Discover 35 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Kristiansand (Norway). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Kristiansand Cathedral, Otterdalsparken, and Christiansholm Fortress. Also, be sure to include Odderøya Lighthouse in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Kristiansand (Vest-Agder).
Table of Contents
Kristiansand Cathedral
Also known as: Kristiansand domkirke
Cathedral in Kristiansand, Norway. Kristiansand Cathedral is a cathedral of the Church of Norway in Kristiansand Municipality in Agder county, Norway. It is located in the Kvadraturen area in the central part of the city of Kristiansand. It is the church for the Kristiansand domkirken parish which is the seat of the Kristiansand domprosti in the Diocese of Agder og Telemark. The cathedral is also the seat of the Bishop of Agder and Telemark. The gray, brick church was built in a Neo-Gothic cruciform design in 1885 using plans drawn up by the architect Henrik Thrap-Meyer. The church seats about 1,000 people, making it one of the largest cathedrals in Norway. This cathedral is the fourth church and third cathedral to be located on this site over the centuries.[1]
Address: Gyldenløves gate 9, 4611 Kristiansand
Otterdalsparken
Also known as: Strandpromenaden
Kristiansand Boardwalk is a street in the town centre Kvadraturen in Kristiansand, Norway. The street is in most of its course closed to the passage of motor vehicles, but operates in the tourist season in connection with sightseeing. From where the street Strandpromenaden ends in the eastern corner of the town centre, there is a continuing boardwalk upwards the river Otra. The boardwalk got the Nordic Green Space Award in 2013.[2]
Christiansholm Fortress
Also known as: Christiansholm festning
Fortress in Kristiansand, Norway. Christiansholm Fortress was a Norwegian fortress built to defend the city of Kristiansand.[3]
Address: Østre Strandgate 52, 4610 Kristiansand
Odderøya Lighthouse
Also known as: Odderøya fyr
Lighthouse. Odderøya Lighthouse is a coastal lighthouse located on the southwestern coast of the island of Odderøya in Kristiansand municipality in Agder county, Norway. The lighthouse was first built in 1832. The lighouse was replaced in 1874. That second lighthouse was deactivated in 1984 and a new, automated lighthouse was built adjacent to the historic one, which is still standing. The second Odderøya Lighthouse is listed and protected by law by the Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage.[4]
Vest-Agder Museum Kristiansand
Also known as: Vest-Agder museet
Museum in Kristiansand, Norway. Vest-Agder Museum Kristiansand or simply Kristiansand Museum was founded in 1903 and is located in Kristiansand, Norway. Kristiansand Museum consists of a main building with collections and 40 old buildings, grouped by where they previously stood.[5]
Address: Vigeveien 22B, 4633 Kristiansand
Kristiansand Cannon Museum
Also known as: Møvik fort
Museum in Norway. Kristiansand Cannon Museum is a museum at Møvik, 8 kilometers west of the town centre of Kristiansand, Norway. The museum has collected authentic equipment from a former military installation.[6]
Address: Gnr 77 Bnr 88 Kroodden, 4624 Kristiansand S, Kristiansand
Agder Natural History Museum and Botanical Garden
Also known as: Naturmuseum og botanisk hage, Universitetet i Agder
Museum in Kristiansand, Norway. Natural History Museum and Botanical Garden, University of Agder is the only natural history museum on the Southern Coast of Norway, located in Kristiansand in Vest-Agder County.[7]
Address: Gimleveien 23, 4630 Kristiansand
Ravnedalen
Stage in Kristiansand. Ravnedalen is a park in the municipality of Kristiansand in Agder county, Norway. The part is located in the borough of Grim, north of the centre of the city of Kristiansand, just to the northeast of the Baneheia recreation area. The park was constructed from 1874–1878 by military soldiers under the command of Colonel, later Major General, Joseph Frantz Oscar Wergeland.[8]
Kristiansand Dyrepark
Zoo and amusement park with water rides. The Kristiansand Zoo and Amusement Park is a zoological garden and amusement park situated in of Kristiansand, Norway. It is Norway's most frequently visited attraction, covering an area of 60 hectares. Established in 1966, it has been owned by Braganza since 2004.
