Island hopping by bike along the coast of Romsdal and Nordmøre

Start in the heart of Molde and enjoy an easy 10 km ride on a continuous cycle path to the ferry from Mordalsvågen to Otrøya island on Midsund. Take in the breathtaking views of Romsdalsfjord and the surrounding mountains. Make sure to stop at the family-friendly Kringstadbukta beach.

If you have time, you should also stop by the hiking trails at Julneset. This area offers excellent fishing opportunities and several WWII war memorials. The round trip to Julneset is approximately 3 km.

A trip around Midsund

A short 10-minute ferry ride from Mordalvågen takes you across Julsundet to Solholmen on Otrøya. Head south through the sun-facing and beautiful fjord landscape along Midfjorden to Midsund.

Along the way, you will encounter the “Hellekista” rock carvings at Nord-Heggdal, a Stone Age tomb dated to 3000–1800 years before our era, the 1880 mill house in Heggdalsvika, and Klauset coastal fort from WWII.

From Midsund, cycle over the Midsund bridge to the next island, Midøya. Ride along the southern side and enjoy the sea view. Stop by sights like the Bjørneremshelleren caves, the open-air area at Sandane with its hiking trails and beach, and Riksrensen, the historic national border between Sweden and Denmark/Norway. All sites are well signposted.

Visit the famous stone staircase Midsundtrappene

Nepalese Sherpas have constructed impressive stone staircases stretching up the mountainsides on Otrøya and Midøya islands. Choose between Rørsethornet or Digergubben on Otrøya or Bløkallen on Midøya. If you have time for experiences along the way, a hike up Midsundtrappene should be included. Bløkallen offers varied terrain with wooden paths, steps and natural paths and is said to be the most beautiful walk. From the top, you will be rewarded with a stunning sea and mountain view. Back in Midsund, Utendørs AS offers kayak rentals, food services and a sports shop with a wide selection of sports and leisure items.

Unique overnight stay in Midsund

Would you like to try an exceptional overnight stay on your trip? In that case, you can choose between two hammock parks with toilet facilities at Misund: Digergubben atop the mountain or Riksgrensen, between the trees at the shore and close to the sea. Both locations can be booked in advance through Utendørs AS.

Returning from Midsund to the ferry quay at Solholmen, you can cycle along the island's north side and enjoy 21 kilometres of sea views. Be careful on this stretch, as traffic can be heavy. Board the ferry to Mordalsvågen and continue cycling towards Hollingen, where another ferry will take you to Gossen on Aukra.

Unlike Midsund, the island Gossen is as flat as a pancake and designed for the best cycling holidays ever. Here, you will find an eldorado of lovely beaches – perfect for a break and a cooling bath. When you get off the ferry, you still choose the shortest route to the next ferry quay, Småge. The stretch runs 11 km via Tangenvegen.

If you cycle during spring, you will pass a wonderful daffodil field next to the Aukra church. This field has bloomed every spring for hundreds of years, and if we are to believe a mixture of historical facts and catchy myths, the origin of these bright yellow lines is the Garden of Gethsemane in Jerusalem!

Island hopping with the ferry Utasundsferja

The next ferry journey goes between the islands of Gossen, Orta, Sandøya, Ona, and Finnøya. Make space for plenty of time to visit all these islands. Maybe you even want to spend the night on Finnøya or Ona? A must on your trip is a visit to Ona and a walk to the Ona lighthouse. When the ferry arrives at Finnøya, you can stay and eat at Finnøy Havstuer – but what could be better than a refreshing swim in the swimming facility “Håp i havet” before dinner?

A tour around Harøya by bike

From Finnøya, you can also embark on a delightful cycling adventure around the island of Harøya. Continue from Finnøya over the breakwater to Steinshamn, then follow the inside of the Harøyfjord to Myklebust. For stunning sea views, continue along the north side towards Røsok and Morsund, with vistas of Marøya and Brunvoll.

