Norway's Most Beautiful City: Where to Stay & What to Do

Hotel 1904 & Hotel Brosundet, both in Alesund, are two of Norway’s best boutique hotels, at the heart of what National Geographic says is the backdrop for a Nordic fairy tail: Alesund. As part of our Norway’s best hotels & Airbnb series, I’ll take you through my experience at these two great design hotels, and we’ll also explore the beauty of Alesund.
BOOK YOUR STAY HERE AND SEE BELOW WHY YOU CAN TRUST US:
Hotel 1904: www.booking.co...
Hotel Brosundet: www.booking.co...
Hotel Brosundet might fool you at first glance. Housed in an old fisherman's warehouse, this 131-room boutique hotel marries its fishy past with a surprisingly chic present. Its rooms, each with their own quirks, ditch the traditional hotel vibe for something more modern. The building itself is a nod to Ålesund's Art Nouveau obsession, but with its own uniqueness. There’s an excellent onsite restaurant, and a bar for those who like their drinks with a side of history, and a great spa for anyone who's overdone it on the Norwegian hiking trails. Expect the usual hotel fanfare like guided city tours, but with a twist - think less boring facts, more "wow, did that really happen here?" moments. In short, Hotel Brosundet is where old-school charm crashes into modern comfort, and if you listen closely, you might still hear the ghosts of fishermen past arguing over their catch.
Hotel 1904, in my opinion, is even better. It isn’t just a place to crash; it's a dive into history with a cheeky modern twist. Built, you guessed it, in 1904, this hotel was once a bank, and now it cashes in on charm instead of checks. With 81 rooms, each with a touch of nostalgic flair mixed with stylish Scandi decor, it's like staying in your cool great-aunt's house if she had a penchant for interior design (the owner is an architect who pays attention to every detail). The architecture of the hotel’s exterior is a love letter to Ålesund's Art Nouveau past, looking like it jumped straight out of a storybook. When it comes to amenities, Hotel 1904 doesn't bank on the past. There's a contemporary café where the coffee is as strong as a Norwegian winter, and a garden that's like a secret green oasis - perfect for forgetting you're in the middle of a city. They've even got their own bakery, serving up pastries that are worth every calorie. It's that perfect blend of a beautiful historic building that hasn't been ruined by a cheap renovation, mixed with thoughtful modern updates that will make any design enthusiast comfy and inspired.
Why should you trust us?
The Swank Guide is supported by you. Our recommendations are 100% unbiased; we choose what we think is best. We’ve partnered with Booking.com because that ensures we can get you the lowest price. In most cases, you also have ample time to cancel.
Our goal is to save you time by finding the best hotels and experiences for you, and eliminate the stress of paying for something before you understand if it’s right for you. We work with total editorial independence. That means nothing appears in our videos as a recommendation unless we’ve tried it and loved it. These are the hotels and activities we choose for ourselves and recommend to our family and friends.
We strive to be the most trusted, the most transparent, boutique hotel recommendation service…. ever. If you choose to use our link to book a hotel, you are supporting our work. You can go around us - it won’t save you any money. This hotel commission fee supports us as we travel the world looking for the best places. Running a business costs money, and this is how we cover most of our expenses.
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[@SwankGuide]

If this was helpful to you, please help us out by using our booking link below. Best price guaranteed. Swank you! Hotel 1904: www.booking.com/hotel/no/hotel-1904.en.html?aid=7978712&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2&label=yt Hotel Brosundet: www.booking.com/hotel/no/brosundet.en.html?aid=7978712&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2&label=yt

[@sigrid45mb]

Thank you for showing Ålesund. I love this city. I was born there and grew up there, and now I am living in Germany. I really miss my hometown. 🥰🌷💖🌿🇳🇴

[@SwankGuide]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@GamesCooky]

As a local myself, sometimes i forget how beauitful our city really is. I have some criticisms of course. Like, there are some areas of the city i think needs more maintanence and renovations. But that's just local politics. Appreciate the video. It's nice seeing tourists enjoying themselves.

[@SwankGuide]

So happy to hear that.... no place is prefct and there's always room for improvement, but there's so much to love about your hometown

[@susandevine4356]

My son and his family live in Sula one of the small Islands just off Alesund this place is my Second home for the last 12 years. I love Norway thanks for showing this it’s beautiful I was re walking the streets 🇳🇴

[@SwankGuide]

Thanks for sharing!

[@scherzva]

Great video, I’ve only cruised here, it’s a wonderful city.

[@SwankGuide]

Thanks for watching!

[@tylerpierson4447]

Fantastic video! When were you there?

[@SwankGuide]

Thanks. October '23

[@ucouldnevah]

wow! the city looks magical✨

[@SwankGuide]

It is!

[@scherzva]

I’ve been five times, all on cruises. I love it

[@pennymcintyre205]

We were there last week. Rained all the time. Not sure I was that impressed!

[@SwankGuide]

Where did you stay?

[@pennymcintyre205]

@@SwankGuide we were on a cruise. I was so disappointed as I had been looking forward to our day in Alesund

[@SwankGuide]

Sorry to hear that.... I think the hotel is such an important part of your experience in a city, so that's why I ask... I don't take cruises, so don't know how well you can get the feeling for a city in a few hours.

[@picklenickil]

As a local.. the one thing you missed in the guide - Dont throw trash! And dont be too loud. Its natural to be excited and happy.. but yelling at a camera - saying "Guys this statue looks like a tumor" brings bad name to Tourist.

[@SwankGuide]

ok