock, located near Alesund. Geirangerfjord and Hjorundfjord - two of the country's most beautiful and well-known fjords - entice visitors and locals alike, who explore their beauty aboard boat tours that leave from downtown Alesund.

Things to See & Do

* National Art Nouveau Centre
* KUBE - The County art museum
* Mount Aksla
* Hjørund and Geiranger fjords

General information
Cruise Season - Feb to Dec
Currency - Norwegian Krone (NOK)
Language - Norwegian
Land Area - 93 sq km
Population - 40,000
Electricity - 2 pin Round pins European style
Time - GMT/UTC plus one hour
International Country Telephone Code - +47

Port Location - Ålesund is the leading port between Bergen and Trondheim and is located in downtown Alesund.

Transport Links - Ålesund & Sunnmøre is easy to get to - all year round! There is a good selection of domestic flights, with direct flights from most Norwegian cities to Ålesund Airport Vigra. The Hurtigruten's northward/southward bound coastal express boats call daily at Ålesund and at Torvik, near Fosnavåg. During the summer season the Hurtigruten operates daily round trips between Ålesund and Geiranger. There are good bus connections to and from most towns and cities in Norway. The train journey on the Raumabanen line is an experience in itself, and from Åndalsnes the train bus takes you all the way to Ålesund & Sunnmøre. Getting round and about is easy in Sunnmøre. There are express boats/ferries that sail in virtually all directions along the coast and fjords, binding the coast and fjord districts together. If you are travelling in your own car, you can take it on the car ferries. Local bus companies stop at most villages and towns in the district. At weekends, it is advisable to plan your itinerary if you want to use public transport as services are more limited than during the week. There is a wide choice of car rental/taxi services for those who like flexibility and haven't brought their own car. There is also a wide variety of boats for hire - with or without a skipper. And if you would like to experience Ålesund & Sunnmøre from the air - then, yes you can do that too.