Molde Municipality includes part of the
Romsdal peninsula as well as many islands including the islands of
Otrøya and
Midøya. To the southeast, Molde Municipality stretches about inland. The
town of Molde consists of a long and wide strip of urban land running east–west along the north shore of the
Moldefjord, an arm of the
Romsdalsfjord, on the
Romsdal peninsula. The city is sheltered by
Bolsøya and the
Molde archipelago, a chain of low-lying islands and islets, to the south, and the wood-clad hills of
Moldemarka to the north. The city centre is located just west of the river
Moldeelva, which runs into the city from the north, originating in the
Moldevatnet lake, through the valley Moldedalen. Despite the river being minor and seasonal, it supported several
sawmills in the 16th and 17th centuries. This gave rise to the original town itself through a combination of a good harbour, proximity to the sea routes, vast timber resources, and a river capable of supporting mills. In 1909, the river housed the first
hydro electric power plant capable of providing sufficient electricity for the city, and the upper reaches of the river still provide drinking water for most of the city. The highest point in the municipality is the tall mountain
Kleneggen. Its panoramic view of some 222 partly snow-clad peaks, usually referred to as the
Molde panorama, is one of Molde's main attractions, and has drawn tourists to the city since the 19th century. Molde is nicknamed the
Town of Roses, a name which originated during Molde's era as a tourist destination of international fame in the late 19th century. Neighbouring municipalities are
Aukra,
Gjemnes, and
Hustadvika (to the north);
Ålesund (to the southwest);
Vestnes and
Rauma (to the south); and
Tingvoll and
Sunndal (to the east).
Points of interest Some points of interest in and near Molde Municipality: •
Salmon,
sea trout and
sea char are found in the rivers throughout the area, especially the
Rauma,
Driva, and
Eira, already legendary among the British
gentry in the mid-19th century.
Trout is abundant in most lakes.
Cod,
pollock,
saithe,
mackerel and other species of saltwater fish are commonly caught in the Romsdalsfjord, both from land and from boat.
Skiing is a common activity among the inhabitants of Molde in the winter, on groomed tracks, in resorts or by own trail. There are several
rock climbing,
ice climbing,
bouldering,
glacier and
basejumping areas in the immediate vicinity of Molde. • The
Atlantic road was voted the Norwegian Construction of the Century in 2005. It is built on bridges and landfills across small islands and skerries, and spans from the small communities of Vikan and Vevang to
Averøya, an island with several historic landmarks, such as the Bremsnes cave with
Mesolithic findings from the
Fosna culture, the
mediaeval Kvernes stave church, and Langøysund, now a remote fishing community, but once a bustling port along the main coastal route. Langøysund was the site of the compromise between King
Magnus I and the farmers along the coast in 1040. The compromise is regarded as Norway's
Magna Carta, and is commemorated though the
Pilespisser () monument. •
Trollkirka () is a marble grotto leading up to an underground waterfall. The grotto is situated 30 minutes outside Molde, followed by a 1-hour hike up a steep trail.
Trollveggen is Europe's tallest vertical, overhanging mountain face, with several very difficult climbing routes.
Trollstigen is the most visited tourist road in Norway. The road twists and turns its way up an almost vertical mountainside through 11 hairpin bends to an altitude of .
Mardalsfossen is the highest
waterfall in Northern Europe and the fourth highest waterfall in the world, cascading 297 metres down into the valley. The total height of the waterfall is . •
Bud is a fishing village on the very tip of the
Romsdal peninsula. It gained importance during the
Middle Ages as a trading post, and hosted the last free
Privy Council of Norway in 1533, a desperate attempt to save the country's independence and stave off the
Protestant Reformation, led by
Olav Engelbrektsson,
archbishop of Nidaros (today
Trondheim). The massive Ergan coastal defences, a restored German coastal fort from
World War II, and a part of the
Atlantic Wall, is situated in Bud. The fishing communities of Ona, Bjørnsund and Håholmen are located on remote islands off the coast, only accessible by boat or ferry.
Moldemarka Moldemarka, the hilly woodland area north of the city, is
public land. The area has an extensive network of paths, walking trails and skiing tracks. Forest roads enter the area from several directions. Bulletin boards and maps provide information regarding local plants and wildlife, as well as signposts along the trails. Marked trails lead to a number of peaks, sites and fishing lakes and rivers. A national fishing licence is required to fish in the lakes and streams. Varden,
above sea level is a viewpoint directly above Molde, with a good view of the city, the
fjord with the
Molde archipelago and the
Molde panorama.
Climate Molde has a temperate
oceanic climate (
Cfb) also known as marine west coast climate. Molde holds the national high for the month of October, with recorded on 11 October 2005. Due to its geographic location, Molde experiences frequent snowfalls in winter, but this snow is usually wet as the winters tend to be mild. The record high was recorded 13 July 2025. The record low was recorded in both January and February 2010. A
natural phenomenon occurring in Molde and the adjacent district, are frequent winter days with temperatures above , sometimes even above . This is due to the
foehn wind from south and south-east. The sheltered location of the city, facing south with hills to the north, mountains to the east and mountainous islands to the west, contributes to Molde's climate and rich plant life, especially among species naturally growing on far lower latitudes, like
chestnut,
oak,
tilia (
lime or
linden),
beech,
yew, and others. ==Government==