Måløy is located on the west coast of Norway on the island of Vågsøy and is connected to the mainland by the Måløy Bridge. The town, located about 300 kilometers north of Bergen, offers access to the open North Atlantic. This location makes it an important hub for fishing and maritime traffic.
Måløy - museum ship Haugefisk
History
Måløy's history is strongly linked to fishing and seafaring. The town played an important role in World War II. Måløy was occupied by German troops and developed into a base for the Atlantic Wall. In 1941, British forces launched an attack on the German positions, known as Operation Archery. The southern part of the town was almost completely destroyed. There are several monuments in Maløy that commemorate the events of World War II, especially Operation Archery.
After the war, Måløy recovered quickly and continued to develop into an important centre for the fishing industry.
Living in Måløy and on the island of Vågsøy
Måløy is located in the south of the island of Vågsøy. Måløy is the main town and administrative center of the municipality of Vågsøy. The island is connected to the mainland by the 1224 meter long Måløy Bridge. The population is about 3.000.
Måløy - Måløy Bridge
Economy and tourism
Måløy's economy has traditionally been strongly linked to fishing and fish processing. Large quantities of fish, especially herring and mackerel, are processed and exported here. In addition to fishing, shipbuilding and the maritime industry play an important role in the local economy.
The port of Måløy is an important port of call for fishing boats and cargo ships transporting goods to and from Norway.
In recent years, offshore wind energy has become an emerging sector in the region.
Tourism is a growing industry. The area around Måløy is known for its spectacular nature. The proximity to famous fjords attracts tourists from all over the world.
Måløy - Refviksanden
Arrival and traffic
There is no airport on the island of Vågsøy. There is also no connection to the Norwegian railway network.
There are local bus connections and intercity express bus departures. Måløy is easily accessible via the Måløy Bridge, which leads from the island of Vågsøy to the mainland. The E39, one of Norway's most important north-south roads, is not far away and provides good connections to larger cities such as Bergen and Ålesund.
There are also regular ferry connections along the coast. Hurtigruten ships call at the port daily on both the north and south routes.
Måløy - Hurtigruten Terminal
Måløy for cruise passengers
Måløy is visited by cruise ships, but not to the same extent as larger Norwegian ports such as Bergen or Stavanger. However, the scenic beauty of the surrounding area and the proximity to famous fjords make Måløy an attractive stop. During the cruise season, around 20 to 30 cruise ships dock in Måløy every year. 32 calls are scheduled for 2025.
The cruise ship dock is about one kilometer from the town center. If two cruise ships visit Måløy on the same day, one ship must dock in the industrial harbor on the mainland opposite the town. The passengers are then taken to Måløy by shuttle buses and boats.
Måløy - Pier 1
Måløy - Pier 2
The port of Måløy offers cruise guests a good starting point for excursions into the surrounding nature, including the West Cape, the Kannesteinen rock formation or the Briksdal Glacier.
September 2024
