Ålesund · With kids
WITH KIDS
An aquarium built into the coast, an open-air boat museum and fjords reachable by scheduled ferry.
Atlanterhavsparken aquarium
One of northern Europe's larger saltwater aquariums, with divers feeding fish in the big tank and a penguin colony. An outdoor seal pool is included.
Sunnmøre Museum
Boathouses, replica Viking craft and a reconstructed medieval trading site on the water. Children can usually get into or onto several boats.
Geiranger by ferry
The scheduled boat up the fjord costs far less than a cruise excursion, takes about an hour each way and delivers the waterfalls all the same.
Aksla steps and Tueneset
The staircase is a manageable challenge from about six; Tueneset's shoreline park has rock pools, grass and space to run without traffic.
Fjord roads and stomachs
Trollstigen's hairpins close from October to late spring, ferry queues stretch in July, and the winding roads test younger stomachs. Plan short driving legs.