Molde Harbor Views and the Atlantic Road

The air along the harbor felt cool and slightly salty as small boats rocked gently beside the pier. Arriving by cruise ship in Molde, I spent the early morning walking along the waterfront and browsing a few nearby shops before my excursion began.

As the town slowly woke up around me, Molde (Molde – Pronounced [mowl·duh]) felt relaxed and unhurried. The harbor sits along the Romsdalsfjord, surrounded by green hills and distant mountains that seem to rise straight out of the water.

A few hours later I boarded a motorcoach for the excursion called “Bergtatt Experience & The Stunning Atlantic.” The highlight was visiting the Bergtatt marble mine where we boarded a large raft and floated across an underground lake deep inside the mountain. As we moved through the dark tunnels the guide explained how the marble formed and how the mine operated for decades.

After leaving the mine we continued through Norway’s countryside toward the Norwegian Sea. The drive along Atlanterhavsveien, the Atlantic Road, was spectacular with bridges stretching across small islands and open water. At Eldhusøya we walked along the curved floating boardwalk while waves rolled in from the sea, and later in the fishing village of Bud we explored a preserved WWII German coastal bunker.

Molde itself has a long history tied to the sea and the surrounding mountains. Often called the “Town of Roses,” the city became a popular destination for travelers in the 1800s who came to enjoy the views of the Romsdal Alps. Even today the scenery remains the biggest draw, with fjords, islands, and coastal roads offering some of the most beautiful landscapes in western Norway.