Ålesund is one of those places where the approach does half the selling. On a clear day the descent runs over islands, skerries and open sea before the wheels touch down on a runway that sits almost at the water’s edge.
The airport itself is compact and easy, but it is not in Ålesund. Knowing that one fact, and how the short trip into town works, takes most of the stress out of the first hour.
Where the airport actually is
Ålesund Airport, often called Vigra, sits on the island of Vigra in Giske Municipality, north-west of the town. Its codes are AES for airlines and ENAL for pilots, and Avinor runs it like most commercial airports in Norway.
The island is tied to the mainland side by road through undersea tunnels, so there is no ferry to worry about. You simply drive or ride through the rock and come up near Ålesund.
It has been the main airport for the Sunnmøre region since it opened in 1958, and it is one of the busier regional airports in the country. Even so, it never feels like a big hub. Walking from the kerb to the security line takes a couple of minutes.
Who flies to Ålesund
Most traffic is domestic. Oslo is the busiest link by a long way, with Bergen and Trondheim also served, and SAS, Norwegian and Widerøe share the domestic flying between them.
If you are not sure which carrier does what on these routes, SAS, Norwegian and Widerøe: who flies where gives the bigger picture. In short, the jets handle the trunk routes and Widerøe covers more of the shorter coastal hops.
There is also an international side. KLM’s link to Amsterdam has long been the route many travellers use to connect onward to the rest of the world, and other European routes appear on a seasonal basis.
Routes and timetables change from season to season, so treat any list as a starting point. Avinor publishes a direct routes overview for Ålesund, and the airline’s own timetable is the final word on any given day.
From Ålesund Airport to the city centre
This is the question almost every first-time visitor asks, and the answer is pleasantly simple. You have three realistic options: the airport bus, a taxi, or a rental car.
The airport bus
Vy Buss runs the airport bus between Vigra, Ålesund city centre and the Moa shopping area. It is timed to fit most of the larger departures and arrivals, so in practice you walk out of the arrivals hall and the bus is waiting or due shortly.
Avinor puts the travel time to the city centre at about 25 minutes. Timetables are in Entur’s journey planner, and Vy’s own app and website list the departures and ticket options.
Buying the ticket in advance in the app is usually the smoothest way to do it. It also saves fumbling with payment while a queue builds behind you.
If you are heading south towards Hareid and the Sunnmøre Alps, there is a separate airport bus run by Turvogna to the express boat quay at Valderøy. That ride takes around 10 minutes and connects with the boat to Hareid.
Taxis
Taxis wait at their own stand by the exit. Avinor estimates 15 to 20 minutes to the city centre, a little quicker than the bus because there are no stops.
Norwegian taxi fares are not cheap, but splitting one between three or four people with luggage can come surprisingly close to the bus fare. NorgesTaxi and Ålesund Taxi are the two companies Avinor lists for bookings.
Driving yourself
Car rental desks are at the airport, and a car makes sense if your trip runs on to the fjords rather than staying in town. Ålesund is a common starting point for drives towards Geiranger, Hjørundfjord and the Trollstigen area.
Those drives are longer than they look on a map. Roads are narrow, ferries are part of many routes, and some mountain roads close in winter, so plan with real travel times rather than straight-line distances.
Parking at Vigra
The airport has roughly 1,900 parking spaces across several areas. There are no tickets any more; cameras read your number plate on the way in and out, and you pay the rate for the area where you parked.
P4 is the short-term strip right in front of the terminal. P2, also right by the building, works for both short and long stays and has spaces reserved for disabled drivers.
P3 is a separate area next to P2 with 24 charging points for electric cars, which suits longer trips. P6 and P7 sit further from the terminal, with P7 being the cheapest option and meant for long-term parking.
Pre-booking is possible at P2, P5, P6 and P7 and is generally cheaper than turning up. Avinor notes that weekend and holiday prices at P2 can drop significantly when booked ahead.
If you are just dropping someone off or collecting them, there is a free 10-minute window. Stay longer and the normal parking fee kicks in automatically.
Inside the terminal
The terminal is split into a domestic side and an international side, each with its own departure area. That matters mostly for food and shopping, because what you find after security depends on which side your flight leaves from.
On the domestic side you will find Upper Crust for baguettes and coffee, and O’Learys for burgers and fuller meals. Travel Value sells perfume and cosmetics for domestic passengers too.
On the international side there is Aksla Bar for coffee, light bites and drinks, plus a tax-free shop. Before security and in the arrivals hall, a Point kiosk covers drinks, snacks and travel-size toiletries.
None of it is extensive, so a long wait here is a book-and-coffee kind of wait. If you are meeting someone off a late flight, it is worth eating in town first.
Timing your departure
Small airports tempt people to cut it fine. Ålesund is quick to move through on a normal day, but security can still back up when several morning flights leave close together.
For domestic flights, arriving about an hour before departure is a sensible default. For international departures, give yourself more room, especially if you need to drop bags or show documents at the desk.
The general rules for Norwegian airports apply here too, and How early to get to the airport in Norway goes through the detail for domestic and international trips.
Remember that the airport bus runs around the bigger flight times rather than every few minutes. Check the departure that matches your flight before you leave the hotel, and have a taxi number ready as a backup.
Weather and the west coast
Vigra faces the open sea, and the weather can change quickly in autumn and winter. Wind and low cloud are the usual troublemakers rather than snow alone.
Most days run normally, but it is worth keeping an eye on your flight in the hours before you travel. Live departures and arrivals for Ålesund can be followed on the flight board, along with the other Avinor airports.
If you have a tight connection in Oslo, build in some slack. A short delay leaving the coast can easily turn a comfortable transfer into a sprint.
Making the most of arriving in Ålesund
Once you are in town, the short distances work in your favour. The centre is famous for the Art Nouveau buildings put up after the great fire of 1904, and most of it is walkable from the bus stops.
Many visitors start by climbing the steps up Aksla to the Fjellstua viewpoint for the classic view over the town and islands. It is a good way to stretch your legs after a flight and get your bearings at the same time.
On the way home, leave enough time for the bus or taxi back out to Vigra. The trip is short, but the tunnels and island roads mean there is no faster alternative if you miss your planned ride.
