Ålesund Sightseeing and Viking Saga Islands — Giske, Godøy & Aksla Viewpoint Tour

Ålesund•easy

Difficulty

easy

Duration

3–3.5 hours

Fitness Level

Suitable for most people who can handle short walks and a staircase descent; minimal aerobic fitness required

Overview

Explore Ålesund’s coastline on a 3.5-hour tour that links Viking history on Giske with the fisherman’s lanes of Godøy and panoramic views from Aksla. Short walks, a lighthouse visit, and 418 steps down to the harbor make for a compact day of sea-swept scenery and local stories.

Ålesund Sightseeing and Viking Saga Islands — Giske, Godøy & Aksla Viewpoint Tour

Other

Bus Tour

Wildlife

Select participants and date

Date

Thu, Oct 30

Travelers

The morning air off the Norwegian Sea has a cool, metallic edge as the bus eases away from Ålesund's harbor, windows framing the city’s art nouveau roofs like a living map. Salt and spruce ride the breeze across the Giske Bridge, and the guide’s voice settles into the cadence of the coastline: this is where Viking-age stories begin, where Rollo's lineage took shape and islands keep their own pace.

Adventure Photos

Ålesund Sightseeing and Viking Saga Islands — Giske, Godøy & Aksla Viewpoint Tour photo 1

Adventure Tips

Take the bus return if needed

If you have joint issues or limited mobility, the bus will return you to the harbor from Aksla without the 900 m walk or the 418 steps—tell the guide at the start.

Waterproof your kit

Coastal weather can change fast; bring a lightweight waterproof jacket and protect cameras with a rain cover.

Comfortable, grippy shoes

The Aksla ascent is on a paved, gentle path but the descent includes 418 stone steps that can be slick when wet—shoes with good traction help.

Bring binoculars and a tele lens

Binoculars or a 70–200mm lens bring distant islands, seabirds, and the Sunnmøre Alps into sharp relief at the viewpoints.

Local Insights

Wildlife

Eider duck
Seabirds such as kittiwakes and cormorants

History

Giske was the seat of a powerful Viking family; Rollo, thought to be born there, later became the first ruler of Normandy, linking these islands to broader European history.

Conservation

The archipelago is managed for both fisheries and tourism; visitors are asked to respect marked paths, avoid disturbing bird colonies, and take all litter with them.