Cidade Turismo
Norway
Geiranger and Ålesund

Møre e Romsdal · Norway

Geiranger and Ålesund

The Geirangerfjord, a World Heritage site, with the Sete Irmãs waterfalls and the viewpoints of Dalsnibba and Flydalsjuvet, and Ålesund, the coastal art nouveau town, with the Aksla viewpoint.

Fiordes do Oeste

In the photo: Geirangerfjord

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

Get it on Google Play Send your photos

Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

The Geirangerfjord is a narrow arm of the Storfjord, in the county of Møre e Romsdal, about 15 km long between rock walls, waterfalls and abandoned farms on the slopes. Together with the Nærøyfjord, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. At its head lies the village of Geiranger, small, with hotels, a quay and the roads that descend in hairpins from the mountains, and from where you can view the fjord from above at the Flydalsjuvet and Dalsnibba viewpoints.

The boat trip through the fjord passes the Sete Irmãs, seven waterfalls side by side, and the Pretendente, the waterfall opposite which, according to legend, tries to woo them. To the north, the Estrada da Águia descends in hairpins down to the fjord, and the Trollstigen, the road with 11 hairpin bends on a steep cliff, is about an hour and a half away via the fjord route. Mountain roads usually close in winter.

Ålesund is the gateway to the region on the coast, about three hours from Geiranger. The town was destroyed by a fire in 1904 and rebuilt in a few years in the art nouveau style, with towers, stone facades and ornamentation that make the centre a rare ensemble in Europe. From the Aksla viewpoint, at the top of the 418-step stairway, you can see the town spread over the islands, the sea and the Sunnmøre mountains.

In winter Geiranger is quiet and has limited access because of the mountain roads.

This destination brings together 2 cities: Ålesund, Geiranger.

Share: WhatsApp
Traveler, share your experiences through photos Up to 5 photos of each place you visited.

One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Geiranger and Ålesund is
ÅlesundGeiranger

Contornos: © Kartverket (CC BY 4.0), divisas de 2024; costa via geoBoundaries. Adaptação do Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Geiranger and Ålesund

✈ Ålesund lufthavn, Vigra (AES), in Vigra · 15 km to Ålesund

Check before booking. Ålesund Airport, in Vigra, is about 15 km from the centre. To Geiranger, it is about three hours from Ålesund by car or bus, with a ferry crossing, or by boat along the Storfjord in summer. The Hurtigruten links Ålesund with Bergen and points north.

Suggested arrival point: Ålesund

The local experience

Things to do in Geiranger and Ålesund

Fjellstua
Ålesund · Møre e Romsdal · Viewpoint

Fjellstua

The viewpoint at the top of Aksla hill, above Ålesund's center, reached by the 418-step staircase from the city park: views of the islands, the sea and the Sunnmøre mountains.

Geirangerfjorden
Geiranger · Møre e Romsdal · Fjord

Geirangerfjorden

The narrow arm of the Storfjord that ends at the village of Geiranger: 15 km between rock walls, waterfalls and farms hanging on the slopes. UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Dalsnibba
Geiranger · Møre e Romsdal · Viewpoint

Dalsnibba

The viewpoint at the top of Mount Dalsnibba, at 1,476 metres above Geiranger: the Geiranger Skywalk platform displays the fjord below, the lakes, the glaciers and the winding road.

Jugendstilsenteret
Ålesund · Møre e Romsdal · Museum

Jugendstilsenteret

Ålesund's Art Nouveau center, in a former 1907 pharmacy by the Brosundet canal, with original interiors, an exhibition about the 1904 fire and the reconstruction, and the KUBE art museum next door.

See 7 more places in Geiranger and Ålesund
Atlanterhavsparken
Ålesund · Møre e Romsdal · Aquarium

Atlanterhavsparken

Ålesund's saltwater aquarium, in a cove 3 km from the center, with fish and marine life of the Norwegian coast, a large Atlantic tank, penguins and seaside trails.

Flydalsjuvet
Geiranger · Møre e Romsdal · Viewpoint

Flydalsjuvet

The viewpoint on road 63, above the village of Geiranger, with the classic high view of the fjord and a prominent rock jutting over the valley.

De syv søstrene
Geiranger · Møre e Romsdal · Waterfall

De syv søstrene

The Seven Sisters: seven waterfalls side by side that drop about 250 meters on the north shore of the Geirangerfjord, opposite the Pretender waterfall and the farm Skageflå.

Sunnmøre Museum
Ålesund · Møre e Romsdal · Open-air museum

Sunnmøre Museum

Open-air museum east of Ålesund centre, with old houses and boats from the Sunnmøre coast, replicas of Viking-age ships and the ruins of the medieval trading town of Borgund.

Ørnesvingen
Geiranger · Møre e Romsdal · Viewpoint

Ørnesvingen

The lookout on the Estrada da Águia, at the final hairpin of the road that descends in 11 turns down to Geiranger, with views of the fjord, the village and the Seven Sisters in the distance.

Trollstigen
Geiranger · Møre e Romsdal · Scenic road and viewpoint

Trollstigen

A Escada dos Trolls: the road that climbs in 11 tight hairpins up a mountain wall between Åndalsnes and Valldal, with the Stigfossen waterfall and viewing platforms at the top.

Norsk Fjordsenter
Geiranger · Møre e Romsdal · Visitor centre and museum

Norsk Fjordsenter

The fjord centre in Geiranger, above the village, with an exhibition about the World Heritage landscape, life on the mountainside farms and avalanches, and the stairway beside the Storfossen waterfall.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

From June to August the mountain roads, such as Dalsnibba and Trollstigen, are usually open, boats run more frequently and the days are long. The road season typically runs from May or June to October; check before you go. The waterfalls usually have more water in May and June. In winter Geiranger has few services and short days; Ålesund operates year-round.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

Two days in Ålesund and one in Geiranger, with an overnight in the village, allow you to see the fjord without rushing. With a car, add a day for Trollstigen and the Estrada da Águia. If short on time, people do Geiranger as a day trip from Ålesund, but the journey takes up much of the day.

Which city to stay in

In Ålesund, the art nouveau centre around the Brosundet canal has hotels in historic buildings, close to the harbour and Aksla. In Geiranger, hotels and campsites are in the village and on the slopes, and fill up in summer. Hellesylt, at the other end of the fjord, and Valldal, on the way to Trollstigen, offer quieter guesthouses.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Geiranger and Ålesund

Can you do Geiranger as a day trip from Ålesund?

Yes, by car, bus or tour, but it's about three hours each way. An overnight in the village lets you visit the viewpoints early and see the fjord without the day-trip crowds.

Do I need a car?

A car is very helpful for reaching the viewpoints and Trollstigen. Without one, there are scheduled buses and tours in season, the fjord boats and the Hurtigruten in summer.

When do the mountain roads open?

Dalsnibba road and Trollstigen usually open between May and June and close in October, depending on snow. Check before you go.

Does the Hurtigruten pass by Geiranger?

In the summer season, the ship often diverts via the Geirangerfjord on its northbound route. Confirm dates before booking.

Why does Ålesund have art nouveau buildings?

The town was destroyed by a fire in 1904 and rebuilt between 1904 and 1907 in the period style of art nouveau, known as jugendstil in Norway.

Explore other destinations Search by state and city
Back