Plan your trip to Kristiansund

Bacalao, opera, and the spectacular Atlantic Road. Big experiences await in the small city of Kristiansund.

Four idyllic islands at the edge of the Atlantic Ocean make up Kristiansund, a small city in the northwestern part of Fjord Norway. The charming ferry Sundbåten takes you between the islands in no time.

If you want to really feel part of the ocean without actually being in it, The Atlantic Road is as close as you’ll get. Plus, it holds titles like “the world’s best road trip” and “Norwegian construction of the century”, so you don’t want to miss it.

The area around Kristiansund is great for hiking, and even more so for sea fishing. But the city is also widely known for its cultural life.

Visit Norway’s oldest opera, meet star photographers at the Nordic Light Festival of Photography, or join the small Tahiti music festival.

In summer, you should get on the boat to the old fishing village on Grip island. And no matter the season, you can’t leave Kristiansund without tasting the city’s speciality: bacalao. In Norway’s clipfish capital, the dish is on the menu in most restaurants.

Get in-depth travel information on Kristiansund’s official website.

visitnorthwest.no/kristiansund

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Things to do | Where to stay | Food and drink | Getting here and around

Top attractions in Kristiansund

Historical sites and cultural gems – explore some of the highlights.

Where to stay

From comfy hotels to cosy cabins. Find your home away from home in Kristiansund.

Food and drink

From local food gems to high-end restaurants. Get a taste of what Kristiansund offers.

Getting to Kristiansund

Get in-depth travel information on Kristiansund’s official website.
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Top attractions in Kristiansund

National Tourist Route Atlanterhavsvegen

A unique stretch of road which takes you right out to the ocean's edge. In 2005, the road was voted Norway's «Engineering Feat of the Century», and is… Read more

National Tourist Route Atlanterhavsvegen

Gripruta -visit the beautiful island of Grip

The island Grip is one of the most popular attractions of Kristiansund. 14 km north of Kristiansund is the island that until 1964 was the smallest… Read more

Gripruta -visit the beautiful island of Grip

The Opera in Kristiansund

The impulses of the opera in Kristiansund came from big firms enganged in the production and export of klipfish. These were in close contact with the… Read more

The Opera in Kristiansund

Kvalvik Fort - coastal fort from World War 2

Kvalvik Fort is situated on Kvalvik, Frei. It is one of Norway's best preserved coastal fortifications from the Second World War. There was also a… Read more

Kvalvik Fort - coastal fort from World War 2

Sundbåten - The harbour ferry

The Sundbåten boat - The world's oldest public transport service in uninterrupted use. Part of Kristiansund's cultural heritage and the world's… Read more

Sundbåten - The harbour ferry

Atlanterhavsbadet - indoor waterpark

Atlanterhavsbadet is a modern aqua land including : · Family bath · Sports pool · Health pool · Well-being area · Atlanten Cafè · Climbing wall ·… Read more

Atlanterhavsbadet - indoor waterpark

Mellemværftet - old shipbuilding museum

Norway's only «living» shipbuilding museum – founded in 1856. The shipyard buildings are from 1872 and the residential houses from 1887. Museum… Read more

Mellemværftet - old shipbuilding museum

Kringsjå/Vanndammene - hiking

Idyllic park area with beautiful surroundings. It is a unique botanic coastal garden, with an exceptionally rich and varied vegetation. It makes an… Read more

Kringsjå/Vanndammene - hiking

Nordic Light Art Gallery

The Nordic Light Art Gallery is centrally located in Kristiansund, just a few hundred meters walk from the pier. The gallery has various exhibitions… Read more

Nordic Light Art Gallery

The Norwegian Klipfish museum

The Norwegian Klipfish Museum is situated on the island of Gomalandet in a large and well preserved wharf dating back to 1749. The wharf was used for… Read more

The Norwegian Klipfish museum

Destinations in Fjord Norway

Read more about Fjord Norway

Bergen

Even though Bergen is the second-largest city in Norway, it has the vibe of a small town, packed with charm and urban character. Read more

Bergen

Flåm

Each year, several hundred thousand visitors arrive in Flåm to ride the Flåmsbana Railway, cycle Rallarvegen, or go hiking in the dramatic… Read more

Flåm

Two people are admiring the view from the top of Himakånå in Haugalandet in Fjord Norway

Haugesund and Haugalandet

A charming city, lush nature, old Viking thrones, and festivals await in Haugesund and Haugalandet. Read more

Haugesund and Haugalandet

Kristiansund

Get to know Kristiansund, a city on four islands famous for clipfish, opera, and The Atlantic Road. Read more

