Charmed by Coastal Views and Marble Caves in Molde, Norway

Molde, Norway was a port I hadn’t been to before, and I didn’t know much going in, just that it was supposed to be scenic. Turns out, that was a massive understatement. Arriving by cruise ship in June, I stepped off into the fresh summer air and started the day with a solo wander along the waterfront. Molde’s compact center made it easy to pop into a few shops and soak in the views before my afternoon excursion.

The tour I booked was called “Bergatt Experience & The Stunning Atlantic” and honestly, it lived up to the name. We started with a short motorcoach ride through Molde, passing by pretty neighborhoods and learning a bit about the area. Then came the real highlight, the Bergatt marble mine. Deep underground, there’s a still lake where we boarded a raft and glided through a quiet, echoey chamber of stone. The guide shared insights on how marble is naturally formed, and we even watched a short film inside the mine’s carved-out concert hall. I had no idea marble came in so many colors until I saw them up close.

After the mine, we were back on the road heading toward the Atlanterhavsveien, also known as the Atlantic Road. This stretch of scenic highway twists and turns right at the edge of the Norwegian Sea. We stopped for a walk along the floating boardwalk on Eldhusøya, where the views were absolutely surreal. There’s a nearby bridge that locals say showed up in a James Bond movie, whether it did or not, it definitely looked cinematic.

The last stop was Bud, a quiet fishing village with big WWII history. At the edge of town is a German bunker museum. Walking past rusted artillery, camouflaged domes, and memorial stones, it was easy to feel the weight of what once happened here. And yet, with those same sweeping sea views in every direction, the place somehow still feels peaceful.

This whole excursion lasted around six hours, but the variety made it feel like multiple trips in one. From marble caves to war relics to some of the most stunning coastline I’ve ever seen, Molde might not be the most famous port in Norway, but between the natural beauty, unique experiences, and unexpected history, this little slice of the coast is well worth a visit.