Traditional villages, living folk traditions, and activities that will make your heart race. In the Setesdal valley, new adventures await around every corner.
Centrally located in Southern Norway, the Setesdal valley has everything from flat countryside to wild and beautiful mountains. The RV9 motorway takes you through the valley via a number of quaint villages.
Setesdal is best known for its lively folk tradition scene, but you can try your hands at plenty of action-packed activities here too – with or without the kids. Climb a via ferrata, go rafting down the Otra river, or tackle challenging obstacles in a bike park.
Winter can be long in the valley, something skiing enthusiasts are very happy about. Superb cross-country tracks, two alpine centres, and easily accessible mountains perfect for ski touring make Setesdal an excellent winter destination.
If you’re more culture-oriented, you can learn about minerals, visit a folk museum, or see how silver jewellery is made.
Setesdal has achieved the eco-certification Sustainable Destination. Although this does not mean that the destination is sustainable, it does mean that it has made a commitment to working systematically to reduce the negative effects of tourism, while strengthening its positive ripple effects.
Get in-depth travel information on Setesdal’s official website.
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Things to do | Where to stay | Food and drink | Getting here and around
Top winter activities in Setesdal
Check out some of the best things to do in Setesdal in winter
The best summer attractions
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.
Getting here and around
Get in-depth travel information on Setesdal’s official website.
Plan your trip to Setesdal with Entur.
Local travel
A network of local buses will take you around the Setesdal area.
By plane
The closest airports are Kristiansand Airport and Torp Sandefjord Airport, which have regular flights to many domestic and international destinations.
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By boat
There are good ferry links from Denmark to Kristiansand, Larvik, and Langesund, and from Sweden to Sandefjord.
By road
Setesdal is served by express buses with connections to Oslo, Bergen, Stavanger, Kristiansand, and other Norwegian towns and cities.
Travelling by car is the most convenient way to get to Setesdal. The RV9 motorway between Bergen and Kristiansand is also called 'the Setesdal road' and crosses the valley from Evje in the south to Hovden in the north.
Towards sustainability
The certification Sustainable Destination is a label given to destinations that work systematically to reduce the negative impacts of tourism. In addition to providing visitors with enjoyable experiences, the destination must strive to minimise its impact on local nature, culture and the environment, and support the local community and economy. The municipality and the travel industry shall cooperate closely to assure that the destination is a great place in which to live as well as visit.
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