The Romsdalsfjord, from snowy mountains to beautiful coastline of islands and reefs. Experience all this in one day due to the short distance from mountains to coast.
Trollstigen, the Atlantic Road, Romsdalseggen and Midsundtrappene are great places to visit when you are in Romsdal. The Romsdalsfjord is located in the county of Møre og Romsdal, north in Western Norway.
Visit Northwest
Visit Northwest is the official destination company for the Romsdalsfjord, Romsdal and Nordmøre area.
Some highlights from the Romsdalsfjord area
From snowy mountains to beautiful coastline of islands and reefs. Experience all this in one day due to the short distance from mountains to coast.
Trollstigen, The Troll Wall, Romsdalseggen, Rampestreken and Litlefjellet are great places to visit in the inner part of the Romsdalsfjord, where the fjord meets the spectacular and alpine Romsdal mountains.
Drive to the viewpoint Varden at 407 masl and take in the spectacular Molde Panoramic View towards the Romsdalsfjord and the 222 snowcapped mountains. Ona Island and Ona Lighthouse, The Atlantic Road and Midsundtrappene are attractions facing the Atlantic Ocean.
Travel green to Åndalsnes with Rauma Railway, a wild, beautiful and unique experience regardless of season. From Åndalsnes Railway Station, you can walk straight from the train and over to the Romsdal Gondola that takes you up to the city-mountain Mt Nesaksla and Eggen Restaurant.
From Mt Nesaksla you have a fantastic view towards Isfjorden, down to the Romsdalsfjord and up towards the Romsdalen Valley which you have just experienced from the train ride along the Rauma Railway. The Romsdalsfjord is located in the county of Møre og Romsdal, north in Western Norway.
Åndalsnes – the “Hub” by the Romsdalsfjord
-Then he told him about Åndalsnes, a tiny settlement up in Romsdalen Valley, surrounded by high mountains which were so beautiful that his mother had always said that that was where God had started when He was creating the world, and that He had spent so long on Romsdalen that the rest of the world had to be done post-haste to be finished by Sunday. Jo Nesbø, The Bat
Åndalsnes is the “Hub” in Romsdal, and is situated in the middle of all the great things that is worth seeing and doing in the Romsdalsfjord area.
Åndalsnes is a great place to stay if you want to see and explore Trollstigen, Trollveggen, the Romsdal Gondola, the Rauma Railway and the Romsdalseggen mountain ridge.
Geiranger and the Geirangerfjord are well known places nearby. The road there, Geiranger – Trollstigen National Tourist Route, is an attraction in itself.
If you go westwards, you have the Atlantic Coast with the Atlantic Road, Ona Island with Ona Lighthouse, Bjørnsund and Midsundtrappene. Go North-East, and you will find the beautiful Eikesdal and the Mardalsfossen Waterfall, Aursjøvegen Mountainroad, and Litjdalen Valley. The cities of Ålesund, Molde and Kristiansund are nearby.
Isfjorden in Romsdal
Isfjorden is a village at the innermost part of the Romsdalsfjord, close to Åndalsnes in Møre og Romsdal county. From Isfjorden there are easy arrivals to the surrounding valleys and mountains which is great for adventures.
Some of Norways most famous mountains are located in Isfjorden and nearby: Romsdalshorn, the Troll Wall (Trollveggen), Vengetind, Blånebba, Juratind, Kirketaket and Torshammaren are some of them. The Romsdalseggen hike is one of Norway´s most scenic hikes, and starts in Vengedalen valley in Isfjorden.
The fjord also invites you to activities; swimming, kayaking and fishing trips in idyllic surroundings. The rivers Isa and Glutra are great rivers for salmon and trout fishing.
NOTE – For various reasons, rivers may be closed for fishing for all or parts of the season at short notice.
Torvika/Klungnes by the Romsdalsfjord
Klungnes is an idyllic fjord village with a great view towards the inner part of the Romsdalsfjord and the Romsdal mountains.
Take a short detour by car (about 2.5 kilometers) from Riksvei 64 at Torvika between Åndalsnes and Åfarnes in Romsdal.
