Best Hotels in Ålesund, Norway (+ Sunnmøre & Geiranger)
The best places to stay in Norway's Art Nouveau harbor town, and in its spectacular surrounding mountains and fjords.
The green building is hotel Brosundet — nice view!
We've watched the sunset from Mount Aksla, hiked on Runde bird island, tried the floating sauna Svai when the sea was 4 degrees, and almost stayed forever deep in the Summøre Alps & fjords. Ålesund, Norway, definitely rewards that kind of wandering, and where you stay changes the trip. A harborside room in the Art Nouveau center is a different experience than a night an hour inland with a fjord out the window! Here's our selection of hotels in Ålesund, and in the surrounding Sunnmøre Alps and fjords.
🛌 Where to stay:
• Hotel Brosundet — A favorite if you want to stay in the heart of Ålesund.
• Hotel Union Øye — Travel a little further into the fjords to stay at one of our favorite hotels in Norway (with ghosts...)
🇳🇴 Top experiences:
• Geiranger Fjord cruise — Explore a UNESCO World Heritage site.
• Ålesund food tour — Taste the best of Norwegian cuisine.
🚗 The islands and fjords around Ålesund need a car. Book yours here.
Jump to: Hotels in Ålesund · Further out: Storfjorden & the Sunnmøre Alps · Tips for booking · FAQ
Best hotels in Ålesund: quick answer
In town, we'd pick Hotel Brosundet, a converted Art Nouveau warehouse right on the strait, or Hotel 1904, the town's oldest hotel and its best reviewed. If you have a car and a spare day (or two, or three), Hotel Union Øye on Norangsfjorden is worth the drive out and is our absolute favorite.
Prefer an apartment, a cabin, or a guesthouse instead of a hotel room? Browse apartments, cabins, and guesthouses in Ålesund, handy if you want a kitchen (you’ll save a lot on restaurants!), more space, or something smaller and more budget-friendly.
Hotels in Ålesund
The Quality Hotel Watefront is next to the iconic Oluf Holm fishing warehouse and our favorite spot in town: Svai sauna
Staying in town puts you walking distance from the Art Nouveau architecture, the harbor, and most of what's in our Things to See in Ålesund guide. No rental car needed for a short stay.
Hotel Brosundet
Our own pick near the harbor. A converted Art Nouveau-style warehouse right on the strait, with a bar downstairs and sea views from the rooms that face the water. Central enough to walk to Mount Aksla or the harbor in minutes.
Hotel 1904
Ålesund's oldest hotel, and on paper its best reviewed. It sits right in the Art Nouveau center the town is known for, so the building itself is part of the reason to stay here, not just a place to sleep between sightseeing.
Thon Hotel Ålesund
The dependable modern option, free bikes if you want to cover more ground than walking allows, a gym, and a terrace. Not the most memorable stay on this list, but a solid choice if Brosundet and 1904 are booked out.
Quality Hotel Waterfront
A short walk from the bus station, with rooms looking out over the bay and the mountains behind town. Good if you've arrived without a car and want to be close to where the buses and airport shuttle stop (and to our beloved Svai floating sauna).
Quality Hotel Ålesund
Not to be confused with the Waterfront property above, this one sits on Skansekaia harbor, a few minutes further into town, looking out over the water from the other side of the strait. Some listings still turn up under its old name, Radisson Blu Ålesund, if you're searching around. The building looks super cool in our opinion!
This view for 35€/night in low season!
Scandic Parken
Set beside Byparken, Ålesund's town park, with the chain's usual reliable breakfast spread (it’s one of our saving tips for the Nordics: all-you-can-eat breakfast is always fantastic value). A good middle-ground pick if you want a big, familiar hotel brand without paying harbor-view prices.
🐧 Penguin tip: Traveling off season is always more affordable — read our best tips to travel cheaper — and we found an apartment for 35€/night with a fjord and mountain view!
It was in Sula — a 20-minute drive from Ålesund or a little longer by bus — a great base to explore the city, the fjords and the mountains!
Zoom in and out on the map below to find your perfect hotel or holiday rental in Ålesund and around:
Further out: Storfjorden & the Sunnmøre Alps
Our room at Hotel Union Øye was on the other side, so we had an amazing view over the mountains and the fjord. This is from the back with the pretty veranda where dinner is served.
We've covered this whole stretch, Geiranger, Hjørundfjorden, Norangsfjorden, Storfjorden, and the Stranda gondola, in our Sunnmøre Alps & Fjords guide, snowstorm and all. Norangsfjorden is our personal favorite of the fjords out here, and if you'd rather hike than drive, our Hiking Around Ålesund guide covers the trails that start from this same stretch. Two hotels make the detour worth planning around.
