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Kilden Performing Arts Centre in Kristiansand
Not to be confused with Kristiansund in West Norway or Kristianstad in Sweden.

Kristiansand is the capital of Vest-Agder County, Norway. By population, it is the fifth largest city of Norway.

Understand

Kristiansand is the largest city located in South Norway between Oslo and Stavanger.

Kristiansand is located on Norway’s southern coast and has long been a favourite summer holidays spot amongst Norwegians. The sea (Skagerrak) and surrounding fjords are perfect for recreational activities like fishing and sailing. Kristiansand is the business and cultural capital of Southern Norway. Nicknamed “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.

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 western 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 located 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. Here is also the largest zoo and amusement park in Norway located.

Orientation

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

  • Vågsbygd which includes Flekkerøya, west of downtown.
  • Kvaderaturen (rectangular 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, Hånes, Søm 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. 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 has a flourishing cultural life. 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.

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.

Get in

Kristiansand is the southern communications center in Norway.

By plane

Bus connections to city centre are either city buses 35, 36, or M2 (note that the airport is not a regular stop for none of these services, so verify each departure) costing 35,- for a single ticket, or the airport bus costing 100,- one way.

By train

  • 2 Kristiansand Railway Station ("Jernbanestasjonen") (situated right next to the town centre, the ferry terminal, and the bus terminal). Regional trains connect Kristiansand to other cities and towns along the Southern Railway Line (Sørlandsbanen). Up to 8 trains daily depart for Stavanger, while up to 6 daily trains leave for the country's capital, Oslo. The trip to Stavanger takes about 3 hours and the trip to Oslo between 4½ and 5 hours. Trains both westwards towards Stavanger and eastwards to Oslo follow an inland route, meaning that travel to the towns along the coast is quite inconvenient by train. There are lots of nice forest views and rural settlements, though.

By car

E18 highway by the Kristiansand Zoo and Amusement Park

Kristiansand sits along the E18 highway from Oslo. The highway changes its name to E39 when it passes Kristiansand on its way to Stavanger. Route 9 starts in Kristiansand and takes you through the natural beauty of the Setesdal Valley to Hovden and further to Haukeligrend on the Hardangervidda (Hardanger Plateau).

By bus

  • 3 Kristiansand Busterminal (Rutebilstasjon), Vestre Strandgate 33 (situated right next to the town centre, the ferry terminal, and the railway station).

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 located in the hinterland and mountains. The bus terminal is located about 100 meters from the main shopping street, Markens, and right next to the ferry terminal and the train station. There's also a taxi stand here.

By boat

  • 4 Kristiansand Ferry Terminal (Color Line and Fjordline) (situated right next to the town centre, the railway station, and the bus terminal). Ferry company Color Line operate car ferries to Denmark, 2 times each day (3 times on Saturday - Monday) to Hirtshals. The trip takes 3 hours and 15 minutes, with the brand new superspeed ferry services the route. Prices soar in the summer. Fjordline compete on the same route seasonal from May to August.

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.

City of Kristiansand

Get around

On foot

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

By bus

An eastbound Nettbuss Sør bus in Kristiansand

Nettbuss Sør operates the blue 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 taxi

Taxis are expensive. In Kristiansand, there are two major Taxi Companies:

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 small boats

Good moorings if you have your own boat, and a nice guest marina with many facilities for visitors (5 Gjestehavna).

There are also several sight seeing boats for tourists in the summer if you want to go to sea without your own boat.

