Sykkylven to RIB Alesund: Finding the Meeting Point

• Top choice RIB Alesund to Hjorundfjord from US$157 Duration105 minutes^[3]Rating4.88 from 150 reviews^[3]GuideLive tour guide: English^[3]StopsHjørundfjorden^[3] Check availability
• Hjørundfjord round trip from US$115 Duration5 hours^[4]Rating4.58 from 282 reviews^[4]GuideLive tour guide: English^[4]StopsHjørundfjorden, Trandal, Saebo, Urke^[4] See this tour
• Geirangerfjord RIB from US$104 Duration1 hour^[5]Rating4.94 from 238 reviews^[5]GuideLive tour guide: English^[5]StopsSeven Sisters Waterfall, Geirangerfjord^[5] See this tour

Where the RIB Ålesund fjordsafari meets

The RIB Ålesund trip leaves from Keiser Wilhelms gate, on the waterfront in the middle of Ålesund. The address sits among the town's art nouveau buildings, a couple of minutes from the inner harbour, and it is easy to find on foot. If you arrive by cruise ship you are already in the right part of town: the quays run along the same stretch of water, with the meeting point just inland. Look for the black RIB and the crew in yellow vests. Give yourself a little extra time on your first visit, because the streets here curve around the harbour and the building numbers are not always obvious from the water.

From the quay the boat heads for the Hjørundfjord, which stretches for 35km beneath the Sunnmøre Alps.^[6] Slogen, a 1,564-meter mountain in those alps, has a pyramid shape that plunges into Norangsfjord, an arm of the Hjørundfjord.^[7] Harbour porpoises are the fjord's most common cetaceans and appear singly or in small groups as they hunt fish near the surface.^[8] The tour lasts 105 minutes and stops at Hjørundfjorden.^[3] Keep your camera in a pocket you can reach with cold hands, and look back at the town as the boat turns out of the harbour, because the view of Ålesund from the water is part of the day.

Getting to Ålesund from Sykkylven

If you are coming from Sykkylven, you can either drive round with a ferry or travel by boat. There are ferry crossings between Ytre Standal, Trandal, Sæbø, Skår and Leknes.^[1] In summer an express boat service runs from Ålesund to Øye and stops at Trandal, Sæbø and Urke.^[1] Schedules change with the season, so check the day's departures the evening before rather than trusting memory. Queue early on the busiest weekends, and have your ticket ready before the line starts moving.

Drivers should allow for a wait at the ferry ramp in high season and plan to park once they reach Ålesund rather than circling the harbour. Foot passengers have the easier day: the express boat and the local ferries put you down close to the town centre, and from there the meeting point at Keiser Wilhelms gate is a short walk. Whichever way you come, treat the crossing as part of the trip. The mountains you see from the water are the same ones you will see later from the RIB, and the light on them shifts hour by hour. A seat on the boat deck, a thermos and a little patience with the timetable will do more for your day than any amount of hurrying.

The RIB waits at the Ålesund waterfront, ready for the run out to the Hjørundfjord.

Walking from the cruise ship pier

Cruise ships berth along the Ålesund waterfront, and passengers walk off straight into the town centre. From the pier to Keiser Wilhelms gate is a short, flat walk along the harbour, past the fishing boats and the art nouveau facades. Follow the water, then cut inland one block, where the street runs parallel to the quay. The route is level the whole way, which matters if you are pushing a stroller or a wheelchair, and a taxi is rarely needed. Allow a few minutes more if your ship ties up at the far end of the quay, and use the marked crossings rather than stepping out between parked cars.

Ålesund has an oceanic climate, with cold, rainy winters and cool summers.^[9] Rain can arrive with little warning at any time of year, so carry a light waterproof layer and wear shoes that cope with wet cobbles. Leave a buffer if several ships are in port: the pavements near the cruise quays fill quickly, and the crew will want you changed and ready before departure rather than jogging down the street. If you have time in hand, walk a little further along the waterfront first, because the harbour is the best place to get your bearings in a town built around boats.

