Dotted with coastal islands and carved with deep fjords, Møre og Romsdal county graces Norway’s central west coast where imposing mountains end in plunging waterfalls or ease into lush valleys.
Within the county’s borders, Romsdal is sandwiched between Nordmøre to the north and Sunnmøre, the most-populous southern region. Prominent industries in the county are fishing, ship-building and hydro-electric power, along with gas and oil resources.
With the bulk of the population settled along the rugged Atlantic coast, it is no wonder that much of the food of Møre og Romsdal centers around seafood. Local klippfisk (salted cod), bacalao (Portuguese-style cod stew) and fiskeboller (fish balls) are favorite dishes served aside hearty raspeballer (potato dumplings) and root vegetables. A classic ferry treat from the area, sveler are thick griddle cakes wrapped around a sweetened butter filling.
One of Norway’s most–cherished foods comes from the town of Stranda on the Storfjorden, home of the iconic Pizza Grandiosa. Considered the unofficial national dish of Norway, over 25 million pies were consumed by Norway’s 5.3 million inhabitants in 2018.
Other famous products from the area are the Stokke Tripp-Trapp wooden chair that adjusts to children as they grow and Ekornes’ Stressless recliner. Knitters worldwide reach for Rauma Garn, yarn produced in Møre og Romsdal since 1927.
Because of its untamed nature, Møre og Romsdal is an attraction for activities such as hiking, whale safaris, skiing and waterfall-gazing. Over 25 waterfalls plunge from the regional alps including the 300–meter De Syv Søstrene (Seven Sisters) and Brudesløret (Bridal Veil).
The inland sections of the county are home to wildlife such as the gaupe (lynx), jerv (wolverine) and hjort (red deer), while the island of Runde is a famous stopover for lundefugl (puffins) and birdwatchers hoping to spot them. Peruse an album of the flora and fauna of Møre og Romsdal, including 10 species of whales, at inaturalist.org.
Popular destinations include top-visited fjord and UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Geirangerfjord, the winding Atlanterhavsveien, the five-mile Atlantic Road that skims across eight bridges between Averøy and Vevang on the mainland, and Trollstigen (the Troll’s Ladder), a famous roadway of hairpin curves zigzagging up scenic route 63 between Åndalsnes and Valldall. Catch a glimpse of Trollstigen and Atlanterhavsveien on Google Maps and decide for yourself which is the most picturesque.
The largest cities in Møre og Romsdal include the capital, Ålesund, with its Art Nouveau-style architecture, Kristiansund, known for its fish processing and opera festival, and Molde, home to MoldeJazz, an annual mid-July jazz fest since 1961 consisting of 500 jazz artists playing 120 concerts in a six-day span.
Find out more about Møre og Romsdal:
The Impossible Jump in Hellesylt
Rauma Railway
Inside Ålesund