Kristiansand

Kristiansand is the largest city in South Norway, and is located between Oslo and Stavanger.
Kristiansand is on Norway’s southern Skagerrak coast and has long been a favourite summer holidays spot amongst Norwegians. The sea and surrounding fjords are great for recreational activities like fishing and sailing. Kristiansand is the business city and the cultural capital of Southern Norway. Called “the coolest riviera” by the media, it is a modern city with a cosmopolitan history.
The city is also nicknamed "Norway's flower town" because of the many planted flowers that characterize downtown. Kristiansand offers many attractions and sights, many are especially aimed at families with children.
Few other cities have such a large and varied offer of accommodation as Kristiansand.

The name

The city was named after its founder, King Christian IV of Denmark and Norway in 1641.
The name was written "Christian(s)sand" (for "Christians sand" - meaning en:(King) "Christian's Sand") until 1877. Then, the ch was changed to k, the form was changed to "Kristianssand". The name was again changed to its present form Kristiansand in 1889. The city is sometimes called Kristiansand S, where S stands for South, to distinguish it from Kristiansund in central Norway, a name introduced by the postal service.

Location

Kristiansand was founded on a flat sandy moor west of the river mouth of river Otra, and gouged out by contemporary ideal town with seven streets parallel to the river, and ten streets perpendicular to these. The old town district is called Kvadraturen and street lines are the same today. King Christian IV bought the city ground of existing large farms and allowed large green areas inside the city. Baneheia and Ravnedalen are among these. Kristiansand today consists of the historic center, in addition to the suburbs.
Sørlandsparken is an area east of the town center that consists of several large trading companies in addition to Sørlandssenteret which is the largest shopping center in Northern Europe. The largest zoo and amusement park in Norway are here.

Orientation

For convenience, the city can be divided into six larger districts:

• Vågsbygd which includes Flekkerøy, west of downtown.
• Kvaderaturen (almost square network of streets) including downtown and Posebyen.
• Torridal north of downtown on both riverbanks of Otra which includes the areas Grim, Dalane, Strai, Mosby, Sødal and Haus.
• Lund between the river Otra and Topdalsfjorden (E18 Varoddbrua bridges).
• Tveit, northeast of downtown which includes Kristiansand Airport, Hamresanden and Ryen.
• Randesund, east of Topdalsfjorden, which includes Sørlandsparken, the zoo and amusement park, Hånes, Søm, Dvergsnes and Tømmerstø.

Climate

Kristiansand's climate is characterized by differences in temperature and precipitation at the Four Seasons, but climate is fairly temperate thanks to warm air being wafted across the Atlantic from the Gulf Stream.
Kristiansand usually have a lot of summer sunshine compared to most of Norway. The weather in summer makes Kristiansand to an important seaside resort for Norwegians from other locations in Norway. From June to August, the sea temperature is at levels which makes outdoor swimming comfortable.
There may be heavy snowfall in winter with south-southeasterly winds (snow record at Kristiansand Airport, Kjevik is 170 cm), but the snow rarely stays long at the coast of Skagerrak.

Culture

Kristiansand Zoo and Amusement Park (See below) is the second most visited tourist attraction in Norway. In addition to animals from all continents, the park offers amusements for children and adults. Pirates are a central themes, there are pirate ships and own pirate village. During the summer there is an own pirate show which for decades has attracted a large number of children.
Kristiansand has a flourishing cultural life (See what's on here!). The city is known especially for music (for example, the symphony orchestra and several festivals) and Kilden Performing Arts Centre, but there is also an art museum for the visual arts and several art galleries, cinema and theater. Several of the cultural activities Kristiansand offers are located to Odderøya close to the city center (see do below).
IK Start is the best known football club in the city and is in the top league of Norway (their home ground is Sør Arena), in addition to sports clubs within, among others, athletics, basketball, handball, golf, badminton and ice hockey.
In Kristiansand, there are several mosques and many churches which includes Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptist and Pentecostal congregations.

Economy

As the largest city in the southernmost part of Norway, Kristiansand has an expanding export industry that spans a wide range, from process industry, oil and gas technology, renewable energy and ICT, to fisheries and other food, bedding - and tourism.

Kristiansand is the southern communications center in Norway.

By plane

• Kristiansand Airport, Kjevik() is 12 km (7 mi) north-east of the city. There are seven daily flights to Oslo (Gardermoen); four by SAS and three by Norwegian, Widerøe generally fly six times daily to Bergen, three times daily to Stavanger, once daily to Trondheim, three times daily to Copenhagen and launches a new direct flight four times a week to London (Stansted Airport). KLM fly twice daily to Amsterdam. SAS also fly once a week to Alicante.
  When getting plane tickets, be careful not to mix Kristiansand up with the city of Kristiansund, which is much further north.
  Bus connections to city centre are either city buses 35, 36, or M2 (the airport is not a regular stop for none of these services, so verify each departure) costing 35 kr for a single ticket, or the airport bus costing 100 kr one way.

