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Municipality in Agder, Norway
Photo: CarstenR, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Kristiansand is the capital of Vest-Agder County, Norway. With 93,000 inhabitants (2019), it is the fifth largest city of Norway, and one of the southernmost ones. The city has had a cathedral since 1885, and a university since 2007. The city has many challenging offers for active tourists. There are always something to do for families, solo travelers, couples, business travellers, hikers, sea sports enthusiasts or party enthusiasts.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
The Fish Quay/The Fish Market
There is still a fish market here, but there are also several, mostly maritime, restaurants around the central waterfront. During summer, locals arrive in their boats and anchor up here. Lovely place for an ice cream.
Kristiansand Zoo and Amusement Park
Has a wide selection of animals in, for the most part, natural habitats. The main attractions are lions, tigers, wolves, red pandas, and a reptile house. Other activities here include a log run, a large play area, and a pirate castle with Norway's favourite pirate, Kaptein Sabeltann (Captain Sabretooth). During the summer, there are pirate shows late at night. There's also a kind of toy town called Kardemomme by (Cardamom town) which is based on a book by Norwegian children's writer Thorbjørn Egner.
This is what's left of Kristiansand's old town. It still occupies several blocks on the eastern part of the town centre. Here you can still see small, white, single-storey, wooden houses occupy a whole block. Very peaceful just a few minutes' walk from the busy shopping streets.
This small fortress was completed in 1672, and was for two centuries used for military purposes, as protection of the eastern port. It has only been in war once, in 1807 when the city was attacked by British Royal Navy ships. It is today used for many purposes and various events, exhibitions, concerts and conferences.
The maritime museum and port at Odderøya marks the long traditions of Kristiansand as a seafaring city. On the hill behind are some ocher and red buildings that have history as a fortress and as a plague hospital.
An open-air-museum that consists of a mainbuilding and about 40 other buildings, collected from the counties of Vest-Agder and Aust-Agder and Kvaderaturen, Kristiansand's old town. In the museum, you will also find miniature models of Kristiansand from late 19th century and a cafè.
Foundation with museum exhibition
This former Gestapo headquarters is a centre for peace and human rights. The building has a creepy history. During World War II, the local headquarters of Gestapo was located there. Many Norwegian opponents of the Nazi regime were imprisoned there and were subjected to cruel torture, some were sent on to concentration camps and many lost their lives in the struggle for resistance. The museum exhibition takes you back to the crime scene of the 1940s.
Batterie Vara
Here you will find the world's second largest cannon mounted on land. It was mounted by the occupying German forces in 1940 to guard the shipping lanes of the Skagerrak. Here you can ride the narrow-gauge railway that once was used to draw very heavy grenades.
and Gimle Gård are two museums, located at Gimle, east of river Otra. In the natural history museum and botanical garden you will find a collections of flora, examples of the fauna and minerals of South Norway in very lifelike exhibitions and rich minerals deposits. Gimle gård is a former mansion, now a museum.
2 minutes walk from the cathedral
An art gallery with permanent and changing exhibitions. Varied works of art, own children's club.
Full rigged ship. Home port: Kristiansand
Sørlandet is the world's oldest operational tallship and a unique cultural heritage of the maritime Norway. She is available for pre-ordered guiding or even to experience sailing for the "youth" of all ages.
A merchant steamship that sailed during two world wars and is Norway's memorial to the efforts of seafarers. Kristiansand is a home port. Exhibition on board.
Kristiansand domkirke
In the Neo-Gothic style, by the square in the very center of town is one of the largest cathedrals in Norway. Beautiful inside and worth visiting.
The oldest church in the area was built in the 11th century. Rune stone from when the church was built is moved into this beautiful, old church
Ansgarkapellet, St Ansgar's Chapel
A rare, small chapel (9x9x9 m) for those seeking silence and wonder. Triangular glass construction made by multi-artist Kjell Nupen who brings light into the chapel.
Strandpromenaden
The boardwalk alongside the seafront in the town centre leads you through beautiful parks and passes Norway's second-largest fountain park (Otterdalsparken, also known as the Nupen Park), Christiansholm fortress from the 17th century (see above), playground for children and a public beach: Bystranda, the City Beach. The boardwalk continues along the western river bank of the river Otra (Otra elvepark) as a 40-km-long path for nature and culture.
Myren Gård
A former mansion with houses in the best Swiss style, now a public park in English style, known for plants and trees from the more southern parts of the world, especially for the large rhododendron collection. View of the western port.
