Things to do in Arendal
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Aust-Agder Museum
The Aust-Agder Museum was first conceived in 1832, when the town authorities asked their globetrotting sailors to be on the lookout for items that may be of interest back home. The results are housed in the county museum, along with relics of Arendal’s shipbuilding, timber and import-export trades. The most interesting exhibits are those covering the ill-fated final journey of the slave ship Fredensborg, which went down off Tromøy in 1768; sadly those African slaves who survived were rewarded by being sold in the Caribbean.
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Town Hall
One Tyholmen highlight, by the water’s edge, is the striking town hall, Norway’s tallest wooden building. Originally a shipowner’s home dating from 1815, it became the town hall in 1844. The interior is accessible for groups, but the façade is elegant for those who can’t get inside.
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Castelle Bar & Restaurant
Perhaps the classiest bar/restaurant by the Pollen harbour, Castelle is a chic place and a cut above the beer-and-yobbo culture that sometimes afflicts other waterside bars in Arendal. Meals are light (sandwiches, good burgers and pasta) and most drinks are possible, from 0.5L beer (Nkr64) to cocktails (Nkr99).
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Café Det Lindvedske Hus
With its mellow atmosphere and 200-year-old décor, this lovely place does light meals (grilled sandwiches and pasta), great coffee and has the ambience of a sophisticated but casual art café. The kitchen closes at 9pm, whereafter music of the Stan Getz kind takes over. A terrific place.
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No.9 Kaffe & Platebar
Another classy little café, No.9 is the work of Espen Larsen, a local jazz musician who sells a range of (mostly jazz) CDs and plays them while you sip your coffee or snack on a pastry – the perfect accompaniment to a lazy Arendal afternoon.
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Madam Reiersen
One of the better restaurants ringing the Pollen harbour, Madam Reiersen is good value for lunch, especially its seafood platter (Nkr145). Then again, we did enjoy the crisp-fried Norwegian Arctic char (Nkr225) for dinner.
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Café Victor
In a prime waterfront position, Café Victor is another cool choice. Apart from the antique ceiling, the décor is sleek and modern, the service friendly and the food (sandwiches and pasta) and coffee excellent.
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Arendal Town Museum
Well worth a visit is Arendal Town Museum, largely because it is a rare opportunity to see inside one of Arendal’s charming old burghers’ houses (Klöckers Hus).
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Fiskebrygge
For an outdoor drink in summer, Fiskebrygge has a fine location on the waterfront and serves a range of beer (from Nkr50) and cocktails (from Nkr89).
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