HOTEL BROSUNDET

On Norway’s western coast, Ålesund is an art nouveau jewel amid countless fjords and a breathtakingly scenic archipelago. Among its listed buildings are the former warehouses that make up Hotel Brosundet – right on the water’s edge, where fishermen pass by as they have done for centuries (and bring in their catches to the hotel’s restaurant). Life here is simplicity itself, much like Brosundet’s 47 chic, minimalist rooms. The most exclusive of these are two loft suites and the 150-year-old Molja Lighthouse, which stands alone on a jetty away from the main building. Just three metres in diameter, sleeping here is a secluded and thrilling experience, as waves lap and crash all around and the lighthouse beacon welcomes ships into the port town.