Discover Ålesund 2026

After a devastating fire destroyed almost the entire city in 1904, Ålesund was completely rebuilt within a few years in the then-modern Art Nouveau style, supported by German donations at the initiative of Kaiser Wilhelm II, giving the city a uniquely cohesive cityscape.

A hiking trail with over 418 steps leads from the center up to the Aksla viewpoint, offering one of Norway's finest city views, with the entire Art Nouveau downtown framed by several islands and fjords in the panorama.

Ålesund serves as an ideal starting point for day trips to the world-famous Geirangerfjord with its spectacular waterfalls like the Seven Sisters, one of Norway's most-visited natural wonders and a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site.

Norway's largest saltwater aquarium sits directly on the open Atlantic and showcases native underwater life from cod to wolffish in naturalistic tanks, including a large open pool where divers hand-feed the fish daily.

Ålesund Airport lies about 15 kilometers west of the city and is served multiple times daily from Oslo and Bergen. From Oslo, the city is also reachable in about 1.5 hours flight time.

After a devastating fire destroyed almost the entire city in 1904, Ålesund was completely rebuilt within a few years in the then-modern Art Nouveau style, supported by German donations at the initiative of Kaiser Wilhelm II, giving the city a uniquely cohesive cityscape.

A hiking trail with over 418 steps leads from the center up to the Aksla viewpoint, offering one of Norway's finest city views, with the entire Art Nouveau downtown framed by several islands and fjords in the panorama.

Ålesund serves as an ideal starting point for day trips to the world-famous Geirangerfjord with its spectacular waterfalls like the Seven Sisters, one of Norway's most-visited natural wonders and a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site.