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Kristiansand

Kristiansand is Norway's fifth-largest city and styles itself as 'Norway's No 1 Holiday Resort'. That can be a bit misleading: sun-starved Norwegians do flock to this charming big town in the summer, and there's a petite town beach and flash marina, but it tends to serve as a gateway to the villages of Norway's southern coast and the inland region of Setesdalen.

What Kristiansand offers in spades, though, is a lively cultural and shopping scene, some excellent restaurants and very healthy nightlife. In addition, anyone travelling with children will more than likely find themselves cajoled into visiting the town's outstanding children's park and zoo.

Explore Kristiansand

  • S

    Sørlandets Kunstmuseum

    This exceptional regional art museum focuses on both fine and craft-based practices, and the collection includes some particularly strong contemporary…

  • K

    Kristiansand Dyrepark

    Off the E18, 10km east of Kristiansand, Dyrepark is probably the favourite holiday destination for Norwegian kids. The former zoo is several parks rolled…

  • C

    Christiansholm Fortress

    Strandpromenaden's hulking centrepiece is the distinctive Christiansholm Fortress. Built by royal decree between 1662 and 1672 to keep watch over the…

  • B

    Baneheia & Ravnedalen

    Baneheia and Ravnedalen, both north of the city centre, offer greenery and a network of lakeside hiking and skiing tracks for those keen to escape the…

  • K

    Kristiansand Museum

    Located 4km east of town on the E18, this open-air folk museum houses a collection of 40 farmsteads and hamlets from the Setesdalen region and…

  • O

    Odderøya

    This island, a rocky outcrop just by the fish market and connected by a bridge, is one of the city's wonderful green spaces. There are some delightful…

  • K

    Kristiansand Kunsthall

    Shows change seasonally, but are usually high-concept, challenging surveys well worth a browse. It's a stunning space, with a rare elevated town outlook…

  • P

    Posebyen

    The Kristiansand Posebyen takes in most of the 14 blocks at the northern end of the town's characteristic kvadraturen (square grid pattern of streets). It…

Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Kristiansand.

  • See

    Sørlandets Kunstmuseum

    This exceptional regional art museum focuses on both fine and craft-based practices, and the collection includes some particularly strong contemporary…

  • See

    Kristiansand Dyrepark

    Off the E18, 10km east of Kristiansand, Dyrepark is probably the favourite holiday destination for Norwegian kids. The former zoo is several parks rolled…

  • See

    Christiansholm Fortress

    Strandpromenaden's hulking centrepiece is the distinctive Christiansholm Fortress. Built by royal decree between 1662 and 1672 to keep watch over the…

  • See

    Baneheia & Ravnedalen

    Baneheia and Ravnedalen, both north of the city centre, offer greenery and a network of lakeside hiking and skiing tracks for those keen to escape the…

  • See

    Kristiansand Museum

    Located 4km east of town on the E18, this open-air folk museum houses a collection of 40 farmsteads and hamlets from the Setesdalen region and…

  • See

    Odderøya

    This island, a rocky outcrop just by the fish market and connected by a bridge, is one of the city's wonderful green spaces. There are some delightful…

  • See

    Kristiansand Kunsthall

    Shows change seasonally, but are usually high-concept, challenging surveys well worth a browse. It's a stunning space, with a rare elevated town outlook…

  • See

    Posebyen

    The Kristiansand Posebyen takes in most of the 14 blocks at the northern end of the town's characteristic kvadraturen (square grid pattern of streets). It…

Guidebooks

Learn more about Kristiansand

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