7 Reasons To Add Coastal Ålesund, Norway, to Your Travel List

It’s easy to fall in love with Norway, with its pristine waterways and stunning scenery. And while enjoying the expansive landscape, one can’t help but appreciate the fresh air, pure drinking water, and access to delicious seafood.

Along the west coast of Norway, you’ll find some of these scenic Norwegian cities and towns that are also charming and easy to explore.

Today, our article focuses on one of those ideal Norwegian destinations. Ålesund, Norway, is situated among the fjords and archipelagos, providing a peaceful base from which to explore the surrounding islands.

Here are all the reasons you should add Ålesund, Norway, to your travel list.

1. You Can Travel There Using Points and Miles

Ålesund is on the western coast of Norway, northwest of the capital city of Oslo.

One of the easiest ways to access Ålesund and most of Norway’s coastal cities and towns is by first flying to Oslo (OSL) or via Copenhagen, Denmark (CPH). Flights to OSL or CPH from the U.S. are widely available. Here are some options for traveling there using points and miles:

• Redeem as few as 60,000 United MileagePlus miles to fly business class one-way from Newark (EWR) to Oslo, or redeem 70,000 Air Canada Aeroplan points to fly LOT Polish Airlines, SWISS, or Lufthansa one-way in business class.
• Redeem 70,000 Aeroplan points to fly business class one-way from Chicago (ORD) to Copenhagen (CPH) and take an inexpensive Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) flight from there to Norway.
• Redeem 60,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles to fly economy round-trip on American from Chicago to Oslo or 115,000 miles round-trip in business class.

Use a tool like Seats.aero, an award search engine, to help identify award availability across airline programs for your desired travel dates.

You can also find affordable fares from the U.S. to our featured city, Ålesund (AES), via Oslo, Stockholm (ARN), or Copenhagen with SAS. SAS premium economy fares provide excellent value. You can fly round-trip from any of these SAS hubs to Ålesund from $85 to $245.

Transferring points to airline partners is one of the best ways to receive good value for your rewards. Two of our favorite cards for earning transferable rewards points are the Platinum Card^® from American Express and the Chase Sapphire Reserve^®.

2. You Can Book Lodging Using Hotel Loyalty Points

With a population of less than 60,000, the municipality of Ålesund has a limited number of hotels that can be booked using loyalty points. These are a few special ones.

The Hotel Brosundet, an Ascend Collection Hotel, is the place to stay in Ålesund. Its canal front location is superb, and the historical art nouveau buildings are a prominent city icon. The room rate includes breakfast, the rooms are comfortable, and the service is excellent.

The hotel is actually 2 hotels next to each other in the city’s best spot. You can book the Ascend Collection hotel for 25,000 Choice Privileges points per night, and the Hotel Brosundet (an adults-only Mr & Mrs Smith property) from 16,500 World of Hyatt points per night.

The Quality Hotel Ålesund is another Choice hotel on a waterfront in the heart of the city center. The hotel has family connecting rooms and includes a full breakfast, making it an excellent choice for families. Rooms are 20,000 Choice Privileges points per night.

The Quality Hotel Waterfront combines historic architecture with modern buildings in a waterfront setting. It offers a complimentary breakfast, and all the city’s amenities are within walking distance. Rooms are available for 20,000 Choice points per night.

3. The City Is Amazingly Beautiful

In 1904, the town of Ålesund was burned to the ground, except for 1 home, and over 10,000 residents were displaced. It took 3 years to rebuild the center. Fortunately, for residents and visitors, the townspeople decided to rebuild in the art nouveau style.

Taking a walking tour is one of the best ways to see the architecture and learn more about the city. However, to enjoy the best view of the city center, hike or take transportation to the top of Mount Aksla.

4. You Can Wander Along Gorgeous Canals and Traverse The Fjords

The canals of Ålesund will remind you of Venice, but the vibe is totally different, and you won’t get lost while exploring. Locals and visitors gather along the piers to watch the sunset, grab a bite to eat, and stroll the waterfront.

One of the best ways to experience the fjords around Ålesund is by taking a day trip to Geiranger. It’s a roughly 3-hour journey each way, but it’s well worth it.

5. You Can Explore the Surrounding Islands

The city of Ålesund spans 3 of the 7 islands that make up its municipality. Bridges connect a few of the islands, but you can reach others via underwater tunnels. Even when traveling to and from the airport, you pass through a long underwater tunnel.

Exploring the surrounding islands offers insight into how residents have lived in this remote area. It also allows you to view the region’s beauty from several different perspectives. Giske, nearby, is called Norway’s birthplace and is home to the oldest church in Norway.

The area is also perfect for outdoor adventures, including kayaking, biking, and hiking. In the winter, skiing and ice climbing are popular.

6. It Has a Colorful History

A visit to Ålesund would not be complete without learning about its history. You can start by visiting the Aalesunds Museum and the Art Nouveau Centre.

The Sunnmøre Museum is a must-visit open-air museum you can walk through. The scenery is stunning, and the historical buildings are fascinating. The park-like recreational area overlooks the fjords and is surrounded by forest. This walk takes about 30 minutes, including stops.

To experience everything mentioned in this article, consider a 4 1/2-hour tour, bookable on Viator. The owner and operator is a native resident who shares his experiences, reflecting on Ålesund’s history, little-known facts, and personal insights. For a fun Norwegian folklore experience, Trollstigen, the land of the trolls, is explored on a unique trolls tour.

Another option is taking the Bytoget tour train. It departs every 20 minutes from the cruise port and offers a comprehensive tour of the entire city, including the summit of Mount Aksla.

7. It’s a Fresh Seafood Paradise

Last, but certainly not least, you’ll want to dine on fresh seafood when in Ålesund. Yes, eating out at a restaurant can be expensive, but most hotels include breakfast in their rates. With that meal covered, perhaps you can splurge on an evening meal.

Food to try in Ålesund includes local specialties such as salted cod (prepared many ways), fish stew, and local shellfish. While a typical entree of fish, steak, or lamb in a restaurant costs between $50 and $65, you can try fish and chips takeaway for less than $20, if the weather permits. The view (seen above) from the outside dining area at Jafs Fish & Chips shop, for example, makes for a pleasant dining experience.

There is no bad fish or seafood restaurant in Ålesund.

There are also many restaurants with other cuisines, including pizza, sushi, Thai, Indian, Spanish, and Chinese.

Final Thoughts

A stay of 3 to 5 days provides ample time to explore Ålesund and its surrounding area. While exploring the city center on foot is easy, the public bus system, ferries, cycling, and ride-sharing services provide additional access to the nearby islands. Taking advantage of these options will enhance your experience, let you see more in less time, and save on transportation costs.

You can also minimize some of the costs of visiting Norway, an expensive country, by booking hotels that include breakfast (most do), kaffepause (afternoon tea and sweets break), and even dinner (at select Choice hotels).

To learn more about visiting Ålesund, the city’s tourism site is filled with inspiration.