The island of Merdø

Enjoy a day in gorgeous and calm surroundings – not far from Arendal town centre.

The island of Merdø, one of the islands furthest from the coast, facing the Skagerrak Sea, is an old outport. Take your own boat or the local ferry from Arendal out to Merdø, which lies just outside the islands of Hisøy and Tromøy.

On the island there are many beautiful old wooden houses which are typical for the Arendal Region. Narrow paths bring you from Merdøgaard Museum to the sandy beach, or to the pebbled beach on the south side of the island. Bring a picnic basket, or buy your food at the café which is open during the summer season.

Pollen in Arendal

Pollen is Arendal's bustling quayside, the very heart of Arendal. Here you will find fishermen selling crabs, the fish market, pubs, restaurants, ducks and benches where you can sit down for a rest. Nothing is like a sunny day down at Pollen.

Torungene lighthouses

These two lighthouses outside Arendal were constructed in 1843. Both lighthouses are accessible by your own boat or taxi boat, and you can see them from both Tromøy and Hisøy islands. The lighthouses can be used for accommodation, and they are managed by the local mountain touring association.

Granestua Lodge

In the hiking and skiing area around Granestua Lodge, there are shorter and longer hiking paths that will suit just about everyone. Around the small lake there is even a path suitable for prams and wheelchairs. The lodge is open on Sundays from September to May, and you can buy waffles and coffee there. Driving here is easy: Turn off at the sign Bjornes east of Arendal along the E18.

Hove

On the southern part of the island of Tromøy, only 10 minutes from Arendal town centre by car, bus or boat, there is a beautiful protected recreation area. Hove is part of a protected moraine area along the southern coast. The whole area is adapted for walking, with resting places along the shore. There is a beach and kiosk at Hove camping and several kilometres of smooth, coastal rocks.

Lyngør

Lyngør was elected Europe's best preserved village in the 1990s. This village by the sea boasts architecture from the glorious days of the sailing vessels, and invites you to take walks on the narrow paths, a short break on a bench looking at the view or a visit to one of the island's many food outlets.

Lyngør consists of 4 islands with around 100 residents and a vibrant life all summer long. At Ytre Lyngør (Speken), there is a very popular area with a beach exposed to southern winds. Marked path to the potholes on the eastern side.

Ferry and taxi boat from Gjeving. Follow signs from E18 to Lyngør.

Nes Verk in Tvedestrand

Nes Verk represents part of the region's cultural heritage, and includes Næs Ironworks Museum, the romantic park Lunden, one of the country's best 18-hole golf courses, Nes Verk Golfpark, many marked walking paths and a living and vibrant local community.

Trogfjell in Åmli

Take a trip up to the lookout point Trogfjell in the centre of Åmli. There is also a marked cultural path. Start at Elvarheim Museum.

Svårthylkyrkja

Svårthylkyrkja is a large half of a pothole close to Espeliåna, in the northern part of Gjevden. The place has been untouched for thousands of years, and it is likely that people lived here long time ago. Available for everyone, benches and a place to light a fire. Access via a raft across the small Lake Svårthyl.

The lookout point Risørflekken at Urheia

You can see most of Risør town and the archipelago from here. Risørflekken is an old navigation mark that can be seen more than 12 nautical miles off shore. Still shows boaters where fishing places, shallow water and the shipping lanes are.

Sild Potholes, Risør

Northern Europe's largest rock potholes with diameters of six metres and depths of five - six metres. Located just by the seaside, they are a natural swimming pool for children. Drive from Risør, towards Laget past Sandnes, Fie to Åkvåg. Marked path to Sildodden and the potholes.

Vegårshei Bygdetun (rural museum)

The historic Vegårshei is well documented at Vegårshei Bygdetun, also known as Julius Grasåsen's Collection. The rural museum was established in 1984 after Julius Grasåsen had worked on getting a permanent local historical collection for a long time.

The rural museum has eight different buildings and includes among other things the old public room Almuestaua, which used to be located by the church. The old rural school Håla, which was built in 1891, is a fully equipped school. Three buildings contain furniture and arts and crafts, in addition to tools and a shoemaker's workshop.

You can also see a bee-keeping museum and a smallholder's home. The role of the horse is well documented with much equipment, a horse walk and a farm building from about 1850. The collections also includes a library.

Vegårshei Rural Museum is located close to the farm Grasåsen not too far from classified road no. 416, 7 kilometres from Myra in Vegårshei, and 10 kilometres from Akland by the E18.