This exceptional regional art museum focuses on both fine and craft-based practices, and the collection includes some particularly strong contemporary…
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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
- SSørlandets Kunstmuseum
This exceptional regional art museum focuses on both fine and craft-based practices, and the collection includes some particularly strong contemporary…
- KKristiansand 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…
- CChristiansholm Fortress
Strandpromenaden's hulking centrepiece is the distinctive Christiansholm Fortress. Built by royal decree between 1662 and 1672 to keep watch over the…
- AAgder Natural History Museum & Botanic Gardens
The winding paths through the established 50-hectare park at Gimle Estate lead through a botanic garden that also contains rocks, minerals, stuffed…
- BBaneheia & 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…
- KKristiansand 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…
- OOdderøya
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…
- KKristiansand 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…
- PPosebyen
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
Agder Natural History Museum & Botanic Gardens
The winding paths through the established 50-hectare park at Gimle Estate lead through a botanic garden that also contains rocks, minerals, stuffed…
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
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