Under $100: Ålesund, Norway

Fisherman Statue in the Alesund City Center, Norway © Gorshkov13 | Dreamstime

Strolling through the seaside town of Ålesund, in Norway’s western fjords region, it’s easy to see why the small city was named the country’s most beautiful.Instead of the traditional Norwegian clapboard, Ålesund’s center is constructed of pastel Art Nouveau buildings, with their whimsical and folkloric facades.

To see the city without spending more than $100, start by getting your heart pumping with a walk up the Aksla hill, where you’ll enjoy a free view of the town, its canals, the coastal islands and, if it’s clear, the jagged ridges of the Sunmore Alps.

Head back down and take in the architecture, the best of which can be found along the main drag, Kongensgate and the lovely Kirkegata street. Spend some time in the Jugendstil Senteret, the Art Nouveau Center housed in the old pharmacy. Here, you’ll learn the history of the city’s architecture, which has to do with a fire that burned the place to the ground in 1904. Your ticket (about $10) is also good for the KUBE next door, the city’s major art museum.

Twilight in Alesund, Norway © Nikolai Sorokin | Dreamstime

For lunch, head to Nomaden, a café with sandwiches and excellent coffee that will only set you back about $10.

Spend your afternoon sea kayaking or stand-up paddle-boarding. You can rent either from the company Kayak More Tomorrow, located in the city center. One to two hours in a one-person kayak costs about $40.

End the evening with dinner at any number of worthwhile restaurants around town, where you’ll probably spend the remainder of your $40. Menus are often posted outside the front door, so you’ll know what you’re getting into.