Norway

Just over two hours by boat from Denmark lies the southern Norwegian gem of Kristiansand. Whether you're a family with children craving action and entertainment or travelling as a couple or group of friends, the city has something for everyone. We bring you a selection of the city's many offers.

Go on a journey through time and visit one of Kristiansand's exciting museums. Just outside Kristiansand, you can ride the Setesdals Railway, more than 100 years old and powered by steam locomotives, and at the nearby open–air museum you can experience life in Norway as far back as 1580.

The area's more recent – and dramatic – history can be experienced at the former naval base on Odderøya or at the Kristiansand Cannon Museum from World War Two, home to one of the world's largest cannons.

Immerse yourself in Kristiansand's cultural life

Kristiansand is home to a number of cultural centres and art exhibitions. Kilden Theatre and Concert Hall is one of Norway's most exciting environments for professional performing arts and music and houses the Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra and Kilden Theatre as well as Kilden Opera and Kilden Culture.

In summer, Ravnedalen Nature Park hosts outdoor concerts, and the city is also home to plenty of art, both outdoors in the form of a string of impressive street art pieces and indoors at Kristiansand Kunsthall, which has regular exhibitions of local, national and international artists.

If you want a real Norwegian nature experience on your holiday in Kristiansand, a boat trip through the archipelago is a must. One of the area's tourist favourites is the sightseeing tour through the archipelago between Kristiansand and the pretty little village of Lillesand, where you can wander through the narrow, historic streets and feel Norwegian coastal culture up close.

By land, the area offers a wealth of beautiful natural areas such as Odderøya, Baneheia, Jegersberg and Ravnedalen Nature Park, and if you fancy a dip, visit the city beach in Kristiansand or one of the many other local beaches, many of which have blue flags.

If you have children on holiday, Dyrehaven Kristiansand and Hakkebakkeskoven are often high on their wish list, but the area also offers Sørland's largest climbing park Høyt & Lavt Kristiansand, excellent areas for diving and action–packed sea or river rafting.

If you also want to treat your parents to some culinary delights, end the day at the Fiskebrygga fish market or one of the many first–class restaurants and cafés in Kristiansand city centre.

Stayingat one of the beautiful Thon hotels

In Kristiansand, you can look forward to staying at one of the Thon chain's lovely hotels, Thon Hotel Parken or Thon Hotel Norge, both centrally located in the city. This means you have many of Kristiansand's sights, experiences and eateries within a short walk.

The hotels are also within easy walking distance of the ferry terminal, so you can easily get there on foot if you choose to travel to Norway without a car.

Your guide to a great holiday in Kristiansand

Below you can read more about things to do, see and do in Kristiansand and find inspiration for your holiday in our travel articles about the area.

Hirtshals

Kristiansand

Kristiansand offers a wealth of experiences for holidaymakers of all ages, whether it's nature, art, rides, museums, gourmet experiences or shopping.

Kristiansand – the exciting capital of southern Norway 

Sørlandet

Both hotels are centrally located in Kristiansand and are perfect for a holiday focused on enjoying Kristiansand's many sights and experiences.

At Thon Hotel Norge you can choose between a double room and a family room, and at Thon Hotel Parken you can choose between a single room, a double room and a family room, so you can always get a number of rooms that suits you, no matter how many of you are travelling together.
 

If you are holidaying in Kristiansand, you can stay at one of the lovely Thon hotels, Thon Hotel Norge or Thon Hotel Parken. 

Staying in Kristiansand

The capital of southern Norway offers a wealth of fantastic experiences for the whole family – from Kristiansand Zoo and the Høyt & Lavt climbing park to cosy experiences at Viltgården and Setesdalsbanen and relaxation in Ravnedalen Nature Park or Posebyen.

Here are some tips for your holiday in Kristiansand, whether you're into theme parks, history, nature, shopping or relaxing boat trips.

What to do in Kristiansand

We've teamed up with a number of Danish experts on Norway and locally renowned guides to share advice, recommendations and tips on "hidden treasures" that can help you and your family and friends have a fantastic holiday in Kristiansand.


Kristiansand offers plenty of exciting and enjoyable experiences for children and adults. Find inspiration for this year's holiday in our travel articles.

Travel articles about Kristiansand

Kristiansand is a true gem for anyone seeking an active holiday filled with nature experiences and excitement. With beautiful beaches and lush forests, the town offers a wide range of activities for the whole family. From canoeing and horseback riding to thrilling climbing parks and scenic boat tours – here, you'll find everything needed for an unforgettable active holiday. Here are our top tips for enjoying an active holiday in Kristiansand and the surrounding area. 