From the start at Torvika, you have a view towards the inner part of Romsdalsfjord, towards Isfjorden with Mt Kirketaket and Juratind, and towards Åndalsnes and Romsdalseggen.
Further out towards Klungnes and the outer part of the road you can see straight across the Romsdalsfjord to Innfjorden and the beautiful mountains that surround the village.
Here you can see everything from the road, so you don’t have to walk to get the great view. But we recommend that you park the car and walk along the road to get an even better experience.
Eikesdal and Mardalsfossen Waterfall
Drive eastwards along Langfjorden to Vistdal and Vistdalsheia and continue to Eresfjord and Lake Eikesdalsvatnet (22 masl). Drive along the 18 kilometer long lake to Eikesdal, a small village which is surrounded by steep mountains and waterfalls.
From Eikesdal you can walk up to the Mardalsfossen Waterfall, one of Norway´s highest waterfalls with its 705 meter drop, divided into two vertical waterfalls. This hike takes between 30 and 45 minutes. The waterfall is regulated for hydroelectric power, but is “open” between June 20th and August 20th.
A great place to stay in Eikesdal is Eikesdal Camping. Season: Summer. There is no grocery store in Eikesdal. Depending on where you come from, the nearest grocery stores are Coop Marked Eresfjord in Eresfjord, about 28 kilometers north of Eikesdal and Coop Marked Vistdal in Vistdal, about 51 kilometers northwest of Eikesdal.
Molde and the Molde Panorama
Molde by the outer part of the Romsdalsfjord is the second largest city in Møre og Romsdal. Molde is known as the town of roses, for Molde international Jazz Festival and the Molde Panorama.
Drive to the viewpoint Varden, 407 masl, and take in the spectacular Molde Panoramic View towards the Romsdalsfjord and the 222 snowcapped mountains.
In the summer, there are several boat departures from Molde to Hjertøya, a small island in the Romsdalsfjord.
This is a great area for recreation and for swimming in the fjord. A small café is open on Saturdays and Sundays and a Fisheries Museum is located on the island.
Visit the Romsdal Museum in the centre of Molde. This is a Folk Museum where you can see more than 50 old buildings originating from the Romsdal region.
Travel green with Rauma Railway to and from Åndalsnes
The Rauma Railway between Dombås and Åndalsnes is voted as Europe´s most scenic Rail Journey by Lonely Planet.
Take the train to the end-station Åndalsnes at one of Norways most spectacular railways. Tom Cruise used the Rauma Railway when filming Mission Impossible 7.
The Rauma Railway is one of the country’s most beautiful and wildest railway sections. It starts at Dombås and ends 114 kilometers further west, at Åndalsnes down by the Romsdalsfjord.
The area through which the Rauma Railway runs houses some of Norway’s most famous tourist attractions. Trollveggen, Romsdalshorn and Rauma Elv are the most famous.
DID Adventure – Guiding in Møre og Romsdal
DID Adventure in Molde has Møre og Romsdal county as its playground, and knows the area inside out like the back of its hand. They guide e.g. kayak tours, mountain hikes, tours with E-bikes and gravel bikes and other activities.
DID guides throughout the county of Møre and Romsdal, but has an extra heart for Molde, Eikesdalen, the area around Hustadvika and the Atlantic Road, Ona Lighthouse and Romsdalen. DID tailors and makes the entire journey with guides, equipment, accommodation, transport and food according to needs and wishes.
DID adapts the activities so that they are suitable for all ages and levels, and adjusts the activities so that you can explore at your own pace whether you are walking, cycling or paddling.
Regardless of whether you want to charter an expedition vessel, see glaciers and fjords from a helicopter, cycle long or steep, go hiking or explore life under water, DID Adventure arranges everything needed for a safe and memorable experience.
The Romsdal Gondola at Åndalsnes
From fjord to mountain in four and a half minutes. From Eggen Restaurant at the top of Mt Nesaksla you have a fantastic view down to Åndalsnes and the Romsdalsfjord.
The gondola goes from the fjord station at the center of Åndalsnes to the mountain station at Mt Nesaksla, 694 maf (meters above the fjord).
