Runde
A small island offshore southwest of Ålesund where hundreds of thousands of seabirds nest on its cliffs, making it the best place in southern Norway to watch puffins.
Runde is the southernmost large seabird breeding site in Norway. Each year about 500,000 seabirds nest on the cliffs on the island’s west side, including puffins, gannets, kittiwakes, razorbills, and guillemots, with roughly 100,000 puffins. From mid-April to mid-July, puffins fly back to their nests in flocks from the sea in the evening, the best time to watch them. From the island parking lot, you can hike up in about 1–1.5 hours to bird-watching points on the clifftop, or join a boat tour around the island. The island has the Runde Environmental Centre. From Ålesund it is about 1.5 hours by car, connected by bridges.
Opening hours
All day (evenings best during breeding season)
Nearby sights
- Alnes Lighthouse
- Giske Island & Giske Church
- Atlantic Sea-Park
- Sukkertoppen
- Skjonghelleren Cave
- Ålesund Church
- Ålesund Fishery Museum
- Molja Lighthouse