Alnes Lighthouse (Giske)
- Advanced riders, Longboard
- Best for
- Intermediate
- Skill Level
- Mixed
- Spot Type
- Busy
- Crowd Level
This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.
About
Alnes Lighthouse is a right-hand point/boulder-reef surfing spot below the lighthouse on Godøya. The wave is known for long, reeling rides on the right, with punchy left-hand sections in the overall setup. Rocky-cove access is quick from the lighthouse area, but the break requires careful navigation through boulders and slippery entry/exit sections. Wind performance is strongly tied to southeast winds, which are the spot’s best direction. Monthly splits report a clear dominance of “blown” conditions, with January highlighted as the best month. Wind reliability is described as moderate and influenced by passing North Atlantic systems, and turbulence can develop close to the lighthouse and steep cliffs. Surf quality is described as good to excellent, with best form on a northwest swell. Working swell-height guidance centers around roughly 1.0–4.0 meters, and the spot can handle larger swell that becomes more powerful and challenging (including descriptions of double-overhead-type breaking on big sets). Ride lengths can be very long on peak days, with reports of very long peels. Safety-wise, the main risks are submerged rocks/boulders (including boulders that can appear unexpectedly on the inside), slippery rocks during entry and exit, strong rip currents during outgoing tides and large swells, and extreme cold water. There is no lifeguard presence; emergency care is available in Ålesund (about 20–25 minutes by car), and standard etiquette and general caution are emphasized given the lighthouse environment and visitor activity. The water can also get busy when conditions are good, including on weekends.
- Long, reeling right-hand point break
- Big-swell capable with powerful walls
- Best wind direction: southeast
- Rocky cove access with quick walk from the lighthouse
- Long, reeling right-hand point break capable of powerful waves
- Best wind direction is consistently southeast, with strong winter performance
- Instant foot access from the lighthouse area to the cove
- Rocky, boulder-reef launch with unexpected hazards inside
- Strong rip currents can form on large swells and outgoing tides
- Cold water year-round; requires a cold-water kit
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- ESE
- Offshore directions
- ESE
- Wind Range
- 15–30 kts
- Wind Type
- Frontal — Frontal/gradient pattern described for the Alnes Coast region; spot-specific wind directions are most often southeast.
- Reliability
- 42% monthly blown, 35% clean, 23% small (monthly split). Reliability described as moderate and dependent on passing systems.
- Gust Factor
- Moderate gusts
- Best Months
- January
- Shadow Zones
- Turbulence can occur close to the lighthouse and steep cliffs of Godøya.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Mixed
- Beach
- Rocks — Rocky cove/boulder-reef with rock bottom.
- Beach Size
- Small
- Waves
- Small — Some sources describe small to medium as a general label; working/suitable swell window for surfing is around 1.0–4.0 meters.
- Launch
- Small — Rocky entry point near the lighthouse; careful navigation through boulders required.
- Launch Difficulty
- Easy — Some sources describe easy access from the lighthouse area, while others describe moderate launch difficulty due to rocky navigation.
Through the year
Busier on weekends and during prime swell events in autumn.
Rain and wind storms are frequent from October through March.
By sport
What to expect for each.
A right-hand point break wrapping around the headland below the lighthouse, with long, reeling right waves and punchy lefts in the mix. Rocky cove/boulder-reef layout—requires careful navigation around boulders.
- Wave Direction
- Right
- Optimal Swell
- NW
- Swell Height
- 1–4 m
- Optimal Tide
- Low, Mid, High, All tides — Common guidance: aim for low to mid tide and high tide; another source notes all-tides.
- Shelter
- Semi-sheltered — Sheltered in the cove/headland context, but also described as reasonably exposed overall.
- Wind Effect
- Best with east winds; offshore SE winds can groom clean faces, while NW winds can blow it out.
- Bigger Swell
- Handles big swells well; walls can break double overhead as size increases, becoming more powerful and challenging.
- Wave Quality
- Excellent — Described as high-quality with good-to-excellent wave form; best form tied to NW swell.
