Views that will take your breath away

Ålesund – open to the sea and the world

After the devastating town fire left Ålesund in ruins in 1904, a modern, youthful town arose in the narrow straits where fjords and mountains meet the ocean. This bustling commercial, industrial and fishing town has always looked out to the world. No less so during the reconstruction. The architects who designed Ålesund town centre created perhaps the most comprehensive town in the Art Nouveau style, or Jugendstil, in Europe.

Rough or romantic in Geiranger

Travelling to Geiranger, whether by road or fjord, is like travelling into a postcard or an Instagram post. Of course, you can gaze and smile at snow-capped peaks, mighty waterfalls, green hills, and the blue-green fjord. But you can also go on beautiful hikes to farms where generations have been clinging to the mountainsides. Play in the countryside and experience it using a Via Ferrata and zipline, a rib or fjord cruise, or by canoeing and cycling. And relax in a jacuzzi at one of the best spa facilities in the country, at the centre of a UNESCO World Heritage fjord.

Meander through the landscape from Trollstigen to Geiranger

The Geiranger – Trollstigen National Tourist Route winds its way through fjords and mountains, Geiranger, via the adventure village of Valldal, past the viewpoints Gudbrandsjuvet and Trollstigplatået and to the summit capital of Åndalsnes. When Trollstigen, the stretch of road with 11 hairpin bends, opened in 1936, it improved the infrastructure between Nordmøre in the north and Sunnmøre in the south. Where people used to travel with cloven horses, cars could now swing their way over the mountain. You can reach the Trollstigen plateau and enjoy the view in more ways than by car and motorbike. Grab your bike and feel alive when reaching the top.

In summer, the trip along the national tourist route is more than a journey – it is the attraction itself. Take the train from Oslo to Åndalsnes and continue by bus from Åndalsnes railway station. The bus takes you over Trollstigen and Ørnevegen (the Eagle’s Road) to Geiranger. From here, you can travel by sea to Ålesund on a fjord cruise from Geiranger. Or go in the opposite direction, starting from Ålesund by boat.

Salty adventures and sweeping winds on the Atlantic Road

Just as a child may find joy in jumping from rock to rock across a small strait or in a river, engineers have played around and discovered the fastest, best, and most fun way to get from islet to islet in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. There are plenty of opportunities for children and adults alike to play in this ocean area. Go on a seal safari, fish from the shore, grab your kite and surfboard or do yoga along the National Tourist Route, the Atlantic Road, outdoors and any time of the year.

Further places to take in and unwind

If you dream of elegant fjords, mighty mountains, or teeming birdlife, there are numerous opportunities here in the northwest. If you are visiting Trollstigen or on your way to the Atlantic Road, you can hike the mountain ridge Romsdalseggen and enjoy 10 kilometres of spectacular peak views. Or head north towards Smøla – a fantastic place for an active holiday among islets, reefs, and fishing villages.