The historic Art Nouveau centre is compact and best explored on foot. The city's many bridges and tunnels connect the islands of the Ålesund municipality, and a car is useful for reaching outlying attractions like the Sunnmøre Museum and the Atlantic Sea-Park (though the latter is also walkable from the centre in about 30 minutes). City buses serve the main suburban areas and the airport.
Cycling works well around the flat parts of the city and along the coastline. Boats and ferries are the natural way to reach smaller islands and coastal settlements. In summer, express boat services connect Ålesund to Geiranger and other fjord destinations.