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Old wooden boats in Risør
Old wooden boats in Risør.
Photo: Adam Read @ Visit Sørlandet

Risør
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Get the riviera feeling in Risør

Picturesque, idyllic, charming; it is possible to use all the guide books clichés when describing Risør -  and get away with it. This coastal town is a heritage preserved wooden town that offers cultural festivals, a large archipelago and a long history of wooden boat building. 
Sailboat passing Stangholmen lighthouse
Trebåtfestivalen.
Photo: Adam Read, Visit Sørlandet
Kayaking outside Risør
Kayaking outside Risør.
Photo: Terje Rakke / Nordic Life AS - Visitnorway.com
Family sitting on the edge of giant pothole
Giant potholes at Sild.
Photo: Peder Austrud, Visit Sørlandet
Girls bathing in lake
Urheia.
Photo: Peder Austrud, Visit Sørlandet

Explore Risør

Find out what Risør has to offer for you a visitor. Check out where to stay and all the great activities available, what is going on and all the attractions to visit in and around Risør. 

"My journey also ended in Risør, but I fell in love with it. It’s the most beautiful place, an enchanting seaside town – with uninhabited rocky islands, little white painted wooden houses, glittery blue sea, fishing boats, endless pine trees … I found it exquisite."  

                                                                                                                   - Bee Rowlatt, The Guardian

Wooden boat culture

Risør has a long and proud tradition of building wooden boats and is one of Norway's seafaring towns for sailing ships. Boating is a big part of life in Risør and its very own Trebåtfestivalen - The Wooden Boat Festival - celebrates the long and proud history of ship building in the region.

  • Risør harbour filled with wooden boats

    Wooden boat culture

    Boating is a big part of life in Risør and its very own Wooden Boat Festival celebrates the long and proud history of ship building in the region.

  • Three kayaks at sea by sunset in Risør

    Explore the Risør archipelago

    Bathe on beautiful beaches or potholes in the Risør archipelago. Enjoy food and music on Stangholmen lighthouse and take a boat trip and explore the coastline.

Events in Risør

Tour premiere of ''Stormful Høyder''

