Ålesund – Sightseeing and Viking saga islands
Discover the scenery and history of the ‘Viking saga islands’ of Giske and Godøy.
The municipality of Giske consists of 4 islands: Giske, Godøy, Vigra and Valderøy, which were the center of power during the Viking Age and the Middle Ages and also the seat of earls, local kings and Viking chieftains. Our journey will take you through a series of tunnels and bridges to the two main islands of Giske and Godøy.
From Ålesund, we’ll travel across the Giske bridge to the saga island of Giske, the birthplace of the Viking chieftain, Rollo. The municipality was named after this small island because of its historical importance.
Giske is fairly flat and fertile with some settlements dating back to the early Bronze Age. A stop will be made to photograph the exterior of the quaint 12th century white marble Giske Church, which was originally the private chapel of a local influential family.
Travelling through a tunnel will bring us to the island of Godøy and the picturesque fishing village of Alnes. There will be a stop at Alnes Lighthouse for a visit where, on a clear day, there is a lovely view of the Atlantic Ocean and the surrounding islands.
After our visit to Alnes, we return to Ålesund and ascend the local mountain, Aksla. The bus will take us as far as the stadium, where we’ll continue our journey on foot. A scenic 900-meter walk on a gentle path with no gradient will lead us to the viewpoint, offering spectacular panoramic views of Ålesund and its stunning surroundings. From the viewpoint, we will descend 418 steps back to the town, where it's just a short walk to the harbor.
Please Note: For those who prefer not to walk to the viewpoint or down the steps, the bus will return directly to the harbor.
- Guided tour
- Entrance Alnes Lighthouse
- Aksla Mountain (Bus stops at the stadium, foot walk 900m to the viewpoint)
- Bus Transport
- "back in time guarantee" for cruise ship passangers