Lillesand for children

No summer vacation in Southern Norway without a visit to the kids' favorite, the Animal Park. Based in Lillesand, you also get a real "Cardamom Town" experience. In Lillesand, the whole family can have their dream day.

Walk in the open air

Welcome to Lillesand! If you're coming from the west on the highway, the adventure tower called "OVER" is one of the first things you'll spot. The tower was built in 2020 and, at 47 meters, it's the world's tallest freestanding climbing tower. But it's more than just an attraction for climbers. If you take the stairs all the way to the top, you can enjoy the view from the summit without needing any climbing skills.

From OVER, you can see halfway to Denmark and in all directions. And one of the most fun parts – you'll be looking straight down at the climbers on the wall. The tower is actually constructed with a ten-meter overhang and two extensions with glass floors, giving you the sensation of walking in the open air. Here, the whole family can challenge their own limits in a safe environment. For those who are up for a bigger challenge, climbing courses and rappelling are organized every day throughout the summer. More information and registration can be found here.

At the tower, there are sofa benches set up big enough for the whole family, where you can lie down and look up at those dangling on the wall above you. Relaxing for the adults and exciting for both young and old. When darkness sets in, OVER is illuminated in all the colors of the rainbow, and it's extra fun to move through the floors inside in different colors. A selfie at the top of the world's tallest climbing tower is a guaranteed hit no matter the age.

Seaside Small Town

Just a few minutes by car from OVER is the little center of Lillesand. A white-painted Southern Norwegian gem filled with bustling life during the summer and a peaceful spot with a calm vibe and great experiences throughout the rest of the year.

Children will love Tingsaker Camping. The cabins by the beach, which has such shallow waters that you can often stroll out to the small Terneholmen islet without getting wet. Here, you'll live just a short walk from the center, which entices with playgrounds, intriguing shops, a car-free shopping street, and child-friendly restaurants.

Check out other places to stay in Lillesand.

Private City Beach

A break with ice cream at the edge of the pier in Lillesand is mandatory, but you might as well prepare yourself for the fact that your day will pass by, as this is the kind of town you won't want to leave. At the city beach right in the center, kids can participate in sandcastle competitions while adults enjoy the sun from a bench. The playground in S.N. Hansen's Park with the oversized blue chair, its own sandy beach, and great opportunities for crab fishing is perfect for a picnic with goodies brought from the town's cafes and bakeries.

Jump in the Sea!

If you're in Lillesand during the summer, you'll likely be tempted to take a swim. And that's great because we have some fantastic bathing spots here, both in the sea, freshwater, and heated pools. "Guttebukta" at Julebauen and "Orreholla" at Kokkenes are both close to the center and ideal for the little ones. If the kids prefer freshwater, "Langedalstjønna" just east of Tingsaker Family Campsite is a must.

Just outside Lillesand, you'll find Skauerøya, a perfect islet for exploration. Here, you'll find lovely bathing spots, fishing spots, and camping sites, and you can stroll along marked paths in a fantastic natural setting. Skauerøya also has exciting bouldering walls for small and big climbers. You can borrow hiking and leisure equipment from the equipment library "BUA."

Exploring Blindleia

To reach Skauerøya, you can take the bathing boat, or you can borrow a free rowboat at the Verven Coastal Cultural Center, or rent a boat from Lillesand Explorer. With the bathing boat, you can also disembark at Slåttholmen, where you'll find a café open all summer, or at Saltholmen Lighthouse.

If you truly want to experience Blindleia, you can take the M/S ØYA ferry all the way to Kristiansand (the boat operates round-trip during the summer), or you can disembark at one of the old harbor villages along the route. The first stop is Brekkestø, where you can buy Norway's largest ice cream cone on the pier. In the garden of Brekkekjærhaven Cultural Café, there's ample space for the little ones to play, and inside the café, you'll find a whole section in the library dedicated to young guests.

Fest(ival) and Fun

During "LillesandsDaéne" in June and "Sup & Stup" in July, there's a lot happening for the whole family in Lillesand. In Høvåg, at "Bronseplassen," a Viking Market takes place in July, but Norway's oldest reconstructed Bronze Age farm welcomes visitors all summer.

We mentioned "BUA." In the lending library on Øvregate, you'll find everything you need to try a new activity. In addition to bicycles, scooters, boards, roller skis, and skates, you can borrow kayaks, life vests, SUP boards, and fishing gear. Just to name a few things.

Hikes for the Little Ones

In Lillesand, we love going on hikes. However, the joy of hiking doesn't necessarily increase the longer we walk. We have several wonderful trails here that are perfect for the littlest feet. Right in the middle of town, you'll find the idyllic "Springvannsstemmen," a perfect hiking area if you just want to take a short stroll. Or how about hunting for salamanders? In and around "Springvannsstemmen," there are plenty of tadpoles and salamanders. In fact, the area even has its own "salamander hotel" where the amphibians can hibernate. On your way back down to the town, at the outermost part of "Springvannsheia," you'll have a nice view over the city and the inlet.

If you'd like to do a suitable hilltop hike, perfect for the little ones' feet, both "Barbro Slott" and "Fløresteinen" are recommended. From "Fløresteinen," you'll get a bird's-eye view of Lillesand, and on the way, you can explore the world of wooden figures in "Flørenesskauen," where no fewer than 30 fun and well-crafted figures are hidden among the trees.