Active Holiday in Kristiansand

A motorhome parked next to a white house by a calm lakeside, surrounded by trees and under a clear blue sky.

Southern Norway is filled with fantastic experiences – from beautiful nature to rich culture. Here, we present a suggestion for a road trip with a motorhome (or car), where you can explore the major highlights, while also discovering some of the lesser-known natural gems.

Road Trip from Kristiansand

Vestlandet

The Norwegian coast has so much to offer. Whether it’s wreck-diving or investigating marine life, there are plenty of outstanding dives waiting for you in the Norwegian fjords and archipelago.

Fantastic diving in Norway

Just a short ferry ride from Denmark lies Kristiansand, where the festive spirit flourishes in the final months of the year.

Christmas Cheer in Kristiansand

A mother and child standing next to a car, overlooking a breathtaking fjord in Norway, with mountains in the background.

Setesdal

Are you dreaming of a road trip filled with spectacular landscapes, charming towns and unforgettable nature experiences? Then Norway is the perfect destination for you. 

Road trip in Norway: Tips for the driving holiday of a lifetime 

Do you dream of a fishing trip where you can combine breathtaking nature with exciting fishing experiences? Then southern Norway is the perfect destination. 

Tips for your fishing holiday in Southern Norway

An elderly couple sitting at a picnic table by the shore, enjoying drinks, surrounded by rocky coastline and calm water.

For everyone planning a camping holiday in Norway, travelling with Fjord Line from Hirtshals to Kristiansand is the perfect starting point. Southern Norway offers countless comfortable campsites in fantastic natural surroundings. Here are our top 5 tips.

Camping in Southern Norway - 5 Tips for the perfect camping holiday in Kristiansand

Kristiansand isn't just a charming city full of cultural experiences and beautiful beaches – it's also a gateway to some of the most spectacular hiking trails in Southern Norway.


Tips for a Holiday in Kristiansand – 3 Amazing Hiking Trails

Østlandet

Listen to the Norwegians themselves when choosing what to experience on holiday – Here are the 15 most popular attractions and destinations among Norwegians in 2013 (Source: Visit Norway):

The Norwegians' own favourites

The desire to travel and explore is stronger than ever! And especially, we long for Norway – that’s why we’ve gathered 10 unique experiences in Norway that you simply cannot miss.

Explore Norway with Fjord Line

Norway has just been voted one of the world’s best destinations in 2022 by Lonely Planet – thanks in large part to its key focus on sustainable travel experiences. 

Norway – A sustainable destination

Fjord Norway offers an abundance of first-class hiking and cycling routes, alongside various other nature experiences suitable for all ages. Here are nine ways to intimately encounter this fascinating nature.

9 Nature Experiences for the Family

In Norway, Easter holidays are all about skiing, chocolate, oranges — and crime novels. Here, Easter is often spent at a cabin in the mountains and involves lots of fun in the snow. 

The Norwegian's five Easter favourites

Norway offers a wide range of beautiful cycle routes across varying terrain. The magazine ‘Reiser & Frihed’ and Norwegian Cyclists Association have put together a list of the country’s ten best cycle routes. (Source: Visit Norway).

Top 10 cycle routes in Norway

Quiet roads that pass through endless green forests, along the deep blue fjords, over snow-covered mountain passes, through deep gorges and past thundering waterfalls – it’s no surprise that Norway is one of the world’s most popular holiday destinations.

Visit Norway

Come fishing in Norway: experience some of the world’s the best sea fishing and river-and-lake fishing.

Get a record catch

Kristin Krohn Devold, former Secretary General of the Norwegian Tourist Association, offers a few inspirational facts about some of Norway’s best mountain hiking (Source: Visit Norway).

Norway’s best mountain hikes

Norway is a country filled with breathtaking nature, a rich cultural heritage and unique experiences that make it a dream destination for travelers from near and far.

Norway's best sights: Nature, culture and history

Image credits: norwaysbest.com / Sverre Hjørnevik

Tired of traffic jams and crowded attractions? Then travel to Norway off-season, enjoy the space, and have some truly special experiences to boot.

10 great reasons to travel to Norway in the autumn

Whether you love city breaks, mountain hikes, or relaxing by the water, you’re guaranteed to find the perfect destination in beautiful Norway. With plenty of experiences and activities for all ages, a trip to Norway is ideal for family holidays, romantic getaways, or road trips with friends.

Dreaming of a trip to Norway?

