Molde – mountain views and jazz by the fjord
The ‘City of Roses’ serves up soft sea air, a skyline of 222 peaks and Norway’s most iconic jazz festival.
Molde spreads along the southern shore of the Romsdal peninsula at the wide mouth of the Romsdalsfjord. For over a century, it’s drawn visitors with its fresh mountain air, gardens of roses and famous view of 222 peaks.
Every July, this peaceful town fills with the sounds of the Molde International Jazz Festival, Norway’s best and the oldest continuous jazz festival in the world.
Molde: roses, royalty and resistance
Two boulders bearing petroglyphs in the west of the city tell of humans roaming these shores as early as 5,000 years ago. But it was Molde’s mild climate and sweeping views that made it a magnet for Europe’s elite in the 1800s. Rose gardens flourished, fishing and hiking took off, and German Emperor Wilhelm II dubbed it “The Nice of the North”.
Then came April 1940. As Nazi forces advanced, King Haakon VII and the Norwegian parliament took refuge in Molde for a tense week. The town was bombed repeatedly while Norway’s gold reserve was hidden in a nearby clothing factory. Eventually, the royal family and government were evacuated by British ship – but much of old Molde was left in ruins.
Today, Molde is a cultured town with modern flair. Its many lush and flowering rose gardens, which have earned it the nickname ‘The City of Roses’, make the city a picturesque endpoint to our Atlantic Ocean Road excursion.
Every July, the Molde International Jazz Festival – Moldejazz – transforms the town with over 100 concerts and world-class musicians.
It’s also home to the Romsdal Museum, where you can explore historic homes and learn about the bunad, our national costume.
What is the weather like in Molde?
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | June | Jul | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Average temp °C (min) | -3 | -3 | -2 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 4 | 0 | -2 |
Average temp °C (max) | 0 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 11 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 8 | 4 | 1 |
As seen from the sea
As your ship rounds into the harbour, Molde’s skyline comes into focus. The silver sail of the Scandic Seilet hotel glints at the water’s edge. Just inland, the red-roofed cathedral and freestanding bell tower rise above town, and the modern Romsdal Museum sits further back.
On a clear day, the famous arc of snow-dusted peaks lines the southern horizon – a view so perfect it’s painted into the city’s soul.
Port address: Hamnegata 8, 6413 Molde