By train

• 
  

  By car

  Devo
  Kristiansand sits along the highway from Oslo. The highway's name changes to E39 when passes Kristiansand on its way to Stavanger. Route
  Karl Petter Sandbæk, Jacob Øvergaard (digitalisering)
  starts in Kristiansand and takes you through the natural beauty of the Setesdal Valley to Hovden and further to Haukeli on the Hardangervidda (Hardanger Plateau). Route
  Karl Petter Sandbæk, Jacob Øvergaard (digitalisering)
  starts from the E18 east of the city center, passes great sceneries and takes you to the inland of Telemark. Take your time: parts of this route is narrow and winding.
  

  By bus

  • The bus connections to Oslo and the towns along the western shore of the Oslo Fjord is excellent. Nor-Way Bussexpress has 9 daily connections to Oslo, Konkurrenten.no 4-7 buses while Lavprisekspressen runs twice daily. You are guaranteed a seat - if the bus is full, the bus company will add an extra bus. Lavprisekspressen provides online ticketing only.
    These express busses are usually just as fast as the trains to Oslo. To towns such as Larvik, Tønsberg and Sandefjord you might arrive several hours later if you go by train.
    There's also infrequent express bus connections to Stavanger and up along the Setesdal, with connections to cities such as Bergen and Haugesund. Regional buses run frequently along the coast, from Lyngdal and Lista in the west to Arendal in the east, run by several different bus companies. In winter time there are also buses that takes you to different ski resorts in the hinterland and mountains.
    The bus terminal is about 100 m from the main shopping street, Markens, and next to the ferry terminal and the train station. There's also a taxi stand here.
    

    By boat

    • (WT-en) TVerBeek
    
    

    By cruise ship

    The port has a lot of cruise ship arrivals in the summer, and is one of the biggest cruise ship ports in Norway. From the cruise ship port, is a walking distance to city centre and the boardwalk, the bus terminal, the ferry terminal and the railway station.
    
    (WT-shared) Carsten WT at wts wikivoyage
    
    

On foot

The city center is quite compact, which means that everything is within walking distance.
Suburbs are spread over quite a large area.

By bus

Boreal operates the white city buses (surch time tables). Eastbound buses depart from the Henrik Wergeland street, while westbound buses depart from the Tollbod street or the bus terminal, but not both. Northbound buses (to Vennesla) leave from the bus terminal.
The main lines going from west to east is called the Metro bus. You can expect a bus every 5 minutes on weekdays. Service elsewhere is quite frequent during daylight hours, but the frequency drops significantly in the evenings and on weekends. Night buses operate Fridays and Saturdays.

By car

Most roads except the highway is just one lane each way - thus rush hour should be avoided.
Parking might be difficult in the city centre, try the parking houses. There's a toll booth on all roads leading to town.

By motorcycle

In the city and especially in the outskirts of the city, motorcycle often is the best mode of transport. There are many winding but picturesque country roads to explore. Remember to be aware and follow the speed limits.

By bicycle

Kristiansand is a pioneer town for a network of separate paths for cyclists. There are dedicated bike lanes along most of the main roads in the city and paths along the major roads. Kristiansand is connected to the North Sea Cycle Route (Route 1) like the neighboring coastal towns.

By taxi

Taxis are expensive.
In Kristiansand, there are two major taxi companies:

• Agder Taxi

  phone: 07000 (domestic), +47 38 00 20 00

• Taxi Sør

  phone: +47 38 02 80 00

By small boats

Good moorings if you have your own boat, and a nice guest marina with many facilities for visitors ().
In the summer it is also possible to rent a small boat by Kristiansand Feriesenter Dvergsnestangen and Roligheden Camping (See below).
There are also several sight seeing boats for tourists in the summer if you want to go to sea without your own boat.
Summer boats from Pier 6 (pier just by Clarion Hotel Ernst)

• Summerboat to the archepelago islands Bragdøya, Dvergsøya and Stokken (late June to mid August) from Pier 6
• Archepepelago cruise from Pier 6 to Lillesand (July to mid August)

• FiskebryggaThere is still a fish market here, but there are also several, mostly maritime, restaurants around the central waterfront. During summer, locals arrive in their boats and anchor up here. Lovely place for an ice cream.

• Kristiansand DyreparkHas a wide selection of animals in, for the most part, natural habitats. The main attractions are lions, tigers, wolves, red pandas, and a reptile house. Other activities here include a log run, a large play area, and a pirate castle with Norway's favourite pirate, Kaptein Sabeltann (Captain Sabretooth). During the summer, there are pirate shows late at night. There's also a kind of toy town called Kardemomme by (Cardamom town) which is based on a book by Norwegian children's writer Thorbjørn Egner.

