Mount Aksla

Aksla is the hill immediately behind Alesund, and the 418 steps that climb it from the town park are the standard way up, taking fifteen to twenty-five minutes. From the Fjellstua viewpoint at the top the whole of Alesund is laid out below on its islands and channels, with the Sunnmore Alps to the south and the sea and skerries to the west. The town's uniform appearance comes from a fire in January 1904 that destroyed almost all of it in a night and left ten thousand people homeless in winter; it was rebuilt within a few years in Jugendstil, art nouveau, which is why the roofs and turrets seen from here belong to a single moment. A road and a tourist train also reach the top.

What to look for

• The Jugendstil town - Alesund's uniform art nouveau roofscape from above.
• The island layout - the town spread across islands and channels.
• The Sunnmore Alps - the alpine peaks on the southern horizon.
• The 418 steps - the stone stairway from the town park.

When to go

May to September for the clearest weather and longest light; sunset from the top is the classic time. The steps are used year-round but ice makes them dangerous in winter, when the road is the safer option.

Before you go

The climb is steady but relentless, and there is no shade. The viewpoint gets crowded when cruise ships call. Cloud and rain are frequent on this coast and can remove the view entirely.

Nearby

Alesund's art nouveau centre is below; the Atlantic Sea Park and Godoy island lie west.