See

Fiskebrygga, Kristiansand.
  • 1 Fiskebrygga (The Fish Quay/The Fish Market) (Southwestern part of the town centre Kvadraturen.). There 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.
  • 2 Kristiansand Dyrepark (Kristiansand Zoo and Amusement Park) (East of the town). Has 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 favorite 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. Adults: kr 130-kr 340, Children: kr 110-kr 270 (depending on season) Once inside, all activities are free.
  • Posebyen 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 Fortress
  • 3 Christiansholm Fortress (at the Boardwalk). This 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.
  • 5 Vest-Agder Museum Kristiansand. is 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.
  • 6 Kristiansand Cannon Museum (Batterie Vara) (Møvig, 8km west of the town center), +47 38 08 50 90, . 3Feb-11May: Su:Noon-4PM, 18May-11Jun: M-W:11Am-3PM, Th-Su:11AM-5PM, 12Jun-17Aug: Daily: 11AM-6PM, 18Aug-28Sep: M-W:11Am-3PM, Th-Su:11AM-5PM, 5Oct-30Nov: Su:Noon-4PM. Here you will find the world's second largest cannon ever to be mounted on land. Mounted by the occupying German forces in 1940 to guard the shipping lanes of the Skagerrak.
  • 7 Agder Natural History Museum and Botanical Garden. and 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.
  • 8 Kristiansand Cathedral (Kristiansand domkirke). in 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.
  • 9 Sørlandet's Art Museum (2 minutes walk from the cathedral), Skippergata 24 B, +47 38074900. Is the an art gallery with permanent and changing exhibitions.
  • 10 Oddernes Church (east of river Otra). The 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

Parks

  • 11 The Boardwalk (Strandpromenaden). The 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, playground for children and a public beach - Bystranda, the Town Beach. The boardwalk continues along the western river bank of the river Otra.
  • 12 Myren Mansion (Myren Gård), Myrbakken 5 (2km west of the city center). 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.
  • 13 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. There are sometimes music performances in the summer.

Do

  • Forests: In Kristiansand, there are many forests, never more than a short walk away. Near the town center are the areas (perfect for walking recreation or winter activities at winter time):
    • 1 Jegersberg (East of the river Otra)
    • 2 Baneheia (Next to the city center)
    • 3 Odderøya - an island to discover next to the city center (Connected with the city center by several bridges), filled with outstanding history, culture, nature, forest, forest trails and wonderful views over the city and the archipelago. Several nice beaches, opportunities for swimming and fishing and great picnic locations.
  • Even if Kristiansand receives litle snow at winter time, there is popular ski-lift in Tveit, not far from the airport.
Bystranda and Aquarama (gray building in the background) on a hot summer day
  • 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.
    • 4 Aquarama, (Tangen 8). MO, WE, TH 12AM - 9PM, TU, FR 6AM - 9PM, SA, SU 10AM- 6PM. Indoor swimming facilities, including water slide, swimming pool, hot water pool and diving towers NOK 130.
    • Badelandet (Connected to Kristiansand Zoo and Amusement Park), a waterpark, outdoor or indoor (separate ticket required). Water slides, bubble baths, coral reefs, wave pool and swimming pool. The season lasts from April to October. NOK 129
    • Bystranda (The town beach, right next to Aquarama) is a nice sandy blue flag beach with swim pier, sun deck and palm trees - ideal for children.
    • Hamresanden (approx. 9 km east of town). Is a 3 km long, sandy blue flag beach that can be crowded on warm summer days.
  • 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-boats from the town centre, MS Blindleia or MS Bragdøya. The archipelago and the surrounding fjords is also a perfect setting for sailing and fishing
  • Bragdøya is 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.
  • Diving A-dykk (at Dvergsnestangen by Kristiansand Feriesenter) offers diving tips, diving courses, wreck diving, night diving, air refilling and diving for disabled.
  • 5 Escape Room, Henrik Wergelandsgate 53, +47 45 81 79 81. In the mood to play? Play, learn, discover and solve puzzles!
  • Fishing: If you fish in the rivers in the area, you must purchase a fishing license. 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!
  • 6 Kilden Performing Arts Centre (The landmark building), Sjølystveien 2 (at the quay of Odderøya), +47 90 58 11 11 (ticket service). Was opened 2012. A location for concerts, theater, and opera performances.

Second hand market

In the period 04.06. - 20.08., the Second hand market Posebyen Market is open every Saturday in Posebyen (old town).

Live music

Crowd gathered at the concert Tuesday at Fiskebrygga.

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 previously made the festival a great success.

