6 photo friendly spots in Ålesund

Ah, Ålesund! With its Art Nouveau buildings and its dotted coastline, this Norwegian port town looks like something out of a fairytale.

There are many gorgeous corners for you to explore and take pictures — both within the town proper and while exploring its surrounding nature.

Consider the below as your guide to getting started!

The Art Nouveau district

Ålesund’s architecture is quite unique: when a fire destroyed the town center in the beginning of last century, it was rebuilt in the colorful Art Nouveau style. 

Take a walk among the pastel facades with your camera at the ready — and don’t forget to look up! That’s the only way to spot the turrets, spires and imaginative ornaments that adorn these beautiful houses.

If you want to see the architecture from the sea side, you can take an urban SUP tour or an Art Nouveau Kayak tour.

The harbor

Ålesund is a port town — in fact it’s set across several islands and it stretches well out into the Atlantic Ocean. A walk around the harbor will give you a different perspective of this beautiful town. You can snap pictures of ships coming and going, as well as amazing sunset captures when the sun dips into the waters, bathing everything in an orange glow!

The Aksla viewpoint

You’re only 418 steps away from the view of a lifetime! That’s right: the Aksla viewpoint, also known as Fjellstua viewpoint (named after the restaurant there) offers picture perfect views of the Ålesund town center, the archipelago and the nearby mountains. 

And if you don’t feel like taking those steps, you can always take the City Train up there.

The Bird Island (Runde)

When in Ålesund, you’re bound to do some exploring of the nearby nature. Runde island, also known as Bird Island because of the 500,000 feathered friends who hang out on its cliffs and shores, is a must stop if you’re looking for captivating nature shots. 

If you’re lucky, you may even spot some puffins!

The Alnes Lighthouse on Godøy

One of the small islands that surround Ålesund, Godøy is just a 30-minute drive from the town center and has many photo friendly spots to explore — the Alnes Lighthouse being the most popular among them. 

The lighthouse has been around since 1876 and its red and white stripes will make for some great Instagram moments. (Plus, you’ll get the chance to learn about the local coastal culture and buy souvenirs.)

Saksa mountaintop

This one may be a bit of a challenge… but trust us when we say it will be worth it! Part of the nearby Sunnmøre Alps, Saksa rises as a pyramid from the Hjørundfjord and offers panoramic views of the area when you reach the top. 

Plus, the hike may be less daunting than it sounds: you don’t need any climbing equipment for the medium challenging hike, and you can complete it in about 5 hours.