Many experiences in Southern Norway’s first national park - Raet.
Do you enjoy swimming off delightful beaches, canoeing, boat trips, camping, walking in a unique natural setting, cycling, fishing, diving, birdwatching, visiting idyllic outlying harbours or exploring cultural heritage? If so, welcome to Raet National Park in Arendal, Grimstad and Tvedestrand in Southern Norway.
This is Raet National Park
Raet National Park was created in 2016 to protect the special natural area which extends from the Valøyene islands off Grimstad along the entire Arendal coastal strip to Lyngør in Tvedestrand. The park covers a total of 607 square kilometres of coastal nature and sea.
See signs of the ice age
Raet contains visible traces of the ice age around 12,000 years ago. When the enormous glacier that once existed in the area retreated, it left behind huge quantities of stone, sand, gravel and clay which it had picked up during its journey. This process led to the creation of a unique coastal landscape.
Getting to the skerries by boat
An idyllic boat trip in the river Nidelva around the island Hisøy. In the skerries the boat passes Torungene…
Go to: Daily sightseeing tours onboard the MS NidelvDaily sightseeing tours onboard the MS Nidelv
ArendalAn idyllic boat trip in the river Nidelva around the island Hisøy. In the skerries the boat passes Torungene…
Ferry to Lyngør
TvedestrandFerry between Gjeving and Lyngør, a beautiful island in Southern Norway.
Take the boat out to some of the finest beach and swimming spots in Grimstad.
Go to: Beach Boat ØsterøyBeach Boat Østerøy
GrimstadTake the boat out to some of the finest beach and swimming spots in Grimstad.
At Sørlandets Maritime, located near Lyngør, you can rent a taxi boat or charter boat for a pleasant trip with…
Go to: Sørlandets Maritime Charter and taxi boats in TvedestrandSørlandets Maritime Charter and taxi boats in Tvedestrand
TvedestrandAt Sørlandets Maritime, located near Lyngør, you can rent a taxi boat or charter boat for a pleasant trip with…
Want to take a boat trip to Merdø, our summer holiday island number one?
Go to: Ferries to Merdø MF Trau & MS PellærnFerries to Merdø MF Trau & MS Pellærn
ArendalWant to take a boat trip to Merdø, our summer holiday island number one?
Are you dreaming of wind in the sails and the creaking of ropes and wooden hulls, the smell of sun and sea,…
Go to: Skerry trip with the Schooner SolrikSkerry trip with the Schooner Solrik
GrimstadAre you dreaming of wind in the sails and the creaking of ropes and wooden hulls, the smell of sun and sea,…
RIB boat trip in Raet National Park in Arendal, Southern Norway.
Go to: Trip to Raet National Park with RIBTrip to Raet National Park with RIB
ArendalRIB boat trip in Raet National Park in Arendal, Southern Norway.
Take the ferry between Hagefjorden and Sandøya to get to the island Sandøya. Here's the ferry schedule.
Go to: Ferry to SandøyaFerry to Sandøya
TvedestrandTake the ferry between Hagefjorden and Sandøya to get to the island Sandøya. Here's the ferry schedule.
Wannado is a tour-operator that arranges tours and activities mainly for small groups. They offer primarily…
Go to: Wannado: Kayak/canoe experiencesWannado: Kayak/canoe experiences
ArendalWannado is a tour-operator that arranges tours and activities mainly for small groups. They offer primarily…
Wannado lets you experience the beauty of Southern Norway through kayaking, horseback riding or a RIB trip.
Go to: Wannado Southern Norway nature experiencesWannado Southern Norway nature experiences
ArendalWannado lets you experience the beauty of Southern Norway through kayaking, horseback riding or a RIB trip.
See our amazing archipelago from a boat. We offer charter tours, taxi boats and ferry routes in Arendal and…
Go to: Charter- and ferry boats MS Nidelv, MF Merdø and MF TromøyCharter- and ferry boats MS Nidelv, MF Merdø and MF Tromøy
ArendalSee our amazing archipelago from a boat. We offer charter tours, taxi boats and ferry routes in Arendal and…
Arendal Marina is one of the most beautiful and popular guest harbors in the south of Norway with more than…
Go to: Arendal City MarinaArendal City Marina
ArendalArendal Marina is one of the most beautiful and popular guest harbors in the south of Norway with more than…
Outdoor recreation and beaches
Raet National Park is one of Southern Norway’s most popular outdoor recreation areas, and many people visit the seaway, particularly during the summer months. Many of the islands are protected as outdoor recreation areas and as an archipelago park. The national park is ideal for kayaking, windsurfing, boat trips and walks, recreational fishing and swimming.
