Risør

Get the riviera feeling in Risør

Picturesque, idyllic, charming; it is possible to use all the guide books clichees when discribing Risør -  and get away with it. This coastal town is a heritage preserved wooden town that offers cultural festivals, a large archipelago and a long history of wooden boat building. 

"My journey also ended in Risør, but I fell in love with it. It’s the most beautiful place, an enchanting seaside town – with uninhabited rocky islands, little white painted wooden houses, glittery blue sea, fishing boats, endless pine trees … I found it exquisite."  

                                                                                                                   - Bee Rowlatt, The Guardian

Explore Risør

Find out what Risør has to offer for you a visitor. Check out where to stay and all the great activities available, what is going on and all the attractions to visit in and around Risør. 

Wooden boat culture

Risør has a long and proud tradition of building wooden boats and is one of Norway's seafaring towns for sailing ships. Boating is a big part of life in Risør and its very own Trebåtfestivalen - The Wooden Boat Festival - celebrates the long and proud history of ship building in the region.

Getting here and around

By air: Risør is located midway between Kristiansand airport Kjevik and Sandefjord airport Torp.

By road: Risør is located approximately three hours drive from Oslo and 1,5 hours drive from Kristiansand along the E18. 

By bus: There are several daily departures between Oslo, Kristiansand and Stavanger with bus. The buses stops by E 18 at Vinterkjær bus stop. From there either corresponding local bus or taxi to Risør (10 minutes).

By train: The nearest railway station to Risør is Gjerstad stasjon.

Find yourself some local treasures in Risør's niche stores

Shopping in Risør is cozy and intimate. The many unique niche stores in Risør are located in small streets with old wooden houses, a characteristic of the Norwegian coastline. In these shops you will find many exclusive and trendy items which cannot be found in large chain stores. The few chain stores in town have developed their own uniqueness.