Molde

Molde is the administrative centre of Møre og Romsdal county, set on the north shore of the Moldefjord (Romsdalsfjord) in Western Norway. The town occupies a south-facing slope that opens onto one of Norway's most celebrated panoramas — from the waterfront you can see 222 partially snow-clad alpine summits stretching across the Romsdal Alps toward Åndalsnes. Kaiser Wilhelm II, who visited Molde every year, called it the "Nice of the North," and the town has long styled itself the "City of Roses" for the profusion of rose gardens that colour its streets and public buildings each summer. Molde has been a cruise-ship port of call since the first paying-passenger cruise visited Norway in 1882, and 40–50 ships still call each summer.

The town's history took a dramatic turn in April 1940, when German bombardment during the Norwegian campaign burned most of Molde to the ground. King Haakon VII, the cabinet, the general staff, foreign diplomats, and Norway's gold reserves all escaped through Molde during the evacuation — events among the most dramatic of the entire invasion. The town was rebuilt in a functional post-war style, and Molde Cathedral (consecrated 1957) is one of the few notable architectural works from that reconstruction. Today Molde is a regional hub for maritime industry, petroleum services, and logistics education, and is home to Molde FK, one of Norway's top football clubs, a source of fierce local pride. The Romsdal Museum, one of Norway's largest folk museums, anchors the town's cultural life alongside the internationally known Molde International Jazz Festival.

The climate is maritime and relatively mild for the latitude, with cool summers (average highs around 15–17 °C in July) and wet, overcast winters (average temperatures near 0–2 °C). Rain is frequent year-round — bring waterproof layers regardless of season. Snow falls on the surrounding mountains from October through May, and the ski season in Moldemarka typically runs from December to March.

By Plane

Molde Airport, Årø (IATA: MOL), is 5 km east of the city centre. The runway runs parallel to the fjord, and the approach offers a fine panorama. SAS, Norwegian, and Widerøe operate multiple daily flights connecting Molde with Oslo (Gardermoen, about 1 hour), Bergen, and Trondheim. A taxi from the airport to the centre costs around 200–250 kr; an airport bus (Flybussen) also runs to the city centre and is cheaper. Rental cars are available at the airport.

Kristiansund Airport, Kvernberget (IATA: KSU), is about 1 hour's drive north and has a similar range of domestic flights. Ålesund Airport, Vigra (IATA: AES), is further south (roughly 2.5 hours including a ferry crossing) and also serves international routes. Both are alternatives if Molde flights are full or expensive.

By Train

The nearest railway station is in Åndalsnes, 60 km southeast of Molde, at the end of the Rauma Line (Romsdalsbanen). This is one of Norway's most scenic rail journeys, running from Dombås through the Romsdal valley with views of the Trollveggen (Troll Wall) and the Romsdal Alps. From Dombås you can connect to Oslo (about 5 hours) or Trondheim (about 3.5 hours) on the Dovre Line. NSB (Vy) operates the service; book at vy.no. A bus connects Åndalsnes station with Molde (about 1 hour).

By Car / Road

Molde sits on the E39 coastal highway, which runs north to Trondheim (roughly 300 km, 5–6 hours including ferries) and south to Ålesund (about 170 km, 2.5–3 hours including a ferry) and onward to Bergen (roughly 470 km, 8–9 hours with ferries). Road 64 connects Molde to Åndalsnes (60 km, about 1 hour) where the E136 continues inland to Dombås and links to the E6 toward Oslo. Driving in this region involves frequent fjord crossings by ferry — the Fjord1 ferry from Vestnes across the Romsdalsfjord to Molde is part of E39 and runs roughly every 30 minutes from early morning until late at night.

By Bus

Vy (formerly Nettbuss) and Nor-Way Bussekspress operate express coach services connecting Molde with Kristiansund (about 1.5 hours), Ålesund (about 2.5–3 hours), and Trondheim (about 5–6 hours). Buses depart from the central bus terminal (Rutebilstasjonen) in the city centre. Tickets can be booked online or purchased from the driver.

