Imagine an urban city with palm trees on the beach that's surrounded by thousands of islands. Welcome to Kristiansand, the capital of Southern Norway!
A great way to start exploring Kristiansand in Southern Norway is a visit to the old fish quay Fiskebrygga, which in recent years has turned into a lively restaurant area. Close by is the architectural landmark Kilden Performing Arts Center and the recreational area of Odderøya.
In the city centre, called Kvadraturen, you will find more than 400 shops and plenty of cosy cafes and restaurants. Also, remember to check out the festival program – there are hundreds of events going on here each year.
A boat trip to an old outport, like Ny-Hellesund or Bragdøya, is another must.
Back on land, the Blue Flag beach Bystranda is a hot tip, whether you want to go for a swim in the summer or a stroll in the winter.
Kristiansand has achieved the certification Sustainable Destination. Although this does not mean that the destination is sustainable, it does mean that it has made a commitment to work systematically to reduce the negative effects of tourism, while strengthening its positive ripple effects.
Get in-depth travel information on Kristiansand’s official website.
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Top things to do
Don't miss these highlights.
Kristiansand SHøyt & Lavt Kristiansand Climbing park
Kristiansand SKristiansand Cathedral
Book nowKristiansand SAquarama Waterpark
Kristiansand SOdderøya museumshavn Museum harbour
Kristiansand SOdderøya
Kristiansand SPosebyen old town in Kristiansand
Kristiansand SRavnedalen Valley Nature Park
Kristiansand SKristiansand City beach
Book nowKristiansand SKristiansand museum
Kristiansand SFiskebrygga - The Fish Quay in Kristiansand
Book nowKristiansand SKilden Theater and Concert Hall
Where to stay
Book comfy hotels or cosy cabins. Find your home away from home.
Book nowKristiansand SRadisson Blu Caledonien Hotel
Kristiansand SClarion Hotel Ernst
Kristiansand SThon Hotel Kristiansand
Book nowKardemomme ByDyreparken Safari Hotel
Book nowKristiansand SRoligheden Camping
Book nowKristiansand SScandic Sørlandet
Book nowKristiansand SScandic Kristiansand Bystranda
Food and drink
Taste delicious local food and book a table at a fine restaurant.
Kristiansand SLa Famiglia Restaurant
Kristiansand STilstede mat og mer
Kristiansand SBønder i Byen
Kristiansand SRestaurant Mother India
Kristiansand SChristianssand Brewery (Micro brewery)
Kristiansand SSjøhuset Restaurant
Kristiansand STorvet Bistro
Events in Kristiansand
From festivals and concerts to shows and exhibitions. See what’s on!
Getting here and around
Plan your trip to Kristiansand with Entur, Norway's official travel planner.
Local travel
A well-developed bus network makes it easy to get from A to B in the Kristiansand.
By car
From Oslo, drive the E18 to Kristiansand. The trip takes about 4 hours.
If you’re driving from Stavanger, the E39 takes you to Kristiansand in about 3.5 hours. If you have time, you can start your trip with the Norwegian Scenic Route Jæren from Bore near Stavanger to Ogne, a total distance of 41 kilometres.
Plan your route, check traffic alerts, ferry information and more at the Norwegian Roads Administration website.
By plane
Kristiansand Airport is located 10 kilometres from the city centre and has connections to most major Norwegian cities as well as several international flights.
From the airport, you can take a bus to the city centre.
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By boat
You can travel to Kristiansand from Hirtshals in Denmark by ferry.
By bus
Daily express buses connect Kristiansand with Stavanger and Oslo.
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By train
The Sørland Line between Oslo and Stavanger stops in Kristiansand. You can choose between several daily services, and the journey takes about 5 hours from Oslo and 3–3.5 hours from Stavanger.
Explore Southern Norway
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