Along the way, consider stopping at the historic national border memorial (yes, it was here, too!) and perhaps take a short hike to Harøya's highest peak, the 156-metre-high Harøyburet. Steinshamn, once a renowned whaling centre, is home to Toroddbua, a small private museum by Torodd Husøy that shares the rich story of seafaring and whaling.

Take the ferry back to Gossen, arriving at Småge ferry quay. This flat island offers a delightful cycling experience with various routes, including a trip to Rindarøya in the island’s far north. Here, you will find the charming fishing village of Røssøyvågen. Explore the numerous hiking trails, stop at the sandy beach in Røabukta and enjoy the mini-mountain hike to the top of Gossen's highest point, Jermannsburet (99 m.a.s.l.).

Continue along Løvikveien to the ferry that takes you to Hollingsholmen, part of Hustadvika. From here, cycle to Jendem and turn west along Hoemvegen outside the characteristic Jendemsfjellet mountain to Aureosen, preferably with a slight detour on the road and bridge to Vågøya. Proceed to Sandsbukta and Malmefjorden, joining the main road from Molde with a continuous cycle path to Elnesvågen and past Tornes. The road from Stavik passes Skjæret and Harøysundet, leading to the fishing village of Bud. Much of this route features footpaths and cycle paths along the motorway to Bud.

An exciting detour

For an adventurous detour, turn off at Sylteosen and follow the village road to Sylte, Elnes, and Elnesvågen. From the Eidem junction, turn toward Farstad and take the lightly trafficked Åsvegen to Tornes. Alternatively, follow the Tornes hiking trail between Løset and Stavik, starting around 200 metres past the Sagatun community centre.

For more adventure, consider hiking up to Trollkirka, an impressive limestone cave with an internal waterfall. Bring a head torch to explore the milky white marble inside. Turn off at the Moakrysset roundabout and cycle towards Eide until you reach the car park at the trailhead for Trollkirka, about a 90-minute hike to the cave entrance.

Discover Bud fishing village

In the 17th century, Bud was the largest trading centre between Trondheim and Bergen. Today, it retains its charming, active fishing village character, situated on the outermost headland between Julsundet fjord and the rugged Hustadvika coastline.

Dine at a the fish restaurants Slipen or Bryggjen i Bud, visit the Bud Museum dedicated to coastal culture and underwater archaeology, and explore historical WWII memorabilia above and below ground at Ergan Coastal Fort. Admire the Bud cross church with its distinctive onion dome and enjoy the breathtaking views of Bjørnsund and Hustadvika from Ergan ridge – where both Bud Museum and Ergan Kystfort are located. Bud is the endpoint of the Atlantic Road, from where you can cycle the Coastal Path to Kjeksa and the famous bridges along the Atlantic Road. For a short hike with even more impressive views, Gulberget is a good choice.

The next stretch also offers many tempting detours close to the vast ocean. First, ride along the cycle path to the Kjeksa viewpoint and then to Bergset. The cycle path ends here, and you will need to share the road with motorists. Along the way, consider detours to Drågen, Vikan, and Askevågen.

Discover more of the coastal culture

Visit the coastal farm Maleremmen, part of the Romsdal Museum, to see how a typical fisherman's family lived a few generations ago. Stop at the historic burial cairns at Malefeten, located on the left just before Hustad, and see the memorial to King Øystein Magnusson, who died here in 1123.

Enjoy a short hike up the 200-metre-high rocky outcrop known as Aslaksteinen. A steep passage secured with chains adds to the adventure. This location served as a refuge during times of unrest. Archaeological excavations have revealed 2,000-year-old human traces, indicating a Viking Age settlement. Informative signs at the start and top of the trail provide insights into this fascinating part of Norwegian history.

Farstadsanden – another highlight of the trip

Continue towards Farstad, taking the road around Storholmen for a new perspective on Hustadvika. At Farstad, you will discover Breivika and the Farstadsanden beach, where waves from the Norwegian Sea roll in. Farstadsanden is a popular beach on warm summer days, while Breivika and Storholmen are havens for kiters and surfers year-round. You can also join beach yoga sessions with OmStavika and stay overnight at Hustadvika Havhotell, where you will be as close to the waves as possible.

