Molde

The fjord-side “Town of Roses”, where the Varden lookout takes in 222 peaks, and to the west lies the Atlantic Ocean Road winding across the sea.

Molde is the administrative centre of Møre og Romsdal county in Norway, on the north shore of the Romsdalsfjord. With about 32,000 residents, it is known as the “Town of Roses” for its mild climate and abundant roses. The town is small, and its sights fall into two categories. The first is the mountains: from the Varden lookout behind town you can gaze across the fjord at the “Molde Panorama” of 222 peaks. The second is the sea: about 45 minutes' drive northwest is the Atlantic Ocean Road, one of Norway's National Tourist Routes, whose eight bridges hop across an archipelago; the Storseisundet Bridge is one of Norway's most famous sights, and along the way are the fishing village of Bud, the Ergan coastal fort from World War II, the Trollkyrkja caves and Kvernes Stave Church, with the route extending on to Kristiansund, the capital of klippfisk (dried and salted cod). In town are the Romsdal Museum open-air museum, the Fishery Museum on the island of Hjertøya just offshore, and the rose garden on the town hall roof. About an hour to the southeast is Åndalsnes, where you can hike the Romsdalseggen ridge (Trollstigen and the Romsdalen Gondola are covered under the Geiranger & Trollstigen destination).

The best season is June–August, with nearly 20 hours of daylight, ideal for road trips and hiking; Moldejazz in mid-July is one of Norway's longest-running music festivals, and accommodation is tight during it. Autumn and winter weather is changeable; watching huge waves on the Atlantic Ocean Road during a storm is a unique experience, but watch out for road closures. Getting there: Molde Airport (Årø) connects to Oslo and Bergen, and the town is a port of call for Hurtigruten ships; it is about 2 hours' drive from Ålesund (including a ferry). Allow 2–3 days: one for the town and Varden, one for the Atlantic Ocean Road loop, plus another for hiking. Public transport is infrequent, so driving is strongly recommended.

Top sights

• Varden Viewpoint – A viewpoint 407 metres above the town of Molde, where you can take in the 222 peaks of the “Molde Panorama” across the fjord in one sweep.
• Atlantic Ocean Road – An 8.3-kilometre sea road that crosses eight bridges to link islands together. The twisted shape of the Storseisundet Bridge is famous arou…
• Eldhusøya Walkway – An islet midway along the Atlantic Ocean Road. A wooden walkway around the island offers different angles on the Storseisundet Bridge.
• Romsdal Museum – One of Norway's largest open-air folk museums, with more than 40 historic wooden buildings recreating rural life in the Romsdal region.
• Fishery Museum on Hjertøya – A fishing village museum on a small island outside Molde harbour, preserving 19th-century fishermen's wooden houses, boathouses and a salti…
• Bud – An old fishing village at the western end of the Atlantic Ocean Road, with colourful wooden houses around a small harbour. It is a classic…
• Ergan Coastal Fort – The remains of a German coastal battery from the Second World War, part of the Atlantic Wall, with well-preserved tunnels, gun emplacements…
• Trollkyrkja Cave – The “Troll Church” marble cave system, where an underground waterfall pours down from a skylight in the cave roof. A round-trip hike takes…
• Molde Cathedral – A modernist brick cathedral rebuilt in 1957, with a freestanding bell tower that is a landmark of central Molde.
• Molde Town Hall Rose Garden – The emblem of Molde, the City of Roses. A rooftop garden on the Town Hall is full of roses and overlooks the town centre and the fjord.
• Mardalsfossen – One of Europe's tallest waterfalls, with a total drop of about 705 m. The full flow is only visible in summer, when the sluices are opened.

Where to eat

• Hav Seafood Restaurant – The seafood restaurant inside Molde Fjordstuer hotel, built on the waterfront and serving local seafood and dried cod d…
• Ytterbrygga Restaurant on Håholmen – A restaurant in an old fishing village on a small island beside the Atlantic Ocean Road, where you take a boat across f…
• Fole Godt Bakery & Café – A popular artisan bakery and café in central Molde, where cold-proofed sourdough bread and Norwegian cinnamon buns are…

Itineraries

• Western Fjords Grand Loop: 13-Day Self-Drive Itinerary – A self-drive loop from Bergen covering the Sognefjord, Geirangerfjord, Atlantic Ocean Road, and Hjørundfjord.