The Perfect Weekend Getaway in Tvedestrand

With charming niche shops, cozy eateries, and plenty of local excursions, Tvedestrand has everything you could wish for in a relaxing weekend getaway.

Dronevideo over Tvedestrand .
Photo: Gjermund Glesnes

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Often compared to a white Andalusian port town, this small southern Norwegian town is nestled at the end of a fjord, with crooked wooden houses clinging to the steep hillsides.

These hills have inspired the nickname "The Tiered Town," as Tvedestrand is a town with multiple levels – the harbor on the ground floor, the town center on the second, and a shopping center on the top floor a bit further inland.

Området rundt havna i Tvedestrand .
Photo: Gjermund Glesnes

And perhaps best of all: the stairways connecting these levels – there are at least as many staircases as streets in the steep climb from the harbor – are filled with that wonderful southern Norwegian atmosphere that simply must be savored.

Here is our suggestion for a lovely weekend trip you won’t soon forget.

Tvedestrand .
Photo: Gjermund Glesnes

Friday – A Taste of the Town

Check in at the delightful Tvedestrand Fjord Hotel. With 26 newly renovated double rooms right by the water’s edge, it’s tempting to just stay at the hotel, but first, you should take the time to explore a little. After all, one of Southern Norway's real gems lies just outside the door.

Grab a milkshake from the pastel wonder Burgers and Shakes down the street before exploring some of Southern Norway's most beautiful wooden house streets: Østerkleiv rises to the right from Kvernhusbakken, a hidden gem between crags and rocks.

This is the oldest part of Tvedestrand. On the opposite side of the town center, Holgata and Hovedgata connect the upper and lower districts. If you take the stairs at Kvernhusbakken and head straight up to the top, you'll reach Måneveien, which winds upward toward Kirkekleiv and the church.

Hotellrom på Tvedestrand Fjordhotell. Foto: Gjermund Glesnes

You should also visit the town's finest viewpoint. Follow the stairs from the bend in Solveien, and you’ll be rewarded with a wonderful view of Tvedestrand Fjord and the white wooden houses by the harbor.

Utsikt over Tvedestrand fra Solheia .
Photo: Gjermund Glesnes

After your walk, you’re probably hungry, so why not keep it simple? Head back to the Fjord Hotel, where two outdoor restaurants await along the pier – in addition to an equally delightful indoor restaurant. New this year is also a mini-golf course, perfectly placed among trees and the fountain in the small green park in front of the hotel.

Restaurant Tvedestrand Fjordhotell .
Photo: Gjermund Glesnes

Saturday Morning – Joy in Niche Shops

After a good breakfast at the hotel, it’s time to check out Tvedestrand’s many niche shops. Even though the town has just over 6,000 inhabitants, it’s perfect for a round of window shopping or real shopping.

The most famous is the Book Town Tvedestrand – the antiquarian bookshops line up like pearls in the wooden houses along Hovedgata. They’re not only perfect for book lovers. There’s also the thrill of a treasure hunt – and a good dose of nostalgia.

– "You’ll find everything here! Even the book your cousin ran off with when you were a child. And unique books you didn’t know existed," says Solveig Røvik at Bokhuset.

Solveig Rørvik i Bokhuset i Tvedestrand .
Photo: Gjermund Glesnes

If you drop by Nynorsk Antikvariat near the bottom of Hovedgata, you can politely ask Arne-Ivar Kjerland to show you the oldest book in the book town. It dates back to 1460 and was written by three different monks on parchment.

If old books aren’t your thing, continue a bit further up the cobblestones. There you’ll find unique boutique oases like Linn’s Lille Lykke and DesignSalong – full of stylish decorations you won’t find anywhere else.

In the middle of the town center, you’ll also find the independent clothing store Lady Sting, which operates with the same philosophy and often has just the piece of clothing you dreamed of but hadn’t seen before.

Do you prefer to knit your clothes, so at least no one else has the same as you? Then the yarn shop Lille Løv in the pedestrian street is the place to go.

Malen Aasen og Helene Knutsen - DesignStudio - Tvedestrand

Malen Aasen and Helene Knutsen at DesignStudio in Tvedestrand. Photo by: Gjermund Glesnes

Also, check out the narrow and unique house Strykejernet a bit further down the street!

Strykejernet i Tvedestrand .
Photo: Gjermund Glesnes

Lunch Time

If your stomach isn’t already rumbling before you turn the corner toward the pedestrian street, you’ll definitely feel hungry when you pass Bonzo Cafe.

There, owner Janne Lindland tempts you with the taste of real artisan baking – the aroma wafts far outside the door. The baked goods are rolled and conjured up in the little red brick house almost directly across the street.

– "Everything here is baked by hand. The only thing we use machines for is kneading and whisking," says baker and pastry chef Maria Sondland Hovdekleiv as she prepares yet another tray of cookies.

Afternoon Swim and Dinner

After enjoying the baked goods and finishing the last shopping streets, it’s time for a swim. Tvedestrand is well-equipped for that too. In addition to swimming opportunities along the fjord, the town has both a sandy beach and an outdoor water park at Tjenna, just inside the town center. Both children and adults will love it!

After your swim, the charming cobblestone streets await once more. Take a different route than before and soak in another set of details – there are many, as Tvedestrand has never had a city fire.

Perhaps a little rest on the bed or a glass on the hotel balcony before dinner – for example, among the vintage furniture in the soulful Hytta Pizzeria?

Tjenna in Tvedestrand. Photo by: Gjermund Glesnes

Sunday: Time for an Excursion

Some of the antiquarian bookshops are open on Sundays, but now it’s time to explore the surroundings of Tvedestrand. Here, the choice is a pure luxury problem.

– "Take the short ferry ride to Furøya with beautiful gardens and houses from the 18th century. The island is also lovely for a stroll, and you can dine at the restaurant there," suggests Solveig Røvik. The boat departs from Rådhuskaia throughout July.

If you have a car, you can also take the ferry to Sandøya, a small, car-free island community with swimming coves and rocky shores, hiking opportunities, and a number of creative souls running everything from art galleries to eateries.

You’ll quickly discover why American Forbes described the island as one of the "11 Insanely Beautiful Lesser-Known Islands Around The World."

Or hop on the ferry to perhaps the most famous outport on the southern coast, Lyngør. The village is spread across four islands around two narrow straits and was voted Europe’s best-preserved village in 1991. Just soak in the charm!

Lyngør .
Photo: Gjermund Glesnes

For a completely different side of Tvedestrand’s history – or if you simply don’t feel like heading out on the water – set your course inland instead. Just a few kilometers off the E18, you’ll reach Næs Ironworks Museum – one of Norway’s oldest industrial sites and the only one where all the buildings from a traditional ironworks are preserved. '

You’ll soon discover that the ironworks is not only historic, but it’s also incredibly beautiful!

Close to the museum, you’ll also find Arendal & Omegn Golf Club, where you can try out the challenging and beautiful 18-hole main course or a shorter 9-hole round. You can also try simulator golf.

Næs Jernverkmuseum .
Photo: Gjermund Glesnes

No matter what you choose, you’ll soon realize the same thing as Tvedestrand locals Marit and Tore Gustavsen:

– "We who grew up here sometimes become a bit blind to everything Tvedestrand has to offer. But there’s a lot!"

Drone over Tvedestrand av Gjermund Glesnes .
Photo: Gjermund Glesnes