By Boat

The Hurtigruten coastal steamer calls at Molde daily on both the northbound and southbound routes, arriving at the quayside right in the centre of town. This is one of the most scenic ways to reach Molde, and the schedule is timed so passengers often have a few hours ashore. Book at hurtigruten.no.

Molde's compact centre is easily explored on foot — most sights, restaurants, and hotels are within a 15-minute walk of the waterfront. The local bus network, operated under the Fram brand (Trafikanten Møre og Romsdal, phone 177), connects the centre with outlying suburbs, the airport, and nearby towns. Single tickets cost around 40–50 kr within the urban zone.

Taxis are available from the taxi rank at the bus terminal. Bicycles can be rented for exploring the waterfront and the Moldemarka trails. For trips to Varden or Moldemarka, a car is convenient — the drive to Varden takes about 10 minutes — but the walking trail from the Romsdal Museum (Gamle Vardeveg) is well worth the roughly 1-hour ascent.

The Fjord1 ferry from Vestnes is open to foot passengers and is an excellent way to arrive in or depart from Molde, as it glides slowly along the city centre waterfront to the dock.

• Varden Viewpoint (407 m) — The signature panorama of Molde. From this hilltop above the town you see the fjord, its islands, and the full sweep of 222 alpine summits. On clear days the view reaches to the fishing village of Ona and the Hustadvika coast. The Vardestua restaurant at the top serves meals from roughly May to October. Accessible by car (10 minutes) or the marked nature trail from the Romsdal Museum (about 1 hour on foot).

• Romsdal Museum — One of the largest folk museums in Norway, established 1912, with over 50 historic buildings relocated from across the region to form traditional farm courtyards. The Town Street shows pre-war Molde townhouses, and Mali's Café operates in one of them. Since 2015 the museum has hosted a dedicated department for German artist Kurt Schwitters (1887–1948), who spent periods of exile in Norway. During the jazz festival the museum grounds become a major open-air concert venue. Folk dancing performances by the children's group Leikarringen accompany 40–50 cruise ship visits each summer.

• Molde Cathedral — Consecrated in 1957, this double-nave Gothic-style church features a 50-metre freestanding bell tower with a copper-clad pyramid. The interior has fine stained glass and rich Christian symbolic decoration. It is the third church on this site — the first two burned down, but an old wooden cross and Axel Ender's altarpiece "Easter Morning" were rescued from the flames.

• The Fisheries Museum on Hjertøya — A small open-air fishing-village museum on Hjertøya island, portraying coastal culture and working life from around 1850 with fishermen's shacks, a cod-liver oil factory, and a large collection of boats. Kurt Schwitters' lodge is also on Hjertøya. In summer the Hjertøy Boat runs regularly from the quay by the market square. Rowing boat hire, fishing, and swimming are available on the island.

• Aker Stadium — Home of Molde FK, one of Norway's most modern football stadiums (capacity 11,200), on the waterfront west of the centre. Designed by Molde architect Kjell Kosberg with a granite-and-glass façade, it was funded by Kjell Inge Røkke and Bjørn Rune Gjelsten at a cost of 212 million kr in 1998.

• The Jazz Boy (Jazzgutten) — A bronze saxophone player by sculptor Nina Due on the lower market square, gifted to mark the town's 250th anniversary in 1992. The fjord and mountains form the backdrop.

• The Rose Maiden (Rosepiken) — A bronze statue surrounded by a dancing fountain at Town Hall Square, sculpted by Ragnhild Butenschøn and donated by Gotlib Moe in 1971. The Town Hall itself (completed 1966, architects Cappelen and Rodahl) has one of the town's finest rose gardens on its roof.

• The Royal Birch and the Peace Grove — The tree where King Haakon and Crown Prince Olav sheltered from German bombers in April 1940. The adjacent Peace Grove, founded by poet Knut Ødegård in 1997, symbolises the ongoing struggle for freedom and human dignity.