On the way up to the mountain station you have a fantastic view inwards to Isfjorden and the mountains behind, down to Åndalsnes and to the Romsdalsfjord. The mountain station is a great starting point for adventures in beautiful and wild nature. Season and opening hours; see Romsdalsgondolen Website.
Trollstigen in Romsdal
Trollstigen is one of our Tourist Icons. It is part of the Geiranger-Trollstigen National Tourist Route, 18 kilometer from Åndalsnes. The Mountain Road with it´s 11 hairpin turns is closed during winter, it usually opens late May.
Trollstigen is together with Geiranger and the Geirangerfjord one of the most visited attractions in Norway. The mountains which encircle the Trollstigen road are enormous. The Stigfossen Waterfall gushes down the mountainside towards the luscious Isterdalen Valley and in the middle of all this the Trollstigen Road winds its way up the mountainside.
From the Trollstigen Mountain Platou there is a short walk to the two Viewpoints which is great for taking pictures. Five to ten minutes walk from the parking.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT TROLLSTIGEN MOUNTAIN ROAD
Trollstigen Mountain Road is closed in winter. Many of the roads in Western Norway are prone to rockfalls, landslides and avalanches, especially in rainy and snowy weather. Trollstigen Mountain Road is one of these roads and may therefore be closed during periods where the risk of rockfalls is high. See Vegvesen.no for information on whether Trollstigen Mountain Road is open or closed (in Norwegian only).
NOTE – TROLLSTIGEN MOUNTAIN ROAD CLOSED THROUGHOUT 2024
On 20 June 2024, it was decided that the Trollstigen Mountain Road will be closed for the whole of 2024 due to the high risk of rockfalls. The road at the back of Trollstigen, between Valldal and the Trollstigen Plateau, is open during the summer season.
The Troll Wall (Trollveggen) in Romsdalen
From Åndalsnes, drive eight kilometers up the Romsdalen Valley to the base of Trollveggen and Romsdalshorn. From here there are great views to the surrounding mountains, to the valley and to Rauma River.
Trollveggen is the tallest vertical Rock Face in Europe (more than 1000 meters vertical cliff and 50 meters overhang). The highest peaks at Trollveggen rage almost 1800 meters above the Romsdalen Valley.
One gets an idea of the great dimensions when a rockslide in the autumn of 1998 measured 2.2 on the Richters scale for earthquakes in Finland . Still, it is impossible to see with the naked eye where this happened, one has to be acquainted with the locality.
Trollveggen can be seen from Trollveggen Visitor Centre down in the Romsdalen Valley.
Romsdalen – the valley that nothing can compare to
Romsdalen valley is unique. The wild nature with Rauma river, the cultural landscape and the vertical mountains on both sides of the valley are a major tourist attraction and one of the reasons why people visit Romsdal and the Romsdalsfjord. The entire Romsdalen valley is wild and beautiful, and very varied. One of the wildest areas in Romsdalen is where the rivers Rauma and Ulvåa meet. Another area, between the Trolltindene mountains and Mt Romsdalshorn, is if possible even wilder, but in a completely different way.
On either side of the Rauma river, the vertical mountains tower almost 1,800 meters above the narrow valley. These are mountains that also tower over Norway’s alpine history. Trollveggen is probably one of the most famous mountains in Norway, and probably the most famous Norwegian mountain in the world. At least among the climbers. Trollveggen is Europe’s highest vertical cliff. From the bottom of Romsdalen up to the top of Trollveggen is almost 1,800 metres. Of this, more than 1,000 meters are vertical with more than 50 meters overhang.
The video below is from a drive down Romsdalen, from the Gravdefossen waterfall near Flatmark to Trollveggen Camping, which is located below Trollveggen. The last part is a short detour, along the old road that runs from the exit at Romsdalshorn along the Rauma river with Trollveggen in the background.
Geiranger – Trollstigen National Tourist Route
Experience the UNESCO-protected Geirangerfjord and the Trollstigen Mountain Road, two of Norways most dramatic and most visited attractions.
