One of Norway's most distinctive looking towns, Ålesund is packed with fascinating architecture and history in a truly spectacular natural setting.

Ålesund Explored. When the Telegraph phoned Jayne Fisentzides to tell her she had won a trip to Norway, it was, she said, “one of the best phone calls I've ever received”.

A popular choice with the likes of Princess Cruises and Saga, of about five hours, is a drive to the nearby islands of Giske and Godøy, linked to the mainland by bridges and tunnels.