Thon Hotel Baronen

The Art Nouveau Centre

The Jugendarkitekturen is unmissable when you visit Ålesund. After the great fire of 1905, the town centre was rebuilt in the Jugend style and for this reason Ålesund is today a unique Jugend centre in the world. Visit the Jugendstil Centre, housed in one of the very first houses built in Jugendstil after the Great Fire. Discover the well-preserved Jugend rooms, furnished with furniture and design classics from the Jugend era. The entrance to the centre comes from the town's old Swan Pharmacy and is a classic example of Art Nouveau design. Step into a world dedicated to art and history from the time when Ålestund rose from the ashes.

There is also an art museum, Kube, which is worth a visit, and then there is a museum shop and of course the Apotekeren Kafé.

XL Diner

Try the local variant of 'Bacalao de Noruega' or Cod from Norway when traveling to Ålesund. A good tip would definitely be to book a table at XL Diner, or ask at the reception of the hotel where you are staying.

Ålesund and the festivals

Music lovers and those who love a good festival should definitely check out the many festival offers Ålesund has to offer. It pays to check the calendar and get an overview of the many events taking place in Ålesund before planning your holiday.

The city is also the region's cultural centre and hosts several festivals each year, including the Høstscena Ålesund theatre festival, the Norwegian Food Festival and the Jugendfest music festival.

Viewpoint Fjellstua

From the centre of Ålesund there are 418 concrete steps up to the town's ´fjell´ Aksla with the viewpoint Fjellstua. Halfway up, there is also a viewpoint called 'Byrampen', from where there is a beautiful view of the entire Art Nouveau town with Sunnmørsalpene and the fjord in the distance. The stairs are LED-lit, so the trip up or down can also be taken after dark. At the top of the 418 steps awaits the viewpoint Fjellstua, which is also the name of the popular restaurant. Book a table in advance and enjoy the incredible view of the beautiful coastline.

Atlantic Park

Just outside the centre of Ålesund is the saltwater aquarium Atlanterhavnsparken, which is a really popular destination for those interested in the sea and the nature that surrounds it. Experience the magnificent display of nature in the Atlantic Park, overlooking the sea, experience life along the Norwegian coast and the diverse life, underwater, in the Atlantic Ocean. Book a cheap hotel stay at Risskov and let your senses be captivated by the diversity of the Atlantic Ocean with a visit to the Atlantic Park.

The Sykkylven Furniture Museum

A large part of the Norwegian furniture industry is located in Sunnmøre. At the Sykkylven Furniture Museum, visitors can get acquainted with the relaxing Kjerne chair area of the Norwegian furniture industry, located on Sunnmøre. This is one of the major brands in Norway and has therefore naturally found its place in the interesting furniture museum.

Throughout history, many Sunnmøre inhabitants have been employed in the furniture industry and well-known brands such as Ekornes and Hjellegjerde also originate from here. Even today, furniture is the town's main export, with Norwegian design shipped out into the world from the town's harbour.

The Furniture Museum documents the Norwegian furniture industry and has an exhibition of 200 square metres.

Ålesund

Ålesund is a beautiful town with many attractions.

Ålesund Museum is located in the heart of Ålesund. Here you can learn more about the history of the town, from a small fishing village to the modern coastal town it is today. The Fishing Museum tells you more about the importance of fishing to Ålesund, from simple fishing methods to today's high-tech fishing.

The Art Nouveau Centre opened in 2003, and is located in the house that was the first Art Nouveau building in Ålesund to be listed (in 1983). Here you can see Ålesund's best preserved Art Nouveau interior. The entrance is the interior of an old pharmacy. An exhibition in the centre deals with the great town fire of 1904. There are also exhibitions devoted to Art Nouveau in Norway and Europe in general, and to Art Nouveau arts and crafts.

Atlanterhavsparken is Ålesund's aquarium and is located just outside Ålesund town centre. Here you can explore life along the Norwegian coast and the Atlantic Ocean. In autumn 2014, the Atlantic Park's new attraction Selbukta, Europe's largest marine mammal facility, opened.