Trollstigen is one of Norway’s biggest tourist icons and is part of the Geiranger-Trollstigen National Tourist Route, 18 kilometers from Åndalsnes by the Romsdalsfjord.
Geiranger and the Geiranger Fjord are part of our common world heritage. The Geiranger area is like a beautiful postcard, and has attracted tourists since the dawn of time.
Stay at the Juvet Landscape Hotel that use the surrounding nature as part of the hotel.
The tourist road that runs between Langvatnet at Grotli and Sogge Bridge at Åndalsnes is 106 kilometers long and is closed in winter.
Fjord Hike on Romsdalseggen
Romsdalseggen in Romsdal has in short time become one of the most popular hikes in Norway. The hike starts in the Vengedalen Valley in Isfjorden and ends in the city center of Åndalsnes.
The view from the Romsdalseggen ridge is fantastic, you can see mountains like Romsdalshorn, Vengetind and the Troll Wall (Trollveggen) around you.
You can see straight down to the Romsdalen Valley, and if you turn 180 degrees you will see the Romsdalsfjord and all the way out to the Atlantic Coast.
Romsdalseggen is a challenging hike. We recommend you to join a Guided Hike. Norsk Tindesenter at Åndalsnes organizes Guided Hikes over Romsdalseggen.
The prize is a fantastic view over the Romsdalen Valley and the Romsdalsfjord. From Romsdalseggen you can actually see all the way to the Atlantic Ocean.
Hiking to Rampestreken Viewpoint at Åndalsnes
Romsdalstrappa at Åndalsnes is a popular hiking-trail among locals and tourists. It is “mandatory” to have a stop for a selfie at the Rampestreken Viewpoint at 537 masl.
Romsdalstrappa and Rampestreken is part of the hike on the Romsdalseggen Ridge between Isfjorden and Åndalsnes in Romsdal. You can do the long hike along Romsdalseggen, and you will pass Rampestreken Viewpoint on the descend down to Åndalsnes (long and heavy hike).
The normal way to visit Rampestreken is to hike upwards from Åndalsnes to Rampestreken at 537 meters above the Romsdalsfjord (1-2 hour trip each way, steep and heavy hike).
You can also take the Romsdal gondola to Eggen Restaurant and hike down to Rampestreken.
From Rampestreken there is a fantastic view towards the Romsdalsfjord, down to the Rauma river and towards the Isterdalen valley and Trollstigen.
Fjord Fishing on the Romsdalsfjord
Skipper and fishing guide John Kofoed takes you on an exciting fishing adventure after large fish or specific species of fish, all according to your wishes. The fishing banks are very close by Åndalsnes, and the Romsdalsfjord can offer the chance of big fish and a wide variety of species.
The species fished for are usually pollock, cod, haddock, ling, tusk, halibut, whiting, mackerel, herring, various flounder species, several deep-water species, various gilt species and skate species.
All the fishing trips depart from the city center at Åndalsnes. Season all year. In the video below, John Kofoed’s fishing boat is on its way to Åndalsnes after a fishing trip on the Romsdalsfjord.
Vengedalen Valley in Isfjorden
There are many valleys that are claimed to be “Norway’s most beautiful”. Vengedalen Valley is one of them. What is certain is that the Vengedalen is right up there in the lead.
Vengedalen is one of several side valleys in Isfjorden in Romsdal. The nature experiences are there for everyone, whether you choose to walk, cycle or drive along the road into the valley, or to experience the valley from all the mountains that lie there like pearls on a string.
Vengedalen has been a favorite destination for both locals and tourists since the dawn of time. It is primarily the sport of climbing that has put Vengedalen in Isfjorden on the map of Norway.
Today, Vengedalen is best known for being the starting point of the Romsdalseggen and Litlefjellet hikes.
Skiing in Romsdal
Romsdal in Møre og Romsdal is one of the best ski-areas in Norway. You travel to Romsdal by train from Oslo/Trondheim to Åndalsnes via the scenic Rauma Railway. The ski-festival Romsdalsvinter is arranged in March.