(Ravens' Valley) is a lovely park just outside the city centre. It is surrounded with steep cliffs and presents the visitor with lush flower gardens and manicured laws perfect for picnics. If you forgot your picnic basket, there's also a café here. The peaceful idyll is usually disturbed only by an extensive bird life. But there are sometimes music performances in the summer.
A wooded area with outstanding views of the city, very nice and idyllic ponds and lakes, jogging/hiking trails, lighted tracks and opportunities for freshwater swimming in the summer season. The forest area has an extensive bird life. Note:The best viewpoint is Drageknatten, magnificent views of the city center, the harbor and parts of the archipelago.
An island to discover next to the city center/fish market] (Connected with the city center by several bridges), filled with outstanding history, abandoned cannons, remarkable culture, nature, forest, forest trails, birds and wonderful views over the city and the archipelago. Sundays: try the waffles in the cafe at the southern tip! Several nice beaches, opportunities for swimming and fishing and great picnic locations. Concert venues. Odderøya Lighthouse on the west side also offers coffee, muffins and soup in the weekends from mid June to throughout October. See also Xland indoor climbing centre below..
Indoor swimming facilities, including water slide, swimming pool, hot water pool and diving towers. Next door there are several other rather dry sports facilities. Open all year.
Connected to Kristiansand Zoo and Amusement Park
A waterpark, outdoor or indoor (separate ticket required). Water slides, bubble baths, coral reefs, wave pool and swimming pools. The season lasts from April to October. 129 kr.
A nice sandy blue flag beach with swim pier, sun deck and palm trees - ideal for children.
approx. 9 km east of town
A 3-km-long, sandy, blue flag beach that can be crowded on warm summer days. There is also a water slide open in the summer months. If swimming is not tempting, there is also a scenic strolling route along the beach.
An island in the middle of the approach to Kristiansand. Take the boat over from the small port of Augland (Vågsbygd) west of the town center. Discover the island (which is mostly a green space) and experience the abandoned coastal culture at Bragdøya Coast Culture Center.
An old outport, 20 minutes drive along E39 west of the city centre. Take a walk in the outport and Åros beach nearby, or try your luck at fishing, and even take the sightseeing boat all year round to the even moore picturesque outport of Ny-Hellesund where there is also a rare restaurant and guesthouse.
A fast and exhilirating experience on the wet element.
In the mood to play? Play, learn, discover and solve puzzles!
Climbing park
Kristiansand's climbing park is by lake Grotjønn in a hiking area.
Indoors activity park, Xland Adrenaline Park
Inside this indoors park there are 110 different items, low and high-altitude obstacle trails, climbing walls, climbing grids, zip-coaster, zip-lines, free fall-offs and more. Attractive on rainy days.
The landmark building at the western pier of Odderøya
Was opened 2012. A location for concerts, theater, and opera performances.
Produced in Kristiansand, it is one of the largest ice cream brands in Norway. There are also several ice cream bars in the main street Markens and one on Fiskebrygga.
Meals are approx. 80 kr.
Nice and affordable Chinese food. Take-away service
Restaurant house that offers affordable, traditional Norwegian food, taproom and concert venue. Sunday buffet from 189 kr.
Traditional Italian pizza out of a converted shipping container.
Serves nice food for a much better price/quality ratio. All kinds of dishes available; go to the bar to order.
The Beef - restaurant on the main street.
Real homemade Italian food, served indoors or outdoors
Varied menu. Here you can order from traditional Norwegian cuisine to dishes from remote areas. For the cheapest dishes, order from the week's menu. Live music and DJ on Fridays and Saturdays,
Traditional Norwegian food, meat or fish.
Intimate restaurant with a menu based on local ingredients.
Tasty Indian food in a basement.
Kristiansand's main seafood restaurant.
One of Kristiansand's best restaurant.
Serves very nice fish dishes and the more traditional Norwegian dishes, excellent quality and very nice location just southwest of the city center at the small harbour area near the fish market.
Pub ("Både &") with entrance from the street and bar in the backyard (next to each other).
Central bar and meeting place.
A micro-brewery, pub and restaurant. Barbecue from charcoal grill.
Havana Etcera
A nightclub with several bars and dancing floors.
A popular American sportsbar, with a wide range of hamburgers and live sports. A crowded place during the weekends and Thursday nights (2 for 1).
German, Bavarian style beer bar with the party atmosphere of afterski and octoberfest.
English-style pub
Gastropub, nightclub and stage in the heart of the city
(2019: Went bankrupt and temporarily closed)
Traditional, Norwegian style pub Local bands play for dancing several nigths a week.
