I’ve been to Ålesund, Norway, for my “coolcation” this summer, and I couldn’t have been happier. I have done my part of traveling in Norway so far, living here, but Ålesund was breathtakingly beautiful. In my humble opinion, Ålesund is the most beautiful city in the whole wide Norway. Perhaps one of the best cities to travel to in Europe in the summer, too. There are fantastic natural areas and other small villages in Norway, but Ålesund is number one on my list when it comes to cities in Norway.
Maybe we have been very lucky with the weather in Ålesund? Perhaps, yes. But it was also stated on VG, one of the largest newspapers in Norway, that Ålesund was one of the best summer cities in Norway.
I have so many stories and pictures to share with you all, so let’s get started.
What Is “Coolcation”?
Have you heard of the term “coolcation”? It is coined to describe a vacation you go on hot summer days to avoid the heat. Recently, with global climate change, the tradition of traveling to Southern Europe has changed. It used to be just pleasantly hot in Spain, Greece, Italy, Portugal, and France. But these countries have been hit quite hard by the heat wave and the forest fires in 2025, and the experts claim that it will continue or get even worse.
So interestingly enough, many people in the world travel to the North in the summer! Within Europe, there has been a good increase in people flying to Norway this year. Well, as someone who lives in Norway, that was quite convenient for me. I just traveled within this country.
Ålesund was the best choice I made to have my coolcation in the summer.
What I Loved About Ålesund, Norway
Ålesund already has an exotic touch due to the Norwegian letter “Å” for many people. (You can pronounce Ålesund as “o-a-le-sun” in Norwegian. The little circle on the letter A is to pronounce it as “o-a.”) But it’s not just the name that is exotic; Ålesund has so many beautiful characteristics that can only be found here.
- The stunning fjord landscapes: When you go up the viewpoint in Ålesund, you will be able to see the whole city and the fjord! It is breathtaking. The Plesund island, fjord, and mountains are a landscape that you can never forget.
- Perfect summer temperatures: The cool Nordic climate might not be for everyone to live here, but the mild summer temperatures in Ålesund are a refreshing escape for so many from heat waves. This might be a huge contrast to typical European summer destinations.
- Unique Art Nouveau architecture: Ålesund city has many architectural examples in the Art Nouveau style. I absolutely loved walking around the city center to view the architecture. You can also check out the Art Nouveau Center (Jugendstilsenteret) in Ålesund to learn more.
- Fresh Seafood: If you are into seafood, you can try the salmon, mackerel, shrimp, and even Norwegian fish cakes when you are here.
Beautiful architecture by the water in Ålesund.
How We Traveled to Ålesund, Norway
If you are in Oslo, the capital city of Norway, here are three main ways to travel.
- Airplane: Taking a flight is probably the most common option for Norwegians to take. There is a direct flight to Ålesund, which takes about 1 hour.
- Train & Bus: You can take a train for 8-10 hours from Oslo to Åndalsnes and then take a bus from Åndalsnes to Plesund. The trip is quite long, but it is a scenic journey with all the gorgeous views!
- Drive & Ferry: If you have a car or plan to rent one, you can drive all the way and take a ferry at Festøy Ferryport. This is the route we took, and it was worth it! It was absolutely gorgeous.
You could sit by the window on the ferry from Festøya Ferryport to Ålesund!
Here are some of the pictures I’ve taken along the way from Oslo to Ålesund. There were many more places where I was speechless, but it went by so quickly, or it didn’t look so nice on camera. It was totally worthwhile to drive from Oslo to Ålesund, and I would do it again next time I visit Ålesund.
The sky was so blue and the fields were green. Look at the mountains and the icecap on the top of the mountain. And there was a valley with waters from the melting snow on top.
Rocky mountains and the clean, deep blue waters…
The closer you get to Ålesund, the waters start to become turquoise blue! It is a huge river, and there were many cabins and camping sites nearby. I’d love to come here for camping later. This place is near the village called Stryn.
As we drove from Oslo, we stopped at the Festøy Ferryport to get to Ålesund by ferry.
Our Accommodation Near Ålesund, Norway
You can stay at a nice hotel if you want the most comfortable stay. You could also book a cabin near Ålesund on Airbnb, which my family loves doing.
You could also book a cruise to Ålesund. We saw many Americans and British who came to Ålesund on a cruise trip.
Ooooor, as it is in the summer, you could camp near Ålesund like we did! If you are traveling to Ålesund and have the means to do it, I highly recommend you travel around Ålesund, too. There were so many beautiful beaches here.
We stayed at Ørsta camping, and it had a beautiful beach right in front of it. We had 2 nights and 3 days here.
This was Vekslet Beach, right in front of Ørsta Camping.
Best “Coolcation” in Europe to Visit in Summer | Ålesund, Norway
There are many attractions in Ålesund, and I didn’t have enough time to visit all of them. I went to two attractions (Aksla viewpoint and Atlantic Sea-Park) and went around the city center, and that was enough to do in one day.