Tusten Ski Resort in Molde, Rauma Skisenter in Skorgedalen in Isfjorden and Bjorli Ski Resort at Bjorli are recommended Ski Resorts. Tusten has a fantastic fjord view, from Rauma Skisenter you can see Mt Trollveggen and the fjord, and Bjorli is the most snow-sure ski resort in Norway.
You can stay at Hotel Aak and Grand Hotel at Åndalsnes. Romsdal Lodge in Isfjorden offer packages with accommodation, ski rental and guiding.
Lerheimskollen – one of the best views in Romsdal
Lerheimskollen, or Kollen, is a nice mountain hike where the prize is a fantastic view over the Romsdalsfjord, the Rødven Peninsula and Rødvenfjorden. The view from Lerheimskollen is out of this world and one of the most beautiful views in Romsdal.
From Lerheimskollen you can see almost the entire Romsdalsfjord and the entire Rødvenfjorden with Klungnes, Gjerdsetvatnet, Innfjorden, Måndalen, Eidsbygda, Rødven and Holmemstranda.
You can see Molde in the distance and actually all the way to the islands at the far end of the Romsdalsfjord, where the fjord and the Atlantic ocean meet.
Lake Herjevatnet and Mt Tarløysa in Romsdal
Mt Tarløysa is located in the middle of the Romsdalsfjord. From the top there is a fantastic view inwards towards the mighty Romsdal mountains, across the entire Romsdalsfjord and all the way to the Atlantic coast. Here you can see Romsdal and the Romsdalsfjord in all its glory.
The hike to Tarløysa starts from the car park (376 m) at Nysetra at Holmemstranda. Take the main road and follow the 3.5 kilometer toll road that starts four kilometers southeast of Åfarnes.
From Nysetra it is also nice to go for a walk around Lake Herjevatnet, which is located at 438 meters above sea level. A nice walking trail has been created around the lake, from the car park at Nysetra it is about two kilometers to walk to lake Herjevatnet. If you take the round trip around Lake Herjevatnet, there is a total of 10 kilometers to walk.
Rødven Stave Church in Rødven
Rødven Stave Church is situated in Rødven down by the beautiful Rødvenfjord which is a branch of the Romsdalsfjord.
It is believed that Rødven Stave Church was built around year 1300 AD, but the stave church has older wood-materials and is probably from between year 1100 and 1200 AD.
Rødven Stave Church is one of two stave churches that have exterior wooden pillars to support and to stiffen the building structure.
Rødven Stavkirke is open for guided tours in the summer and by appointment. See the website of Rødven Stave Church for season and opening hours.
Midsundtrappene (Stairways to Heaven), Atlantic Coast
Midsundtrappene at Midsund on Otrøya in Romsdal are five beautiful hiking trails that have been made in stone by Sherpas from Nepal. Otrøya is an island in the outer part of the Romsdalsfjord, on the Atlantic coast outside Molde.
From the trails and the mountains there is a fantastic view towards the Atlantic Coast and the Atlantic Ocean, and to the outer part of the Romsdalsfjord the with the surrounding islands and mountains.
On one of the hikes you go up one of the longest stone stairs in Norway. From Rakvåg there are 2,212 steps (about two kilometers long hike) up to Sherpanakken, which is the viewpoint located at about 430 masl. The last part of the trail goes from Sherpanakken to the top of Rørsethornet at 659 m above sea level. There are approximately 3,292 steps and four kilometers from the start at Rakvåg to the top of Mt Rørsethornet.
The Atlantic Road and the Atlantic Coast
The Atlantic Road zigzags across low bridges that jut out over the Atlantic Ocean, linking the islands between Molde and Kristiansund in the western fjords.
The eight kilometer long road is voted as the construction of the century in Norway, and is one of ten National Tourist Routes in the Norwegian Fjords.
The Atlantic Road is part of a 36-kilometer long National Tourist Route between the towns of Kristiansund and Molde, the two main population centres in the county of Møre og Romsdal. The eight kilometer long Atlantic Road runs from Kårvåg to Vevang, but the National Tourist Route continues along the Atlantic Coast to the fishing village of Bud. This is a beautiful road set in great surroundings with activities like fishing, diving and ocean safari which can all be done in the area.
