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Tailor your dream vacation

A dream vacation looks different for everyone. Some prefer the joys of city life, enjoying a freshly brewed coffee at a cozy café, strolling through shops while feeling the fjord air fill your lungs, dining at exciting restaurants, or getting swept up in the atmosphere at a concert. Others long for long mountain hikes, camping under the open sky in a hammock, or spending the night by a campfire that slowly burns out before a new day begins – with fresh outdoor adventures; hiking, skiing, mushroom picking, surfing, kayaking, sea fishing, or a refreshing dip in the cold, fresh saltwater!

At the crossroads, you’ll find places like Molde, which offers the conveniences of city life just a stone’s throw away from fantastic natural experiences.

Here, there’s something for everyone, no matter whether you want to get fit or calm your soul. In Molde, you can wake up in the morning, have breakfast while checking the weather forecast, and 20 minutes later, be ready for a hike into the wilderness or up a mountain – on foot or by ski. The hike can last as long as you want, and you don’t need to walk more than an hour to reach a peak with a view of a unique mountain landscape and out to the skerries and islands of the Norwegian Sea. After the hike, you can head straight into the city and relax your body with a sauna and a fjord bath. End the day with a delicious burger and a drink.

Jenter som tar badstue
The floating sauna Nausta is located at the seafront in the center of Molde. | © Andreas Winter

Hear from the locals

Anna Amundsen, a true local of Romsdal, shares why she loves living in Molde:
“Just as short a walk to the city and a pint as to a ski tour up in the hills! In Molde, everything is around you – the fjord, the islands, the mountains, and the tops with stunning views! Sunshine all year round (when the weather’s good, of course)!”
- Anna Amundsen

The seafront

Along Molde’s city center stretches the newly renovated seafront, from the stadium in the west to the ferry terminal in the east. This over-kilometer-long promenade features lovely walking paths, dock facilities, play areas, benches, sculptures, and a fantastic sea bath with a sauna! Here, you’ll also find cafes, restaurants, and pubs with stunning views of the fjord, islands, and mountains. The Salmon Center Molde, located centrally on the seafront, offers both educational experiences about salmon and the opportunity to book a rib-tour to visit the fish farms.

Sjøfronten Molde
The seafront of Molde has undergone a significant upgrade in recent years.|© Andreas Winter

Dining in Molde

In Molde, you’ll find great lunch spots, exciting restaurants, and wine bars. Visit Fole Godt – a craft bakery with a large display counter and a cozy atmosphere. Here, you’ll get great coffee that you can enjoy in-house or take away. Local produce, generous portions, and an extensive wine list await you at KØL Bar & Bistro by the seafront. Nearby, the restaurant Glass invites you to enjoy vibrant life, delicious food, and great drinks. For a seafood dinner, head to Restaurant Hav. With a menu filled with local delicacies from the sea, you’re guaranteed a fantastic dining experience. For cocktails and a lively atmosphere, check out Rosehagen Wine Bar or SYD, both located by the seafront.

Jump into the sea or splash around indoors

Relax in the floating sauna, Nausta. At the seafront, Nausta is a floating sauna connected to the new sea bath. Here, you can unwind and recharge after a long day of skiing or hiking, or as a refreshing start to a new day of events!

Do you find the fjord water too cold? Moldebadet is a modern water park with a swimming pool, children's pool, hot tubs, wellness pool, sports pool, diving tower, and various water slides.

Jenter som sitter utenfor på en benk på den flytende badstua Nausta
© Andreas Winter

Moldivene

Just outside of Molde city center lies what locals call Moldivende – a chain of small islands and long, narrow islets in the fjord. In the summer, daily boat tours take you out to Hjertøya, where you’ll find a beautiful sandy beach, a large grassy area, a swimming platform, and a diving tower. You can fish, enjoy a picnic, walk along marked paths, or get a glimpse of local coastal culture at the Fishermen’s Museum.

In the middle of the Romsdal Fjord lies "The Holy Island," Veøya, which once served as the most important center in Norway between Bjørgvin and Nidaros. You can visit the medieval church, and during the summer holidays, there are guided tours.

Every summer, you can take the summer boat on Romsdalsfjord to Hjertøya and Veøya.
Every summer, you can take the summer boat on Romsdalsfjord to Hjertøya and Veøya. | © Tonje Sæthre

Varden

To experience panoramic views of the city of Molde and the 222 mountain peaks, head to the small peak of Varden. This peak is often visited by tourists on foot, by bus, or by car – as long as the road is open. You can walk this trail from the city center along the “Green Corridor”, which takes you through the Chateau garden, over Rekneshaugen and Romsdalsmuseet, past the Holmarka Farm, and up to Grua, which serves as the starting point for several hikes in the Moldemarka. From Grua, the path continues up the old Vardevegen trail, past Storlihytta and up to Varden. The estimated walking time from the center to the top is 1.5 hours.

The summer and winter paradise Tusten

Just 10 minutes from the center of Molde lies Tusten, which offers activities for both young and old, both winter and summer. In the summer, you can visit the Høyt & Lavt climbing park. A day here offers activities and challenges for nearly all ages and skill levels. Swing across the zip-line or leap from the quick jump – you’ll surely get butterflies in your stomach. The park has both children's, family, and more challenging routes.

When the mountains are dressed in winter garb, Tusten Ski Resort offers amazing off-piste skiing, four floodlit slopes, a terrain park, a children's slope, and a large ski lodge. The long lift takes you all the way to the top, offering perhaps Norway’s finest view: the Molde panorama with its 222 peaks!

Majestic mountains

Molde is known for its unique mountain view of the 222 peaks across the Romsdal Fjord – the famous Molde Panorama! But around the city, there are also mountains that are very accessible for both short and long hikes. There are countless mountains near Molde: tall, round, sharp, and low. Some steep, some gentle, some with wide ridges and large plateaus, and others so airy that it takes your breath away. There are enough mountains here for a lifetime – and there’s a peak for everyone! Here are some hike suggestions within a day’s reach from Molde.

Midsundtrappene - Rørsethornet
View from Rørsethornet – one of the spectacular Midsundtrappene | © Øyvind Kåre Sunde