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 12^th 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 returning to Ålesund, a stop will be made at the view point on Mount Aksla to enjoy the breathtaking view.