- Wave Power
- Powerful — Often described as powerful; can produce cobalt-blue walls that may break double overhead.
- Wave Shape
- Mixed — Point break that can show both long, reeling and punchy sections.
- Peel Speed
- Fast — Rides described as fast-peeling on best days.
- Ride Length
- Long — Long, reeling rides; sources describe very long rides on the right with peels connecting sections.
- Typical Ride Length
- 100–200 m
- Ride Length Details
- Best days can peel for very long distances (over 150 meters reported); typical rides are long and reeling.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Alnes Lighthouse (Giske) in the full forecast view.
Alnes Lighthouse (Giske) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 4–26 ktsGusts 51 kts
- Direction
- SSW192°
- Strongest day
- Wed, Oct 2826 kts
- Windy days
- 5/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 1.0–4.1 m9s period
- Temperature
- 6–14 °C
Over the next 7 days, Alnes Lighthouse (Giske) is forecast for daytime winds of 4–26 kts, peaking around 26 kts on Wednesday, October 28 with gusts to 51 kts. The prevailing direction is SSW. Waves run 1.0–4.1 m with a period of about 9s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
What to know before you launch
Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.
Hazards
- Submerged rocks and boulders (including on the inside that can appear unexpectedly)
- Slippery rocks at entry and exit
- Strong rip currents (especially during large swells and outgoing tides)
- Extreme cold water
- Heavy swells
Rescue & support
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Yes — Coastguard services provided with the nearest station in Ålesund; emergency response managed by police and volunteer search and rescue.
- Emergency Info
- Nearest major hospital is in Ålesund (about 20–25 minutes by car). Emergency: 112 (police), 113 (medical).
- Localism / Vibe
- Mild — The spot is described as popular; crowding is more about conditions than strong local access restrictions.
Rules of the spot
Standard surfing etiquette applies; general caution advised for rocks and cold-water conditions.
- Aim for low to mid tide and high tide sessions.
- Beware of boulders on the inside; move carefully during entry/exit.
- Wait for lulls to enter or exit over the rocks.
- Check the swell period—longer periods produce better form.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Ålesund
- Nearest Town
- Alnes
- Nearest Airport
- Ålesund Airport, Vigra (AES) (~25 minutes from the region).
- Parking
- Parking is available near the Alnes Lighthouse and the modern visitor center.
- Public Transport
- Regular bus services connect Godøya (Alnes) to Ålesund city center via undersea tunnels.
- Access
- Instant access requiring less than 5 minutes of walking from the lighthouse area to the rocky cove below.
- Cost Level
- Expensive
- Local Language
- Norwegian
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Guesthouses in Alnes or hotels in nearby Ålesund.
- Food & Drink
- Cafe at the Alnes Lighthouse Experience Center serving local food and refreshments.
- Equipment Rental:
- No rentals available on-site; bring your own equipment. Regionally, rentals may be available via operators/surf clubs in/near Alnes.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
The Alnes coast pairs rugged coastal adventure with lighthouse culture at the center and quick access to Ålesund for day trips.
A historic protected lighthouse featuring an art gallery and a cafe serving traditional Norwegian treats.
Designated national cultural landscape reflecting Alnes history as one of Sunnmøre's biggest fishing villages.
Ålesund is world-famous for concentrated Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) architecture.
Spectacular hiking trails leading toward Storhornet with panoramic views of the Atlantic and surrounding Alps.
Known for its “Svele” (Norwegian pancakes) and views of the breaking waves.
Cafe at Alnes Lighthouse with homemade cakes and dinner; locally produced gifts/souvenirs.
One of Northern Europe's largest saltwater aquariums showcasing local marine life.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Alnes Lighthouse (Giske)?
The best overall months at Alnes Lighthouse (Giske) are May, June, July, August, September, January, February, March. The best wind months are January.
Which wind directions work at Alnes Lighthouse (Giske)?
Alnes Lighthouse (Giske) works with ESE winds. Offshore directions are ESE.
What skill level is Alnes Lighthouse (Giske) suitable for?
Alnes Lighthouse (Giske) suits these riding levels: Surfing: Intermediate to Advanced.