• PosebyenThis is what's left of Kristiansand's old town. It still occupies several blocks on the eastern part of the town centre. Here you can still see small, white, single-storey, wooden houses occupy a whole block. Very peaceful just a few minutes' walk from the busy shopping streets.

• Christiansholm FortressThis small fortress was completed in 1672, and was for two centuries used for military purposes, as protection of the eastern port. It has only been in war once, in 1807 when the city was attacked by British Royal Navy ships. It is today used for many purposes and various events, exhibitions, concerts and conferences.

Museums

• Odderøya Museumshavn

  phone: +47 38 12 03 50
  address: Nodeviga Marina at Odderøya
  The maritime museum and port at Odderøya was opened in July 2015, and marks the long traditions of Kristiansand as a seafaring city. On the hill behind are some ocher and red buildings that have history as a fortress and as a plague hospital.

• Vest-Agder Museum Kristiansand

  phone: +47 38 10 26 80
  address: Vigeveien 22B
  An open-air-museum that consists of a mainbuilding and about 40 other buildings, collected from the counties of Vest-Agder and Aust-Agder and Kvaderaturen, Kristiansand's old town. In the museum, you will also find miniature models of Kristiansand from late 19th century and a cafè.

• Arkivet

  phone: +47 38 10 74 00
  address: Vesterveien 4
  Gestapo headquaters: This is a current centre for peace and human rights. The building has a creepy history. During World War II, the local headquarters of Gestapo was located there. Many Norwegian opponents of the horrible Nazi regime were imprisoned there and were subjected to cruel torture, some were sent on to concentration camps and many lost their lives in the struggle for resistance. The museum exhibition takes you back to the crime scene of the 1940s.

• Kristiansand Cannon Museum

  phone: +47 38 08 50 90
  Here you will find the world's second largest cannon mounted on land. It was mounted by the occupying German forces in 1940 to guard the shipping lanes of the Skagerrak. Here you can ride the narrow-gauge railway that once was used to draw very heavy grenades.

• Agder Natural History Museum and Botanical Gardenand Gimle Gård are two museums, located at Gimle, east of river Otra. In the natural history museum and botanical garden you will find a collections of flora, examples of the fauna and minerals of South Norway in very lifelike exhibitions and rich minerals deposits. Gimle gård is a former mansion, now a museum.

• Sørlandet's Art Museum (SKMU)

  phone: +47 38074900
  address: Skippergata 24 B
  An art gallery with permanent and changing exhibitions. Varied works of art, own children's club.

Ships

• Sørlandet

  phone: +47 38029890
  address: If present: Western harbor by the city center
  Sørlandet is the world's oldest operational tallship and a unique cultural heritage of the maritime Norway. She is available for pre-ordered guiding or even to experience sailing for the "youth" of all ages.

• DS Hestmandenis a merchant steamship that sailed during two world wars and is Norway's memorial to the efforts of seafarers. Kristiansand is a home port. Exhibition on board.

Churches

• Kristiansand CathedralIn the Neo-Gothic style, by the square in the very center of town is one of the largest cathedrals in Norway. Beautiful inside and worth visiting.

• Oddernes ChurchThe oldest church in the area was built in the 11th century. Rune stone from when the church was built is moved into this beautiful, old church

• Ansgar Chapel

  phone: +47 38106500
  address: Fredrik Fransonsvn. 4
  A rare, small chapel (9x9x9 m) for those seeking silence and wonder. Triangular glass construction made by multi-artist Kjell Nupen who brings light into the chapel.

Parks

• The BoardwalkThe boardwalk alongside the seafront in the town centre leads you through beautiful parks and passes Norway's second-largest fountain park (Otterdalsparken, also known as the Nupen Park), Christiansholm fortress from the 17th century (see above), playground for children and a public beach - Bystranda, the City Beach. The boardwalk continues along the western river bank of the river Otra (Otra elvepark) as a 40-km-long path for nature and culture.

• Myren Mansion

  address: Myrbakken 5
  A former mansion with houses in the best Swiss style, now a public park in English style, known for plants and trees from the more southern parts of the world, especially for the large rhododendron collection. View of the western port.

• Ravnedalen(Ravens' Valley) is a lovely park just outside the city centre. It is surrounded with steep cliffs and presents the visitor with lush flower gardens and manicured laws perfect for picnics. If you forgot your picnic basket, there's also a café here. The peaceful idyll is usually disturbed only by an extensive bird life. But there are sometimes music performances in the summer.

