GRIMSTAD

The city of poets

Its cobblestone streets, traditional wooden houses and narrow lanes make Grimstad a cosy town on Norway's southern coast.

The small city of Grimstad is located between Arendal and Kristiansand in Southern Norway. Visitors are often charmed by the town’s traditional white-painted wooden houses, narrow streets and picturesque lanes.

Enjoy a stroll or a bike ride along the seafront, explore the archipelago that comprises an array of beautiful islands and islets, or venture into Raet National Park, which spans a total of 607 square kilometres of coastal nature and sea.

Norway’s most famous playwright, Henrik Ibsen, spent parts of his life here. The Ibsen Museum in Grimstad is Norway’s oldest of its kind.

In the pedestrian streets, you’ll find several small, independent shops and a wide selection of cafés and restaurants.

Girl drinking tea inside the Ibsen Café in Grimstad, Southern Norway

Hands holding up a white bust of Henrik Ibsen. Grimstad, Southern Norway.

A woman walking past the Ibsen museum in Grimstad in Southern Norway.

The old houses also tell exciting stories about those who have lived here before ...

... like the famous Norwegian writers Henrik Ibsen and Knut Hamsun.

When Ibsen was 15, he moved here to become an apprentice pharmacist, but by the time he left the city, several years later, he had written his first play.

Dive into Ibsen's years in Grimstad at the Ibsen Museum, Norway's oldest of its kind.

The museum comprises the pharmacy where the famous playwright worked, as well as the room in which he wrote his first play.

Top things to do

Don't miss these highlights.

