Alesund – A Complete Guide to the Best Sights

This guided tour from Ålesund, led by an English-speaking driver-guide, showcases three iconic coastal landmarks on Giske Island and nearby, blending medieval history, maritime heritage, and panoramic vistas in a scenic drive accessible by modern bridges and tunnels. **Giske Church** Norway's only white marble church, built around 1130 in Romanesque style as a private chapel for the noble Giske family, features a long rectangular nave seating 125, with origins of its transported marble unknown. Interior highlights include 18th-century wooden carvings by Jakob Sørensøn Giskegaard and unique "kissing crosses," restored after Reformation-era neglect. Open for summer tours, its simple facade and chalk-covered walls evoke 12th-century Norman architecture amid serene island surroundings. **Alnes Lighthouse** Perched on Godøy Island's rugged northwest coast near Ålesund, this historic 1876 stone lighthouse stands 26 meters tall, guiding ships through treacherous waters with its powerful beam visible for 20 nautical miles. Surrounded by dramatic cliffs and North Sea waves, it offers a museum on maritime history, keeper's quarters, and stunning ocean views, popular for photography and birdwatching. The site captures Norway's seafaring legacy, with nearby red cabins adding quaint charm. **Aksla Viewpoint** Elevated 418 meters above Ålesund at the Brosundet harbor's edge, Aksla provides breathtaking 360-degree panoramas of fjords, islands, Art Nouveau architecture, and distant mountains, accessible by a short, winding road. Named Norway's most beautiful viewpoint, it features the Fjellstua restaurant for refreshments amid wildflowers and heather, ideal for sunset photos. Reached via 418 steps (the Trappene) or car, it encapsulates Sunnmøre's coastal majesty.