• Bird watching: Watch wild birds, such as Wryneck and Hawfinch, and seabirds, such as swans and ducks in the woodlands just in the outskirts of the city center. See also Baneheia (below).
• Forests: In Kristiansand, there are many forests, never more than a short walk away. Near the town center are areas for walking or winter activities at winter time:

• (East of the river Otra) A wooded area with picturesque marked trails and small, idyllic lakes. Cafè by lake (Vaffelbua), where you get freshly baked waffles and coffee on sundays 11 am to 4 pm.

• BaneheiaA wooded area with outstanding views of the city, very nice and idyllic ponds and lakes, jogging/hiking trails, lighted tracks and opportunities for freshwater swimming in the summer season. The forest area has an extensive bird life. Note:The best viewpoint is Drageknatten, magnificent views of the city center, the harbor and parts of the archipelago.

Odderøya- an island to discover next to the city center/fish market (Connected with the city center by several bridges), filled with outstanding history, abandoned cannons, remarkable culture, nature, forest, forest trails, birds and wonderful views over the city and the archipelago. Sundays: Try the waffles in the cafe at the southern tip! Several nice beaches, opportunities for swimming and fishing and great picnic locations. Concert venues. Odderøya Lighthouse on the west side also offers coffe, muffins and soup in the weekends from mid June to throughout October. See also Xland indoor climbing center below.

Skiing: Even if Kristiansand receives litle snow at winter time, there is a popular ski-lift in Tveit, not far from the airport. If the snow is gone, there is a challenging downhill bicycle track.

• Swimming: Do not forget your swimwear, swimming possibilities are many, outdoors and indoors, in saltwater or freshwater such as the lakes 3. Stampe and Jegersbergvannet, swimming pools, beaches and rocks.

• Aquarama

  address: (Tangen 8)
  Indoor swimming facilities, including water slide, swimming pool, hot water pool and diving towers. Next door there are several other rather dry sports facilities. Open all year.

• Badelandet Aqua Parka waterpark, outdoor or indoor (separate ticket required). Water slides, bubble baths, coral reefs, wave pool and swimming pools. The season lasts from April to October. 129 kr.

• Bystrandais a nice sandy blue flag beach with swim pier, sun deck and palm trees - ideal for children.

• HamresandenIs a 3 km long, sandy blue flag beach that can be crowded on warm summer days. There is also a water slide open in the summer months. If swimming is not tempting, there is also a scenic strolling route along the beach.

• The beautiful archipelago off Kristiansand (Skjærgården) consists of amazing landscapes, a paradise of islands, skerries, and rocks. In the summer time, you can reach it by sight-seeing-boat from the town centre, MS Bragdøya. The archipelago and the surrounding fjords is also a beautiful setting for sailing and fishing

• Bragdøyais an island in the middle of the approach to Kristiansand. Take the boat over from the small port of Augland (Vågsbygd) west of the town center. Discover the island (which is mostly a green space) and experience the abandoned coastal culture at Bragdøya Coast Culture Center.

• Sea rafting

  phone: +47 908 99 995
  address: Torridalsveien 18A
  A fast and exhilirating experience on the wet element.
• Diving A-dykk (at Dvergsnestangen by Kristiansand Feriesenter) offers diving tips, diving courses, wreck diving, night diving, air refilling and diving for disabled.
• Windsurfing: Learn how to windsurf. Many opportunities for practicing this sailing sport in Kristiansand.
• Farm holiday, see the section sleep.

• Escape Room

  phone: +47 45 81 79 81
  address: Henrik Wergelandsgate 53
  In the mood to play? Play, learn, discover and solve puzzles!

• Høyt & Lavt Kristiansand

  address: Gamle Mandalsvei 110
  Kristiansand's new climbing park located by lake Grotjønn in a hiking area.

• Xland Adrenaline Park

  phone: +47 48 01 03 00
  address: Sjølystveien 27
  Inside this indoors park there are 110 different items, low and high-altitude obstacle trails, climbing walls, climbing grids, zip-coaster, zip-lines, free fall-offs and more. Attractive on rainy days.
• Fishing: If you fish in the rivers in the area, you must purchase a fishing licence. The rivers are rich in fish like salmon and trout. If you like to fish in the sea and deep sea fishing, there are good opportunities for that in the Kristiansand area.
• Play golf: In Kristiansand, there are two golf clubs with their own courts, both a few kilometers outside the city centre, Bjåvann and Kristiansand Golfklubb No reason to let the golf equipment be left at home!

• Kilden Performing Arts Centre

  phone: +47 90 58 11 11 (ticket service)
  address: Sjølystveien 2
  Was opened 2012. A location for concerts, theater, and opera performances.

Second hand market

In the period from early June to late August, the Second hand market Posebyen Market is open every Saturday in Posebyen (old town).

