Plan your trip to Southern Norway

Charming white wooden houses in idyllic towns that lie like pearls on a string, an archipelago with thousands of islands, inland adventures, and urban life. Can you resist Southern Norway?

Southern Norway is the somewhat hidden secret of Norway. The mild climate and summery vibes call for activities like kayaking, island hopping, lighthouse stays, and beach life as well as charming small town experiences.

But Southern Norway is also about big city vibes in Kristiansand, the world’s largest underwater restaurant Under at Lindesnes, and hundreds of festivals throughout the year.

Add comfy treetop cabins, activity parks, Norway’s most frequently visited attraction Kristiansand zoo and amusement park, and fascinating museums. It’s just a matter of time before this vibrant part of Norway is a “secret” that soon will be out.

Get in-depth travel information on Southern Norway’s official website.

visitsorlandet.com

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Things to do | Where to stay | Food and drink | What’s on | Getting here and around

Destinations in Southern Norway

Top attractions in Southern Norway

Don't miss these highlights.

Where to stay

From comfy hotels to cosy cabins. Find your home away from home in Southern Norway.

Food and drink

From local food gems to high-end restaurants. Get a taste of what Southern Norway offers.

Events in Southern Norway

From festivals and concerts to shows and exhibitions. See what’s on!

Getting to Southern Norway

Get in-depth travel information on Southern Norway’s official website.
Plan your trip to Southern Norway with Entur.

Featured

Top attractions in Southern Norway

Dyreparken - Kristiansand Zoo and amusement park

Kristiansand Zoo and amusement park- Dyreparken - is the most visited attraction for families with children in Norway. Explore Nordic wilderness and… Read more

Dyreparken - Kristiansand Zoo and amusement park

Sørlandsbadet indoor water park in Lyngdal

Sørlandsbadet is a water park in Lyngdal that has a small and shallow pool for small children, diving boards and a deep pool for older kids and adults… Read more

Sørlandsbadet indoor water park in Lyngdal

Aquarama Bad waterpark

Situated directly at the town beach in Kristiansand you find Aquarama - Kristiansand's waterpark, spa and fitness centre. Read more

Aquarama Bad waterpark

Kristiansand Kanonmuseum Cannon Museum

A historical WWII museum in Kristiansand that features a German coastal defence battery from 1940-45, with the world's second largest land-based… Read more

Kristiansand Kanonmuseum Cannon Museum

Setesdalsbanen Railway line

Narrow gauge preserved railway line (1,067 mm gauge) situated in Vennesla near Kristiansand and using steam locomotives and carriages which are over… Read more

Setesdalsbanen Railway line

Kristiansand museum

Kristiansand museum, is southern Norway's largest historical museum. Read more

Kristiansand museum

Lindesnes Lighthouse

Lindesnes Lighthouse is Norway's oldest dating back to 1656. It occupies the southernmost tip of the Norwegian mainland – 2518 km from the North… Read more

Lindesnes Lighthouse

Destinations in Southern Norway

Read more about Southern Norway

Arendal

From underwater safari and modern camping to art and a science centre – discover the coastal town famed for its buzzing city centre and idyllic… Read more

Arendal

Wooden boats, one with a pirate flag, in Farsund, Southern Norway on a summer day.

Farsund and Lista

An old pirate town, thousands of birds, miles of beaches, and a little piece of America – discover Farsund and Lista. Read more

Farsund and Lista

Flekkefjord

Street art, the Dutch Quarter, rail biking, and idyllic nature await in Flekkefjord, the westernmost city in Southern Norway. Read more

Flekkefjord

Grimstad

Get lost in narrow cobblestone streets, discover your own private island just off the coast, and let your mind wander as you walk along the seafront.… Read more

Grimstad

Kristiansand

Explore urban beach life in Norway’s southernmost city! Kristiansand has a vibrant cultural scene and exciting activity parks and museums. Read more

Kristiansand

Kvinesdal

From fjords and mountains to old mines, via ferrata and festivals – Kvinesdal offers lush nature, cultural history, and a little piece of… Read more

Kvinesdal

Lillesand

The idyllic Blindleia archipelago, a Historic Hotel, and traditional Southern Norway charm await in Lillesand. Read more

Lillesand

Lindesnes lighthouse in Southern Norway during sunset.

Lindesnes and Mandal

From close encounters with the weather and long forest walks, to the underwater restaurant “Under” and charming white-painted wooden… Read more

Lindesnes and Mandal

Lyngdal

From hiking in the mountains and having fun at the beach to fishing and Viking history – get ready for an outdoor adventure in Lyngdal. Read more

Lyngdal

Risør

The seaside town of Risør is famed for its white-painted wooden houses, fun events like the Trebåtfestivalen wooden boat festival,… Read more

Risør

Setesdal

Visit the cradle of Norwegian folk traditions! Stop in charming villages, enjoy fun activities, and travel with a steamboat on the Byglandsfjord. Read more

Setesdal

Sirdal

Characterised by high peaks and scenic lakes, Sirdal is a picturesque mountain region in south-western Norway that offers year-round… Read more

Sirdal

Tvedestrand

Cobblestone streets, an idyllic archipelago, and Norway’s version of the Flatiron building await in Tvedestrand, the book town by the… Read more

Tvedestrand

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Statens Kartverk, Geovekst og kommuner - Geodata AS

By train

The Sørland Line between Oslo and Stavanger stops at several stations in Southern Norway. You can choose between several daily services. From some stations, you need to take a local bus, train, or taxi to get to the coast.
By bus

Several daily buses from Stavanger and Oslo stop in Southern Norway. Most of the bus routes follow the coastline.

Setesdal is covered by express buses with connections from Oslo, Bergen, Stavanger, Kristiansand, and other Norwegian towns.

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By boat

You can travel by ferry to Kristiansand from Hirtshals in Denmark or to Sandefjord from Strömstad in Sweden. Both places have bus connections to the other destinations in Southern Norway.

From April 2022, you can also sail between Kristansand and Eemshaven in the Netherlands with Holland Norway Lines.
By car

If you’re driving to Southern Norway, follow the E18 from Oslo or the E39 from Stavanger. If you have time, you may want to follow the scenic old coastal roads.

To Setesdal, driving is the most convenient option. Rv9 between Bergen and Kristiansand is often called the Setesdal Road and crosses the valley from Evje in the south to Hovden in the north.

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By plane

The closest airports to Southern Norway are Kristiansand Airport and Torp Sandefjord Airport, which have regular flights from many domestic and international destinations.

You can also fly to Oslo Airport or Stavanger Airport and continue your journey to Southern Norway by bus or a combination of train and bus.

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