Ferries from Ålesund hurtigbåtkai Skateflukaia

Ålesund burned down in 1904 and was rebuilt, almost entirely, in Art Nouveau — turrets, spires and stone ornament across an entire town centre, all from the same few years. The express boat quay at Skateflukaia sits at the edge of it.

Where the boats go

• Valderøya — 9 minutes, 47 sailings. By far the heaviest.
• Hareid — 25 minutes.
• Hamnsund — 15 minutes.

108 active sailings across the quay.

⚠ Skateflukaia is not the cruise quay or the Hurtigruten berth

Ålesund's waterfront has several distinct landing places doing different jobs: the coastal ship, the cruise terminal, the express boats and the local traffic. They are within walking distance of each other but not interchangeable.

Check which quay the ticket names. "Ålesund" alone will get you to the right town and possibly the wrong pier.

The 1904 fire

A night fire in January destroyed the wooden town and left around ten thousand people homeless in midwinter. Kaiser Wilhelm II, who holidayed in the fjords, sent ships with aid, and the rebuilding was done at speed in the style of the moment.

The result is one of the most architecturally coherent town centres in Europe, and it exists because everything else burned.

Getting around from the quay

The town centre, the Aksla viewpoint stairs and the harbour restaurants are all within a short walk. Buses connect to the airport on Vigra through the undersea tunnels.

Where the boats fit

These express boats are commuter transport for the islands and the Sunnmøre peninsula rather than sightseeing. If you want the fjord scenery, the Geiranger services and the coastal ship are the ones to look at.