Live music

• Tuesdays from late June to early August there are free live concerts at Fiskebrygga (The Fish Market).
• Thursdays from late June to early August there are free live singalong conserts on the main square in the middle of the city center

Music festivals

Until 2007, Kristiansand was the site of the Quart Festival, a multi-day music festival - the largest of its kind in Norway. Other festivals have come and after selling only 2000 tickets for the 2008 event, the festival was cancelled. In 2009, the festival is once again in full swing with bigger and bands tipped to play. The management has changed back to people that had made the festival a great success.

• Palmesus, the annual music festival at the Bystranda beach in early July.
• Måkeskrik in Bendiksbukta, also at Odderøya is an annual music festival later in July.
• The Dark Season is an indoor annual club music festival in late October.

Constitution Day celebration

(Annually, May 17) In Kristiansand, like in most Norwegian cities, there are traditional parades of schoolchildren before noon and citizens after noon. In addition, Kristiansand has its own conclusion of the day, with dancing in the streets ("Tapto") and spectacular fireworks.

• University of Agderhas its main campus at Gimlemoen just east of the town centre. The new campus was built at an old military camp, and the new building was finished in 2001. There are programs in nursing, teaching, languages, psychology, literature and arts, music, sports and health, mathematics and similar subjects, law, economics, social work and politics. Just a few of the classes are taught in English.

There's also several small, private higher education schools, among them a Christian journalism school at Gimlekollen and a local departement of BI Norwegian Business School (programs for master and bachelor degree)

• Looking for a job in the Kristiansand area? See this website.

Shopping malls

• Markens gateis the main shopping street in the city center. Most of the street is pedestrianized. Most of the shops are now chain stores, but it is still a busy and nice main shopping street. A few independent stores are still here. It's a central gathering place for most locals, and thus more than a shopping street. Markens gate is the starting point of the indoor shopping centers Sandens, Lillemarkens and Slottet or elsewhere in Kvadraturen.

• Sørlandssenteret

  phone: +47 38049100
  address: Barstølveien 31
  Is the largest shopping center in Northern Europe, located about 10 minutes' drive east of town, in the larger Sørlandsparken area. There are many large stores in the area, and free parking (though you will have to pay road toll on the way back to Kristiansand).

• Amfi Vågsbygd

  phone: +47 38016011
  address: Kirsten Flagstadsvei 32
  Is a shopping centre, about 5 minutes' drive west of town, in the Vågsbygd area.

Specialty stores

• Eventyrskogen Souvenirs at Kristiansand Zoo and amusementpark

• Galleri Bi-Z

  phone: +47 38 02 53 30
  address: Dronningens gate 39
  Art gallery, exhibitions, sales and own framing workshop

• Husfliden

  phone: +47 38 07 06 95
  address: Gyldenløves gate 6 A
  Specialist shop for Norwegian handicrafts and design.

• Høie

  phone: +47 38124400
  address: Setesdalsveien 620
  Høie bedding, factory outlets.

• Knapstad Kunsthåndverk

  phone: +47 900 69 897
  address: Rådhusgata 3
  Crafts workshop and sale for glass blower and jeweler

• Stormberg

  phone: +47 454 15 207
  address: Barstølveien 86
  Outlets for Stormberg, Norway's largest brand of outdoor wear.

Ice cream

• Hennig-Olsen ice creamProduced in Kristiansand, it is one of the largest ice cream brands in Norway. There are also several ice cream bars in the main street Markens and one on Fiskebrygga.

Restaurants

Budget

• McDonald'sMeals are approx. 80 kr.

• Lotus Grillbar

  phone: +47 38029730
  Nice and affordable Chinese food. Take-away service

• Håndverkeren

  phone: +47 48887844
  address: Rådhusgata 15
  Restaurant house that offers affordable, traditional Norwegian food, taproom and concert venue. Sunday Buffet from 189 kr.

Mid-range

• EgonServes nice food for a much better price/quality ratio. All kinds of dishes available; go to the bar to order.

• Slakter Sørensen

  phone: +47 38 09 91 88
  address: Markens gate 8
  The Beef - restaurant on the main street.

• La Famiglia

  phone: +47 22 22 90 50
  address: Vestre Strandgate 22
  Real homemade Italian food, served indoors or outdoors

• Barbarossa Restaurant Bar & Scene

  address: Vestre Strandgate 23
  Varied menu. Here you can order from traditional Norwegian cuisine to dishes from remote areas. For the cheapest dishes, order from the week's menu. Live music and DJ on Fridays and Saturdays,

• Bønder i byen

  phone: +47 911 47 247
  address: Rådhusgata 16, Øvre torv
  Traditional Norwegian food, meat or fish.

• Måltid

  phone: +47 47833000
  address: Tollbodgata 2B
  Intimate restaurant with a menu based on local ingredients.

