Kristiansund

Kristiansund is a city and municipality on the mid-western coast of Norway, in Møre og Romsdal county. It has among the most special and interesting architecture of Norway, which originates from the aftermath of World War II, when nearly 80% of the city was demolished by bombs. It sits on five islands slightly off the shore of mainland Norway. The natural harbour formed by the islands is considered to be unique and particularly beautiful, protecting the city centre from winds and weather outside in the Atlantic Ocean. The city is sometimes called Kristiansund N, where N stands for North, to distinguish it from Kristiansand in southern Norway, a name introduced by the postal service.

Not to be confused with Kristiansand in Southern Norway, the difference is one letter, spelled with an a instead of u.

Get in

By plane
  • 🌍 Kristiansund International Airport, Kvernberget (KSU  IATA) (6 km east of the city centre). Taxi is available, and bus every half hour. There are daily flights to the larger Norwegian cities, including Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim and Stavanger by SAS and Wideroe. Beware when getting tickets that you don't mix up the city with Kristiansand much further south, or Kristianstad in Sweden. 

    City bus routes 801 and 802 serve the airport. The trip takes about 20 minutes and costs kr 37. Tickets can be bought from the driver on the bus using cash or credit card.

    If you do not have luggage, it is easily possible to walk from the airport to the city. The distance is about 7.5 km along good quality footpaths through residential suburbs and docklands. At a brisk pace it can be done in 1-1½ hours. It is also possible to cycle the same route. Alternatively you can walk 4.5 km from the airport to the Nordlandet Sundbåtkai ferry stop, and then ride the Sundbåt into the city centre.

By car

European Route E39 connects Kristiansund with main-land Norway through the KRIFAST-bridge and tunnel system. Route 70 which is the connection from southeast Norway, leads all the way into the city centre. Atlanterhavstunnelen (The Atlantic Ocean Tunnel) is an underwater tunnel that links the city of Kristiansund to the island of Averøy, and the popular tourist attraction of Atlanterhavsveien.

By bus

TimEkspressen has departures for Molde and Ålesund every hour, while NorWay Bus Express has schedules to Oslo, Oppdal and Trondheim numerous times a day.

By train and bus

You can travel with the train from Oslo to Oppdal, and continue with the bus operated by Fram, the local public transport organisation. entur.no is a general search engine with ticket sales for public transport in Norway, including for this connection.

By boat

Kristiansund is a scheduled port for Hurtigruten, between Molde (4 hours) and Trondheim (6½ hours) on the coastal cruise from Bergen to Kirkenes. There is also a twice a day catamaran passenger boat-service to Trondheim, with a few stops along the coast.

Get around

Nettbuss Møre's blue, local buses have frequent departures from Kristiansund Trafikkterminal to the different parts and suburbs of the city. The price for a one-way ticket lies between kr 15 and kr 30, depending on your destination.

The four main island of which the city of Kristiansund is built on is also connected by a passenger ferry-system, the "Sundbåt", that carries passengers between all the four islands with departures every 20 minutes. This is also the world's oldest public transport line in continuous operation.

See
  • Kristiansund Opera House. It's the oldest opera house in Norway, completed in 1914. The opera, one of the most beautiful of its kind, is built in Art Nouveau-style, and is one of the few buildings that survived the bombings of the city during World War II. 
  • Innlandet. It's an old city part of Kristiansund with very special and unique coastal architecture. Innlandet is the part of Kristiansund who was least destroyed during the bombings of Kristiansund during World War II. 
  • Sundbåtene. 07:30-19:55. In Kristiansund holds status as the world's oldest public transport system in continuous operation, since 1876. The small "Sundbåt" passenger ferries crosses between the four islands of the city. Adults kr 23, children kr 12. 
  • 🌍 Grip (by boat; there is a public boat during summer time). Former fishing community on an island in the Atlantic some 15 km from Kristiansund. Grip was Norway's smallest municipality. The island was abandoned as a permanent residence in 1974, but the 50 houses there are maintained as holiday homes. There is not natural sources of fresh water except rain. Grip has a stave church and a tall lighthouse. The boat costs around 250 kr for an adult. Half price for children. 

Do
  • Vanndamman. Used to be the site of the city's water reserves, but is today a popular recreation and park area near the city centre. 
  • Sundbåten. See the city from the water. Take the Sundbåten ferry around the harbour. 
  • Football: Kristiansund BK play soccer in Eliteserien, the country's top tier. Their home ground is Kristiansund Stadion, capacity 4400, north side of town.

Eat

In the heart of the city, try the "fishan" - which is really an old version of the English "fish and chips"-treat. The name "fishan" is a very local abbreviation of the English name.