• The Green Corridor — A nature trail running from the sea at Reknes through the Reknes Park past the baroque Chateau villa, up to the Pavilion at Rekneshaugen, through the Romsdal Museum, and on to Varden — a full walk from fjord to panoramic mountaintop.

• Molde Cruise Ship Harbour — The waterfront quays where 40–50 cruise ships dock each summer. The harbour has been a cruise destination since 1882 and the promenade is lively when ships are in port.

• Trollkyrkja (Troll's Church) — Three limestone and marble caves with underground rivers and waterfalls, located in Fræna north of Molde off Road 64. A 400-metre elevation gain brings you to the cave entrance. The area is rich in marble deposits. Free entry.

• Walk the Molde Panorama trail — Take the Gamle Vardeveg (Old Varden Road) from the Romsdal Museum through the forest to Varden (407 m). Marked trail, about 1 hour each way. Refreshments at the Vardestua restaurant in summer. This is the classic Molde excursion.

• Explore Moldemarka — The extensive hiking and skiing area north of the town. In summer, forest roads lead into wilderness with signposted trails; in winter, 10 km of prepared cross-country ski tracks (7 km floodlit) are available. The eastern area is accessible from Jensgurulia in Nordbyen; highlights include the Meekdalen valley, Kringstadsetra summer farm, and peaks Frænavarden (588 m) and Valltua (586 m). Walking maps available at the tourist office and bookshops.

• Molde International Jazz Festival (Moldejazz) — Five days in mid-July, one of Europe's oldest jazz festivals (since 1961). Concerts across town, including major outdoor shows at the Romsdal Museum. Book accommodation well in advance — the town fills up completely.

• Visit Skaret — A cultural and craft village 10 minutes by car on Road 64 from Molde. Old buildings, Norwegian food traditions, handwork and candle-making workshops (Løiten Lys, over 3 floors), farm animals, pony riding, and horse-drawn carriage rides. A good family excursion combining nature and culture.

• Take the Hurtigruten — Board the coastal steamer for a day-sail or overnight voyage north to Kristiansund or south to Ålesund. The fjord approach to Molde is particularly scenic.

• Hike Trollkyrkja caves — Drive north to Fræna and climb to the limestone caves with their underground rivers. The marble-rich landscape is unusual for Norway.

• Watch a Molde FK match — If visiting during the football season (March–November), check the fixtures at Aker Stadium. Molde FK regularly competes for the Eliteserien title and European qualification.

• Boat trip to Hjertøya — In summer, take the scheduled boat from the market square quay to the Fisheries Museum and the island's swimming and fishing spots.

Molde's dining scene centres on fresh seafood from the fjord and the Norwegian coast. Stockfish, salmon (both farmed and wild), cod, and shrimp are menu staples. Traditional Norwegian dishes like fårikål (lamb and cabbage stew), kjøttkaker (meatballs), and raspeballer (potato dumplings) appear alongside modern Nordic preparations. Lamb and goat meat from the surrounding hill farms feature in local specialities.

• Mali's Café (at the Romsdal Museum) — Set in a pre-war Molde townhouse on the museum's Town Street. Serves light meals, waffles, and coffee in a historic setting. Popular during cruise-ship visits and the jazz festival.
• Vardestua Restaurant (at Varden) — Open roughly May–October at the Varden viewpoint. The panoramic dining room overlooks the fjord and the 222-summit panorama. Mid-range to upscale pricing; reservations advisable on summer evenings.
• Scandic Alexandra Molde — The hotel restaurant serves Norwegian and international cuisine, with good seafood options. Mid-range.
• Various waterfront cafés and restaurants — The area around the market square and cruise-ship quay has several casual eateries. Fish soup, fish cakes, and open-faced sandwiches are typical lunch offerings at 100–200 kr.
• Supermarket self-catering — Budget travellers can stock up at Rema 1000 or Kiwi in the centre. Norwegian supermarkets sell excellent bread, cured salmon (røkt laks), brunost (brown cheese), and fresh shrimp by weight.