Grimstad
Fishing in Grimstad
Tips for fishing in Grimstad.
Grimstad
Street pole hunt Grimstad
Stolpejakten is now in Grimstad! Have a great trip and good hunting.
Grimstad
Town walk - the town of poets
Grimstad has been home to both Henrik Ibsen and Knut Hamsun, and is often referred to as the "town of poets".
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Grimstad
The Schooner Solrik
Beautiful Schooner located in Grimstad Harbour
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Grimstad Golfclub
The sunshine links. Grimstad links is rated as a fairly easy nine-hole course, but also offers a few challenges.
Grimstad
Norwegian Museum of Horticulture
Located by the beautiful park at Dømmesmoen.
Grimstad
The Ibsen-museum in Grimstad
One of Grimstad's main attractions!
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Grimstad
Explore Grimstad's skerries
In Grimstad, both locals and visitors enjoy access to an array of islands and islets with small, idyllic beaches and smooth, rocky shores ideal for sunbathing in summer. Grimstad’s skerries are ideal for memorable summer days spent together with friends and family. From town, these gems can be reached both with and without a boat. Best of all – most are open to the public, and many have quays for easier access and also toilet facilities. Islands, islets and skerries Store and Lille Hampholmen are two popular islands offering numerous beautiful, secluded bays with small sandy beaches. The straits between and around the islands are almost always sheltered from the wind, and there are quays and toilet facilities available. Teistholmen is the perfect spot for families, and has a beautiful sandy beach for the very young and a smooth, rocky shore for those a little bit older. At the centre of the island, there are exciting potholes to explore. Quay and toilet facilities are available. Ytre and Indre Maløya are two large islands with numerous beautiful mooring spots. At Ytre Maløya there is a large field ideal for overnight stays, and there are also quay and toilet facilities available. Valøyene is a group of islands and islets with small picturesque bays and sandy beaches. Their natural stone is the beautiful, red Fjære granite. Auesøya is a landscape conservation area, and is renowned for its spectacular springtime daffodil display to which special guided trips are arranged. Toilet facilities are available on the island. Stunning spots by the sea possible to reach by car or bicycle can also be found. Marivold is a peninsula with its own camp site, and offers beautiful beaches and bays ideal for swimming and fishing. The views are spectacular, and at the outermost shores you truly feel like being in the middle of the archipelago. This is also the feeling you get when visiting Kalvehageneset in Homborsund, where you have a direct view to Homborsund Lighthouse and are refreshingly exposed to the weather. Kalvehageneset is ideal for hiking, and offers excellent swimming and fishing opportunities. Raet National Park Raet National Park was created in 2016 to protect the special natural area which extends from the Valøyene islands off Grimstad along the entire Arendal coastal strip to Lyngør in Tvedestrand. The park covers a total of 607 square kilometres of coastal nature and sea. Raet National Park is one of Southern Norway’s most popular outdoor recreation areas, and many people visit the seaway, particularly during the summer months. Many of the islands are protected as outdoor recreation areas and as an archipelago park. The national park is ideal for kayaking, windsurfing, boat trips and walks, recreational fishing and swimming. Exciting canals The Reddal Canal runs from Strandfjorden (the sea) to Landvikvannet (inland lake), and is 3 kilometres long. From Landvikvannet, you can then reach lake Reddalsvannet through a 500-metre-long canal. This 3.5-kilometre journey will take you from archipelago and lighthouse to inland lakes surrounded by beautiful agricultural land and farms. The canal is ideal for smaller boats, and also perfect for canoeing or kayaking. At Hesnes, you will find the small Hesnes Canal – a great option when you are on your way from Grimstad to Hesnesøyene and Valøyene. The canal was originally built to provide customs officers with a route from the Hesnesøy habour to the Groosefjord harbour without having to navigate the harsh and exposed Smørsundet strait. Explore by boat The schooner Solrik and old fishing vessel Østerøy are both excellent ways to explore Grimstad's skerries. Solrik will take you on a beautiful round-trip amongst islands and islets in juli every year. Østerøy runs two scheduled trips Wednesday, Friday and Sundays, and offers you the opportunity to hop off on one of the island and then be picked up a few hours later. More info about timetables and the route can be found here. If you prefer to explore the skerries on your own, it is possible to hire a basic 15-foot open boat, with an 8hp outboard motor, from Grimstad Tourist Office during the summer season. Lighthouse holiday Enjoy an experience of a lifetime at Homborsund Lighthouse. Open for overnight stays throughout the summer season. The rest of the year, you can rent the entire lighthouse and bring your family or friends along on a salty adventure. Boat transport required.
Grimstad
Bicycle hire in Grimstad
Explore Grimstad on bike.
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Grimstad
Beach Boat Østerøy
Take the boat out to some of the finest beach and swimming spots in Grimstad.
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Grimstad
Fjære kirke
Fjære Church is an impressive stone building.
Grimstad
Grimstad Library
The new library.
Grimstad
The Maritime Museum in Grimstad
The family-friendly museum in beautiful surroundings.
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Fevik
Raet National Park in Grimstad
Raet national park.

Find more attractions

A man scanning a QR-code at a wall in Grimstad, Southern Norway.

Two persons standing on a bridge with bicycles in Grimstad, Southern Norway.

Flowers and garden in Grimstad, Southern Norway.

Or maybe you want to go for a walk in a poet's footsteps?

Join a guided tour through the city, or go exploring on your own! If you bring your mobile, you can get to know Grimstad's famous poets through the QR codes posted around the city.

You can also tour the area by bike.

In fact, two of Norway's best cyclists of all time, Thor Hushovd and Dag Otto Lauritzen, come from Grimstad.

So, if you are up for a real challenge, you should try one of Thor & Dag Otto’s cycle routes.

If you are more of a “bike with basket” kind of person, there are plenty of gentle cycling routes to choose from too, both along the coast and further inland.

You can rent bikes at the tourist information office.

Where to stay

Book comfy hotels or cosy cabins. Find your home away from home.

Fevik
Strand Hotel Fevik by Classic Norway Hotels
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Grimstad
Gurebo Gård (Farm) - Cabins
Grimstad
Homborsund Lighthouse
Fevik
Bagatell Camping
Homborsund
Bufjord Camping
Homborsund
Breivik Camping
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Grimstad
Moysand Family Camping
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Grimstad
Holsthuset guest house
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Grimstad
Clarion Collection Hotel Grimstad
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More accommodation alternatives

Summer in the Dømmesmoen park in Grimstad, Southern Norway

Raet national park outside of Grimstad, Southern Norway.