1 Feb - 1 Feb, 2023
Tour premiere of ''Stormful Høyder''
Risør

Exhibition 'Fremtidens Risør in Lego

4 Feb - 19 Mar, 2023
Exhibition 'Fremtidens Risør in Lego
Risør

Anniversary comedy show 2023

9 Feb - 12 Feb, 2023
Anniversary comedy show 2023
Risør

Evening tour

3 May - 3 May, 2023
Evening tour
Risør

Risor Chambermusicfestival

27 Jun - 2 Jul, 2023
Risor Chambermusicfestival
Risør

Villvin art and craft marked

6 Jul - 8 Jul, 2023
Villvin art and craft marked
Risør

Risor wooden boat festival

3 Aug - 5 Aug, 2023
Risor wooden boat festival
Risør

Find your way

Featured
Activities and attractions
Risør Aquarium
Risør Aquarium
The Risør Aquarium is the only saltwater aquarium between Oslo and Stavanger which has over 100 different kinds of fish and seawater creatures. A fun… Read more
Risør Aquarium
Stangholmen island
Stangholmen island
Stangholmen island just outside Risør is a popular place to visit. Read more
Stangholmen island
Potholes at Sild
Potholes at Sild
Visit the potholes at Sild, 25 minutes driving southwest of Risør. The potholes here are the largest in Northern Europe and are very popular during… Read more
Potholes at Sild
Risørflekken sea beacon
Risørflekken sea beacon
Overlooking the Risør harbour is a large white rock that offers panoramic views over the harbour and coastline called "Risørflekken". It is Risørs… Read more
Risørflekken sea beacon
Risør guest harbour
Risør guest harbour
If you have your own boat, the guest harbour at Risør is one to put on the list of places to visit along the archipelago. Read more
Risør guest harbour
Risør Seilskuteklubb exhibition at Risør Rådhus
Risør Seilskuteklubb exhibition at Risør Rådhus
The Risør Sailing Ship club has a large collection of monumental items and a picture gallery from Risør's sailing history. Read more
Risør Seilskuteklubb exhibition at Risør Rådhus
Risør Undervannsklubb
Risør Undervannsklubb
Join Risør Undervannsklubb (Scuba diving club) for an organiced dive or get tips, fill your bottles and go diving on your own. Read more
Risør Undervannsklubb
Risør by tourist information
Risør by tourist information
Contact Risør tourist office. Read more
Risør by tourist information
Den lille Dyrehage Zoo in Gjerstad
Den lille Dyrehage Zoo in Gjerstad
Den Lille Dyrehage "The Little Zoo" is located at Brokelandsheia just outside Risør. Read more
Den lille Dyrehage Zoo in Gjerstad
Accommodation
Det Lille Hotel Maritime Suites Risør
Det Lille Hotel Maritime Suites Risør
Det Lille Hotel offers 17 comfortable "maritime suites". The suites are unique and are tastefully furnished to reflect the town's rich seafaring… Read more
Det Lille Hotel Maritime Suites Risør
Risør Hotel
Risør Hotel
The Risør Hotel is located in the heart of Risør among the traditional white wooden houses. Read more
Risør Hotel
Røed Camping
Røed Camping
Campingsite by the Sørfjorden, only 12 kilometers from the center of Risør. Read more
Røed Camping
Risør guesthouse
Risør guesthouse
Risør Gjestehus "guesthouse" is situated in an idyllic and secluded area on the fjord to Boss Vika outside Risør. On offer are accommodation… Read more
Risør guesthouse
Risør Pensjonat B&B
Risør Pensjonat B&B
The Risør Pension is a guest house that offers affordable accommodation in the southern town of Risør. Read more
Risør Pensjonat B&B
Sørlandet Feriesenter Camping
Sørlandet Feriesenter Camping
Sørlandet Feriesenter "Southern Norway holiday centre" is a family camp site with lots of activities, located by the Sandnes Fjord between Risør and… Read more
Sørlandet Feriesenter Camping
Færsnes Gjestegård guesthouse
Færsnes Gjestegård guesthouse
Visitors at Færsnes stay in the traditional but modernized buildings of the farm with all comforts like a swimming pool, sauna and jacuzzi. Read more
Færsnes Gjestegård guesthouse
Jegertunet Feriesenter
Jegertunet Feriesenter
Jegertunet Feriesenter (holiday centre) is located in scenic surroundings at Øysang in Risør. Read more
Jegertunet Feriesenter
Risør Resort Moen Camping
Risør Resort Moen Camping
Camping, cottages and apartments in scenic surroundings in beautiful Sørfjorden. Read more
Risør Resort Moen Camping
Vegårshei
Færsnes Gjestegård guesthouse
Færsnes Gjestegård guesthouse
Visitors at Færsnes stay in the traditional but modernized buildings of the farm with all comforts like a swimming pool, sauna and jacuzzi. Read more
Færsnes Gjestegård guesthouse
Jegertunet Feriesenter
Jegertunet Feriesenter
Jegertunet Feriesenter (holiday centre) is located in scenic surroundings at Øysang in Risør. Read more
Jegertunet Feriesenter
Vegårshei Village Museum
Vegårshei Village Museum
The Vegårtun Village Museum in Vegårshei shows an interesting collection of objects from the old days. Read more
Vegårshei Village Museum
Fishing in Vegårshei
Fishing in Vegårshei
Vegårshei has a variety of great fishing spots which require a fishing licence. Here are details on where this fishing licence can be purchased. All… Read more
Fishing in Vegårshei
Vegårshei church
Vegårshei church
Vegårshei church is a cruciform church from 1808 and consecrated in 1810, in Vegårshei Municipality, Aust-Agder county. Read more
Vegårshei church
The Vegårshei wolf
The Vegårshei wolf
There is a famous wolf that once lived in Vegårshei. It was the only wolf in modern times that was legally hunted and shot. This is quite a rarity… Read more
The Vegårshei wolf
Vegårtun
Vegårtun
Vegårstun camp site is very popular amongst tourists and locals for weekly or over night stays. Read more
Vegårtun
Family activities
Den lille Dyrehage Zoo in Gjerstad
Den lille Dyrehage Zoo in Gjerstad
Den Lille Dyrehage "The Little Zoo" is located at Brokelandsheia just outside Risør. Read more
Den lille Dyrehage Zoo in Gjerstad
Risørflekken sea beacon
Risørflekken sea beacon
Overlooking the Risør harbour is a large white rock that offers panoramic views over the harbour and coastline called "Risørflekken". It is Risørs… Read more
Risørflekken sea beacon
Risør Aquarium
Risør Aquarium
The Risør Aquarium is the only saltwater aquarium between Oslo and Stavanger which has over 100 different kinds of fish and seawater creatures. A fun… Read more
Risør Aquarium
Risør by tourist information
Risør by tourist information
Contact Risør tourist office. Read more
Risør by tourist information
Risør guest harbour
Risør guest harbour
If you have your own boat, the guest harbour at Risør is one to put on the list of places to visit along the archipelago. Read more
Risør guest harbour
Potholes at Sild
Potholes at Sild
Visit the potholes at Sild, 25 minutes driving southwest of Risør. The potholes here are the largest in Northern Europe and are very popular during… Read more
Potholes at Sild
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    Statens Kartverk, Geovekst og kommuner - Geodata AS

    Getting here and around

    By air: Risør is located midway between Kristiansand airport Kjevik and Sandefjord airport Torp.

    By road: Risør is located approximately three hours drive from Oslo and 1,5 hours drive from Kristiansand along the E18. 

    By bus: There are several daily departures between Oslo, Kristiansand and Stavanger with bus. The buses stops by E 18 at Vinterkjær bus stop. From there either corresponding local bus or taxi to Risør (10 minutes).

    By train: The nearest railway station to Risør is Gjerstad stasjon.

    Find yourself some local treasures in Risør's niche stores

    Shopping in Risør is cozy and intimate. The many unique niche stores in Risør are located in small streets with old wooden houses, a characteristic of the Norwegian coastline. In these shops you will find many exclusive and trendy items which cannot be found in large chain stores. The few chain stores in town have developed their own uniqueness.

    More to see and do in Risør and Vegårshei