Vegetarian options are limited outside the larger restaurants; most menus are heavily fish- and meat-oriented. Allergen information is typically available, and gluten-free bread is common.

Norway's drinking culture is social and moderate. Molde has a handful of pubs and bars along the waterfront and in the centre, though nightlife is quiet outside the jazz festival week (mid-July), when pop-up venues and outdoor concerts transform the town. Local and national craft beers (from breweries such as Hogna, Kinn, and others in Western Norway) are increasingly available alongside the standard Ringnes, Hansa, and Mack lagers. A draught beer costs 90–130 kr in a bar.

Aquavit (akevitt) is the traditional Norwegian spirit, typically served with festive meals — try a local variety if offered. Coffee culture is strong; Norwegians drink among the most coffee per capita in the world, and good filter coffee and espresso are available at cafés throughout town.

Tap water in Molde is safe and excellent — no need to buy bottled water.

• Budget: Molde Vandrerhjem (Molde Hostel / HI-affiliated) — centrally located dormitory and private rooms, roughly 350–600 kr per person. Camping is also possible at Molde Camping, which has cabins and tent pitches in a scenic fjord-side location.

• Mid-range: Scandic Alexandra Molde — a large, well-located hotel on the waterfront near the Hurtigruten quay. Rooms from roughly 1,200–1,800 kr per night in peak season. Quality Hotel Alexandra — another central option with fjord views, similar pricing.

• Upscale: Seilet Hotel (The Sail Hotel) — an architecturally distinctive building shaped like a sail on the waterfront. Rooms from around 2,000–3,000 kr in peak season, with panoramic views of the fjord and mountains. Hotel Molde Fjordstuer — a smaller, well-appointed waterfront hotel with a focus on local food and design, 1,500–2,500 kr.

Book well ahead during Moldejazz (mid-July) — the town's accommodation fills to capacity, and prices spike.

Molde's centre has a modest shopping strip along Storgata and the pedestrian streets near the market square. Norwegian knitwear (wool sweaters, lusekofte), troll figurines, and rose-painted (rosemaling) wooden crafts are the standard souvenirs. The Romsdal Museum shop sells local handicrafts and folk-art items. At Skaret (10 minutes by car on Road 64) you can find rose-painted artefacts, ceramics, woven goods, silverwork, knitwear, and a large selection of handmade decorative candles from Løiten Lys — the candle-making workshop spans three floors and is one of the most unusual shops in the region. Local farm food products (cheeses, cured meats, jams) are available at Skaret and at the market square area when cruise ships are in port. Supermarkets (Rema 1000, Kiwi, Coop) are in the centre and suburbs for everyday needs.

• Åndalsnes (60 km, about 1 hour by car or bus) — Gateway to the Romsdal Alps, the Troll Wall (Trollveggen, Europe's tallest vertical rock face), and the start of the Rauma Railway scenic rail line to Dombås. Excellent hiking and climbing.

• Atlanterhavsvegen (Atlantic Ocean Road) (about 1.5 hours drive north via E39) — One of Norway's most dramatic scenic drives, hopping across bridges between small islands on the open ocean. Frequently voted one of the world's best road trips.

• Ålesund (about 170 km south, 2.5–3 hours including ferry) — Norway's most beautiful Art Nouveau city, rebuilt in ornate Jugendstil after a devastating fire in 1904. Aquarium, mountain viewpoints, and a vibrant harbour.

• Kristiansund (about 100 km north, 1.5 hours by car) — A colourful coastal town built across several islands, famous for its klippfisk (dried salt cod) tradition and the Sundbåt harbour ferry, one of the world's oldest public-transport boat services.

• Trollstigen (about 75 km from Molde via Åndalsnes) — The iconic serpentine mountain road with 11 hairpin bends and a waterfall. Open roughly late May to October; a major viewpoint and engineering landmark.

• Geirangerfjord (about 3–4 hours from Molde via Åndalsnes and the Trollstigen road or via ferry connections) — A UNESCO World Heritage fjord with sheer cliffs and famous waterfalls. One of Norway's most visited natural attractions.