Parking and driving to the meeting point

If you drive into Ålesund, aim for the centre and use a signed car park rather than hunting for a space on the street. The harbour area has paid parking within a few minutes of the meeting point, including garages that keep the rain off the car while you are out on the fjord. Note the bay number before you walk away, and pay by card or app. Norwegian parking machines and apps are usually quick, but the instructions assume you know the local system, so read the sign twice before you leave the car.

A useful habit for families and small groups is to drop everyone at Keiser Wilhelms gate first, then park while the others collect tickets and change. The streets around the harbour are narrow and one-way in places, so let the driver concentrate on the route while the passengers watch for the address. Doors on Norwegian cars open into traffic more often than you expect, so check the mirror before stepping out. If you are staying overnight, ask your hotel about its own parking before you drive into the centre, since hotel spaces are often calmer and easier than a public garage on a wet day.

Buses, ferries and airport transfers

Ålesund's hop-on hop-off bus is an easy way to move between the centre, the aquarium and the Aksla viewpoint before or after your RIB trip. It costs from US$41, is rated 4.10 from 518 reviews, is valid for 1 day from first activation and is wheelchair accessible, with an audio guide in Spanish, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Dutch and Chinese.^[2]

Travellers flying in can book a private transfer between Ålesund Airport and the town from US$134, which takes 30 minutes.^[10] Local buses link the centre with the surrounding districts, and the express boat pier sits within walking distance of Keiser Wilhelms gate. Taxis wait near the cruise quays and outside the bus station, and a short ride across town is a reasonable choice in heavy rain. Buy boat tickets as you go and check the last departure of the day before you set off. It is also worth remembering that once you are in the centre, most of what you want is a short walk away.

Flotation suits, toilets and luggage

You change into a flotation suit before you go out on the water, and the change happens at the meeting point while the group assembles. Wear thin, warm layers underneath: a wool base layer, a fleece and a buff work better than a bulky jacket, which bunches under the suit. Gloves and a hat are worth packing even in midsummer, and sunglasses help once the boat picks up speed. Cotton jeans and heavy boots are the two things people regret most, because both hold water and take a long time to dry.

Leave large luggage at your hotel or in your cabin and bring only a small bag. Ask the crew where bags can sit while you are on the water; the base usually has a dry corner, and the boat itself has little room. Toilets are easiest to use before you suit up, so plan a stop at a café or the harbour facilities on your way to Keiser Wilhelms gate. There are cafés within a few minutes of the meeting point if you arrive early, and a hot drink afterwards is a pleasant way to warm up while the harbour settles down again.

If your ship docks late or you miss the slot

Your booking can be cancelled free of charge up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later, so an early booking costs you nothing if plans move.^[3] If your ship is running late, call or message the operator as soon as you know. Crews work around cruise schedules all summer and will tell you honestly whether they can hold your slot. Do this from the ship's wifi rather than waiting until you are ashore, because the minutes before docking are exactly when the queue at the gangway is longest.

If the departure does slip out of reach, Ålesund is a good fallback. A fjord cruise roundtrip from Ålesund costs from US$115 and takes 5 hours.^[4] A walk through the art nouveau streets, a coffee on the harbour and the view from Aksla will fill the time until your ship sails. The town is small enough to see on foot, and the waterfront is where most of the life is. Keep your booking confirmation to hand either way, so you can rebook for another day or claim your refund without hunting through email on a slow connection.

Reach the meeting point

1. Book your seat

   Reserve now and pay later, with free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.^[3]

2. Fix your route

   From Sykkylven, choose the ferry crossing or the summer express boat and check the day's times.^[1]

3. Plan your arrival

   Aim to be at Keiser Wilhelms gate well before departure so you can change without rushing.

4. Park or walk in

   Drivers should park in the centre; cruise passengers can walk from the quay along the waterfront.

5. Suit up and listen

   Thin layers under the flotation suit, gloves in your pocket, and full attention to the safety briefing.

Quick answers