  • Odderøya live at Odderøya is an annual rock music festival consisting of individual days of concerts in June and July.
  • Palmesus, the annual music festival at the Bystranda beach in early July.
  • Måkeskrik in Bendiksbukta, also at Odderøya is an annual music festival in late July.
  • The Dark Season is an indoor annual club music festival in late October.

Learn

University of Agder
  • University of Agder has 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 music education (both classical and pop/rock) at Musikkens hus (House of Music) in the town center. 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).

Work

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

Buy

Shopping Malls

Markens gate
  • 1 Markens gate (The main pedestrian street). is the main shopping street in the town 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.
  • 2 Sørlandssenteret, Barstølveien 31 (east of the town centre), +47 38049100, fax: +47 38049200, . M-F: 10AM-9PM, Sa: 10AM-6PM. 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).
  • 3 Amfi Vågsbygd, Kirsten Flagstadsvei 32 (west of the town centre), +47 38016011. M-F: 10AM-8PM, Sa: 10AM-6PM. Is a shopping center, about 5 minutes' drive west of town, in the Vågsbygd area.

Specialty Stores

  • Eventyrskogen Souvenirs at Kristiansand Zoo and amusementpark
  • Souvenirs in the city centre Guide Sør, Markens gate 3 (Main street, one block away from the board walk) ☎ +47 47710074.
  • 4 Galleri Bi-Z, Dronningens gate 39, +47 38 02 53 30. Art gallery, exhibitions, sales and own framing workshop
  • 5 Husfliden, Gyldenløves gate 6 A, +47 38 07 06 95. Specialist shop for Norwegian handicrafts and design.
  • 6 Høie, Setesdalsveien 620 (At Mosby, 9km north of the town centre), +47 38124400. Høie bedding, factory outlets.

Eat

Ice cream

  • Hennig-Olsen ice cream is produced in Kristiansand and 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's (1.Corner of Markens gate/Dronningens gate, 2. Sørlandssenteret). Meals are approx. 80 NOK.
  • Lotus Grillbar (Vestre Strandgate 26), +47 38029730. Nice and affordable Chinese food. Take-away service
  • 1 Håndverkeren, Rådhusgata 15 (Just beside the town hall), +47 48887844. Restaurant house that offers affordable, traditional Norwegian food, taproom and concert venue. Sunday Buffet from NOK 189.
  • Villa Marina, Østre Strand gt. 2 a, +47 38 12 07 21. Large selection of Italian cuisine at affordable prices Meal from NOK 199.

Mid-range

  • Egon (Chain restaurants: 1.Connected to the Thon Hotel Kristiansand, 2.Connected to Sørlandssenteret). Serves nice food for a much better price/quality ratio. All kinds of dishes available, you do need to go to the bar to order.
  • Bennys Rockhouse, Gravane 26 (Fiskebrygga), +47 40 00 18 41. Texas style BBQ food, good variety of beer and occasional concerts.
  • 2 Slakter Sørensen, Rådhusgata 12 (The main square), +47 38 09 91 88. The Beef - restaurant on the square
  • 3 Måltid, Tollbodgata 2B (In the town centre), +47 47833000. Intimate restaurant with a menu based on local ingredients.

Splurge

  • 4 Sjøhuset, Østre strandgate 12 A (Is situated on a pier near the Nupen Park), +47 38026260, fax: +47 38026202. Daily: 11AM-11PM. Is Kristiansand's main seafood restaurant.
  • 5 Pieder Ro, Gravane 10 (By the fish market (Fiskebrygga)), +47 38100788, fax: 47 38100803. M-F: 11:30AM-11PM, Sa: 4PM-11PM, Su: 1PM-11PM. Serves very nice fish dishes as well as 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.

