Where to stay and things to do in Grimstad, Norway

Think of Grimstad, and you think of skerries, white-painted wooden houses, festivals, good food, and summer atmosphere. Enjoy lazy days in the sun, a bicycle ride, or a visit to one of the museums in town.

Explore the skerries in Grimstad.
Photo: Peder Austrud / Visit Sørlandet

Walking in Grimstad.
Photo: Grimstad Turistkontor

Shopping in Grimstad.
Photo: Peder Austrud/ Visit Sørlandet

Grimstad by bicycle.
Photo: Hanne Feyling

Holiday in Grimstad

Southern Norway’s idyllic Grimstad enjoys an ideal location between Arendal and Kristiansand – Agder's two largest towns. Kristiansand, with airport and excellent railway links to the east and west, is only 30 minutes away. Grimstad is easy to reach by public transport.

Visitors are often charmed by the white-painted wooden buildings, narrow streets, and picturesque alleyways. The archipelago outside Grimstad comprises an array of beautiful islands and islets, and many are designated recreation areas and open to the public. During summer the islands are packed with boating enthusiasts, and the guest harbour is full of tourists having arrived by sea.

Grimstad is where Henrik Ibsen spent part of his youth and wrote his first play, and it is also where Knut Hamsun lived the final years of his life. The Ibsen Museum in Grimstad is the country's oldest of its kind, and comprises the pharmacy where Henrik Ibsen worked and lived.

Summer

Summer in Grimstad are synonymous with festivals, summer show at Apotekergaarden, ice cream on the quay, lazy days on the beach, boat trips in the archipelago, and vigorous bicycle rides along Thor & Dag Otto's Cycle Routes.

The Norwegian Short Film Festival , the Ibsen and Hamsun Days and Skral Festival attract many visitors to the small town. The summer show at Apotekergaarden is a tradition greatly appreciated by locals as well as visitors.

Explore Grimstad

Enjoy life

If you are a food and drink enthusiast, Grimstad is the perfect destination. There are numerous welcoming restaurants serving delicious local food to choose from. Enjoy a meal at Smag & Behag, Hesnes Gartneri, or one of the other great venues. If you enjoy high-quality craft beer, try a guided tour of the brewery Nøgne Ø.