Alesund

Alesund is a port town in Norway located in the Mare al Romsgad region, and is the perfect place to explore some of Norway's most famous natural and cultural attractions.

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Beautiful Art Nouveau architecture and a stunning natural environment

Alesund is a port town in Norway located in the Mare al Romsgad region, and is the perfect place to explore some of Norway's most famous natural and cultural attractions.

The beautiful Art Nouveau architecture of Alesund is renowned far and wide; a myriad of turrets, spires and beautiful ornamentation lends the town a distinctive fairytale allure and makes it a wonderful vacation spot.

Ålesund is located in a stunning natural environment, surrounded by a small archipelago of islands that stretch out into the sea, and situated at the very entrance of the world famous Geirangerfjord, with the towering peaks of the Sunmore Alps circling the town. The town has a unique appeal to travelers and tourists, providing a wide range of sights and holiday activities.

MSC cruise ships call at this pretty port during our Northern European cruise itineraries, and you can spend a day off your luxury ship strolling through the town or taking part in one of our shore excursion packages. Some of these include a wonderful sight-seeing tour of the town; learn how it was founded in 1793 before being destroyed by a fire, which ushered in the new Art Nouveau style of architecture. You’ll enjoy the best deals on all sights along the way, which include an open air museum and viewpoint for taking photos.

Families with children and history buffs will be eager to take a trip to nearby islands, which were former Viking settlements, whilst many others will be delighted to simply stroll the town, on an informative walking tour.

Cruise to Alesund - Norway - Northen Europe - MSC Cruises

Directions

Ship docks close to the town centre.

Port average temperature

The temperate figures shown are based on monthly average weather conditions for the selected port. Weather data is not real-time, and sometimes no data is shown for a specific date, month or port in general.

ALESUD	Months
ALESUD	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Average high °C	3	3	5	7	11	13	15	15	12	10	6	4
Average low °C	1	1	1	2	7	9	11	11	8	6	3	1

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ASD01 - INTRODUCTION TO ART NOUVEAU IN ALESUND (approx. 3 hours) - 2013

This tour will take you to see Alesund, a town that was founded in 1793 and is now one of the most important seaports in Norway. The town was devastated by a fire in 1904 which destroyed the city centre. However, the town literally rose up like a Phoenix from the ashes and was beautifully rebuilt in art nouveau style. Today, Alesund is one of the world’s few art nouveau towns that have succeeded in retaining their architectural integrity. You will be taken on an enjoyable sightseeing tour of the city, visiting an open-air museum and a unique local boat collection. A stop at the Aksla vantage point will be made before you return to port and your ship. Please note: limited number of guides in languages other than English. Should a tour guide for your language be unavailable, the tour will be provided in English only.

Price per person $82.00 Adults $57.00 Children

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ASD02 - THE ISLANDS OF GISKE AND GODØY (approx. 3 hours) - 2013

The tour begins with a short sightseeing tour of Alesund, a town that is famed for its beautiful art nouveau buildings. The excursion then continues by taking you through an underwater tunnel to reach Giske Island, a place of importance during the Viking era. The whole island covers an area of just 2.67 square kilometres and was populated by no more than 717 residents in 2010. You will visit Giske Church, a 12th-century Roman marble church on the southern side of the island. Continue on to the island of Godøy and the charming fishing village of Alnes, whose pretty lighthouse safely guides sailors into its Atlantic shores. Your tour concludes with your return to the ship. Please note: limited number of guides in languages other than English. Should a tour guide for your language be unavailable, the tour will be provided in English only.

Price per person $82.00 Adults $57.00 Children

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ASD03 - ALESUND ON FOOT (approx. 2 hours) - 2013

Alesund is one of the few art nouveau towns left in the world that has succeeded in retaining its architectural integrity. Your guide will escort you on a two-hour walking tour through the winding streets of this beautifully preserved town. You can look forward to finding out about the town’s history, hearing about the devastating fire of 1904 and admiring the intricate architectural details of these heritage buildings. It is well worth taking your camera as there will be no shortage of suitable views to take snapshots of for your family album. Please note: limited number of guides in languages other than English. Should a tour guide for your language be unavailable, the tour will be provided in English only.

Price per person $55.00 Adults $39.00 Children

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ASD04 - AKSLA VIEWPOINT & ATLANTIC OCEAN PARK (approx. 3 hours) - 2013

A short coach transfer will first take you to the oceanfront Atlantic Ocean Park. Actually built out into the coastal waters and situated just 3 km west of the city, the Atlantic Ocean Park counts as one of Europe’s largest aquariums. Don’t miss your chance to get up close and personal with the wealth of North Atlantic marine life found in the aquariums and get a unique look into the depths of Stor Fjord, the ferry quay and the ocean with its many islets and skerries. Look forward to watching divers feeding fish by hand and to exploring the “snails, seashells and weird marine animals” section, a particular favourite among children. Your visit to the park will be followed by a relaxing sightseeing tour around Ålesund, one of the world’s few Art Nouveau towns that has retained its architectural integrity. Before heading back to the port and your ship, you will also be taken to Mount Aksla, where splendid views of the town and the islands await you. Please note: the number of guides in languages other than English is limited. Should a tour guide for your language be unavailable, the tour will be provided in English only.

Price per person $80.00 Adults $56.00 Children

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ASD05 - HIKING TO SUGARTOP MOUNTAIN (approx. 3 hours) - 2013

A short, 4-km coach drive through the beautiful Art Nouveau city of Ålesund will see you reach the island of Heissa, from where you will begin your 1-hour hike along a narrow nature-trail up Mount Sukkertoppen – or Sugartop Mountain. While your hike will begin at a mere 50 metres above sea level, you will then climb 250 metres up to 304 metres for splendid views of the city, the Borgund Fjord and, further inland, the Sunnmore Alps. Prepare to enjoy breathtaking landscape and spectacular views during your nature ramble. Please note: the number of guides in languages other than English is limited. Should a tour guide for your language be unavailable, the tour will be provided in English only. Participants must be physically fit as the tour involves hiking uphill on uneven ground. Comfortable hiking shoes and light clothing are recommended. This tour will operate in all weather conditions so participants should take appropriate rainwear, a backpack and bottled water.

Price per person $84.00 Adults $59.00 Children

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The excursions in the program above are intended to provide MSC Guests with an idea of the different tours that can be arranged in each port of call; this program is merely a guide and confirmation of each excursion and its description and prices will be made during your cruise. Full information can be found in the onboard Tour Magazine.