A Travel Price Comparison for Norway Flam vs. Alesund for Food, Families, Couples, and Nightlife

Should you visit Flam or Alesund?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Flam and Alesund. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Flam

Flam is a beautiful, natural, and breathtaking village. This is a great small town that is just waiting to be explored. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. It's also known for food and hiking.

Alesund

Alesund is a scenic, laid back, and welcoming city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's a gorgeous place to visit. Other reasons to visit include museums, nightlife, and food.

Flam and Alesund: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Flam or Alesund?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Alesund. Although Flam and Alesund are both popular with visitors, Alesund has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Alesund is more popular for its museums, nightlife, shopping, and big city activities, while Flam is known for its hiking, small town charm, and impressive beauty. Flam is more touristy than Alesund and is popular for its beautiful fjords and natural beauty as well as its popularity as a cruise ship port. Alesund is popular for its nouveau architecture, beautiful views, and access to the fjords. It is also home to the Art Nouveau Center.

How is Flam different from Alesund?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Alesund and Flam. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Flam or Alesund?

Alesund is a good destination for its historical sights. However, Flam is not known for its sights and museums.

Alesund is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Check out the Atlantic Sea-Park and the Sunnmøre Museum. Also visit the small but interesting Fisheries Museum & Ålesund Museum.

Flam offers a few options for museum-goers. Hiking and natural beauty is why you visit this area, but there is the Flam Railway Museum that you can visit as well.

Is the Food Better in Flam or Alesund? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Dining out at restaurants in both Flam and Alesund can be an enjoyable experience.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Flam. Local restaurants make use of seasonal ingredients and local fish and meat. You'll also find many berries and a local goat cheese at many restaurants as well.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Alesund. As Norway's largest fishing port, you'll find plenty of seafood offerings around town. A favorite is bacalao de noruega (dried and salted clipfish), but also make sure you try the lobster soup.

Is Flam or Alesund Better for Nightlife?

Alesund is a good destination for nightlife. However, Flam is not known for nightlife and partying.

If you're looking for night time activities Alesund has a few options to choose from. There are plenty of bars around town as well as nightclubs and live music venues.

Most people don't head to Flam specifically for the nightlife scene, but you can find a few options. Most people visit as a day trip, so you won't find a huge nightlife scene in this small town. There are some local bars and breweries around town though.

Is Flam or Alesund Better for Hiking?

Flam is a well-known place for the nearby hiking options. However, Alesund is not a hiking destination.

Flam is a popular spot for hiking. There are many great hikes just outside of town that are varied in length and challenge level. Both tourists and locals enjoy hiking in the area, so you'll get some of the best advice on where to go from any locals that you meet. Popular trails include the Flåmsdalen hike from Myrdal to Flam and the hike to Brekkefossen Waterfall.

Alesund is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Flam or Alesund?

Alesund is a good destination for shopping. However, Flam is not known for its shopping opportunities.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Alesund. There are a number of shopping streets around town including the shopping areas in Aspøya, which are known for their homemade souvenirs.

If you're looking to go shopping, Flam has some nice offerings. There are some shopping centers and malls near town where you can grab anything you may have forgotten.

Is Flam or Alesund Better for Families?

Flam is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Alesund is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Flam is a very family-friendly place to visit. The fjords and mountain beauty make this a great place for a family adventure. Myrkdalen is also just 45 minutes away by car and it's filled with many mountain activities.

Alesund is a family-friendly village. There's an aquarium and several great parks including Tueneset Naturlekeplass, which is near the aquarium. There's also hiking in the area and other outdoor adventures.

Is Flam or Alesund Better for Couples?

Flam is a well-known place for romance. Also, Alesund is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its romantic activities.

Flam is a very popular place to visit for couples. Stunning natural beauty and dramatic fjords make this a great romantic destination. Couples who enjoy hiking and explore nature will enjoy days in this special place.

Alesund makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. It's a beautiful setting with spectacular views and fun restaurants. There are many great hikes in the area, and many visitors like to use this town as a base for exploring nearby places.