Two women with shopping bags outside the shop Lysthuset in Grimstad, Southern Norway

A woman looking at buns and breads at Herlighed café in Grimstad, Southern Norway.

Grimstad can easily be explored on foot as well. Enjoy a stroll along the seafront, admire the beautiful flowers in the Dømmesmoen park (pictured) …

… and let your mind wander as you walk along a scenic coastal trail in Raet National Park, one of Southern Norway’s most popular recreation areas.

If you want to go shopping, the city centre is your place. Here, you'll find several cosy boutiques, cafés and eateries.

Stop by Smag & Behag, Herlighed and Apotekergaarden for amazing food and a good atmosphere.

Food and drink

Taste delicious local food and book a table at a fine restaurant.

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Apotekergaarden
Cozy restaurant and bar in the heart of Grimstad.
Grimstad
Fish market
Fish market by the harbour in Grimstad
Fevik
Strand Hotel Fevik Restaurant
Restaurant with sea view
Grimstad
Hesnes Kjøkken
Café with focus on local food.
Grimstad
Smag & Behag Grimstad
Restaurant, focusing on local ingredients and flavours
Grimstad
Nøgne Ø - The uncompromising Brewery
Grimstad's uncompromising brewery
Grimstad
Herlighed
In the heart of Grimstad town centre, right by the traffic lights, you’ll find a cosy café offering homemade food, great coffee, and a warm atmosphere. With seating both indoors and outdoors, you can enjoy your meal in any kind of weather. HIGH QUALITY We focus on delicious food and baked goods from our own kitchen. Flavourful coffee and tea from Solberg & Hansen, fresh bread and pastries from Sam Berg Bakeri – and most importantly, a team that always welcomes you with a smile.
Grimstad
Grimstad Vertshus (Inn)
Restaurant and catering

Find more restaurants

People sitting on the grass by the sea during Skral Festival in Grimstad in Southern Norway

A young boy touring with Badebåden boat outside of Grimstad, Southern Norway.

The schooner Solrik sailing outside of Grimstad in Southern Norway.

A woman sitting on the tip of a small rental boat on a sunny summer day in Grimstad, Southern Norway

A family of four relaxing on an islet in Dynamittbukta in Grimstad, Southern Norway.

Festival fans have many reasons to visit Grimstad in the summer. The town hosts several events.

Some of the highlights include the Norwegian Short Film Festival in June and Southern Norway's literature festival (Ibsen and Hamsun) in August.

In summer, you can also hop aboard the beach boat Badebåden Østerøy and head to some of the finest beaches and swimming spots in Grimstad ...

... or go sailing with the schooner Solrik.

If you prefer to explore on your own, you can rent a small boat at the tourist information office.

And remember, the archipelago is beautiful all year round. Explore the area outside the summer season for a completely different experience!

Welcome to Grimstad!

Find more information on Grimstad's official website.

visitsorlandet.com/grimstad

Getting here and around

Plan your trip to Grimstad with Entur, Norway's official travel planner.

By car
Grimstad is situated roughly midway between Oslo and Stavanger. From Oslo and Kristiansand, follow the E18 motorway.
Plan your route, check traffic alerts, ferry information and more on the Norwegian Roads Administration website.
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By plane
The nearest airport is Kristiansand Airport, located about 45 kilometres from Grimstad. From the airport, you can go by shuttle bus to Grimstad.
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By train
Nelaug station outside of Arendal is the nearest train station. From here, you can go by bus to Grimstad.
Another option is to go by train to Kristiansand and continue by bus from there.
Ad: Visit Vy's website for tickets and timetables
By bus
Daily bus departures from Oslo and Stavanger stop along the E18. From the bus stop, the town centre is a 15-minute walk away.
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By boat
From Denmark and the Netherlands, you can take a ferry to Kristiansand and continue your journey by bus from there.

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