There are several panoramic view- and rest areas with facilities in bold architectural forms along the Atlantic Road. Here you can experience both nature and architecture in great interaction. Some of the viewing platforms are also popular with anglers and photographers.
Below you can see a 360 panorama from the Atlantic Road. At the bottom of the panorama, you will find navigation buttons that allow you to “travel” around and focus on places you want to take a closer look at. Some panoramas allow you to “jump” to other locations. The 360 panoramic pictures are provided by 360 Aircam by Arild Solberg.
Road Trip Geiranger – Trollstigen – The Atlantic Road
If you want to see the best of the fjords, the mountains and the ocean in western Norway, this is the road trip for you.
The route between Geiranger via Trollstigen to the Atlantic Road, Kristiansund and Molde includes one UNESCO World Heritage (the Geirangerfjord), two National Tourist Routes (Geiranger – Trollstigen and the Atlantic Road) and one “construction of the twentieth century” (the Atlantic Road).
This is a 200 kilometer long stretch of road in a landscape varying from deep and narrow fjords, steep and dramatic snowcapped mountains, cascading waterfalls and rivers, green valleys, numerous isles and a weather-beaten ocean landscape.
You can drive this stretch of road in one day, the drive alone is a great experience. But we recommend that you spend a few days, so that you can see and experience all the detours, the great places and the spectacular nature.
Road Trip Åndalsnes – Geiranger – Sæbø
The Romsdalsfjord, Geirangerfjord and Hjørundfjord are the three most beautiful and best-known fjords in the fjord county of Møre og Romsdal.
Here you can read about a road trip from Åndalsnes via Geiranger to Sæbø and what you can see and do in the three fjords that you will experience on the trip. You can do this drive in a day, but if you spend a week or two, you will get so much more.
This road trip starts at Åndalsnes by the Romsdalsfjord and ends in Sæbø by the Hjørundfjord. You drive through some of the wildest and most beautiful landscape we have in Norway.
You get to experience the alpine mountains by the Romsdalsfjord, the National Tourist Route Trollstigen – Geiranger, the fantastic ferry trip out of the Geirangerfjord from Geiranger to Hellesylt and the beautiful and wild Norangsdalen valley on the way to the village of Øye and the Hjørundfjord.
Ona Island and Ona Lighthouse
Take a day excursion to Ona Lighthouse, or stay over at Ona Havstuer.
Drive westwards from Molde and take the ferry to the island of Aukra. From Småge, in the west on Aukra, there are several daily boat departures to Ona and other islands.
Ona is the outermost island on the Atlantic coast in Romsdal, southwest of the Atlantic Road and northwest of Molde. Ona is the name of the small island community that consists of the two islands Ona and Husøya. The two islands are connected by a small bridge.
This small island community has its own summer restaurant, several accommodations and two pottery workshops.
Ona Havstuer and Onakaia on the pier at Ona are open all year round. The restaurant and reception at Ona Havstuer is open in the summer, and you can rent apartments all year round.
Below you can see a 360 panorama from the island of Ona. At the bottom of the panorama, you will find navigation buttons that allow you to “travel” around and focus on places you want to take a closer look at. Some panoramas allow you to “jump” to other locations. The 360 panoramic pictures are provided by 360 Aircam by Arild Solberg.
Hotels and Accommodation in Romsdal and Nordmøre
Grand Hotel at Åndalsnes
Frich´s Ekspress Hotel Åndalsnes
Aak Hotel in Romsdalen by Åndalsnes
Åndalsnes Vandrerhjem at Setnes at Veblungsnes
Åndalsnes Camping by Rauma River at Åndalsnes
Mjelva Camping at Mjelva at Åndalsnes
Soggebru Camping at Sogge at Åndalsnes
Trollstigen Resort at Sogge at Åndalsnes
Trollstigen Gjestegård og Camping in Isterdalen below Trollstigen
Trollveggen Camping by the Troll Wall in Romsdalen
Accommodation in Isfjorden
Eikesdal Camping – Eikesdal
Hotel Seilet – Molde
Molde Fjordhotell – Molde
Ona Havstuer – Ona
Hustadvika Havhotell – Hustadvika
