PORTS OF CALL - Europe
Alesund, Norway
Alesund is a small fishing center in the middle of Norway's popular tourist region between Bergen and Trondheim. Although its history dates back to the Viking period, you'll notice that the architecture throughout the city has an interesting art nouveau style. This is because after a massive fire in 1904, the entire city was rebuilt. While it may have lost its historic look, you'll find it certainly didn't lose any of its charm.
Don't Miss
To see the history of Alesund and its people from the Stone Age to the 1900s, visit the Sunnmore Museum. It's an open-air museum with 50 original buildings from the late middle ages. It also has one of Norway's largest collections of replica fishing boats from 400 A.D.
Fun Things to Do
- See what life was like in Alesund before and after the big fire of 1904 at the Alesund Museum. Local fishing methods, shipbuilding and the German occupation from 1940 to 1945 are just some of the topics covered by the museum's exhibits.
- Explore one of largest aquariums in Europe, Atlanterhavsparken. It's more of a park than a traditional aquarium - in addition to fantastic marine life, there are outdoor hiking trails and diving venues.
Sporting Adventures
With lakes, fjords and mountains, Alesund offers all kinds of outdoor adventure for just about anyone. But to get them all in one place, head to the Vasset Outdoor and Sports Park where you can hike, fish and go horseback riding.
Local Flavours
For a real taste of the Viking life, you may want to try the local specialty smalahove, which is boiled sheep's head. If you're not feeling quite that adventurous, you'll find fantastic seafood on many menus. Spring and summer is salmon season, but the most popular type of fish is probably herring, which is served in a variety of ways. Meat dishes, including reindeer or elk, are also easy to find, as well as fresh vegetables and delicious desserts.
Currency
The unit of currency of Norway is the Krone (NOK). Major credit cards are also widely accepted and often offer a good exchange rate.