Kristiansand is the capital of Southern Norway. It's a delightful place. The town and surrounding villages offer tremendous opportunities for exciting and enjoyable holiday experiences. For many decades, the region Kristiansand has been the Norwegians' favourite destination for holidays and recreation, and it can be said with confidence that it's a children's holiday paradise here.

Kristiansand is the place where you can find Norway's premier zoo and Captain Sabertooth World. For decades, children and adults have been drawn to this amazing universe of thrills and experiences. There is a superb aqua park here for kids of all ages, as well as Thorbjørn Egner's Cardamom Town.

Sun and warm rock shelves, tiny bays with tempting beaches, picnics on the beach, swimming and play. Surroundings like these are perfect for both adults and children. You can let the days just drift by while you enjoy lazy days in the sun. What could be better than watching the kids crouch down over a rock by the water's edge, excitement in their eyes and a crab line in their hands, and hearing their jubilation when yet another crab finds its way into the crabbing bucket.

Summer feeling in the town Bustling crowds and seafood on the Fiskebrygga wharf, prawns on the quayside, atmospheric restaurants in the market square, a stroll down Markens shopping street, swimming on the town's Blue Flag beach, non-stop concerts and events, ambling through the old town (Posebyen), visiting museums and galleries. There's always a great atmosphere on summer days in Kristiansand, with plenty of experiences to choose from. Let the tension flow out of your body, and enjoy the days in Norway's Number One summer town!

If you're feeling energetic, the Kristiansand region has plenty of exciting activities to offer. Just a short way from the coast, there are companies offering high-velocity, exciting adventures for both adults and children. We have aerial trails with ziplines in the treetops, river rafting and canoeing, go-karts, off-road biking trails, paintball, fishing, kayaking, a mineral park, mine tours and much more. If you prefer to enjoy the natural scenery on your own, we have a varied and beautiful natural environment with a huge range of hiking routes, hiking and cycle trails. On the coast, there are companies offering activities like diving, sea kayaking, boat hire with sea fishing, salmon fishing on the rivers, and much more. Kristiansand also has two excellent golf courses, and the new 18-hole Bjaavann Golf Club is one of the best in Norway. Sightseeing boats take you out to the islands around Kristiansand and Søgne, or you can take the Blindleia M/B Øya boat.

VEST-AGDER MUSEUM IN KRISTIANSAND: Vest-Agder Museum is the biggest cultural heritage museum in Southern Norway. The museum is in the Kongsgård district and includes the open-air museum, miniature town and main building, in which you can see numerous exhibitions, such as Skies over Southern Norway, Impulses and the banners of the Workers' Movement. The open-air museum at Kongsgård is made up of 34 heritage houses spread across three areas: the Old Street, Setedal Farmyard and Vest Agder Farmyard. Setedal Farmyard and Vest Agder Farmyard both have numerous heritage buildings, some of which date as far back as 1580. The farmyards have schools, barns, stables, open-hearth houses and several storehouses. Close to the farmyards, you can see sheep and lambs grazing, In summer, the museum runs a special children's programme 'Fun at the Museum' (1 July - 15 August), where children can join in with the games played by the children of yesteryear in the Children's House in the Old Street, go on guided tours, listen to fairytales in the open-hearth house in the farmyard, visit the carpentry and fulling workshops, and take part in other fun activities. In the Old Street, Consul Mørch's Pavilion Café is open during museum opening hours (Sundays only outside the summer season). The museum also has a miniature village with model buildings from Kristiansand, built at one tenth of their actual size. You will recognise many of the buildings and streets from the Poseby timber house district of Kristiansand town centre. The staff of Vest-Agder Museum love sharing their knowledge of history, and in the summer season, guides like Severin, the deck boy will show you round the Old Street. The Museum welcomes groups and offers a range of tours - if you are brave enough, you might even be the first person to see Håvard the ghost!

Fishing All along the coast, there is no charge for fishing, and the waters are rich in cod, coalfish, mackerel and many other species. You can go fishing independently or with local boatmen who know the area. If you buy a fishing permit, this will give you access to the many rich lakes and salmon rivers of the region, including Nidelva, Storelva, Otra, Mandalselva, Tovdalselva, Audnaelva, Lygna and Kvina. Many of the rivers are considered to be among the best in Norway. You can pay the local fee for rivers and lakes at tourist offices and petrol stations.