Is Flam or Alesund Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Flam is a popular place for backpackers. However, Alesund is not a good city for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Flam. There are a few hostels in the area that help keeps prices more affordable for backpackers and budget travelers.

Alesund is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are a limited number of hostels in town so apartments may be the best option for backpackers. It's also hard to get around the region without a car.

Is Flam or Alesund Better for Students?

Alesund is a good destination for its student-friendly activities. However, Flam is not popular with students.

It's common for students to visit Alesund. There's a small student population, which means that the group stays close and everyone is very welcoming. The town also makes a great base for exploring this part of Norway.

Flam is not popular with students.

Is Flam or Alesund Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Flam and Alesund both offer good public transit to get you around.

While Flam offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There is a local bus service through the area.

Alesund has a few public transit options. There is a public bus system around town.

Is Flam or Alesund a more walkable city?

Flam is a well-known place for its walkability. Also, Alesund is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its high level of walkability.

Flam is very walkable. There are many great walks in the area.

Alesund is a somewhat walkable place. The city center can be explored on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Flam Worth Visiting? and Is Alesund Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Alesund or Flam?

How long in Flam or Alesund?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Flam and Alesund. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Alesund than in Flam. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Flam, and 2-3 days is enough time in Alesund.

Families should spend more time in Flam than Alesund. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Flam, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Flam than Alesund. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Flam that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Flam than Alesund if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Flam.

One day in Flam or Alesund?

Flam is a small town with plenty to do. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. This village offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Alesund. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

A weekend in Flam or Alesund?

Flam might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Flam has to offer.

Alesund is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Five days in Flam or Alesund?

Flam is a great place to explore. Hikers are also drawn to this area. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the friendly destination of Alesund. This city offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Flam or Alesund?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Flam. Since Flam is a small town, it's easily explored when your time is limited. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

The scenic city of Alesund offers nightlife and food. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Norway, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Norway, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Norway, and The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in Norway.

When comparing the travel costs between Flam and Alesund, we can see that Flam is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Flam Expensive? and Is Alesund Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Flam or Alesund?

Alesund has a larger population, and is about 90 times larger than the population of Flam. When comparing the sizes of Flam and Alesund, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Flam or Alesund?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Flam or Alesund in the Summer?

Both Alesund and Flam during the summer are popular places to visit. The hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Flam this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Alesund for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

Flam is a little warmer than Alesund in the summer. The daily temperature in Flam averages around 15°C (58°F) in July, and Alesund fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Flam. Flam usually gets more rain in July than Alesund. Flam gets 148 mm (5.8 in) of rain, while Alesund receives 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Flam or Alesund in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Flam and Alesund. Many travelers come to Flam for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area. Also, many visitors come to Alesund in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Flam is around the same temperature as Alesund. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Flam in October average around 9°C (48°F), and Alesund averages at about 9°C (48°F).

Alesund receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Flam gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Flam usually receives more rain than Alesund. Flam gets 271 mm (10.7 in) of rain, while Alesund receives 188 mm (7.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Flam or Alesund in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Flam as well as Alesund. Many visitors come to Flam in the winter for the shopping scene and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Alesund for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Alesund can be very cold during winter. Flam can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Flam is generally much colder than Alesund. Daily temperatures in Flam average around 2°C (35°F), and Alesund fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).

It's quite rainy in Alesund. Flam receives a lot of rain in the winter. Flam usually gets more rain in January than Alesund. Flam gets 190 mm (7.5 in) of rain, while Alesund receives 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Flam or Alesund in the Spring?

Both Alesund and Flam are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Flam for the small town charm and the natural beauty during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Alesund because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty.

The weather in Alesund can be very cold. Flam is a little warmer than Alesund in the spring. The daily temperature in Flam averages around 6°C (43°F) in April, and Alesund fluctuates around 5°C (40°F).

It's quite rainy in Flam. In April, Flam usually receives more rain than Alesund. Flam gets 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Alesund receives 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Alesund and Flam