Sunndal is a municipality in Møre og Romsdal county in Norway.

View of the Øksendal valley

In the southern part of the municipality lies the Dovrefjell–Sunndalsfjella National Park, home to a plentiful amount of impressive muskox. In the northern part is the Trollheimen and Innerdalen landscape protection areas.

Understand

The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Sunndalsøra. Other villages include Gjøra, Grøa, Holssanden, Jordalsgrenda, Romfo, Ålvund, Ålvundeidet, and Øksendal.

Get in and around

By car

County road 62 runs along the west side of the fjord to Sunndalsøra from Molde. National road 70 comes down Sunndalen from Oppdal, and continues on the east side of Sunndalsfjorden in the direction of Kristiansund.

See

• 1 Tingvoll Church (Tingvoll kyrkje), Tingvoll village. This imposing 12th-century masonry church is unusual for a small village. Tingvoll church was presumably the main church ("cathedral") for Nordmøre in catholic times. Walls are some 2 m thick with hidden stairs and corridors. The only church in Norway with such an elaborate system. An elegant runic inscription above the altar sendes a message through the centuries from Gunnar, the church's Builder: "Remember my soul in Your holy prayers, I was Gunnar and made this house. Live well" 

Åmotan Waterfall

• 2 Åmotan gorge & waterfalls (Åmotan), Sunndal valley road 314 (Road 70 to Gjøra, then 314). Åmotan is the confluence of several rivers in a gorge on the border of Dovre-Sunndal national park. The spectacle can be seen by car near the main road (70) through Sunndal valley. Steep mountain cliff, moraines and terraces creates a fan-shaped river system where five rivers meet. Three rivers form magnificent waterfalls. The area is facilitated with well-marked trails and accompanying maps. (updated Mar 2015)

Do

• 1 Dovrefjell–Sunndalsfjella National Park. The park occupies 1,693 square kilometres (654 sq mi) and includes large parts of the mountain range of Dovrefjell along with the Sunndalsfjella mountains. (updated Jul 2026)
• The Sunndal Culture Festival (Sunndal Kulturfestival), Sunndalsøra. This week-long festival takes place annually in late June, and centres on the outdoor musical "Lady Arbuthnott – Frua på Elverhøi," which tells the true story of a British aristocrat who lived in the area during the 1800s. There are 10 stage performances of the Lady Arbuthnott play, which is Norway's longest-running musical and is held at the Sunndal Cultural Centre. Ørafest is a lively tent event in the town square. It features live bands, local food, and drinks almost every night. (updated Jul 2026)

Sleep