The Kristiansand Zoo and Amusement Park has Norway's largest collection of animals. It consists of over a hundred species of animals from around the world, that move freely on a relatively large area.
Amusement attractions include Cardamom Town (Norwegian: Kardemomme by), which is made to look like the town in the book by Thorbjørn Egner, and Captain Sabertooth and pirate village Abra Havn (Abra Harbor), which is taken from a theatre act by the singer and actor Terje Formoe.[9]
Kilden Performing Arts Centre
Also known as: Kilden teater- og konserthus
Cultural center for theater and concerts. Kilden Performing Arts Centre is a theater and concert hall on Odderøya in Kristiansand, Norway. It houses Kilden Teater, Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra and Opera Sør in a joint project never previously embarked upon. There is room for a variety of concerts and other forms of cultural expression.[10]
Address: Sjoelystveien 2, 4610 Kristiansand
Kristiansand City Hall
Also known as: Kristiansand rådhus
Kristiansand City Hall is located on the upper square in Kristiansand municipality in Vest-Agder, Norway. The city hall houses city council hall and meeting rooms. The municipal administration, including the mayor's office is located in the other buildings with front facing the square. These offices also have access from the neighboring street Tollbodgata.[11]
Address: Radhusgata 24, 4611 Kristiansand
Lund Church
Also known as: Lund kirke
Church in Kristiansand, Norway. Lund Church is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Kristiansand Municipality in Agder county, Norway. It is located in the district of Lund in the borough of Lund near the central part of the city of Kristiansand. It is the church for the Lund parish which is part of the Kristiansand domprosti in the Diocese of Agder og Telemark. The white, brick church was built in a hexagonal design in 1987 using plans drawn up by the architects J. Landsverk and Nordbø. The church seats about 360 people.[12]
Address: Marviksveien 5, 4631 Kristiansand
Oddernes Church
Also known as: Oddernes kirke
Church in Kristiansand, Norway. Oddernes Church is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Kristiansand Municipality in Agder county, Norway. It is located in the district of Lund in the borough of Lund in the city of Kristiansand. It is one of the churches for the Oddernes parish which is part of the Kristiansand domprosti in the Diocese of Agder og Telemark. The white, stone church was built in a long church design around the year 1040 using plans drawn up by unknown architect. This makes it the oldest building in the city of Kristiansand. The church seats about 395 people.
The chancel has rubble walls and a semi-circular apse, testifying to the church's medieval origins. The newer additions such as the tower are made out of wood. The church was the main church for the old municipality of Oddernes which existed from 1838 until 1965. North of the church is a parish house.[13]
Address: Jegersbergveien 6, 4630 Kristiansand
Sørlandets Art Museum
Also known as: Sørlandets kunstmuseum
Modern art gallery with a coffeehouse. The Southern Norway Art Museum is located in Kristiansand, Norway in the building that until 1970 hosted the Kristiansand Cathedral School.
The museum is a foundation, and it was created in 1995, with the counties of Aust-Agder and Vest-Agder as initiators together with the municipality of Kristiansand and the Kristiansand Art Gallery. The museum is working with both art and crafts. The foundation will work to create interest, awareness and competence in relation to the visual arts, crafts and other visual forms of expression.
