Alnes Lighthouse

Discover two of the islands that lie in the sea near Ålesund, driving over soaring bridges and through subsea tunnels as we take in their picturesque beauty and hear about their Viking-linked past. 

Our first stop is the island of Giske, birthplace of the Viking chieftain Rollo. In 911 CE, Rollo invaded what came to be called Normandy, and was the great-great-great grandfather of the famed William the Conqueror. We’ll visit the 12th century Giske Church, constructed from white marble for one of Norway’s most powerful families – it’s in a peaceful village location, and we’ll get to see it from the outside, including the graveyard.  

We’ll then drive beneath the sea to the island of Godøy, and the pretty fishing village of Alnes. Here, we stop and investigate the charming red and white lighthouse, which was built in 1876 and is a cherished relic of Norwegian culture. Inside the lighthouse, it is something of a museum and you feel as if you are stepping back in time. If the weather allows us to, don’t miss the opportunity to climb the stairs inside and get a fantastic sea view from the top. Pause here for refreshments and cake in the café and take a wander on the nearby beach. 

After this, our tour brings us back to Ålesund where we’ll take a look at some of its many charms. This compact and pretty town is famed for its Art Nouveau architecture, and your guide will point out some of its lesser-known points of interest by bus and – for those who want to – on foot. After this we return to the ship.