Alesund, Norway

Ålesund is a fjord city. It was destroyed by fire in 1904, and the new buildings were rebuilt in concrete instead of wood, featuring a uniform architectural design throughout the city. This is why the buildings in photos have a similar appearance. While visiting, I took many street shots capturing the intricate details of the houses and buildings.

The ship docked in town, just a short walk from Mount Aksla. I went straight to the 418-step staircase leading to the top and enjoyed the stunning views along the way. At the summit, the trails offer a breathtaking 360-degree view of Ålesund, its many fjords, and surrounding mountains. Hiking Mount Aksla is a must-do when visiting Ålesund.

At the port

City walk

On the Mount Aksla Trail

Leon and Olden, Norway

The ship stopped in the middle of the fjord, and from there, we took a tender to Loen. Upon arriving in Loen, I thought it would be a great idea to hike in the mountains after taking the lift to the top. So, I decided to go up via the Loen Skylift. Unfortunately, once I reached the top, I realized there was nothing to see or do—the heavy clouds completely covered everything! What a disappointment, especially since the lift was quite expensive at $56. With no hiking possible, I headed back down and walked around a bit.

Then, it started raining—on and off at first. When the rain let up, I took a shuttle bus to Olden. The ride was short but enjoyable, even in the rain. Luckily, by the time we arrived in Olden, the rain had stopped.

Olden was packed with visitors from several cruise ships—I heard there were four ships that day! Following the crowd, I found myself on a popular trail, and it turned out to be the most scenic trail I’ve ever taken. Everywhere I looked, it was like a postcard—perfect for Instagram-worthy photos.

I took my time, soaking in the breathtaking scenery and capturing plenty of photos along the way.

On the Sky Lift

On the top of the lift

Leon

Olden-Old Olden Church (Gamle Olden Kyrkje)

Olden-Olden Church (Olden kyrkje)