The museum runs extensive art-related activities, that includes exhibits of the permanent collection, temporary contemporary art exhibitions and traveling exhibitions to schools and preschools.[14]
Address: Skippergata 24B, 4611 Kristiansand
Søm Church
Also known as: Søm kirke
Søm Church is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Kristiansand Municipality in Agder county, Norway. It is located in the district of Søm in the borough of Oddernes in the city of Kristiansand. It is one of the churches for the Randesund parish which is part of the Kristiansand domprosti in the Diocese of Agder og Telemark. The red brick church was built in a fan-shaped design in 2004 using plans drawn up by the architects Arild Lauvland and Arne Åmland. The church seats about 450 people, but it can be expanded to seat up to about 650 people.[15]
Arkivet
Building. Arkivet is the established name of Vesterveien 4 in Kristiansand, Norway. The building was constructed in 1935 for the Archival Services in Kristiansand, and in the periods 1935–1940 and 1945–1997 used by this institution. Nevertheless, the building is known as the headquarters of the Gestapo in southern Norway in the period 1942–1945. The building is owned and operated by the foundation Stiftelsen Arkivet. Arikivet is located in the residential area of Bellevue overlooking the western harbor of Kristiansand. The building in the functionalist style was completed in 1935, and was 8 March of that year officially adopted by the local department of the National Archives.[16]
Address: Vesterveien 4, 4616 Kristiansand
Tveit Church
Also known as: Tveit kirke
Church in Norway. Tveit Church is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Kristiansand Municipality in Agder county, Norway. It is located on the banks of the Tovdalselva, just outside the village of Ryen in the district of Tveit in the borough of Oddernes in the northeastern part of the city of Kristiansand. It is the church for the Tveit parish which is part of the Kristiansand domprosti in the Diocese of Agder og Telemark. The white, stone church was built in a long church design around the year 1150 using plans drawn up by an unknown architect. The church seats about 350 people. The church is surrounded by a cemetery. The historic structure is protected by law.[17]
Address: Solsletta 23-25, 4658 Tveit
Grønningen Lighthouse
Also known as: Grønningen fyr
Lighthouse in Norway. Grønningen Lighthouse is a coastal lighthouse in the municipality of Kristiansand in Agder county, Norway. The lighthouse was built in 1878 to improve the marking of the shipping lane into Kristiansand harbor. In 1842, the Russian ship-of-the-line Ingermanland had collided with the Grønningen islet, leading to a catastrophe. The current lighthouse sits on Grønningen, a bare islet in the Kristiansandsfjord, and it marks the eastern side of the main shipping channel that leads inland to the port of the city of Kristiansand. The other lighthouse, which marks the western entrance, Oksøy Lighthouse, lies about 2.2 kilometres to the west.
The 14-metre (46 ft) tall square concrete tower is white with a red roof. It is attached to one end of a 1+1⁄2-story lighthouse keeper's house. The light sits at an elevation of 18.8 metres (62 ft) and it emits two white, red, or green flashes (depending on direction) every ten seconds. The light is a 4th order Fresnel lens. It can be seen for up to 11.7 nautical miles (21.7 km; 13.5 mi).
The lighthouse was first put into service on 1 September 1878. The station was manned until 1980 and in 1994, the entire facility was protected by law as a national monument. The lighthouse is operated by the Bragdøya kystlag foundation, and it is open to the public. During the summer holiday season, it can be used as a free hostel available for overnight stays.[18]
Varodd Bridge
Also known as: Varoddbrua
Bridge. The Varodd Bridges are two parallel cantilever bridges in Kristiansand municipality, in Agder county, Norway, and they cross the Topdalsfjorden. They are named after the peninsula on the western shore. It goes from Vige and ends in Søm in Kristiansand. The bridges carry the European route E18 highway over the fjord.[19]
St. Ansgar's Church
Also known as: Sankt Ansgar kirke
Catholic church in Kristiansand, Norway. St. Ansgar's Church is a parish church of the Roman Catholic Church in Kristiansand, Norway. It is the only Roman Catholic church building in Agder county in Southern Norway.
The first church was built in 1936. The current church building is built of red bricks and expanded, after total restoration after the first, whitewashed church burned in the 1980s. In addition to church services in Norwegian, it has a Mass in English every Sunday afternoon at 6 p.m.[20]
Oksøy Lighthouse
Also known as: Oksøy fyr
Lighthouse in Norway. Oksøy Lighthouse is a coastal lighthouse in the municipality of Kristiansand in Agder county, Norway. The lighthouse sits on the islet of Oksøy which is located in the Kristiansandsfjorden, just east of the island of Flekkerøya. The lighthouse marks the western side of the main shipping channel that leads inland to the port of the city of Kristiansand. The other lighthouse, which marks the eastern entrance, Grønningen Lighthouse, lies about 2.2 kilometres to the east. The lighthouse has a racon signal, emitting a morse code "O".
