Islands and islets, white-painted wooden houses, narrow streets, and lots of outdoor fun. Welcome to one of Southern Norway’s most atmospheric towns.
The small city of Grimstad is located between Arendal and Kristiansand in Southern Norway. Visitors are often charmed by the town’s white-painted wooden buildings, narrow streets, and picturesque alleyways.
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 covers a total of 607 square kilometres of coastal nature and sea.
Norway’s most famous playwright throughout time, 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 cafes and restaurants, including the rewarded Smag & behag.
Get in-depth travel information on Grimstad’s official website.
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Top things to do
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GrimstadExplore 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.
Where to stay
Book comfy hotels or cosy cabins. Find your home away from home.
GrimstadGurebo Gård (Farm) - Cabins
GrimstadHomborsund Lighthouse
FevikBagatell Camping
HomborsundBufjord Camping
Book nowHomborsundBreivik Camping
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Book nowGrimstadHolsthuset guest house
Food and drink
Taste delicious local food and book a table at a fine restaurant.
GrimstadHerlighed
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.
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.
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.
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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