Beautiful Norway: Things to Do at the Kristiansand Cruise Port

Kristiansand, Norway is a popular cruise port on Baltic cruise itineraries, and this stop provides cruisers with the opportunity to explore a picturesque coastal city in southern Norway, known for its charming aesthetic and historic buildings. It’s named after King Christian IV of Denmark and Norway, who founded the city in 1641, in combination with the reference to the “sand” present at the city’s beaches.

Kristiansand has one main cruise port, which is the Kristiansand Cruise Port located conveniently less than one mile from the city center, which features the historic Posebyen neighborhood and tons of historic buildings like the Kristiansand Cathedral. Kristiansand has the feel of a small, quaint village, but it’s actually the 5th largest city in Norway.

I visited Kristiansand aboard Holland America Line’s Zuiderdam, although many other cruise lines dock here, including Princess and Norwegian.

Related: Check out my video review of Zuiderdam.

Transportation Options in Kristiansand

While some taxis are available, ride-share services like Uber aren’t an option in Kristiansand. Taxis, however, can be expensive, so this isn’t a very common option used by cruisers calling to Kristiansand.

Instead, some cruisers choose to walk to the city center, which is about a 20-minute walk on a flat surface that takes visitors past Kristiansand’s striking Kilden Performing Arts Centre and aromatic fish market. Visiting the market, or “Kiskebrygga” can be an activity in and of itself.

Other popular options to get around and see the town are the Hop On, Hop Off Bus and local City Train, both of which are located conveniently at the cruise terminal, just steps away from where the cruise ships berth. On a recent visit to Kristiansand, I opted for the train, which cost $15 or €15 per person round trip, and found it a fun and affordable way to get around. They accept cash or credit card payment.

The train only includes one stop in the city center, but the driver provides running commentary as you make your way there, giving insight and education into the area, which I enjoyed and found valuable.

Things to Do in Kristiansand

European cruise excursions tend to be quite expensive and somewhat limited, so if you’re looking for things to do in Kristiansand, here are some of the top choices. You’ll likely find them offered as official cruise line excursions, or you can venture out and explore them on your own. Just make sure you’re aware first of the pros and cons (and risks) of independent excursions.

Kristiansand Cannon Museum

While it’s about 6 miles from the port, and located just outside of Kristiansand, and therefore requiring transportation, the Kristiansand Kanonmuseum, or “cannon museum” is a popular destination, particularly for military and history buffs. It is a historical World War II museum featuring a German coastal defense battery from 1940-45, including the world’s second-largest land-based cannon (337 tonnes). Unlike many other museums in dense city centers, this one is in an area with scenic views of the Kristiansand coast.

Kristiansand Museum

Another popular museum, located about four miles from the Kristiansand cruise port is the Vest-Ageder Museum, or Kristiansand Museum. This open-air museum features around 40 historic buildings, including Bygaden (old town street), Vest-Agder tunet (old yard), and Setesdalstunet, along with a miniature model town inspired by Kristiansand’s heritage.

Bredalsholmen Dokk og Fartøyvernsenter

Bredalsholmen Dokk og Fartøyvernsenter is quite the mouthful, and I was unable to find an English translation. This museum is located about six miles from the Kristiansand cruise port and is a living engineering workshop and a museum. It serves as a national hub in Norway for preserving and restoring historic steel ships, offering visitors the unique opportunity to witness the craftsmanship of riveting, a technique obsolete since the 1960s.

Lindesnes Lighthouse

If you wish to explore Lindesnes Lighthouse, your best bet is to book it through the cruise line directly as it’s located a good distance (over an hour’s drive) from the cruise port, outside of Kristiansand in the town of Lindesnes. The lighthouse is situated on Norway’s southernmost point and ranks as the third-largest tourist attraction in Southern Norway, featuring a restaurant, museums, exhibitions, shops, and more.

The Fancy McDonald’s

I love quirky and unique attractions when calling at cruise ports, and if you visit Kristiansand, it’s worth a visit just outside the city center (en route back to the port from there) to see the “fancy McDonald’s.” I wanted to visit on my call to Kristiansand, but when I asked some locals to direct me there, they sent me to the McDonald’s location in the city center. Upon my arrival there, I was confused, thinking, “This doesn’t look fancy at all!” not realizing that I had been directed to the wrong location. So, sadly, I missed out on this one. If you aim to go, be sure you visit the right one, which is located at Markens gate 11, 4611 Kristiansand.

Language and Currency in Kristiansand

The primary language spoken in Kristiansand is Norwegian, specifically the Bokmål dialect, but in the touristic areas of Kristiansand, English is widely spoken and understood, making it easy for visitors to communicate and navigate the city. The official currency in Kristiansand, as well as throughout Norway, is the Norwegian Krone (NOK), although the Euro (€) is generally accepted (US currency not so much).

Credit cards are widely accepted, and in most European locations, tap-to-pay or contactless payment is becoming very common and quite convenient. A tap-to-pay credit card, also known as a contactless card, allows users to make payments quickly and securely by simply tapping the card against a contactless-enabled payment terminal, eliminating the need to swipe or insert the card and enter a PIN.

Kristiansand Cruise Port Ship Schedule

The Port of Kristiansand’s official website is the most direct source for the cruise ship calendar.

Kristiansand Time Zone

Keeping track of time zones can get complicated when cruising, especially for Americans on European cruises with substantial time zone differences, and itineraries may result in time changes during the cruise. Your captain will make announcements during the cruise to update you on these changes, but it’s good to be aware of these differences ahead of time when planning your stop at the port, especially for excursions.

Kristiansand operates in the Central European Time (CET) zone, which is UTC+1 during standard time and UTC+2 during daylight saving time. Many cruise lines operate on “ship time” that corresponds with the point of embarkation, so if your cruise sails from Amsterdam or Ijmuiden, which are also in the Central European Time (CET) zone, these times should be consistent.

Top Excursions in Kristiansand

While I personally enjoyed my visit to Kristiansand, I would advise cruisers to save money on an expensive excursion, especially those offered by the cruise line, and instead just explore the city center. There aren’t many options, and the available ones are quite pricey and consist mostly of the lighthouse and museums that I detailed above. Guided group tours are also offered, but I find the pricing to be outrageous. Instead, read up on the city’s history, take the tourist train (or simply walk around), and save a lot of money.