Imagine an urban city with palm trees on the beach and 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.
Get in-depth travel information on Kristiansand’s official website.
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Things to do | Where to stay | Food and drink | What’s on | Getting here and around
Where to stay
Book comfy hotels or cosy cabins. Find your home away from home.
Food and drink
Taste delicious local food and book a table at a fine restaurant.
Events in Kristiansand
From festivals and concerts to shows and exhibitions. See what’s on!
Getting here and around
Get in-depth travel information on Kristiansand’s official website.
Plan your trip to Kristiansand with Entur.
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.
By bus
Daily express buses connect Kristiansand with Stavanger and Oslo.
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By boat
You can travel to Kristiansand from Hirtshals in Denmark by ferry.
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 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.
Local travel
A well-developed bus network makes it easy to get from A to B in the Kristiansand.
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