The lighthouse was first built in 1832, but it was rebuilt in 1900. The present 36-metre (118 ft) tall cylindrical cast iron tower is white with two red bands painted around it. The light sits at an elevation of 47 metres (154 ft) and it emits two white flashes every 45 seconds. The light is a 1st order Fresnel lens which emits a light with an intensity of 4,401,000 candelas. It can be seen for up to 17.4 nautical miles (32.2 km; 20.0 mi) in all directions. Additionally, there is a secondary light located lower down on the tower that emits a continuous white light at an elevation of 25.5 metres (84 ft) above sea level. That light can be seen for up to 12.2 nautical miles (22.6 km; 14.0 mi) only on one side of the lighthouse.[21]
Vågsbygd kirke
Vågsbygd Church is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Kristiansand Municipality in Agder county, Norway. It is located in the Augland neighborhood in the borough of Vågsbygd in the city of Kristiansand. It is the church for the Vågsbygd parish which is part of the Kristiansand domprosti in the Diocese of Agder og Telemark. The gray, stone church was built in a rectangular design in 1967 using plans drawn up by the architect Christen A. Christensen. The church seats about 450 people.[22]
Address: Nordre Hovedgårds vei 17, 4621 Kristiansand
Voie Church
Also known as: Voie kirke
Church in Kristiansand, Norway. Voie Church is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Kristiansand Municipality in Agder county, Norway. It is located in the Møvik neighborhood in the district of Voiebyen in the borough of Vågsbygd in the city of Kristiansand. It is the church for the Voie parish which is part of the Kristiansand domprosti in the Diocese of Agder og Telemark. The red, brick church was built in a fan-shaped design in 1990 using plans drawn up by the architect Arild Lauvland. The church seats about 300 people, but it can be expanded to about 500 people.[23]
Address: Steindalen 131, 4677 Kristiansand
Hånes Church
Also known as: Hånes kirke
Hånes Church is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Kristiansand Municipality in Agder county, Norway. It is located in the district of Hånes in the borough of Oddernes in the eastern part of the city of Kristiansand. It is the church for the Hånes parish which is part of the Kristiansand domprosti in the Diocese of Agder og Telemark. The white, concrete church was built in a rectangular design in 1986 using plans drawn up by the architect Arild Lauvland. The church seats about 200 people.
The church was founded in 1986. In 2004, the church was expanded to include several more office spaces. In 2010, the sanctuary was renovated.[24]
Address: Øvre Brattbakken 5, Kristiansand
Randesund Church
Also known as: Randesund kirke
Church in Norway. Randesund Church is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Kristiansand Municipality in Agder county, Norway. It is located in the Frikstad neighborhood in the Randesund district in the borough of Oddernes inside the city of Kristiansand. It is one of the churches for the Randesund parish which is part of the Kristiansand domprosti in the Diocese of Agder og Telemark. The white, wooden church was built in a cruciform design in 1864 using plans drawn up by the architect Christian Heinrich Grosch. The church seats about 450 people.
The church was consecrated on 28 October 1864 by the Bishop Jacob von der Lippe. The church is surrounded by a cemetery.[25]
Grim
Church in Kristiansand, Norway. Grim Church is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Kristiansand Municipality in Agder county, Norway. It is located in the borough of Grim in the city of Kristiansand, just northwest of the city centre. It is the church for the Grim parish which is part of the Kristiansand domprosti in the Diocese of Agder og Telemark. The gray, concrete church was built in a long church design in 1969 using plans drawn up by the architect Alv Erikstad who was the city architect at that time. The church seats about 385 people.[26]
Address: Møllevannsveien 44, 4617 Kristiansand S
Justvik kirke
Church in Kristiansand, Norway. Justvik Church is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Kristiansand Municipality in Agder county, Norway. It is located in the village of Justvik, just north of the centre of the city of Kristiansand. It is one of the churches for the Oddernes parish which is part of the Kristiansand domprosti in the Diocese of Agder og Telemark. The tan brick church was built in a rectangular design in 1996 using plans drawn up by the architect Ernst Aukland. The church seats about 275 people. The church was consecrated on 29 December 1996 by the Bishop.[27]
Address: Grostølveien 4E, 4634 Kristiansand
Flekkerøy Church
Also known as: Flekkerøy kirke
Flekkerøy Church is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Kristiansand Municipality in Agder county, Norway. It is located in the village of Mæbø on the island of Flekkerøy in the city of Kristiansand. It is the church for the Flekkerøy parish which is part of the Kristiansand domprosti in the Diocese of Agder og Telemark. The white, concrete church was built in a rectangular design in 1960 using plans drawn up by the architect Gabriel Tallaksen. The church seats about 760 people, but when a back wall is moved, the room can accommodate up to 900 people. The church is surrounded by a cemetery.[28]
Address: Vragesløyfen 1, 4625 Flekkerøy
Hellemyr kirke
Lutheran church in Kristiansand, Norway. Hellemyr Church is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Kristiansand Municipality in Agder county, Norway. It is located in the district of Hellemyr in the borough of Grim in the city of Kristiansand. It is the church for the Hellemyr parish which is part of the Kristiansand domprosti in the Diocese of Agder og Telemark. The white church was constructed out of concrete and expanded clay aggregate. It was built in a rectangular design in 1988 using plans drawn up by the architect Arild Lauvland. The church seats about 220 people.
