Sunndalsøra: Culture and Trails Along the River Driva

Sunndalsøra combines walking trails along the River Driva with cultural offerings including a cinema, theatre and gallery. If you’re looking for a hotel in Sunndalsøra, consider the focus of your trip: the Driva Promenade and cultural centre are attractions in the town, while the national park, waterfall and cultural heritage sites are part of the wider destination of Sunndal.

Walking Trails Along the Driva and the Fjord

The Driva Promenade is easy to reach from the centre of Sunndalsøra via a surfaced gravel path, and runs alongside the River Driva for several kilometres. It leads to a point close to the fjord. There are several benches and fishing spots along the path, and a fire pit is also marked on the hiking map. The path is easy and well maintained, suitable for everyone and accessible with a pushchair. The river, proximity to the fjord and the facilities mentioned give the route its own character.

Other Hikes in Sunndalsøra

Fagerhaugan is close to the centre of Sunndalsøra. The route runs from the centre via Holten to Sande. Håsøran offers a different route: from the Driva bridge and the grounds of Sunndal Jeger og fisk, the trail passes through a wetland to the small boat harbour in Sunndalsøra.

The Ellefstolen hike starts in Sunndalsøra on Flaggnutvegen, at the foot of the mountain behind the Melkild Bilverksted workshop. There are clear restrictions for this hike: it is not suitable for small children, and there is no drinking water. This sets it apart from the Driva Promenade, described as an easy, well-maintained walking path for everyone that can be walked with a pushchair.

Cinema, Theatre and Gallery

Sunndal kulturhus brings major theatre productions, concerts and cinema screenings to the region. It is a regular venue for Riksteatret, Teatret Vårt and JazzåTeatret. Sunndalsøra kino screens more than 700 films a year. The cultural centre and cinema therefore offer a regular programme of theatre and concerts alongside film screenings.

Galleri Barbara is also located in Sunndal kulturhus in Sunndalsøra. Most exhibitions are shown for approximately one full calendar month. Every June, during Ørafest, the gallery holds a festival exhibition. When planning your stay, note that the exhibition and the festival are two distinct cultural events: one is part of the gallery programme, while the other is tied to Ørafest in June.

In the Wider Destination of Sunndal

Sunndal lies between Dovrefjell-Sunndalsfjella National Park and the Trollheimen Landscape Protection Area. The national park has several access points in Sunndal; Grøvudalen and Torbudalen are starting points for hikes there. The ascent to Innerdalstårnet reaches 1,450 metres above sea level. The route is exposed and requires mountain experience as well as some scrambling.

Vinnufallet waterfall rises from Vinnubreen, the largest glacier in Møre og Romsdal, and plunges down the mountain slopes in lower Sunndal in several stages over a distance of around 860 metres. From the Holsskeidet rest area on the Rv 70, a surfaced path and the Vinnutrappa Sherpa steps run alongside part of the waterfall. The wider Sunndal destination thus offers a range of nature experiences: hikes with challenging sections and a path that follows part of a waterfall.

Sunndal’s cultural heritage is also part of the destination. Leikvin Cultural Heritage Park includes Sunndal bygdemuseum as a visitor centre, an Iron Age burial ground, a botanical garden, a mill house and the Løykja cemetery. The museum was founded in 1935 under the name Leikvin Bygdemuseum and has grown to include 13 buildings showcasing many facets of Sunndal’s history. Phillipshagen is a rhododendron garden laid out in the British landscape style by the Briton Ethelbert Lort-Phillips in the 1890s; it contains more than 50 plant species.

The musical play “Lady Arbuthnott – Frua på Elverhøy” has been performed annually since 1996 and is now considered Norway’s longest-running musical play. In the wider destination of Sunndal, Sunndalsgraut—waffles with butter porridge, also called graut og vaffelkak in the local dialect—is a local speciality and a regular feature of festive meals. Most traditional cafés in Sunndalsøra serve it.

Getting Here and Finding Your Way

Sunndal is accessible via the E6 and the Dovre Line between Trondheim and Oslo; you can travel by plane, bus, train or car. Aursjøvegen runs from Sunndalsøra to Eidsvåg and passes through the heart of one of Europe’s most important wild reindeer habitats. Sunndalsøra marina has the well-known red boathouses, a designated bathing area and a sauna.

Discover more destinations: Gjøra, Grøa, Øksendal, Ålvundeid, Ålvundfjord

Back to the overview of the wider destination: Sunndal.