Budget
  • 🌍 Stappebua (Karin Bakke Gatekjøkken), Fosnagata 11B (go down the main street (the only 4-lane road in the city centre); take a left when you reach the pier and follow the road until you see Stappebua (gray building with the phrase "Gatekjøkken" on it) on your left hand side; it is next to a Spar store), ☏ +47 48026760. M-F 11:00-18:00, Sa 11:00-16:00, Su closed. An old institution in the city, famous for their potato mash and sausage, called a "limar" (literally translates to glue-y) by the locals. Everyone in Kristiansund and the surrounding area have tried it at least once in their lives. kr 40-140. (updated Jun 2023)

Mid-range

Splurge

Drink

There is a large variety of bars, night clubs and such in Kristiansund. Night clubs are usually open between 23:00 and 03:00, while the opening hours for bars varies. Some bars are open even in daytime. Most places require that you are 20 years or older, but since the legal drinking age in Norway is 18, it varies from place to place. Do note that many night clubs practise ID-validation, meaning that you will have to carry an ID to be permitted access. Valid forms of ID include Norwegian bank cards, European standardized driving licences or ID cards and passports.

  • Dødeladen, Innlandet stop of Sundbåten city-ferry. Unrivalled spot for your sunset beer in summer. Pint of beer kr 68. 

Sleep

Budget
  • Atlanten Motell og Camping, Dalaveien 22, ☏ +47 71671104, fax: +47 71672405, . A small motel and camping-area, 3 km outside the city of Kristiansund. 
  • Utsyn Café og Gjestehus, Kongens Plass 4. A guesthouse on the second floor of the Utsyn Cafeteria, next to the central square of Kristiansund. 

Mid-range
  • Comfort Hotel Fosna, Hauggata 16, ☏ +47 71571100. A medium-sized hotel in the city centre of Kristiansund, with walking distance to the harbour. 
  • Hotel Kristiansund, Storgata 17, ☏ +47 71570300. A hotel at the sea front of Kristiansund, close to Kristiansunds largest shopping mall. 
  • Scandic Hotel Kristiansund, Storgata 41, ☏ +47 71571200, . A modern, sea-front hotel in the city centre of Kristiansund. The hotel holds status as the largest of Kristiansund, offering great value and service. 

Splurge
  • Quality Hotel Grand, Bernstorffstredet 1, ☏ +47 71571300, fax: +47 71571301, . The oldest, and one of the most exclusive hotels of Kristiansund. The hotel is in the centre core of the city, and offers walking distance to nearly everything Kristiansund has to offer. 
  • Thon Hotel Innlandet, Heinsagaten 12. A hotel under construction on the isle of "Innlandet" in Kristiansund. The hotel is being built in one of the old and characteristic harbour houses in the city, giving the guests a unique atmospheric experience. 

Go next
  • The Atlantic Road A unique stretch of road which takes you right out to the ocean’s edge. In 2005, the road was voted Norway’s "Engineering Feat of the Century", and is also known to be the world's most beautiful drive. It connects Averøy with the mainland via a series of small islands and islets spanned by a total of eight bridges over 8274 m. The road was opened in 1989 and is toll-free.

The Atlantic Road has National Tourist Route status and the entire stretch between Bud and Kristiansund is one continuous experience packed with coastal scenery, culture and history. The contrasts between a trip on a sun-soaked and tranquil summer day and a foam-sprayed journey in a storm from the northwest are amazing. Take your time and open all of your senses. The Atlantic Road experience will give you memories for life. Park your car at designated stopping places, climb a hillock and enjoy the salty air and the magnificent view. Whether the ocean is flat calm or a storm is brewing; there are great nature experiences in store.

  • Aure is a typical coastal municipality of Møre og Romsdal with many beautiful small islands. Most people live near the shore. Aure merged with Tustna in 2006 and the new municipality is called Aure. Population 3 600.

Aure’s coastline is almost 300 km long. Unique possibilities for angling from the shore and from the many bridges and sounds. Fishing from boats for herring, mackerel, saithe, cod and pollock. Great hunting for red deer in the large forest and mountain areas. Excellent fishing for freshwater trout and sea trout. The scenery on Tustna is dominated by the coastal mountains. These over 900-metre-tall mountains, which rise straight up from the shore, form a chain in a north-south direction. Great walking, with several paths ascending to the summits, which offer fantastic views of the ocean and the fjords.

  • Grip is an archipelago southwest of Kristiansund, and was until 1964 the smallest municipality of Norway. Today it is a deserted fishing village, but is a popular tourist attraction for the special architecture and unique location. Norway's smallest stave church, which was constructed in the end of the 15th century is also located at Grip. In the summer season there is a scheduled boat service from next to the bus terminal of Kristiansund.
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