Alesund was the second port we visited on our cruise on the Azura around Norway last month. Alesund is a really pretty town with lots of lovely little shops in the centre and a natural canal running through. It’s full of quaint storefronts and fishing boats and the town is made up over several islands.
We had a lovely time exploring and took advantage of a full day in port by using the Hop On Hop Off bus. The bus took you to several places across the islands and took just over an hour if you were sitting on for the full tour. Once on board you were given some headphones to plug into the information points to listen to the history of the place. The bus stops at ten different points and a bus can be expected at each of these points every 30 minutes when there’s a cruise ship docked.
For unlimited use over 24 hours we paid 275 NOK which is around £27. You can prebook these tickets online though and I think it’s a little cheaper if you pay on a credit or debit card.
The views are stunning.
The bus stops at the following places of interest
- Cruise Ship Terminal
- Sunnmore Museum
- Aksla View Point – Fjellstua
- Parken Kulturhus & Shopping district
- Tourist Information
- The Art Nouveau Centre & Jugendstilsenteret
- Ålesund Church
- Ålesund Aquarium, Atlanterhavsparken
- Hessa Viewpoint
In Norway Museums and Galleries do come at an extra price so it’s worth checking before you enter. Toilets usually reguire 10 kroner to use but a lot I’ve seen require you to pay by credit or debit card.
The Atlanterhavsparken is a great place for families with a few animals and wildlife to see and is actually within walking distance but does take around 40 minutes to get there. We heard the seals on our way into dock.
You can also climb the 400 zig zag steps up the mountain to the Aksla view point for some stunning views as well as seeing the old German bunkers.
Browsing along the shops in the town is a lovely way to relax. There were plenty of markets on when we visited and lots of souvenier shops dotted around the cobbled streets. It’s a very pretty harbour town.
Oh wow! What stunning views and scenery!
It looks like a fantastic place to visit x
I’d really love to visit Scandinavia, I think it looks like a really interesting place. Sarah #FabFridayPost
It truly is lovely, I’m so glad I went!
Beautiful photos! Makes me want to pack my bags and just book a ticket to Norway too. I’ve never been you see and the country has always been on my list of countries to visit.
Thank you! It was a beautiful place, we had a fantastic cruise along the fjords. Just beautiful.
So lovely, we lived in Norway when I was younger such a beautiful country – reading this has brought back so many memories! Thank you! #FabFridayPost
Oh amazing! It really is a beautiful country, we had a lovely time there. Thanks for stopping by 🙂
We have friends who live just a few miles from here and, to our shame, we’ve never been. I’d love to visit Norway so I may ask them about a potential skiing visit to them this winter.
Potty Adventures
#fabfridaypost
I highly recommend it! I’ve never been skiing but I would take full advantage of everything Norway has to offer if I had friends living there.
It really does look very beautiful and I think I’d love to just sail around the fjords and take it all in!
It is such a lovely way to relax and travel. Cruising is my favourite way to holiday.
Looks like a really interesting place to visit. I’ve never been to Norway, only to Sweden and loved it. Can’t believe you have to use your credit card to use the loo!
Yes the credit card part astonished me! I would love to visit Sweden myself now!
Oh wow this looks stunning! We’re off to Norway in November and I can’t wait – I’ve never been to Scandinavia so I’m really excited – especially after seeing these gorgeous pics! Thanks for linking up to #fabfridaypost
Oh I just know you will have a fantastic time! It’s a beautiful place! Pack warm layers 🙂
Wow, those photos! The yellow and red buildings really stand out!
wow! Norway looks so lovely! I really need to go sometime 😀 thanks for this lovely post!
Oh that looks beautiful, such a pretty little town! Despite being just over the border from us, I’ve only ever been to Oslo. We really want to travel the fjords at some point though!
The fjords are beautiful. I would love to see more of Norway, including Oslo! And the rest of the world too! 🙂
What a beautiful place. Would love to visit.
Beautiful pictures, beautiful sceneray. Norway is on my list of places to visit. It looks so different from anywhere else in the world
Thank you very much 🙂 I am so glad I have been and would return for sure!
Oh this looks fab! We went to Norway this year and loved it, but not to Alesund…we went to Olden, Flam, Stavanger & another place I forget the name of!
We were supposed to go to Flam but it was relocated to Alesund instead and to be honest I was gutted as I really wanted to see the Sognefjord and Flam looks like a beautiful place!
The views are absolutely stunning, I would love to visit one day. I have only been as far as Oslo so on my next trip I will consider Alesund.
I too love the hop on hop off bus and use it in every city where I visit and they operate