Bathing spots in Raet National Park
At Tromøy outside of Arendal you find the beaches at Hove. These are fine, family-friendly beaches connected…
Go to: Hove beachesHove beaches
ArendalAt Tromøy outside of Arendal you find the beaches at Hove. These are fine, family-friendly beaches connected…
Spornes is just outside Tromøy, Arendal, close to Hove. Spornes offers a stunning view towards the Skagerrak,…
Go to: Spornes beachSpornes beach
ArendalSpornes is just outside Tromøy, Arendal, close to Hove. Spornes offers a stunning view towards the Skagerrak,…
Stølsviga is located on Hisøy outside of Arendal. Well suited to children, two beaches separated by rocks,…
Go to: Stølsviga in ArendalStølsviga in Arendal
ArendalStølsviga is located on Hisøy outside of Arendal. Well suited to children, two beaches separated by rocks,…
Merdø is a charming island on the seaward approach to Arendal, with family-friendly beaches, pebbled beaches…
Go to: Merdø beach outside of ArendalMerdø beach outside of Arendal
ArendalMerdø is a charming island on the seaward approach to Arendal, with family-friendly beaches, pebbled beaches…
Natural experiences around Raet
Get an adrenaline kick high up in the tree tops at the new high wire adventure park at Hove outside of…
Go to: TrollPark HoveTrollPark Hove
ArendalGet an adrenaline kick high up in the tree tops at the new high wire adventure park at Hove outside of…
The activities are at the center of attention at Canvas Hove. SUP, windsurfing, kayaking, underwater safari…
Go to: Canvas Hove outdoor activitiesCanvas Hove outdoor activities
ArendalThe activities are at the center of attention at Canvas Hove. SUP, windsurfing, kayaking, underwater safari…
Wannado is a tour-operator that arranges tours and activities mainly for small groups. They offer primarily…
Go to: Wannado: Kayak/canoe experiencesWannado: Kayak/canoe experiences
ArendalWannado is a tour-operator that arranges tours and activities mainly for small groups. They offer primarily…
Challenge yourself and your mountain biking skills in this network of cycling tracks.
Go to: Arendal Singletrack - the HeavyweightArendal Singletrack - the Heavyweight
ArendalChallenge yourself and your mountain biking skills in this network of cycling tracks.
Canvas Hove offers accommodation a little bit out of the ordinary. Try a glamping tent. Or how about a night…
Go to: Canvas HoveCanvas Hove
ArendalCanvas Hove offers accommodation a little bit out of the ordinary. Try a glamping tent. Or how about a night…
RIB boat trip in Raet National Park in Arendal, Southern Norway.
Go to: Trip to Raet National Park with RIBTrip to Raet National Park with RIB
ArendalRIB boat trip in Raet National Park in Arendal, Southern Norway.
Explore the islands
Sandøya is a beautiful small island community outside Tvedestrand in Southern Norway. Forbes.com visited Sandøya in 2019 and listed it as one of "11 Insanely Beautiful Lesser-Known Islands Around The World".
The Hove-Spornes area is part of a protected moraine that lies along the southern coast, and is adapted for…
Go to: Hiking area at Hove and SpornesHiking area at Hove and Spornes
ArendalThe Hove-Spornes area is part of a protected moraine that lies along the southern coast, and is adapted for…
This is one of the five rides described in Thor & Dag Otto's Cycle Routes, and starts by the tourist…
Go to: Cycling tour "Ebb & flow" 37 kmCycling tour "Ebb & flow" 37 km
GrimstadThis is one of the five rides described in Thor & Dag Otto's Cycle Routes, and starts by the tourist…
Start by the tourist office, and ride southwest along the quay. Continue past Odden Shopping Centre, and…
Go to: Cycling tour "Homborsund via Vestlandske hovedvei" 38 kmCycling tour "Homborsund via Vestlandske hovedvei" 38 km
GrimstadStart by the tourist office, and ride southwest along the quay. Continue past Odden Shopping Centre, and…
The recreational areas at Hove are protected, since it is part of the southern moraine, and adapted with…
Go to: Hove and SpornesHove and Spornes
ArendalThe recreational areas at Hove are protected, since it is part of the southern moraine, and adapted with…
The Hisøy bike route is a nice route that takes the tour from the center of Arendal and out to the ferry at…
Go to: Bike trip on HisøyBike trip on Hisøy
ArendalThe Hisøy bike route is a nice route that takes the tour from the center of Arendal and out to the ferry at…
Lighthouse experiences
The cultural history of the national park is dominated by its proximity to the sea. There are four protected lighthouses in the park: Lyngør, Møkkalasset, Store and Lille Torungen.
Lyngør lighthouse in Tvedestrand is open for accommodation through Aust-Agder trekking association. The old…
Go to: Lighthouse holiday at LyngørLighthouse holiday at Lyngør
TvedestrandLyngør lighthouse in Tvedestrand is open for accommodation through Aust-Agder trekking association. The old…
Two buildings at Store Torungen lighthouse outside Arendal are available for accommodation. The lighthouse…
Go to: Lighthouse holiday at Store TorungenLighthouse holiday at Store Torungen
ArendalTwo buildings at Store Torungen lighthouse outside Arendal are available for accommodation. The lighthouse…
Arendal is known as the city with the two lighthouses. Store and Lille Torungen lighthouse stations were built…
Go to: Store and Lille Torungen lighthousesStore and Lille Torungen lighthouses
ArendalArendal is known as the city with the two lighthouses. Store and Lille Torungen lighthouse stations were built…
Destinations
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Island paradise of Lyngør
In 2015, Lyngør was number one on the list "top ten 'lesser known' European islands to visit by British newspaper The Guardian.
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Tvedestrand
In Tvedestrand you can stroll between white wooden houses on narrow cobbled streets with a bookshop on every corner. Sandøya island has been listed it as one of "11 Insanely Beautiful Lesser-Known Islands Around The World".
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8 good reasons to visit Hove in Arendal
Adventurers and nature lovers – here are 8 tips for what you can see and do on Tromøy and Hove in Raet national park, just outside of Arendal.
Photo: Peder Austrud, VisitSørlandet
Photo: Maren Brinch
Photo: Peder Ausutrud, Visit Sørlandet
Photo: Peder Austrud, Visit Sørlandet