Human presence in the area can be traced to at least 3000-4500 BC, the age of two petroglyphs found at Bjørset, west of the city centre.

The settlement at Veøya probably dates from the Migration Period, but is first mentioned in the sagas by Snorri Sturluson as the location of the Battle of Sekken in 1162, where king Håkon the Broad-shouldered was killed fighting the aristocrat Erling Skakke, during the Norwegian civil wars.

Tourism later became a major industry, and Molde saw notables such as the German emperor Wilhelm II of Germany and the Prince of Wales as regular summer visitors.

Molde consisted of luxurious hotels surrounding an idyllic township with quaint, wooden houses, lush gardens and parks, esplanades and pavilions, earning it the nickname the Town of Roses.

During WWII, Molde was bombed by the Luftwaffe in order to deny recently landed British forces a foothold in Central Norway.

As the modernisation of the Norwegian society accelerated in the post-reconstruction years, Molde became a centre for not only administrative and public services, but also academic resources and industrial output.

After the consolidation of the town itself and its adjacent communities in 1964, Molde became a modern city, encompassing most branches of employment, from farming and fisheries, to industrial production, banking, higher education, tourism, commerce, health care, and civil administration.

This gave rise to the original town itself through a combination of a good harbour, proximity to the sea routes, vast timber resources, and a river capable of supporting mills.

Moldemarka, the hilly woodland area located immediately north of the town, is public land.

Bulletin boards and maps provide information regarding local plants and wildlife, as well as signposts along the trails.

A natural phenomenon occurring in Molde and the adjacent areas, are frequent winter days with temperatures above 10 °C (50 °F), sometimes even above 15 °C (59 °F).

The sheltered location of the city, facing south with hills to the north, mountains to the east and mountainous islands to the west, contributes to Molde's climate and unusually rich plant life, especially among species naturally growing on far lower latitudes, like maple, chestnut, oak, tilia (lime or linden), beech, yew, and others.

Molde University College offers a wide range of academic opportunities, from nursing and health-related studies, to economics and administrative courses.

The school is Norway's leading college in logistics,[12] and well established as a centre for research and academic programmes in information technology, with degrees up to and including PhD.

Byfest, the city's celebration of incorporation, is an arrangement by local artists, coinciding with the anniversary of the royal charter of 29 June 1742.

The club was founded in 1911, during Molde's period of great British and Continental influx, and was first named "International", since it predominantly played teams made up from crews of foreign vessels visiting the city.