• Restaurant Mother India

  phone: +47 38 02 02 07
  address: Markens gate 6
  Tasty Indian food in a basement.

Splurge

• Sjøhuset

  phone: +47 38026260
  address: Østre strandgate 12 A
  Kristiansand's main seafood restaurant.

• Pieder Ro

  phone: +47 38100788
  address: Gravane 10
  Serves very nice fish dishes and the more traditional Norwegian dishes, excellent quality and very nice location just southwest of the city center at the small harbour area near the fish market.

Mainly alcohol

• Bakgården Bar

  phone: +47 38021211
  address: Tollbodgata 5
  Pub ("Både &") with entrance from the street and bar in the backyard (next to each other)

• Charlies Bar

  phone: +47 38 12 52 85
  address: Vestre Strandgate 12
  Central bar and meeting place.

• Christianssand Brygghus

  phone: +47 41726000
  address: Tollbodgata 9
  A micro-brewery, pub and restauran. Barbecue from charcoal grill.

• Dis

  phone: +47 38 02 96 66
  address: Vestre Strandgt. 23
  A nightclub with several bars and dancing floors.

• Harvey's Sportsbar

  phone: +47 38 07 23 05
  address: Tollbodgata 4
  A popular American sportsbar, with a wide range of hamburgers and live sports. A crowded place during the weekends and Thursday nights (2 for 1).

• Heidi's Bier Bar

  phone: +47 930 06 980
  address: Vestre Standgate 23
  German, Bavarian style beer bar with the party atmosphere of afterski and octoberfest.

• Javel Pub

  phone: +47 3807 09 12
  address: Vestre Strandgate 23
  English-style pub

• Kick

  phone: +47 38028330
  address: Dronningens gate 8
  Gastropub, nightclub and stage in the heart of the city

• Møllepuben

  phone: +47 38027470
  address: Rådhusgata 15
  Traditional, Norwegian style pub Local bands play for dancing several nigths a week.

• Patrics Pub & Restaurant

  phone: +47 40001958
  address: Markens gate 10
  Irish pub and restaurant in the city's main street.

• Skagen

  address: Markensgate 5
  Danish style pub with "Danish" beer prices - probably the lowest in Norway.

• The Old Irish Pub

  phone: +47 48 27 09 37
  address: Vestre Strandgate 23
  Irish pub combined with a nightclub that offers live music, big screen sports and a dance floor where you can settle down.

• Telfords Pub

  address: Vestre Strandgate 7
  Scottish style pub, frequented mostly by an older crowd.

• Victoria Pub

  phone: +47 380748 90
  address: Markens gate 19b
  English-style pub in a courtyard from the main street.

Alcohol in stores

Under Norwegian law, people over the age of 18 can buy alcoholic beverages in regular stores, only if they contain up to 3.75 volume percent alcohol. Alcoholic beverages, strong beers, wines and spirits containing more than 3.75 per cent are sold to persons over the age of 20, only at the state monopoly company Vinmonopolet, in Lillemarkens in the city center, in Amfi Vågsbygd and at Sørlandssenteret. Probably Norwegian prices are higher than you are used to. See Shopping malls.

Local brewing

In the Kristiansand area are much locally brewed, tastey beer. Particularly well known is the brewery Christianssands Bryggeri (CB), and there are several local producers of craft-brewed beer. The locals are proud of their local beer, and it is considered good manners to start with a brand from Agder if you are drinking beer at a bar or a pub.

Mainly coffee

• Geheb is the largest chain of patisseries and cafes in Kristiansand.
• Dampbageriet is a minor chain of patisseries and cafes.
• Starbucks (Rådhusgata 10) at the main square.
• Drømmeplassen (Skippergata 26) calls itself the dream place.

Camping

Set up your tent or rent a cottage.

• Hamre familiecamping

  phone: +47 38058787
  address: Hamresandveien 1, 4656 Hamresanden
  Next to Hamresanden, the longest beach in the Kristiansand area.

• Roligheden camping

  phone: +47 38096722
  address: Framnesveien 10, 4632 Kristiansand
  Near the beach and swimming facilities and not far from the town centre.

Accommodation

Dvergsnestangen

• Kristiansand feriesenter Dvergsnestangen

  phone: +47 38041980
  address: Dvergsnesveien 571, 4636 Kristiansand
  Camping and various other accommodation options near the beach, rental boats and a guest harbor.

Hamresanden

• Hamresanden Resort

  phone: +47 38 14 42 80
  address: 4656 Hamresanden
  At Hamresanden, the longest beach in the Kristiansand area, Hamresanden Resort offers a variety of accommodation, from cabins, caravan and tent sites in the summer to all year Apartment Hotel.

Farm holidays

• Bondegårdsparken Hyttegrend

  phone: +47 38 04 03 14
  address: Rekkevollen Gård, Randesund
  Rent a cottage or apartment in the countryside on a farm with pets. Beach within walking distance. The quality of the facility is disputed.

