Top 10 Alesund Shore Excursions
If you are lucky enough to explore Norway on a cruise, you are in for plenty of great days ashore and that includes those arriving at port of Alesund- just to the north of the main fjordland region.
Alesund offers a different experience to the rest of Norway as it suffered a huge fire in 1904 which destroyed much of the city and after getting funding from Germany’s Kaiser Wilhelm II it was rebuilt in the popular-at-the-time Art Nouveau style.
With a very walkable city centre and a city centre cruise dock and you have all that you need for a port of call where you can walk from your ship and simply set of exploring.
That is not to say that there isn’t plenty to enjoy in the area surrounding the city itself, so if you want to head of exploring or if you have already visited Alesund before and have explored what the centre has to offer, you will likely want to take a shore excursion for your next stop there.
But just what are the top 10 Alesund shore excursions? That is just what I answer in this list, which is based on my experience of visiting the port on a cruise holiday and the research I did before visiting there.
Shore Excursions In Alesund
Stranda Gondola
This is one of the more expensive excursions you can do, but it will be one that lives long in your memory as you head away from Alesund on a coach journey through the stunning scenery of More og Romsdal region of Norway.
After a short ferry ride, you arrive at the foot of the Stranda Gondola where you will take the cable car to a height of around 1040 metres above the Sorfjord where you will get incredible views of the surrounding area, including the town of Stranda.
Island Tour
As you will see when you sail in Alesund, it is surrounded by islands, in fact the city itself is split over several islands and even the city centre itself is split across two islands, so it is no surprise that one of the more popular tours on offer is to go island hopping.
This is something that can be done via a coach tour as they are all linked to each other via bridges or tunnels, which makes for an increasingly interest journey.
Amongst the nearby islands often offered on tours are Giske which is an historic island which has been inhabited since the Bronze Age and Godoy, home to a beautiful lighthouse.
All of the islands surrounding Alesund offer incredible views and the chance to see some local wildlife including seals and seabirds.
Mountains Tour
If you are on a cruise of the fjords, you will not fail to be enthralled by the mountains that you see along the way and whilst their size and the closeness you sail to them whilst heading down the fjords is impressive, the mountains are so much more interesting up close.
That is where taking a tour up into the mountains comes into its own as not only can you get a up close view of the hills and gorges that make up the mountains, but you can visit small settlements that house the inhabitants of the mountains.
These remote destinations give a great insight in rural life in Norway, and many allow access to living museums and churches whilst offering local produce for you to try.
A popular option is to head for the Trollstigen viewpoint, where you get a panoramic view of waterfalls, valleys and peaks.
Sunnmore Museum Visit
Founded in 1931, the Sunnmore Museum is an outdoor folk museum that is devoted to showcasing the traditional lifestyle of those living in the region.
The open-air museum is like stepping back in time as you experience the Norwegian coastal culture and way of life, with over 50 houses showcasing the daily life across of local inhabitants for over 300 years.
Atlantic Park Shuttle
Although it is possible to head to the impressive Atlantic Park aquarium on your own via public transport, the easiest way to get there is to take advantage of a shuttle that some cruise lines offer, or that can be booked privately.
Located just a few miles outside of the centre of Alesund, the large aquarium offers a different like at aquatic animals as it focuses on local wildlife found in Norwegian waters and even offers a chance to sea local seals who can come and go from the park.
Hop On Hop Off Bus
Although Alesund is a walkable city, it is a Norwegian city where you can set off in the sun and come back to your ship in a snowstorm.
It is also a city that offers incredible views, but you need to climb hundreds of steps to get them, so what is your best option if you don’t fancy the hike or cannot walk around the city due to mobility issues?
Well, that has to be the Hop Off Hop On buses that pick up right outside of where you dock and take you around the main sights of the city including the Sunmore Museum and the Aksla Hill from where you can walk to a viewpoint and it also take you out to the Atlantic Ocean Park aquarium.
The Hop On Hop Off nature means that you can do as much or as little as you want and learn along the way from the onboard commentary.
Road Train
If you just want to have a bit of a guided tour around the city and have some time at Fjelltunveien viewpoint, your best option could be to take the city’s road train.
Some cruise lines allow you to pre-book or you can simply pay on the day when you board the blue and white road train that drive around the city and shows you all of the main sights whilst also stopping off for 15-20 minutes to allow you to get off and take in the views at the top of Aksla hill.
Hjorundfjord Cruise
Alesund sits in the entrance to the stunning Hjorundfjord but you will not get much of view from it without boarding a smaller boat to head off into the fjord itself.
Thankfully, there are plenty of different options for those wanting to do and line swill often offer a couple of different options.
The fjord is known as one of Norway’s most beautiful and with some of the Sunnmore Alps peaks climbing form the fjord to over 5,000 feet, its hard to disagree with that.
Wildlife Safari
Norway’s waters are full of wildlife and its coasts are packed with seabirds, but it can be tricky to spot it all from your cruise ship.
If you want to get up close to wildlife such as seabirds, eagles and seals, the best option is arguably to take a Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) that can get you up close to wildlife and take in a wide area in a short amount of time.
Alesund Walking Tour
I know from first-hand experience that Alesund is an incredible place to walk around and there is lots to see and much of its if incredibly photogenic, but one thing you don’t get from waking round is an understanding of what you are looking at, including the history of the building you walk past and the streets you walk along.
The best way to do that is to take a guided walking tour where you can go places tour buses cannot and ask any questions you want to ask whilst getting a commentary and insight from alcoal about what you are seeing as you walk around Alesund.
Alesund Shorex
If you have booked a cruise itinerary calling onto the port of Alesund in Norway, this is the list for you as I take you through what I believe to be the best shore excursions available on offer to those heading there.
It is also a useful guide for those who are looking to explore Norway and who are trying to decide whether a stop in Aalesund is the right option for them or not.
