Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Around Kristiansand
In summer, Kristiansand's archipelago of offshore skerries turns into one of the country's
greatest sun-and-sea destinations for Norwegian holiday-makers. The most popular island,
Bragdøy
,liesclosetothemainlandandboastsapreservationworkshopforwoodenships,
nicewalksandseveralbathingsites.Inthedistance,you'llseetheclassiclighthouse
Grøn-
ningen Fyr
.
There are various ferries to Bragdøy and other offshore islands. Ask at the tourist office
for exact schedules.
M/S Øya (
www.lillesand.net
)
sails to/from Lillesand (Nkr245/120 per adult/child one
way, Nkr410/205 return, three hours) once daily except Sunday from late June to early
August. The departure point in Kristiansand is from Quay 6.
Mandal
POP 14,200
Norway's southernmost town, Mandal is famous for its 800m-long beach, Sjøsanden.
About 1km from the centre and backed by forests, the Copacabana it ain't, but it is Nor-
way's finest stretch of sand, just crying out for a sunny Mediterranean climate.
Sights
The moderately interesting town
Vest-Agder Bymuseum (
www.vestagdermuseet.no
;
Store Elvegata 5/6; adult/child Nkr40/free; 11am-5pm mid-Jun-mid-Aug)
, which
displays a host of historical maritime and fishing artefacts and works by local artists, is
elevated above the mundane by impressive exhibits of works by Mandal's favourite son,
Gustav Vigeland (see the boxed text,
Click here
).
Festivals
The second week in August, when Mandal hosts the
Shellfish Festival
(
www.skalldyrfestivalen.no
)
, is a great time to be in town: there's fresh seafood every-
where and a range of musical performances.