Neat suits

• Hotel Q42

  phone: +47 380 44 000
  address: Elvegata 11
  Neat suits and junior suits for 2-6 persons, suitable for families with children.

In Kristiansand Zoo and Amusement park

Kristiansand Zoo and Amusement park offers a variety of accommodation services in the summer within the park area:

• Abra Havn (the Port of Pirates)

  phone: +47 38049700
  -a pirate town where you can spend the night

• Cardamom Town

  phone: +47 38049700

Seasonal

Summer accommodation June, July, August:

• Roligheden Holiday Apartments

  phone: +47 93614211
  address: Marviksveien 98
  Owned by the student organization, nearby Roligheden.

• Ansgar SommerhotellAffordable and family friendly summer hotel near the chapel at Hånes, between the Kristiansand city center and Kristiansand Zoo and Amusement Park.

Hotels in Sørlandsparken

Approx. 12 km east of the town centre, close to Kristiansand Zoo and Amusement park and the large shoppingcentre Sørlandssenteret. There is no airport hotel at Kristiansand Airport, so these are almost as close as you can get.

• Dyreparken Hotel

  phone: +47 38 14 64 00
  address: Kardemommeby
  Designed on the theme of Noah's Ark. FAQ (in English)

• Scandic Hotel Sørlandet

  phone: +47 38 17 77 77
  address: Sørlandsparken
  Right next door to Kristiansand Zoo, the resort also has its own outdoor play area with a Zip wire ride, climbing frame, beach volleyball court and heated 25-metre swimming pool.

Hotels Downtown

The city center of Kristiansand is also called Kvadraturen.

Budget

• Budget Hotel Kristiansand

  phone: +47 38701565
  address: Vestre Strandgate 49

Mid-range

• Comfort Hotel Kristiansand

  phone: +47 38079400
  address: Skippergata 7-9
  Also in the heart of Kristiansand, in a quiet street.

• Thon Hotel Kristiansand

  phone: +47 21614200
  address: Markensgate 39
  Also in the heart of Kristiansand, nice staff and breakfast is always included in your rate. Bicycles available as well as free Wi-Fi in your room, or you can check your e-mail on one of the three computers in the lobby area for free.

• Thon Hotel Parken

  phone: +47 38172040
  address: Kirkegata 15
  Renovated hotel in the heart of Kristiansand, the Wergeland Park, the cathedral and the market are its nearest neighbours.

• Yess! Hotel

  phone: +47 38 70 15 70
  address: Tordenskjoldsgate 12
  Modern hotel at a moderate cost. The hotel offers excellent service, premium beds and a healthy breakfast. The hotel is in the city centre, a 200-m walk from the bus, train and ferry station. Check-in from 15:00.

• Sjøgløtt hotell

  phone: +47 38701566
  address: Østre Strandgate 25
  A cozy, affordable, centrally located, small hotel with sea views

Splurge

• Radisson Blu Caledonien Hotel

  phone: +47 38112100
  address: Vestre Strandgate 7
  In the heart of Kristiansand

• Hotel Norge

  phone: +47 38174000
  address: Dronningens gate 5-7
  The hotel is closed for complete renovation, opens again in 2020. Business and spa hotel.

• Clarion Hotel Ernst

  phone: +47 38 12 86 00
  address: Rådhusgate 2
  A modern first class hotel in the city centre. The hotel was built in 1858 and has long traditions as a hotel. Each room has a characteristic of its own, they may vary in size furnishing and decorations.

• Scandic Hotel Kristiansand Bystranda

  phone: +47 21 61 50 00
  address: Østre Strandgate 74
  The largest hotel in downtown Kristiansand. Some rooms have beach views. Hotel guests enjoy free training at SATS Aquarama.

• Kristiansand Public Library (Rådhusgata 11)
• International Internet Cafe (Vestre Strandgate 24)
• Internettkafè 123 (Kirkegata 22)

There are also many Wi-fi hotspots scattered around town, including many eateries, cafes and various hotels.

Norway is a fairly safe country in general, and Kristiansand is no exception, but for your safety it is advisable to take good care of your belongings. Though you might want to be extra careful at night in weekends, due to occasional drunk youths stumbling around.

Emergency numbers

• Police

  phone: 112

• Fire

  phone: 110

• Emergency Medical Services (Ambulance)

  phone: 113
• If you are unsure which emergency number to call, is the central for all such and rescue services and will put you in contact with the correct department.

• For non-emergencies, the police is to be called on or Agder Police District at .

Safety at sea

Every year there are reports of foreign visitors that get into trouble in small boats at sea. In this area, fatal incidents also occur. Please note that life jackets are required and follow the usual marine traffic rules. Keep low speed in the archipelago and be sober.

