This quiet corner of Norway is a luxury traveller’s best-kept secret

Where the wild fjords are: A lesser-known region of Norway, the Sunnmøre Alps offer a striking blend of dramatic peaks, luxury lodges, fjord-to-fork dining and slow, scenic adventure – all without the crowds

Chamonix. There are no pretentious airs, ski lift queues or alpine clichés. Instead, the focus here is on homegrown hospitality, wild fjords and the art of slow living.

Beyond Bergen lies this alpine region of pure authenticity, where the landscape dominates and fjord-to-fork fare is on the menu. Sunnmøre experiences less tourism compared to more well-known montane destinations, offering seasoned travellers a “first in” sensation. “The Sunnmøre region offers a captivating blend of dramatic fjords, rugged mountains, and authentic Nordic charm,” says Ann Kristin Ytrevik, head of brand at 62°NORD.

How to get to the Sunnmøre Alps

The Sunnmøre Alps are a range of jagged peaks, imposing fjords, quaint hamlets and snowmelt rivulets along Norway’s wild west coast. The region comes in two flavors: verdant green or blanketed snow white.

Ålesund is the gateway to the region, accessible via flight from Oslo, Bergen, Copenhagen or Amsterdam. This charming maritime town is known for shipbuilding, sea fishing and Art Nouveau architecture. Ålesund’s buildings – with their pastel façades, curvilinear arches and slate-tiled turrets – make it a picturesque stop and one worth exploring.

Visitors can delve into Ålesund’s history of dried cod (klippfisk) and cod liver oil at the Fisheries Museum, then browse a treasure trove of Scandinavian antiques at the nearby Trankokeriet Antikk. For a more modern look into Nordic culture, KHÅK Kunsthall showcases contemporary art, while Lovenold Theatre offers performances in an ornate cinema.

While Sunnmøre is not known for its premium shopping, O.A.D. is an exception. The fashionable knitwear brand based out of Ålesund produces patterned wool sweaters, shirts and mittens that are both chic and appropriately warm enough for polar conditions.

Where to stay in the Sunnmøre Alps

Three luxury hotels dotted across Sunnmøre stand out for an unparalleled sense of place, culinary excellence and a deep connection to nature.

Hotel Brosundet, Ålesund

Formerly home to fishery warehouses, Hotel Brosundet is an inviting Hollandaise-yellow boutique hotel abutting Ålesund’s seawater canal. Brosundet is the epitome of Scandi chic: neutral color palettes, thick weft textiles, warm-stained woods, and design restraint. Unexpected contemporary artwork, a plenitude of photography books, and the five-story centerpiece fireplace set this cosmopolitan hotel apart. Brosundet is a comfortable base for a day spent exploring Ålesund or enjoying the hotel’s spa circuit of outdoor bubble bath, sauna and saltwater cold plunge. 

Hotel Union Øye, Hjørundfjord

Embedded deep within the Sunnmøre Alps, Hotel Union Øye is accessible via yacht, car or helicopter through the idyllic Hjørundfjord. Founded in 1891, this iconic hotel has hosted royals, explorers and literati like Coco Chanel, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Roald Amundsen. Its whimsical Dragestil-style architecture resembles a viking dollhouse, brimming with antiques and books belonging to courageous mountaineers who dared to cross Sunnmøre’s peaks. Guests gather nightly for storytelling, regaling tales of prior visitors and ghosts.

A stay at Union Øye feels like stepping back in time. The “more is more” design aesthetic borders on chintz, with its brocade wallpapers, oil paintings and upholstered furniture. A guest with an eye for detail will get lost in each nook and cranny. Penhaligon’s amenities, freshly baked shortbread cookies, and clawfoot bathtubs await lucky guests ready to roost in the period-inspired rooms or farmhouse suites. Ice cream or champagne is served in cut glass goblets by the soporific fireplace or Victorian garden gazebo overlooking the fjord – pure indulgence.