The church was founded in 1988 to serve this area of the city. In 2002, the church was expanded to include several offices and other parish rooms.[29]
Address: Bydalsveien 19, Kristiansand
Odderøya
Island in Norway. Odderøya is an island and neighborhoods in Kristiansand municipality in Agder county, Norway. The 0.7-square-kilometre island lies immediately to the south of the city centre of Kristiansand and it is connected to the mainland by four bridges. The island creates a natural division between the eastern and western parts of the port of Kristiansand.
Gravanekanalen canal separates Odderøya from the city center and the fish wharf (Fiskebrygga). Prior to 1993, the island was owned by the Norwegian government and it was used as a naval base and training grounds, but since that time, the municipality of Kristiansand has taken over and is now using it for recreational purposes. The island is mostly undeveloped, but the town development plan does include an area on the island for up to 500 homes.[30]
Odderøya Museumshavn
Museum, Specialty museum
Address: Nodeviga 38, 4610 Kristiansand
Oddernes stone
Also known as: Oddernessteinen
Monument in Kristiansand, Norway. The Oddernes stone is a rune stone from Oddernes Church at Oddernes in Kristiansand, Vest-Agder, Norway. The stone was originally just in the church yard east of the church. In 1990 it was moved into the church porch.[31]
Bystranda
Beach in Norway. Bystranda is a Blue Flag beach in the southeastern part of the downtown of the city of Kristiansand in Agder county, Norway. It is located just east of the mouth of the river Otra. The shallow sandy beach by the Kristiansand Boardwalk consists of fine filled sand.
By Bystranda there are seating areas, bathrobes stairs, sand volleyball court, skate ramp, playground, and restrooms. At the plant of the bathing beach was emphasized that it should be accessible to children and the disabled. Bystranda is popular on hot summer days. Close to Bystranda is the indoor water park Aquarama.[32]
Baneheia
Baneheia is a recreational area in the municipality of Kristiansand in Agder county, Norway. The park is mostly known at the national level from the Baneheia case as the scene of a notorious murder of two girls ages 8 and 10 that took place in 2000. The area lies just north of the centre of the city of Kristiansand and it has hills, lakes, and forest. The Ravnedalen Park lies just to the northwest of Baneheia. The Baneheia area was given to the citizens of Kristiansand by King Christian IV of Denmark-Norway when the city was founded in 1641.[33]
Posebyen
Neighbourhood in Kristiansand, Norway. Posebyen is a neighbourhood in the city of Kristiansand in Vest-Agder county, Norway. Posebyen is located in the downtown borough of Kvadraturen, along the western shore of the river Otra. It consists mostly of large, white, wooden houses, many of which were left intact after the big city fire in 1892. Therefore, it forms the largest continuous collection of old wooden houses in any city in Northern Europe.
The Kvadraturen skolesenter high school and the Tordenskjoldsgate elementary school are both located in the neighbourhood.
The streets Tollbodgata, Rådhusgata, Gyldenløves gate, Skippergata, Henrik Wergelands gate, Kristian IVs gate, and Tordenskjolds gate are the streets that cross Posebyen west and east, while the streets Festningsgata, Holbergs gate, Kronprinsens gate and Elvegata cross from north to south.
Posebyen is located north of Tangen, east of Gyldengården, and northeast of Nybyen.[34]