Experience Kristiansand – the charming capital of Southern Norway

Stay at one of our two Scandic hotels in Kristiansand and enjoy the best accommodation prices as a member of Scandic Friends. Both of our hotels in Kristiansand are near some of the city's main attractions.

Kristiansand – A City with Small-town Charm

Kristiansand is an idyllic city with small-town charm! There's plenty to do both in summer and winter, but Kristiansand is undoubtedly most visited during the summer! Bystranda, in the center of Kristiansand, entices with its chalk-white beach and palm trees, giving you the feeling of being much further south in Europe! Bystranda is very family-friendly, with shallow waters and lively children's activities nearby.

Kristiansand Zoo

One of our hotels in Kristiansand, Scandic Sørlandet, is located a short distance from Kristiansand Zoo, loved by both young and old. In Kristiansand Zoo, you can experience Kardemomme by with well-known and beloved characters – perhaps a visit to Tobias in the tower sounds exciting? There are always new things to experience and explore in the park, so you never get bored.

25 Degrees All Year Round

Our hotel in downtown Kristiansand, Scandic Kristiansand Bystranda, is located right by the beach and collaborates with the popular Aquarama – part of Southern Norway's largest spa and water park. Regardless of the sea temperature, you're guaranteed a pleasant swimming experience in Aquarama's outdoor pool, which maintains 25 degrees all year round.

Explore Kristiansand on Foot or by Train

A great way to experience Kristiansand is on foot, as the city is very manageable in size. However, if you wish to be transported around, the City Train is a pleasant and fun way to see the city. The train ride lasts about 30 minutes, taking you past Kristiansand's popular fish market, Otterdalsparken, the guest harbor, and Bystranda before ending up in Posebyen – the old town of Kristiansand.

Shopping and Dining in Kristiansand

"Main Street" Markens is the best street to see and be seen, both during the day and evening. It's lined with shops and restaurants all the way from the Slottet shopping center down to the sea. On your way down Markens, don't forget to peek into the charming side streets. Skippergata is home to the most charming niche shops, bakeries, and coffee shops, while Tollbodgata is the bar street in Kristiansand. If you prefer to dine out while staying at one of our hotels in Kristiansand, the city has several eateries serving everything from local cuisine to tapas, Italian, and Syrian.
Take some time in Posebyen, which has Kristiansand's oldest collection of white wooden houses and is the largest collection of old wooden houses in Northern Europe. Posebyen offers a seasonal café and bakery, concert arena, wine bar, shops, hat shop, and ceramics workshop.

Palmesus – Norway's Largest Beach Party!

Stay at one of our hotels in Kristiansand and experience the atmosphere when the annual Palmesus festival takes over Bystranda, also known as Norway's largest beach party! Several smaller festivals also take place in Ravnedalen, a short walk from the city center. Ravnedalen is a lush park that creates a magical atmosphere on summer evenings when Norwegian and international artists take the stage.

Kristiansand in Winter

In winter, Kristiansand also highlights its charm when the ice rink "Kompis" on Upper Torv is set up – a delightful feeling to skate under floodlights in the middle of downtown Kristiansand. Around the rink, activities are organized to make the area a natural gathering place for families during the winter months.

Welcome to Kristiansand!