The city’s streets, alleys and historic quarters are decorated for Christmas, and lights, decorations, music and treats make Kristiansand a lovely place to be in the run-up to Christmas.
Wander through the festive streets
From mid-November, Kvadraturen, the old city centre, is decorated with Christmas lights and decorations. The streets are close together, so you can stroll from shop to shop at your own pace and pop into the small galleries and speciality shops, where you’ll find local crafts and Christmas presents that are a little out of the ordinary. When your fingers start to get cold, there are cafés along the way where you can settle in with something warm to drink before you carry on.
Be tempted by the Christmas markets of Southern Norway
Kristiansand has several Christmas markets in the run-up to Christmas, and the natural place to start is Torvet, the square in the heart of the city. From 28 November to 22 December 2026, the square is full of stalls where you can find handmade gifts and taste local specialities, and while you browse, the children can play in the playground or try the curling lane. If you get hungry, the Christmas town’s sausage stand is a good place to stop, because here you can try a Christmas sausage that’s half a metre long.
When darkness falls, you can also see a 3D light show on the façade of the cathedral, right next to Torvet. During Advent, there are Christmas concerts in the cathedral too, so it’s worth checking the programme before you travel.
Foto: Flickr/Sørlandet
If you’re in the city on the last weekend in November, make sure to stop by Posebyhaven in the old town, Posebyen, where the houses and courtyard are decorated, and the local shops, galleries and eateries offer food, crafts, design and much more.
On the same weekend, regional designers and artists hold a Christmas market at Kunstsilo, the city’s art museum in a former grain silo by the harbour. Here you’ll find crafts and design from around 45 exhibitors, and the museum is well worth a visit in its own right.
Foto: Flickr/Sørlandet
Taste the local Christmas treats
A Christmas trip to Norway is also a good opportunity to try Norwegian Christmas food. In December, several of the city’s restaurants serve Christmas dishes, and here you can try ribbe, pork belly with crispy crackling, pinnekjøtt, salted and dried lamb ribs, or lutefisk if you’re feeling a little more adventurous. Save room for dessert, because cloudberry cream with crisp krumkake wafers is a classic Norwegian Christmas dessert.
Foto: Gettyimages
Hit the ice at Torvet’s skating rink
For a bit of extra Christmas fun, visit the Kompis ice rink, right next to the Christmas market at Torvet. Here, young and old can try their hand at skating, and the rink is lit up in the evening.
Foto: Flickr/Sørlandet
Bonus Tip: Christmas at KuToppen in Dyreparken
If you’re bringing the children on a Christmas trip to Kristiansand, Christmas at KuToppen in Dyreparken, Kristiansand’s zoo and amusement park, is a great tip. On selected weekends in December, the farm is decorated with Christmas trees and decorations, and there are lots of activities for the whole family. Meet Father Christmas, join the Christmas workshops and soak up the festive atmosphere in the park.
Plan Your Christmas Holiday in Kristiansand with Fjord Line
With Fjord Line from Hirtshals, you’ll soon be in Kristiansand, and Christmas begins on board, as the ships are decorated for Christmas from mid-November.
If you’d like to stay right in the middle of the festive atmosphere, you can choose a city break with a hotel next to the cathedral and Torvet, so the Christmas market and the ice rink are right outside your door. If you prefer peace and nature, you can stay at Boen Gård, a historic country estate from 1813 surrounded by forest and river, about a 20-minute drive from the city.
Kristiansand offers everything you could wish for in terms of festive experiences, and with our offers on crossings to Kristiansand, you can easily plan your next Christmas holiday.
Fjord Line also offers package deals that include hotel accommodation, so you can enjoy the Christmas spirit in Kristiansand with ease.
