Things to do in Kristiansand
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Kristiansand Dyrepark
Kristiansand Dyrepark, is the former Kristiansand Zoo off the E18 10km east of Kristiansand, has gradually expanded into what is probably the favourite holiday destination for children in Norway.
The funfair portion includes rides, pirate ship cruises, Captain Sabretooth's Treasure Trove and enchanted houses, while the zoo portion offers a surprising variety of specimens, including the near-extinct golden lion tamarin and a new African lion enclosure. If you want to enjoy the water park, be sure to bring a swimming costume.
The real highlights, however, are the Northern Wilderness (Nordisk Vilmark), where visitors are transported over the habitat of moose, wolves, lynx an…
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Christiansholm Fortress
The most prominent feature that sits along the Strandepromenaden is the distinctive Christiansholm Fortress. Built by royal decree between 1662 and 1672 to keep watch over the strategic Skagerrak Straits and protect the city from pirates and rambunctious Swedes, the construction featured walls up to 5m thick and an armoury buried within a concentric inner wall, all of which came at a price: 1550 local citizens were taxed to fund the project and coerced into labour. It was connected to the mainland by a bridge over a moat (filled in during the 19th century) deep enough to accommodate tall ships. The fortress served its purpose – it was never taken by enemy forces. The orig…
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Posebyen
The Kristiansand Posebyen takes in most of the 14 blocks at the northern end of the town's characteristic kvadraturen. It's worth taking a slow stroll around this pretty quarter, whose name was given by French soldiers who came to reposer (French for relax). A scale model (with buildings around 1m high) of the city as it appeared when designed by Christian IV is on view at Vest-Agder Folk Museum.
The annual Kristiansand guide, published by the tourist office, includes a good section 'A Stroll through Posebyen' to guide your wandering. The most well-preserved buildings include Bentsens Hus (Kronprinsengs gate 59), which dates to 1855, the former post office (Kronprinsengs …
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Kristiansand Cannon Museum
The Kristiansand Cannon Museum, 8km south of town, preserves the Germans’ heavy Vara Battery, which, along with an emplacement at Hanstholm in Denmark, ensured German control of the strategic Skagerrak Straits during WWII. At each end, four 337-tonne, 38cm cannons, reportedly the second-heaviest guns in the world and with a range of 55km controlled traffic along either end of the strait, while the unprotected middle zone was heavily mined. In the autumn of 1941, over 1400 workers and 600 soldiers occupied this site. Visitors to the museum can see the big guns as well as bunkers, barracks and munitions storage (including some daunting 800kg shells).
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Gimle Estate
The winding paths through the established 50-hectare park at Gimle Estate lead through a botanic garden that also contains rocks, minerals and stuffed animals. The estate house has 19th-century period interiors and extraordinary teeth-like columns at the front, and there’s also a historic rose garden dating from 1850. It’s just over 1km from the centre, across the Oddernes bridge.
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Vest-Agder Folk Museum
Located 4km east of town on the E18, the open-air Vest-Agder Folk Museum houses a collection of 40 farmsteads and hamlets from the Setesdalen region and Kristiansand itself. It also includes displays of traditional costumes, art and children’s toys. Folk dancing performances are sometimes held in summer at 5pm on Wednesdays. There’s also a scale model of Kristiansand Old Town.
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Ravnedalen Park
Ravnedalen Park, offers greenery and a network of lakeside hiking and skiing tracks for those keen to escape the city for a while. The park was created between 1870 and 1880 by Kristiansand's city chairman, General Oscar Wergeland. Over a 30-year period, he oversaw the planting of 150,000 coniferous trees and transformed the area into a recreational green belt.
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Baneheia Park
Baneheia Park, offers greenery and a network of lakeside hiking and skiing tracks for those keen to escape the city for a while. The park was created between 1870 and 1880 by Kristiansand's city chairman, General Oscar Wergeland. Over a 30-year period, he oversaw the planting of 150,000 coniferous trees and transformed the area into a recreational green belt.
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Kristiansand Cathedral
Built in 1884 in late gothic style, the Kristiansand Cathedral, with seating for 1800 people, is Norway’s third-largest church. Guided tours (adult/child Nkr20/10) of the cathedral, including the tower, run at 11am and 2pm Monday to Saturday in summer, and there are organ recitals at 1pm Tuesday to Saturday during the same period.
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Måltid
Part delicatessen, part restaurant and part wine bar, this outpost of casual sophistication is terrific. The tapas idea may come from Spain, but the food is Norwegian with so many tempting plates on offer and the waiters more than happy to help choose your tapas platter. For a light lunch the pasta salad or sandwiches are good options.
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Bølgen & Moi
The best restaurant around the fish market harbour, the supercool Bølgen & Moi does a sublime fish and shellfish soup (Nkr145) and a tasty range of fish and seafood dishes as well as set menus (from Nkr385). In summer the outdoor tables are packed and it’s a good place for a drink after the kitchen closes.
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Snadderkiosken
We don’t normally direct you to the fast-food kiosks that are everywhere in Norway, but Snadderkiosken is one of the best of its kind in Norway. Near the town beach, it has an extensive and great-value menu, with things such as hearty meatballs and mashed potatoes or grilled chicken with rice and salad.
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Rett I Garnet
Not quite as classy as nearby Bølgen & Moi but with good food, this place next to the fish market entrance is also all about seafood, serving trout, mackerel, salmon and monkfish. It also does a terrific seafood platter (minimum two persons) for Nkr265 per person.
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Frk Larsen
Our favourite drinking hole in Kristiansand, this trendy place has retro-chic fusion décor, a mellow ambience by day and late-night music for an ‘in’ crowd on weekend nights. The cocktail bar opens at 8pm.
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One Ocean Dive Center
One Ocean Dive Center is a professional centre that runs dives to wrecks, which include a downed plane and even a minesweeper. It’s to be found just across the water east of the town centre.
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Kick
This outdoor café morphs into a disco with a DJ as the night wears on. It’s one of the most popular hang-outs for young people and there’s occasional live music on weekends.
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Fish Market
In summer the most atmospheric places to eat are in the small, remodelled harbour around the fish market where you’ll find the freshest and best-value seafood.
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Sjøhuset
Along the waterfront next to the yacht harbour, this long-standing restaurant of quality is another fine choice for lovers of the fruits of the sea.
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SPAndabel
Opened in 2007, SPAndabel in the Hotel Norge is a luxurious spa centre that offers a range of pampering from Nkr495 up to Nkr1250.
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