Roses, jazz and peak panorama
When it comes to Molde, there are four things you simply cannot miss: roses, jazz, panoramic views and football. If you talk to a Norwegian about Molde, most will refer to it as The Town of The Roses due to the city's many lush rose gardens. The term was first coined in 1913 as a brand name for marketing the city. Jazz fans from around the world come to experience the Molde International Jazz Festival staged in Molde every summer. The music festival is Europe's oldest annual jazz festival. All Molde comes alive with music when many thousands come to the city during the festival week.
222 mountain peaks
Molde is located along the Romsdalsfjord and is known for its beautiful surroundings and fantastic views. From the viewpoint Varden (407 masl) you can enjoy the vista of the 222 mountain peaks in the Molde panorama. You can get there in 10 minutes by car from the city center, or an hour on foot. At the top is the restaurant Vardestua, where you can stop for refreshments while resting your eyes on the mountain tops.
Architecture and Romsdal history
Once you are here, you cannot help but notice Aker Stadion and its nearest neighbor Scandic Seilet. Both the hotel by the sea and the football stadium where Molde FK is located were designed by Molde architect Kjell Kosberg. Aker Station has a granite stone and glass façade, while large parts of the Scandic Seilet, which is built on stilts in the sea, towers magnificently 82 meters above sea level.
At Romsdalsmuseet in Molde you can learn more about the history and way of life in Romsdal. For those interested in architecture, we recommend visiting the museum building Krona, which opened in 2016. This is an architectural attraction with distinctive wooden structures both inside and out.
Urban skiing, climbing tower and diving board with mountain views
From the center of Molde it is only a 10 minute drive to Tusten Ski Lifts and the Climbing Park Høyt og Lavt. The ski resort boasts over 500 meters of altitude with raw freeriding, spectacular views and perhaps Norway's best and safest children's slope. Close to the ski resort you can enjoy climbing trails in the forest, a climbing tower with climbing wall, and a free fall simulator.The climbing park also features activities adapted to the youngest and the oldest in your travel group; everyone receives training before embarking on the adventure. Also stop by Moldebadet, an indoor water park in an idyllic location in the heart of Molde city. This spa offers various pool experiences and activities, as well as its own shop and café.
Norway's longest continuous stone staircase
When you visit Molde, taking a mountain hike in the ocean gap or on peaks in Romsdalen are nearby delights. On the island paradise Midsund you will find Norway's longest continuous stone staircase. The Midsund stairs consist of four stair systems up to different peaks. Here, steep mountain sides meet the ocean and give you a great 360-degree view of the ocean gap on the horizon, mountains, and valleys - a unique place for enjoying both sunrise and sunset.
