Kristiansand Overview

Vacationers ferrying their way from Denmark to Oslo often stop in Kristiansand (pop. 80,000), Norway’s fifth-largest city; home to some of the country’s best beaches. Hamresandsen, accessible by the yellow city buses (#35 or 36, 27kr), is an especially popular beach to the north where temperatures often reach a sizzling 20˚C (68˚F). Also popular is the Town Beach Bystranda located near the downtown. The white wooden houses in the old town of Posebyen, northeast of the city center, quartered soldiers over the centuries and sheltered Jewish refugees during WWII. Dyreparken, a zoo 11km east of the city, is Kristiansand’s main attraction. Catch bus #1 (dir.: Sørlandsparken; 27kr) from the bus station. (☎38 04 97 00. www.dyreparken.com. Open from June to late Aug. daily 10am-7pm; from late Aug. to May M-F 10am-3pm, Sa-Su 10am-5pm. 310kr, low-season from 120kr.) The first week in July, music fans take over the island of Odderøya for the   Quart Festival, which features acts such as Death Cab for Cutie, Kanye West, and The Who. (☎38 14 69 69; www.quart.no.) Farther south, take in the view of the skerries, a string of small islands and coves, on a boat trip with the M/S Patricia. (☎90 76 14 53; www.pollen.as. 2hr. round-trip; leaves from Quay to West Harbor; July-Aug. 20 daily 11am, 1pm, 3:30pm; 150kr.) The tourist office offers free walking tours of the city (daily from mid-June to mid-Aug.), which ensure a view of the city’s well known cathedral Kristansand Domkirke. (Kirkegata 38. ☎19 69 00. www.kristansand.kirken.no. Guided visits to the top 11am and 2pm, 20kr. Organ recital, Tu-Sa at 1pm. Open M-F 10am-4am, Sa 10am-3pm.) Walk down the center road Festningsgata to Baneheia park for an easy, 1.6km hike to another lush nature preserve in neighboring Ravnedalen.

Unfortunately, the Kristiansand Youth Hostel closed so budget lodgings are harder to find. There are plans to open a budget hotel, 123 Hotel, in the summer of 2009 with prices under 600kr for a double room. Otherwise camping is the best option. For camping on the water, head to Roligheden Camping , east of the city center across the Otra river. (☎38 09 67 22. 130kr, 50kr per extra person. 10kr showers. Open June-Aug. MC/V.) For cheap fare, head to the harbor Fiskebrygga (fish market), on Gravane near the intersection of Vestre Strandgt. and Østre Strandgt., between 11am and 4pm, when fishermen sell part of the morning’s catch. Rimi, on the corner of Festningsgt. and Gyldenløvesgt., sells groceries. (☎38 02 95 16. Open M-F 8am-9pm, Sa 9am-6pm. Cash only.)

Trains run to Oslo (5hr.; 5 per day; 601kr, student 405kr), and Stavanger (3hr.; 6 per day; 405kr, student 304kr). Remember to check for mini pris tickets. Color Line ferries (☎81 00 08 11; www.colorline.com) sail to Hirsthals, DEN (3½hr.; 2 per day; in summer 440kr-480kr, low-season 280-320kr; 50% student discount in low-season). Fjordline also runs ferries (www.fjordline.no 81 53 35 00) up the coast and to Haugesund (2hr, 2-3 per day, 129kr round-trip.) Cheap flights can be found to and from the Kristansand airport. The flybus runs between the airport and bus station for 80kr one way, students 40kr (10 per day M-F, 5 Sa, 3 Su). The tourist office, Rǻdkusgata 6, off the marketplace, books rooms for a 50kr fee, offers Internet, shares a variety of information, and helps arrange local travel along the coast to locations like Grimstad. (☎12 13 14. Internet 1kr per min. Open mid-June to mid-Aug. M-F 8:30am-6pm, Sa 10am-6pm, Su noon-6pm; mid-Aug. to mid-June M-F 8:30am-3:30pm.) Postal Code: 4600.