Ona

The Northern Fjords

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The beautiful islet of Ona, with its bare rocky landscapes and picturesque lighthouse, is still home to an offshore fishing community of about 25 people. It makes a popular day trip from Molde: Fram buses (adult/child 318/161kr) leave Molde early in the morning and take you (with a quick ferry ride) to Aukra and the Småge ferry harbour, from where the boats to Ona leave.

Other islands worth stopping at include Gossen, where there's a WWII-era air strip built by Russian POWs during the Nazi occupation, and Bjørnsund, where a lovely old summer house which also warrants a brief stop.

The crossing can be rough in poor weather.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • Jugendstil Senteret

    Jugendstil Senteret

    29.59 MILES

    The city's unique architectural heritage is documented in a former pharmacy, the first listed Jugendstil monument in Ålesund. Apart from the building's…

  • Kniven Viewpoint

    Kniven Viewpoint

    29.22 MILES

    For the best view over Ålesund and its fishhook-shaped peninsula, as well as the mountains and islands beyond, head up the 418 steps to the summit of…

  • Drågen Smokehouse

    Drågen Smokehouse

    12.13 MILES

    Petter Aune set up this operation, where freshly caught Aukra salmon are smoked with pure local wood and herbs, after tiring of the poor quality…

  • Sunnmøre Museum

    Sunnmøre Museum

    28.67 MILES

    Ålesund's celebrated Sunnmøre Museum is 4km east of the centre. Here, at the site of the old Borgundkaupangen trading centre, active from the 11th to 16th…

  • Fishing Museum

    Fishing Museum

    29.46 MILES

    The 1861 Holmbua warehouse (one of the very few buildings to survive the 1904 fire) has exhibits on the development of fishing across the centuries and…

  • KUBE

    KUBE

    29.6 MILES

    Ålesund's primary contemporary art space highlights Norwegian artists, as well as hosting the occasional design- and architecture-focused show. The old…

  • Romsdalmuseet

    Romsdalmuseet

    20.92 MILES

    There are nearly 50 old buildings within this open-air museum, shifted here from around the Romsdal region. Among the barns, farms and storehouses, there…

  • Aalesunds Museum

    Aalesunds Museum

    29.46 MILES

    The town museum illustrates the history of sealing, fishing, shipping and industry in the Sunnmøre region, the fire of 1904 and the town's Jugendstil…

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Nearby The Northern Fjords attractions

1. Ergan Coastal Fort

12.04 MILES

Serving as a WWII museum and memorial, this defensive fortification was erected by Nazi forces in 1940. Various armaments and a network of bunkers and…

2. Drågen Smokehouse

12.13 MILES

Petter Aune set up this operation, where freshly caught Aukra salmon are smoked with pure local wood and herbs, after tiring of the poor quality…

3. Romsdalmuseet

20.92 MILES

There are nearly 50 old buildings within this open-air museum, shifted here from around the Romsdal region. Among the barns, farms and storehouses, there…

4. Fiskerimuseet

21.8 MILES

This open-air museum, on the small island of Hjertøya, is a 10-minute boat ride from Molde's Torget terminal. Its cod-liver oil factory, cottages and…

5. Vigra

25.76 MILES

About 20km north of the town centre, Vigra is home to Ålesund's airport as well as a long white-sand beach called Blindheimssanden (also called Blimsand).

6. Valderøy

27.66 MILES

On the island of Valderøy, the Skjonghellaren caves have revealed bones of Arctic fox, sea otter and ringed seal, plus evidence of human occupation at…

7. Sunnmøre Museum

28.67 MILES

Ålesund's celebrated Sunnmøre Museum is 4km east of the centre. Here, at the site of the old Borgundkaupangen trading centre, active from the 11th to 16th…

8. Giske

29.17 MILES

There are two main reasons to visit Giske: its ornate 12th-century church, a lovely structure built largely of marble, and the Makkevika marshes, a prime…