Winter conditions

In the very southernmost parts of Norway, the winters are rarely harsh but also in Kristiansand is both snow and ice in the winter months of December to March. In winter, watch out for icy patches, and when hiking in the forests beware when crossing snowy clearings — they may well be frozen lakes with snow over them, which may look safe but could crack. Finally, beware of snow and ice falling from the roofs in downtown Kristiansand, also where it is not warned.

In acute illness or if accident occurs contact:

• Emergency Medical Services/Ambulance

  phone: 113 (Emergencies only)

• Kristiansand legevakt

  phone: 116 117 (domestic), +47 38 07 69 00
  address: Egsveien 102
  For minor injuries and illness (emergency room/physician seeing patients without appointment. But to avoid long waits, you are advised to call for an appointment first).

There are many pharmacies (apotek) in Kristiansand, that are selling medications and can give you advice on the treatment of injury and disease.

• Vitusapotek Elefanten

  address: Gyldenløves gate 13

Water

The tap water of Kristiansand is clean and nice drinking water, so do drink tap water instead of bottled water without worries to save money.

Dangerous animals

There are few wild animals that can hurt. However, some people get wasp stings and tick bites. In case of complications, consult a doctor. The only poisonous snake is the common European adder. In case of an adder bite, seek medical attention immediately. Wild carnivore mammals in Norwegian fauna are so shy that few people ever come in close contact with them. Vehicles that collide with wild moose and deer represent a greater danger.

Kristiansand is a nice small city, and almost every Norwegian speaks English more or less fluently. Most people will respond in English to any question you may have. Some Norwegians also speak some German, due to the proximity of the language, and that they study it in school. The local Norwegian Bokmål dialect may sound like Danish.
Visa and MasterCard are normally accepted in any restaurant, taxi or store. ATMs accept all major credit and debit cards and are available in English language. The currency is Norwegian kroner (crowns).

• : - An easy way to see sights down town for adults and children. (25-30 minutes) Departure from crossing Markens gate / Gyldenløves gate during the summer season. From cruise ships when they arrive.

• Additional tourist information

  phone: +47 38 07 50 00
  address: Rådhusgata 18

• Lillesand is a pleasant, picturesque but sleepy little town 25 minutes' drive along the E18 east of Kristiansand city. The town is consisting of picturesque white wooden houses around a small harbor, which can be quite busy in summer. In June, July and august, you may experience a part of the amazing archipelago Blindleia between Kristiansand and Lillesand by the sightseeing boat MB Øya. Return by bus.
• Vennesla is a village, 15 km north of Kristiansand, on the banks of the river Otra. The Setesdal Line (Setesdalsbanen) is a heritage railway and railway museum that runs on the 8 km long, wild and scenic stretch between Grovane and Røyknes stations in Vennesla, Sundays in June, July and August.
• (By county road 456, just west of the city limits) offers walking trails and paths, tiny beaches, rocks, disembarking, boarding pier, tables, benches and a summer cafe. Excellent possibilities for sunbathing, swimming and fishing.
• Høllen is an old outport in Søgne municipality, 20 minutes drive along E39 west of Kristiansand. Take a walk in the outport and Åros beach nearby, or try your luck at fishing, and even take the sightseeing boat all year round to the even moore picturesque outport of Ny-Hellesund where there is also a rare restaurant and guesthouse.

Further afield

• Grimstad is a city east of Kristiansand, known as the residence of the famous Norwegian authors such as Henrik Ibsen and Knut Hamsun, its picturesque wooden houses and for good swiming spots for families with children.
• Arendal is the second largest city in Agder along E18 towards Oslo. The city is located on a slope leading down to the famous harbor basin Pollen, perfect for a lunch. Take a small ferry with no cars to Merdø in the beautiful archipelago!
• Evje is a village north of Kristiansand along the National Route 9 towards Setesdal. Here you can go rafting in small rivers and for those who are ineressert in geology, a visit to the Mineral Park in Evje should be mandatory.
• Hovden is the closest major ski resort at winter time, and the starting point for hiking in the mountains in the summer time. Hovden is located at the top of Setesdal along the National Route 9, 160 kilometres (99 mi) from Kristiansand.
• Mandal along the European route E39 is known as the hometown of the famous sculptor Gustav Vigeland. Narrow and charming streets to stroll. The Mandal river runs in the midst of town, and the sandy beach Sjøsanden is located just outside the center.
• Lindesnes Lighthouse (Turn off the E39 west of Mandal, and follow the county road 460 to the lighthouse at the endpoint), dating back to 1656, is located at mainland Norway’s southernmost point. Worth a visit is also the lighthouse museum. The nature and the environment around the lighthouse are breathtaking. ,