A person sits inside a tent at sunset, with a beautiful view of mountains and valleys in the distance.

Planning an autumn holiday with friends? Then head to Norway – the perfect destination whether you’re into outdoor activities, culture, or breathtaking natural landscapes.

 Autumn holiday in Norway with friends

When Danes think of holidays in Norway, not many envision sandy beaches and scantily-clad bathers. But the southern part of Norway actually boasts a string of delightful sandy beaches, where you can take a lovely dip in surroundings that are very different to ones we’re familiar with on the Danish west coast or at North Zealand’s beaches.

The best five beaches in Southern Norway

Norway is best known as a hiking mecca, but our northern neighbour offers a wealth of other unique experiences among the beautiful natural surroundings. 

Norway – Holidays for everyone

A couple holds hands and smiles while walking down a decorated street during the Christmas season.

Norway is a country brimming with Christmas spirit, whether you're visiting one of the atmospheric Christmas markets in the larger cities or seeking the peacefulness of a snow-covered log cabin in the mountains.

Norway – a Christmas filled with cosiness and traditions

A man and a woman are standing outside in nature, looking at a brochure.

Even though Norway has a long-standing tradition of charging road tolls, you can still get to most places without driving on toll roads. All it takes is a bit of planning and some extra patience while driving – but what you get in return is both saving money and seeing more of Norway’s incredible scenery! Read our guide to the Norwegian toll road system – and how to get around it – here.

Toll roads in Norway – How to save money on your trip

A woman stands in a boat and looks out over the fjord and the mountains.

Crossing the fjords quickly and easily - Tips for your ferry trips in Norway

AutoPASS is the automated system for collecting road and ferry tolls.

Are you planning a road trip in Norway in your car or motorhome? Then be aware that many roads in Norway are subject to road tolls. Register your vehicle with AutoPASS to get your toll tag before you go – and get a discount on your fees!

AutoPASS – Automatic payment of toll road fees in Norway

An elderly woman sits in a car and talks to a man outside the car.

Planning a camping trip in Norway? Get our best insider tips for an unforgettable vacation in a motorhome, caravan or tent in beautiful Norway here – from camping with children or in the wild to the best places to camp in western and southern Norway. And remember – you can choose to stay your entire vacation at one camping site, but for the ultimate Norwegian adventure, plan a road trip where you spend the night at
several different sites – or even in the middle of Norway’s wild nature! 

Camping in Norway: Tips for an unforgettable vacation 

Norway is a global pioneer of e-mobility and, with its comprehensive charging infrastructure and reasonable electricity prices, offers a great starting point for anyone who wants to explore the country with their own electric car. Here you will find all the information you need for your e-car holiday in Norway.

Information, tips and benefits - Travelling to Norway by electric car

Join a fjord cruise with Fjord Line and get up close to some of the world’s most breathtaking natural scenery. Or what about a cruise on a lake in the mountains - or the southern Norwegian archipelago?

Experience Norway’s most beautiful fjords

Southern Norway is understandably called the Norwegian Riviera with its series of charming coastal towns with their characteristic white wooden houses and an impressive archipelago filled with inviting islets that tempt you with the promise of summertime adventures. For several years, this area has been one of the Norwegians’ favourite destinations, but it’s only recently that international tourists have begun to take note of the Southern Norway’s charms. 


Experience the Norwegian Riviera

Visit some of Norway’s lesser known viewpoints and attractions – and come away with unique experiences and holiday memories for life. 

Untraditional destinations

A child dressed in a red jacket and pink hat, holding a stick, stands in a marshy mountain landscape in autumn.

Take the kids to Norway during the autumn break, and you’re guaranteed a wonderful family holiday filled with cosy moments, togetherness, and unforgettable experiences.

Autumn holiday in Norway with kids

We’ve listed a number of highlights below – remember that you’ll find lots of fantastic family activities at all of our destinations in Norway, so you can find more inspiration on each individual destination page here in our travel universe.

Norway for kids

Planning a family trip to Norway this year and want to save on the travel budget? Discover a wealth of free activities for the whole family in this article.


Family Holidays in Norway on a Budget

A man fly fishing in a calm river, surrounded by lush green mountains and countryside houses, under a clear sky.

Norway is known for its impressive nature, and for anglers the country is a true paradise. 

Fishing holidays in Norway: Your Ultimate Guide

Motorhome parked by the fjord and beautiful mountains.

The Norwegian exchange rate is still historically low – so you can once again get great holiday experiences at small prices! Read our 5 top tips for an incredible Norwegian adventure. 