Irish pub and restaurant in the city's main street.
Danish style pub with "Danish" beer prices - probably the lowest in Norway.
Irish pub combined with a nightclub that offers live music, big screen sports and a dance floor where you can settle down.
Scottish style pub, frequented mostly by an older crowd.
English-style pub in a courtyard from the main street.
Next to Hamresanden, the longest beach in the Kristiansand area.
Near the beach and swimming facilities and not far from the town centre.
Motel, cabins, log cabins, camping cabins and tent positions, close to a sandy beach and swimming pool.
Camping and various other accommodation options near the beach, rental boats and a guest harbor.
Offers cabins, caravan and tent sites in the summer and an all-year apartment hotel.
Rent a cottage or apartment in the countryside on a farm with pets . Beach within walking distance. The quality of the facility is disputed.
Kristiansand Congress Center
Neat suites and junior suites for 2-6 persons, suitable for families with children.
-a pirate town where you can spend the night.
Owned by the student organization, nearby Roligheden.
Affordable and family friendly summer hotel near the chapel at Hånes, between the Kristiansand city center and Kristiansand Zoo and Amusement Park.
Designed on the theme of Noah's Ark. FAQ (in English)
Former names: Quality Hotel & Resort Kristiansand, Thon Hotel Sørlandet
Right next door to Kristiansand Zoo, the resort also has its own outdoor play area with a Zip wire ride, climbing frame, beach volleyball court and heated 25-metre swimming pool.
Also in the heart of Kristiansand, in a quiet street.
former names:Christian Quart Hotel, Scandic Hotel Kristiansand
Also in the heart of Kristiansand, nice staff and breakfast is always included in your rate. Bicycles available as well as free Wi-Fi in your room, or you can check your e-mail on one of the three computers in the lobby area for free.
former names:Thon Hotel Wergeland, Hotel Bondeheimen
Renovated hotel.
Modern hotel that offers excellent service, premium beds and a healthy breakfast. The hotel is a 200-m walk from the bus, train and ferry station.
A cozy small hotel with sea views.
Renovated and expanded in spring 2018.
The hotel is closed for complete renovation, opens again in 2020. Business and spa hotel.
A modern first class hotel in the city centre. The hotel was built in 1858 and has long traditions as a hotel. Each room has a characteristic of its own, they may vary in size furnishing and decorations.
The largest hotel in downtown Kristiansand. Some rooms have beach views. Hotel guests enjoy free training at SATS Aquarama.
The main shopping street in the city centre. Most of the street is pedestrianised. Most of the shops are chain stores, but it is still a busy and nice main shopping street. A few independent stores are still here. It's a central gathering place for most locals, and thus more than a shopping street. Markens gate is the starting point of the indoor shopping centres Sandens, Lillemarkens and Slottet or elsewhere in Kvadraturen.
The largest shopping centre in Northern Europe is about 10 minutes' drive east of town, in the larger Sørlandsparken area. There are many large stores in the area, and free parking (though you will have to pay road toll on the way back to Kristiansand).
A shopping centre about 5 minutes' drive west of town, in the Vågsbygd area.
Art gallery, exhibitions, sales and own framing workshop
Specialist shop for Norwegian handicrafts and design.
Høie bedding, factory outlets.
Crafts workshop and sale for glass blower and jeweller
Outlets for Stormberg, Norway's largest brand of outdoor wear.
By plane
By train
By car
Kristiansand sits along E18, the highway from Oslo. The highway's name changes to E39 when passes Kristiansand on its way to Stavanger.
By bus
The bus connections from Oslo and the towns along the western shore of the Oslo Fjord are excellent.no 4-7 buses while Lavprisekspressen runs twice daily and FlixBus once daily.
By boat
The port has a lot of cruise ship arrivals in the summer, and is one of the biggest cruise ship ports in Norway.
By bus
Boreal operates the white city buses (search time tables).
By car
Most roads except the highway is just one lane each way - thus rush hour should be avoided.
By motorcycle
In the city and especially in the outskirts of the city, motorcycle often is the best mode of transport. There are many winding but picturesque country roads to explore. Follow the speed limits.
By bicycle
Kristiansand is a pioneer town for a network of separate paths for cyclist. There are dedicated bike lanes along most of the main roads in the city and paths along the major roads.
By taxi
Taxis are expensive. In Kristiansand, there are three major taxi companies:
By small boats
Good moorings if you have your own boat, and a nice guest marina with many facilities for visitors (Gjestehavna).
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Kristiansand(Kjevik) · International · KRS
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