Storfjord Hotel, Storfjord

True to the Nordic philosophy of friluftsliv (living in harmony with nature), nobody does it quite like Storfjord Hotel. “The use of natural materials such as wood and stone, combined with large windows that frame the stunning landscape, creates a seamless connection between the interior and the natural world outside,” says Ytrevik. Overlooking one of Norway’s largest fjords and comprising a cluster of grass-roofed timber chalets known as a klyngetun, Storfjord is scenically opulent.

Guests can spend the day at this R&R retreat taking in the views from either the outdoor jacuzzis or sheepskin-draped Adirondack chairs – or bed down in a handsomely decorated room to watch the ships glide by. It’s all about livsglede – zest for life. Storfjord is a base for fjord exploration, adventure sports or spa treatments, where the art of doing absolutely nothing is fully embraced.

Where to eat in the Sunnmøre Alps

While Norway is known for jarlsberg, brown cheese, and smoked salmon, Sunnmøre is in a league of its own. “Sunnmøre has a strong seafaring legacy,” says Ytrevik. “The cuisine reflects this maritime influence, with a focus on fresh seafood, including cod, herring, and shellfish, paired with ingredients sourced from mountain farms.”

In Ålesund, Sjøbua shines for its mastery of seafood. The menu’s halibut, klippfish and langoustines are caught along Norway’s west coast, sublimely prepared in this vibey bistro. Apotekergata No. 5 is a popular brasserie, lauded for its fresh catch and wine list. Butikken’s grocer-cum-café aesthetic makes it a popular spot for coffee and provisions on the go, while Arkivet Bar, located in a former fish oil office, is a sleek choice for after dinner spirits.

For fine dining in the remote Sunnmøre Alps, Relais & Châteaux properties Union Øye and Storfjord both stand out as gustatory treats. The Conservatory at Union Øye overlooks the fjord in an elegant glass-enclosed setting, where a set menu sources ingredients from top purveyors in the region, served on monogrammed dinner service – the Jerusalem artichoke soup is a highlight. In Storfjord’s dining room, an exposed kitchen dishes out delicately prepared forest-inspired meals. Diners can give the chefs an ingredient (Cod! Lamb! Rhubarb!) and watch them win. The restaurant is Norway’s sole Bollinger ambassador, so a glass of champagne is an absolute must.

What to do in the Sunnmøre Alps

Norway’s Sunnmøre Alps is a year-round outdoor playground. Ålesund-based travel outfitter 62°NORD can arrange a top tier itinerary for the region, including a dialed-up fjord cruise aboard luxury vessels with champagne, flybridge photoshoots, wildlife sightings, and waterfall chases. Crisscrossing the glacial fjords, including Hjørundfjord and Geirangerfjord, is the most popular activity here.

Unique to the Sunnmøre Alps is fjord ski touring – a hybrid alpine adventure where skiers travel by boat to reach remote peaks before hiking uphill and descending untouched backcountry lines. Snowfall often continues into May, allowing for extended ski and snowshoe seasons at nearby resorts such as Stranda and Ørsta. In winter, the region also offers a chance to glimpse the Northern Lights, dancing across clear mountain skies.

In the warmer months, Sunnmøre is a destination for cycling, hiking, rockclimbing, kayaking, fishing, surfing and helicopter tours. Sunnmøre is home to some of Norway’s most impressive summits, including Slogen, Saksa, Urkeegga, and Skårasalen. Up the road from Hotel Union Øye, Norangsdalen valley offers fabulous scenic drives and e-biking. The picturesque valley winds past wildflower meadows, glacial streams, snow capped mountains and the occasional sheep truck – it’s no wonder it featured in James Bond and Mission Impossible films.

No trip to the Sunnmøre Alps would be complete without wellness. Being in nature is itself therapeutic, so the trend of “earthing” (walking barefoot outdoors) is widely embraced – seaside saunas atop floating docks are also popular. Seaside saunas atop floating docks are popular, and each of the three featured hotels offers spa facilities where alternating between wooden saunas and icy fjord swims is an invigorating ritual. The result is a true fjord state of mind – one shaped by nature, ritual and the unhurried rhythms of Norway’s wild west.

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