Drink

  • Christianssand Brygghus, Tollbodgata 9, +47 41726000. - a micro-brewery and pub
  • 1 Patrics Pub & Restaurant, Markens gate 10, +47 40001958. Irish pub and restaurant in the city's main street
  • Møllepuben, Rådhusgata 15 (The basement. Connected to the restaurant Håndverkeren.), +47 38027470. Traditional, Norwegian style pub Local bands play for dancing several nigths a week.
  • Telfords Pub, Vestre Strandgate 7 (Connected to the Radisson Blu Caledonien Hotel). Scottish style pub, frequented mostly by an older crowd
  • Victoria Pub, Markens gate 19b (Main street), +47 380748 90. English style pub in a courtyard from the main street
  • Javel Pub, Vestre Strandgate 23, +47 3807 09 12. English style pub
  • 2 Kick, Dronningens gate 8, +47 38028330. Nightclub and stage in the heart of the city
  • 3 Bakgården Bar, Tollbodgata 5, +47 38021211. Pub ("både &") and bar in the backyard next to each other
  • Harvey's Sportsbar, Tollbodgata 4 (Next to Bakgården), +47 38 07 23 05. 16-03. 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).

Mainly coffee

Sleep

Camping

Set up your tent or rent a cottage.

Accommodation

Abra Havn, entrance to the accommodation facilities
  • 1 Hamresanden Resort, 4656 Hamresanden (9 km east of the town centre), +47 38 14 42 80. At Hamresanden, the longest beach in the Kristiansand area, Hamresanden Resort offers a variety of accommodation, from cabins and tent sites in the summer to all year Apartment Hotel.

In Kristiansand Zoo and Amusement park

Kristiansand Zoo and Amusement park offers a variety of accommodation services in the summer within the park area, ☎+47 38049700:

Hotels

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 just off Kristiansand Airport, so these are almost as close as you can get.

Hotels Downtown

Budget

Mid-range

  • 5 First Hotel Kristiansand, Droningens gate 66, +47 38125400. also known by the former names Hotel Fregatten and Hotel Sørlandet
  • 6 Comfort Hotel Kristiansand, Skippergata 7-9 (100 meters from the bus station), +47 38079400, fax: +47 38070243, . Also in the heart of Kristiansand, in a quiet street.
  • 7 Thon Hotel Kristiansand (Christian Quart Hotel, Scandic Hotel Kristiansand), Markensgate 39 (Main street), +47 21614200, fax: +47 21614211. 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.
  • 8 Thon Hotel Wergeland, Kirkegata 15, +47 38172040, fax: +47 38027321, . Situated in the heart of Kristiansand, with the Wergeland Park, the cathedral and the market as its nearest neighbours. The hotel is only one block away from Markens, the most popular shopping street in Kristiansand.
  • 9 Yess! Hotel, Tordenskjoldsgate 12, +47 38 70 15 70, . New and modern hotel at a moderate cost. The hotel offers excellent service, premium beds and a healthy breakfast. The hotel is located in the city centre, only a 200m walk fra the bus, train and ferry station. Check-in from 15:00.
  • 10 Sjøgløtt hotell, Østre Strandgate 25, +47 38701566, . A cozy, centrally located, small hotel with sea views

Splurge

Connect

Stay safe

Norway is a fairly safe country in general, and Kristiansand is no exception. Though you might want to be extra careful at night in weekends, due to occasional drunk youths stumbling around.

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 February. In winter, watch out for icy patches, and when wandering in the forest 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.

Stay healthy

In acute illness or if accident occurs:

  • Contact Emergency Medical Services/Ambulance ☎ 113 (Emergencies only)
  • Contact Kristiansand legevakt ☎ +47 38 07 69 00 (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). Open around the clock.

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 (Gyldenløves gate 13) has extended opening hours.

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.

Cope

Kristiansand is 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. 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).

More guidance

  • 7 GuideSør (Guided tours + souvenirs), Markens gate 3 (Main street, one block away from the board walk), +47 47710074. Here you will get in addition to good advice and guided tours, also souvenirs + Hennig Olsen ice cream.

Go next

  • Lillesand is a pleasant, picturesque but sleepy little town 25 minutes' drive along the E18 east of Kristiansand city. The town 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.
  • 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.
Routes through Kristiansand
Newcastle ← (unconnected) ←  W  E  ArendalOslo
StavangerMandal  N  S  HirtshalsAalborg
HaukeliEvje  N  S  End


This city travel guide to Kristiansand is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.