Top Attractions in Ålesund, Norway
- Aksla Viewpoint: You can see the whole Ålesund from up there
- Atlantic Sea-Park: An aquarium perfect for a family, looking into Norwegian marine life
- Art Nouveau Centre (Jugendstilsenteret): Explore Ålesund’s signature architecture, a rare style that feels exotic from other European classical cities
- Geirangerfjord Day Trip: Geiranger is a village with a UNESCO-listed fjord. You can stop by here if you are driving or take a train to Ålesund from Oslo.
- Sunnmøre Museum: An open-air museum offering historic homes with events
- Tueneset Coastal Battery: A historical landmark from the Second World War with cannons, tunnels, minefields, and more
- Ålesund Fisheries Museum: A museum exploring the history of fishing and fish processing
We just went to a beach nearby and ordered takeout pizza. It was one of the best meals in Ålesund. So if you are in Ålesund, just get some takeout pizza or hot dogs and enjoy it under the sun!
I only had time to visit the Aksla viewpoint, Atlantic Sea-Park, and the city centers in one day. I hope all of you get to explore it more than I do! I really want to visit here again in different seasons and do other activities. But here are some pictures of Ålesund!
1. Atlantic Sea-Park
When my husband asked me what I wanted to do in Ålesund as we arrived, I said, “The Atlantic Sea-Park!” I was so excited, like a child.
There were so many exotic creatures at the park, and one of my favorites was this blue fish. They had a big mouth and a jaw, and they just stayed on the ground! It’s because the fish live in the strong currents and stay between the rocks to hold on. They are so funny.
You can take a look at the fish, seaweed, and other sea creatures from above. We could see many flatfish that were the same color as the sand or rock!
What’s more, there is a room where you can touch the sea creatures like anemones and starfish!
I loved this huge room with a wide window to the water! Many people just sat on the stairs or lay on the floor to enjoy looking at the fish for a long time.
Here’s my husband looking at a huge fish! Do you see how big they are? And the seaweeds around the tank? I think the seaweeds are the type of seaweed we eat, called wakame.
There’s more! There’s an outdoor part of the aquarium. Look at these penguins!
The penguin looks so chill, just swimming in the cold water… I feel refreshed just looking at the penguins swimming.
Next, we went up to the Aksla viewpoint, where you can see the entire overview of Ålesund!
2. Aksla Viewpoint
You can start from Aksla to go up to Aksla Viewpoint. It is about a 25-minute walk, so it shouldn’t be a very difficult hike up there, especially not in this wonderful sunny weather!
Just within five minutes, you could already see the park from where you were.
Before you know it, you’ll be able to see the top of the buildings and the fjord.
Then there is a huge cruise ship.
There were many tourists from all over the world climbing the stairs to the Aksla Viewpoint.
We are almost there! When you are close to the top, you will see this part called “byrampen” where you can take a picture of the whole of Ålesund. There is my husband standing there smiling.
On top of the Aksla viewpoint, there is a cafe called Fjellstua. Meaning “the mountain lodge” in Norwegian, this cafe advertises itself as “Ålesund’s most spectacular sight,” and it is not an exaggeration. It is open from noon and closes at 5 PM, so make sure you go there within the short window of time. We had a donut and svele, a Norwegian pancake with butter and sugar.
Summer Activities in Ålesund
Kayaking and Boating: There are fjord kayaking or boat tours to explore the dramatic coastline of Ålesund.
Midnight Sun Magic: In the summer, Ålesund never sleeps! The summer daylight is extended until past midnight. It could feel surreal for non-Nordic travelers.
Hiking in Nature: There is Mount Aksla or nearby islands for cool, scenic hikes you could enjoy in the summer.
Walk around City Center: There are ocean views from the Ålesund city center, and it feels so amazing to walk around and enjoy that in the summer!
Practical Tips for Visiting Ålesund
Visit Ålesund in the Summer
I am not the best person to ask the best time to visit Ålesund because I’ve been here only once in the summer. But I have traveled many places around the world in the summer, and I can tell you Ålesund might be one of the best places to visit.
Visit Norwegian Grocery Stores
Norway is not only beautiful in the summer, but it also provides prolific fruits and vegetables. Of all the fruits and vegetables, I highly recommend you try the strawberries here. The Norwegian strawberries are amazing, but especially the ones from up north, like Ålesund, are so red and have strong flavors and scents. It is so red to the core. Try visiting Norwegian grocery stores to pick up some strawberries and plums.
Visit Other Places Nearby
While you are in Ålesund, I recommend you visit other places like Geiranger or Stryn, where I had my PB&J and strawberry brunch. The waters were turquoise-colored and glistening under the sun. It was the best view to have a brunch with!
Why Ålesund Stands Out as the Best European “Coolcation”
So to summarize, Ålesund is a perfect coolcation destination to have in Europe, with Art Nouveau architecture, a fjord view, and other unique places to visit, such as Geiranger or Stryn nearby. No matter how you choose to come to Ålesund – taking a scenic train-bus journey, a luxury cruise trip, a quick airplane trip, or by car – ways to enjoy this wonderful city are endless. I surely will visit here again in other seasons!
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