From cosy firesides to frosty fjords

Winter season is seafood season

Did you know that winter is peak season for fresh fish and shellfish? Local fishermen catch crayfish, lobsters and crabs. Every year, the Northeast Atlantic Cod migrates 1,500 km from the Arctic Waters to our fjords and coastline to spawn, making our region one of the most important fishery districts in the world. During the busiest fishing weeks in march, close to the regional city of the region, Ålesund, hundreds of small boats are fishing cod. You can get a taste of the fresh fish at the local restaurants.

Local juice and cider producers, as Tingvoll sider, Fjordsider, Skarbø gard and Lingebakken serves the taste of Norwegian summer all winter. A lot of other local farmers harvest and serve the taste of the landscapes, like Tingvollost, a world class cheese producer.

Scenic landscapes and fjord cruise

The wild landscape in the northernmost part of Fjord Norway is connected by scenic routes from coastal to alpine experiences, from lively towns to romantic escapes just around the fjord or mountain corner. Experience The Atlantic Road, enjoy the breathtaking Storsteinsundet bridge, and breath out at an outdoor yoga class or try a guided fishing trip.

Take the Winter Cruise from Ålesund to Geiranger or the car ferry from Hellesylt and visit the UNESCO World Heritage Geirangerfjord. Look up: high above the fjord, local farmers have lived for centuries. Iconic waterfalls frame a unique backdrop for new memories.

Unique adventures close to nature

It is no hassle to experience the fjords, the coastline or the mountains while visiting Fjord Norway. In Stranda and Åndalsnes, you can ride the gondola up the hill to the mountain peak for local food, fantastic views and perhaps a guided snowshoe walk.

In the winter, the Hjørundfjord and the steep mountains of the Sunnmøre Alps turn into a vast playground. Here, you can challenge yourself with guided ski touring or simply enjoy the view of the mountains from a cozy hotel or a restaurant by the fjord.

Do you want an unusual, exciting experience, along the coast? Skilled guides can offer coasteering at Ålesund or Runde. Enjoy the rugged coastline, with a little adrenaline rush, in a safe environment and close to the elements. The fjords create some calm and ideal areas for winter kayaking. Listen to the quiet nature while you glide slowly through the landscape.

Unwind and rejuvenate

While the scenery in Geiranger can take your breath away, you can find inner peace at Union Spa. Let the different hot water-activities, and special saunas, let you find your calmness. Or be a part of the sauna ritual and find the peace together with others. After strolling the streets of Ålesund, you can relax at Sundet Gym & Bad at Hotel Brosundet.

In Molde's cold fjord, the Nausta sauna is a great place to get warm. The Svai sauna offers the same treatment in Ålesund.

Cuddle up inside

Cosy hotels near the fjords, like Hotel Union Øye, Storfjord Hotel or Angvik, offer perfect escapes from everyday life to a little off-season fairytale. The original Art Nouveau (Jugendstil) hotels, Hotel Brosundet and Hotel 1904, also provide suitable frames for the winter get-away in romantic surroundings.

Experience art and culture

Two of the most colourful towns in Norway are Ålesund and Kristiansund. A large fire in 1904 destroyed most of Ålesund's town centre. The coastal town was rebuilt in Jugendstil (Art Nouveau). Wander through the town and look up. Everywhere you can see colourful and decorative elements. The region also has a modern art scene with contemporary galleries and music venues. Visit the Art Nouveau Centre and the art museum KUBE in Ålesund. Or take a trip outside the town to the art gallery at Alnes lighthouse, or into the fjords and the largest language museum of the world, Aasentunet.

Festivals in the wintertime

When to go? Most winter experiences are open all season, but some special events and festivals are a special reason to visit us online some dates. This winter we can offer special art, historical and culinary events.

• January: Brosundet on Fire. Ålesund was changed forever after the town fire in 1904. Experience events, theatre, fireworks and history in the unique Art Nouveau (Jugendstil) Town.
• February: The Light Art Festival in Geiranger. When it's dark outside, light artists from all over the world create colourful and creative light art in the UNESCO fjord Geiranger.
• February: The Opera Festival in Kristiansund. Kristiansund has always been open to the world through trade and fishery, which perhaps is why the second-oldest opera in Norway is located in this small town. Experience opera, theatre, and music for two weeks in Kristiansund.
• February–April: PopUpStranda - Culinary Experience. Top chefs throughout Norway create unique culinary experiences in Stranda, between mountains and fjords.
• March: The Urban Cod–Bytorsken. Once a year, the town of Ålesund celebrates the cod fishery in the nearby fjord, Borgundfjorden.

Getting here and around

You can fly from Amsterdam directly to Ålesund, the Art Nouveau and Adventure Capital of the Fjords. From Bergen and Oslo, there are direct flights to Ålesund, Molde, Kristiansund and Ørsta-Volda airports. Or take the train from Oslo or Trondheim to Åndalsnes. The public coastal routes, Hurtigruten and Havila Kystruten connect Bergen with Torvik and the seaside towns of Ålesund, Molde and Kristiansund. In Kristiansund, an express boat connects the region to Trondheim.