Holidays in Southern Norway

Southern Norway's archipelago is made up of islets, small islands and sheltered coves. A distinctive feature of Southern Norway's coastal strip are the characteristic little white towns and villages like Risør, Tvedestrand, Arendal, Grimstad, Lillesand, Mandal, Farsund and Flekkefjord. The towns are very distinctive with their white-painted timber houses, and photogenic cobbled streets and alleyways. Kristiansand is the biggest town in Southern Norway and unofficial capital of the region. It also has the same characteristic white timber houses. The district of Posebyen in the centre of Kristiansand is a clear example that Kristiansand is also typical of the villages and towns of Southern Norway, despite its size.

Southern Norway - more than sun and islands.

But Southern Norway is more than sun, islands and picture-postcard villages. In the land between sea and mountains, you will also find long valleys and fertile uplands. A tidy cultural landscape and extensive forest and heathland areas are the 'hidden secrets' of Southern Norway.

This is where you can find some of the country's best salmon rivers, calm mountain lakes perfect for kayaking trips, mountain hikes with stunning views, and a huge variety of activities to choose from. This part of Southern Norway provides an interesting contrast to the holiday atmosphere of the coast. All you have to do is decide how active you want your holiday to be. High-adrenaline waterfall adventures on steep mountains with exciting rapids? Or quiet as a mouse in your quest for the ultimate encounter with a beaver? A variety of companies in Southern Norway offer activities ranging from elk and beaver safaris, to rafting, mountain climbing, canoeing and kayaking. Both beside the coast and in the mountains are a number of excellent golf courses.

Culture and festivals

World-famous authors and artists like Henrik Ibsen, Knut Hamsun and Gustav Vigeland had connections with Southern Norway. Every year, several theatre and music festivals are held in the region. The Risør Chamber Music Festival has received international acclaim, and is a showcase for world-class musicians. In the galleries and arts and crafts outlets you can find everything from kitsch to provocative contemporary art. Many renowned artists live and work in the region.

Loads for kids:

Southern Norway is the perfect region for children. It has Kristiansand Zoo, where you can find a forest climbing park, aqua park, playgrounds, rafting, heaps of hay for jumping in, and not least exotic animals - enough to keep the kids entertained throughout their holiday. Kristiansand Zoo is one of the most popular attractions in Norway, but Southern Norway also has numerous other theme parks and activity parks. Southern Norway is the perfect region for children, and you don't have far to go between all its numerous highlights. Sun and sand in the summer - although as we all know, the sun doesn't always cooperate. So if the sun goes in or if you're visiting Southern Norway outside the swimming season, there still are plenty of activities to enjoy, no matter what the weather is doing.

Hiking and cycling in Southern Norway

Outside the towns and villages, there tend to be excellent, well-marked trails in stunning natural surroundings. If you're looking for a bigger challenge, there is a huge variety of hiking routes in the forests and mountains. Kristiansand and Oppland Tourist Association have cabins and way-marked trails throughout the mountain region. Many of the trails and paths are also ideal for bikes. Cycle route no. 3, from Kristiansand to Hovden, is suitable for the entire family. It takes you into beautiful natural scenery, with sights and activities all along the way. Cycle route no. 1 runs from Flekkefjord to Risør - 1 past white-painted Southern Norwegian villages and areas of natural beauty. The cycle routes are well signposted and shown on special maps.

Fishing

All along the coast, there is no charge for fishing, and the waters are rich in cod, coalfish, mackerel and many other species. You can fish independently or with local boatmen who know the area.

Winter in a holiday home in Norway

The mountains and downhill ski resorts are much closer than most people think. Only one hour's drive from the centre of Kristiansand, you can find ski slopes. After a longer drive up into Setesdal valley, you arrive in Hovden, one of the country's most popular winter sports centres, around 800 metres above sea level. We also have the famous downhill ski resort of Sirdal, which is a short drive from Egersund or Stavanger. Åseral is the closest winter destination if you're travelling from Kristiansand, only an hour and a half by car, surrounded by spectacular natural scenery - and Brokke is on the way to Hovden. All of the resorts have skiing instructors and ski equipment for hire.