Kristiansund

Lærdal

Situated at the end of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Sognefjorden, Lærdal features dramatic mountain tops, unique wooden houses in… Read more

Lærdal

Molde

Molde has some of Fjord Norway’s most famous attractions. Experience the world-famous Molde international jazz festival, enjoy spectacular views… Read more

Molde

Nordfjord

In Nordfjord you are greeted by a beautiful stretch of coastline, towering mountains and the biggest glacier on mainland Europe, Jostedalsbreen. Read more

Nordfjord

Northwest

Experience some of Fjord Norway’s most stunning nature attractions, such as the Atlantic Road, the Romsdalseggen ridge, and the Innerdalen… Read more

Northwest

Ryfylke

Imagine finding yourself looking over mountains, rockslides and polished cliffs – hundreds of metres above sea level. In Ryfylke, the nature is… Read more

Ryfylke

Røldal

The Røldal ski centre in the Hordadalen valley is known for receiving more snowfalls than any other area in Norway. It is also one of the best… Read more

Røldal

Stryn

In Stryn you can join a rope team walking on a glacier, go summer skiing, and enjoy white sandy beaches – all on the very same day. Read more

Stryn

Old wooden houses with grass on the roof at a fjord bank in Jølster

Sunnfjord

The Sunnfjord area offers a mix of active holiday activities in diverse and unspoilt nature, attractions like a viewing point of unseen… Read more

Sunnfjord

Five people kayaking close to the Folgefonna glacier in Kvinnherad

Sunnhordland

Sunnhordland has some of the most distinctive scenery in Fjord Norway. Folgefonna - Norway’s third largest glacier - is the icing on… Read more

Sunnhordland

The Fjord Coast

You cannot go further west in Norway. Travel off the beaten track to the Fjord Coast and get a taste of authentic coastal life. Read more

The Fjord Coast

View over Geirangerfjord and the Seven Sisters waterfall

The Geirangerfjord area

The deep blue UNESCO-protected Geirangerfjord is surrounded by majestic, snow- covered mountain peaks, wild waterfalls and lush, green vegetation. Read more

The Geirangerfjord area

The Hardangerfjord region

From Trolltunga and the Folgefonna glacier to the Vøringfossen waterfall – the Hardangerfjord region offers some of the best experiences… Read more

The Hardangerfjord region

A man climbing up the Flørli staircase above the Lysefjord in Rogaland, Norway

The Lysefjord area

Step on world famous mountain plateaus like Preikestolen and Kjerag, and then challenge yourself on the 4444 steps of the wooden staircase of… Read more

The Lysefjord area

A man standing on a mountain with a view of Fjord Norway

The Sognefjord area

The Sognefjord is Norway’s longest and deepest fjord, and it’s famous arm the Nærøyfjord has World Heritage status. The… Read more

The Sognefjord area

A ferry sailing towards Stavanger city centre

The Stavanger region

Breathtaking surroundings with fjords, mountains and long, white beaches. Stavanger and Sandnes also boasts an impressive assortment of museums and… Read more

The Stavanger region

Ålesund from above on a clear summer day

The Ålesund and Sunnmøre area

You could go hiking or skiing, admire Ålesund's unique Art Nouveau architecture, explore the fjords – or just kick back and enjoy the… Read more

The Ålesund and Sunnmøre area

Voss

If you are craving thrilling adventures, extreme surroundings and Norwegian food specialities, Voss will not let you down. Read more

Voss

Åndalsnes

Discover Åndalsnes, famed for the Romsdalseggen ridge, Trollstigen, and the Rauma Line, Europe’s most beautiful train journey. Read more

Åndalsnes

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By bus

Express buses take you to Kristiansund from Trondheim, Molde, and Ålesund daily. You can also reach the main attractions in the area, like The Atlantic Road, by bus.

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By car

To drive to Kristiansund, follow the E39 and Rv70 from Bergen or Trondheim. You can reach the city via Norwegian Scenic Route Atlanterhavsveien – The Atlantic Road.

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By boat

Daily express boats connect Kristiansund with Trondheim.

The Norwegian coastal express Hurtigruten calls at Kristiansund daily on its way to both Bergen in the south and Kirkenes in the north.

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By plane

Kristiansund Airport lies only 10 minutes by car from Kristiansund city centre. The airport has connections from Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim, and Ålesund.

Molde Airport lies all of an hour from Kristiansund, or 1,5 hours if you drive The Atlantic Road. The airport has connections from Oslo and Bergen.

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Local travel

The small ferry Sundbåten connects the city’s main islands Kirkelandet, Innlandet, Norlandet, and Gomalandet.

The region also has a well-developed bus network which makes it easy to get around.