Mo I Rana: City History, Art and Nature

Mo I Rana brings together city history, art, science and nature experiences in the surrounding area. At the Rana Museum, a digital model takes you through the history of the old settlement; outside, the wooden houses in Moholmen are a reminder of the 19th century. Other highlights include Havmannen in Ranfjord, graffiti from around the world and activities for active winter days. You can plan your trip around whether culture, shared discoveries or exercise is your main focus.

Getting to the city and finding your way around

Mo I Rana is on the Nordland Line between Trondheim and Bodø. The train journey takes about six hours from Trondheim and about three hours from Bodø. From the station, it’s only a short walk to the city centre. The E6 European route also runs right through the city. If you choose your holiday apartment after travelling by train or car, the location of the station in relation to the centre gives you a practical point of reference for planning.

Vitensenter Nordland is centrally located at Midtre gate 1. Together with the Rana Museum, it is housed in the renovated “Moment” shopping centre near the city centre. These two attractions offer different perspectives: the science centre focuses on interactive topics, while the museum presents the city’s history and industrial heritage.

City history, art and performances

A bulldozer from the construction period is on display at the Rana Museum. The “Jern” exhibition presents images and objects from Rana’s industrial history. The digital city model adds another perspective, looking back at the old settlement of Mo I Rana and offering a virtual tour of its streets. Here, you can discover history through both objects and a model of the city as it once was.

Moholmen is the oldest district and comprises around 20 well-preserved and restored wooden houses from the 19th century. Havmannen adds a different artistic touch: the sculpture by English artist Antony Gormley stands in Ranfjord about 15 metres from the shore and is Rana Municipality’s contribution to Skulpturlandskap Nordland. The street art route features graffiti by artists from around the world.

Theatre and festivals are also part of the city’s cultural offering. The Nordland Teater venue in Rådhusalleen has four stages: Hovedscena, Black Box, Teaterkafeen and Rugekassa. The seven-day Vinterlysfestivalen features national and international artists. Sjyén Restaurant, next to Vitensenter Nordland, showcases high-quality local ingredients from Helgeland.

Activities for different kinds of days

Vitensenter Nordland offers interactive exhibitions and activities for children and adults on science, technology and mathematics. The entire exhibition area and entrance are step-free and fully accessible to wheelchair users. For a different kind of outing together, Moheia Bad has four different pools, a water slide, saunas and a café.

In winter, the ski lifts at Skillevollen, in the area around Mo I Rana, take skiers up the mountain. There are also groomed cross-country trails, including five kilometres lit at night. Another lit cross-country trail is 6.4 kilometres long and runs upstream along the Ranelva; the Klokkerhagen recreation area also has cross-country trails. The different trail lengths and areas make it easier to choose winter activities to suit the kind of outing you have in mind.

Caves and glaciers in the surrounding area also offer different nature experiences. Grønligrotta has safe, well-lit paths suitable for the whole family. Setergrotta is a more adventurous cave expedition, where a headlamp is the only light. The Svartisen glacier extends into the mountains; its Austerdalsisen glacier tongue shimmers in deep shades of blue and should be viewed from a safe distance.

Discover more local pages about Storforshei and Utskarpen.

For the main travel overview: Rana.