Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
12½ hours, twice daily), Trondheim (Nkr535, 7½ hours, one to three daily) via Molde
(Nkr146, 2¼ hours), and Stryn (Nkr250, 3¾ hours, one to four daily).
Getting Around
Ålesund's airport is on Vigra island, connected to the town by an undersea tunnel.
Fly-
bussen (Nkr100, 20 minutes)
airport buses depart from Skateflukaia and the bus station
approximately one hour before the departure of domestic flights.
Sykkel Spesialisten
Offline map
( 70 12 28 20; Notenesgata 3)
rentsbicycles(Nkr140
per day). For a taxi, call 70 10 30 00.
Around Ålesund
OFFSHORE ISLANDS
Withwheels,youcantakeinthefouroffshoreislandsofValderøy,Vigra,GiskeandGodøy
in a pleasant day trip from Ålesund. All offer excellent short hill or coastal walks.
GODØY
At the furthest, northern extremity of the furthest island, Godøy, is the picturesque 1876
lighthouse (adult/child Nkr20/10; noon-6pm Jun-Aug)
in the fishing station of
Al-
nes
. For that end-of-the-world feeling, climb to the circular balcony via the five floors of
thisall-woodstructure. Eachdisplaysthecanvases ofNorwegianartist andGodøyresident
ØrnulfOpdahl.Don'tleavewithoutsamplingoneofthedelightfulcakes,bakedonthespot
by Eva, the lighthouse custodian.
GISKE
Giske was the home of Gange-Rolv (known as Rollon in France; he's also claimed by
Vigra), the Viking warrior who besieged Paris. He subsequently founded the Duchy of
Normandy in 911 and was an ancestor of England's William the Conqueror. Highlight
of the island is its ornate 12th-century
church (adult/child incl guided tour Nkr20/
10; 10am-5pm Mon-Sat, 1-7pm Sun mid-Jun-mid-Aug)
. Built largely of marble,
its real jewels are the elaborately carved polychrome altarpiece and pulpit. The island's
Makkevika marshes areaprime spotforbirdwatching. Nowadays,it'srenownedforitsan-
nual
free music festival
(
www.verdensbestefestival.no
)
, with music of all genres, on the
last Saturday in July.