Hotel Union Øye (we stayed there)
We’ll start by saying that this is one of the most amazing hotels we ever stayed at, and it was a fantastic recommendation from Visit Ålesund & Sunnmøre tourist office. A 19th-century hotel on Norangsfjorden. No televisions, organic dinners & breakfast made with local produce, evening storytelling by the fire, period furnishings next to modern bathrooms. I (Eli) am a bit obsessed with hotels with a soul (Jake is telling me to remove “a bit"), and I just loved the vintage charm, the location, the scrumptious local food, the ambiance (and the friendly ghosts!). It's the one hotel on this list we'd send people out of their way for.
Storfjord Hotel
A modern, design-forward hotel on Storfjorden itself, the same fjord best seen from the Stranda gondola (that is, when the weather cooperates…). A bit more contemporary alternative to Union Øye's old-world charm if that's more your style, still well outside the city so book it with a car and a couple of days in mind. Equally amazing.
Hotels in Geiranger
Looking at Geiranger in summer — I prefer the winter version, without the cruise boats!
Geiranger is its own trip more than a side note to Ålesund, but most people combine the two for logistics. Many visitors booking a hotel there are actually planning around the fjord itself rather than the town, and our Sunnmøre Alps & Fjords guide covers why it's a UNESCO World Heritage Site worth the trip. I stayed there many years ago and I camped by the water, but here are four hotels I know from reputation.
Hotel Union Geiranger
The big, well known name in Geiranger. A large historic property above the fjord with its own spa. If you only know one hotel name in this town, it's probably this one.
Havila Hotel Geiranger
Right down by the water near the Hurtigruten terminal, useful if you're arriving or leaving by ferry and don't want to haul luggage far.
Hotel Utsikten
The name means the view in Norwegian, and it's set higher up with exactly that in mind, a good pick if a fjord view matters more to you than being right in the village center.
Grande Fjord Hotel
A newer, more modern option down in the village itself, walkable to the harbor and the waterfall viewpoints without needing a car.
Tips for booking a hotel in Ålesund
Listening to ghost stories at Hotel Union Øye
Ålesund is a popular cruise port, and the harborfront hotels fill up fast on days a ship's in town. Book early if you're traveling in summer. If you don't have a car, stick to the in-town picks above, since both Union Øye and Storfjord Hotel need a drive to reach. And if you're combining Ålesund with the rest of Norway, our Norway travel guides are a good next stop for planning the rest of the trip.
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FAQ: Best hotels in Ålesund, Geiranger and Sunnmøre
What are the best things to do in Ålesund?
Ålesund is all about combining coastal charm with dramatic fjord landscapes. Climb the 418 steps to Mount Aksla for panoramic views, wander the Art Nouveau streets in the town center, and explore nearby islands like Godøya and Giske. Fjord trips to Geirangerfjord or Hjørundfjord are a highlight, as well as sea safaris and kayaking. Back in town, enjoy fresh seafood by the harbor and take time to slow down — Ålesund is as much about atmosphere as it is about sights.
When is the best time to visit Ålesund?
Summer (June to August) is peak season for fjord cruises, kayaking, and those golden Nordic evenings that last forever. Spring and autumn are quieter but still gorgeous — more locals, fewer crowds, same jaw-dropping views.
What is Ålesund best known for?
Its Art Nouveau architecture, the surrounding fjords, and views from Mount Aksla. It’s also one of Norway’s prettiest coastal towns, rebuilt in elegant style after a huge fire in 1904.
Can you see the Northern Lights in Ålesund?
Sometimes! You’re a bit south for frequent aurora displays, but during strong solar storms (mainly from November to March) you can get lucky. For better odds, drive a few hours north toward Kristiansund or Trondheim. Check our Northern Lights Hub to know more.
Is Ålesund worth visiting in winter?
Absolutely. It’s calm, photogenic, and still full of life — think cozy cafés, sea air, and dramatic weather. Some fjord tours still run, and snow-dusted rooftops look straight out of a storybook.
How long should I stay?
Two or three days is ideal. One to explore the town, one for the fjords (Geiranger or Hjørund), and one to hike or take a sea safari. That being said, we encourage slow travel if you can.
What’s the best way to get around?
The town center is walkable. For fjords and hikes, rent a car — the drive to Geirangerfjord alone will make you stop every five minutes for photos.
Where should I stay in Ålesund?
Stay near the harbor for those sunrise reflections. Hotel Brosundet is a favorite, or try a rorbu-style cabin just outside town for that fisherman-vibe morning coffee.
Is Ålesund expensive?
It’s Norway, so yes — but it’s not as pricey as Oslo or Bergen. Local seafood and bakeries are worth every krone, and you’ll find mid-range hotels with fjord views that feel priceless.
Any hidden gems?
Walk the small island streets of Aspøya, visit the Aquarium (Atlanterhavsparken), and take a sunset walk along the pier at Molja Lighthouse. That’s where the locals go when the light hits just right.
Ålesund is worth staying more than one night to explore its underrated surroundings, and where you book shapes which version of the trip you get. Book a hotel in the center for the architecture and the harbor, or drive out to Norangsfjorden, Geiranger or Storfjorden for a night that feels like a different country. We'd recommend doing both if the schedule allows it!
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