When travelling further from Farstad towards Vevang, the lovely detour via Skotheimsvika is recommended as an excellent alternative to the main road. Another worthwhile detour is to Kråkholmen boat harbour, where you can look out towards Teistklubben and Kvitholmen with their distinctive double lighthouses. Be sure to explore the marble sculpture "Woman by the Sea" by Torild Storvik Malmedal and the artwork "The Marble Worm" before continuing your journey.

You are now crossing from Romsdal to Nordmøre. Upon reaching Vevang, you begin the most famous part of the Norwegian Scenic Route, the Atlantic Road. This 8.3-kilometre stretch includes eight bridges and is renowned as one of the world's most spectacular routes. The road winds over islands and straits between Vevang in Hustadvika and Kårvåg on Averøya island.

Opened in 1989 and designated a National Tourist Route, the Atlantic Road spans 35 kilometres from Bud in the south to Kårvåg in the north. The landscape is magnificent and filled with contrasts, earning accolades as both the best car and cycling experience.

The main attractions when cycling the Atlantic Road are the breathtaking nature, dramatic landscapes, and impressive bridge structures, particularly the 260-metre Storseisund Bridge with its 23-metre sailing height. Of course, the surroundings can be savoured from your bike seat, but the numerous tempting stops along the way are irresistible.

• Read more on Seven Refreshing Experiences Along the Atlantic Road

The final leg of your bike trip from Molde to Kristiansund takes you across Averøya, a miniature Norway with fjords, mountains, forests, and sea. The route from Kårvåg in the southwest to Sveggen in the northeast can be cycled along the Korstadfjord or on the outer path facing the fresh sea. We recommend the latter for its numerous detour opportunities along scenic side roads. Turn off at Hoset, enjoying 7 kilometres of low-traffic roads to Henda, Langøya, Tjønnøya, Honningsøya, and Sør-Ramsøya.

Norway’s “Magna Carta” took place here

On Langøya island, you can see the stone sculpture "Arrowheads", commemorating a historic meeting between King Magnus the Good and coastal farmers in 1040. The peaceful negotiations led to significant legislative changes, earning the meeting the nickname "Norway's Magna Carta". The cairn-shaped monument, created by sculptor Kristian Blystad, was erected in 1989.

The final stop on this stretch out to sea is Sør-Ramsøya. Park your bike and walk onto the hillside for an impressive sea view and a glimpse of the Hestskjæret lighthouse. Behind you, large drying racks for fish are often loaded with fish to dry. This spot is particularly beautiful for watching the sunset in midsummer.

Visit Nordmøre’s largest cave

Other highlights of Averøya include Bremsneshatten, a hat-shaped crag with numerous archaeological finds, and Nordmøre's largest cave, Bremsneshola. The area is also a popular meeting point for climbers. From here, the distance to the Atlantic Tunnel’s start is short. If you are ready for a final detour, the trip to the idyllic Sveggen with its picturesque Sveggesundet is a good choice. You can stay overnight at Sveggvika guest house – a perfect base for nature-based experiences where the sea meets fjord and mountains.

Last stretch: Atlanterhavstunellen – the Atlantic Tunnel

At the car park and bus stop at the Atlantic Tunnel, you have several options:

1. Cycle back the shortest way to Molde
2. Be picked up by friends with a car and bike rack
3. Take the bus through the underwater tunnel to Kristiansund

Please note that cycling through the deep and steep undersea Atlantic tunnel is strictly forbidden. To reach Kristiansund, you must take a bus or taxi. For information on bus schedules and how to book a taxi with a bike rack, see timetables at frammr.no or the notice board at the bus stop inside the car park.

Experience Kristiansund

Once in Kristiansund, you can enjoy local delicacies like clipfish (dried, salted cod), travel between the islands on the Sundbåten boat, or climb the stairs to Kvernberget. Discover more about what Kristiansund has to offer here.