What to do in Southern Norway
Go hiking or biking along one of many coastal trails or check out one of the many food or music festivals. Visit one of the many museums. Golfing, climbing, skiing and fishing are popular too.
Cycling in Southern Norway
Grimstad and Mandal have a special focus on providing good local cycling routes, as well as welcoming cyclists and taking their needs seriously. The North Sea Cycle Route (Norwegian National cycle route number 1) follows the coast. National cycle route no. 3 takes you from the sea to the high mountains between Kristiansand and Hovden in Setesdal.
Hiking in Southern Norway
One of the most accessible activities in Southern Norway is hiking. The seaside trails are beautiful and easy to do, while the mountain summits in Sirdal, Åmli and Hovden provide a variety of difficult levels with their marked hiking trails.
Read more about hiking in Southern Norway.
Fishing in Southern Norway
Angling is a sport and a way of life for many people, and Southern Norway offers deep-sea fishing and fishing in rivers and lakes. Anglers come from Norway and abroad to the various fishing resorts along the coast, or to the quiet cabins in the inland area.
Kayaking in Southern Norway
Get up close and personal with the coastline of Southern Norway. Rent kayaks or a canoe and explore on your own or use one of the adventure companies for guided trips.
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…
Venture out in a kayak to Norway's southernmost tip at Lindesnes or through the Spangereid Canal.
Go to: Kayaking at Lindesnes HavhotellKayaking at Lindesnes Havhotell
LindesnesVenture out in a kayak to Norway's southernmost tip at Lindesnes or through the Spangereid Canal.
Rafting
Are you an adventure-seeker? Or are you looking for a fun activity for the entire family? Rafting may be just the thing for you, and the rivers in Southern Norway are perfect for safe and fun water sport. TrollAktiv in Evje and Adventure Norway in Marnadal offer both family rafting and regular rafting activities.
Climbing in Southern Norway
There are several areas in Southern Norway where rock climbing is possible. The area around Valle in Setesdal is particularly known among climbers all over the world. The climbing parks in Evje and Kristiansand all offer activities several metres above ground, with adapted courses for children.
Birdwatching
Lista Lighthouse offers stunning coastal scenery and magnificent cultural landscapes, miles of beautiful sand dunes and spectacular pebbly beaches. It is also a birdwatcher’s paradise: Nowhere else in Norway have so many different bird species been sighted in one place – no fewer than 341 species.
Arts and culture in Southern Norway
You will find many museums in Southern Norway, both cultural heritage and art museums and galleries. Vest-Agder-museum is a union of eleven museums, located close to each other in the southern part of Norway. SKMU - Sørlandets Kunstmuseum in Kristiansand is the largest art museum in the southern part of Norway.
Summer is the season for numerous festivals in Southern Norway. The most famous are Risør Wooden boat festival, Palmesus Beach festival, Mandal Seafood Festival and the electronic Punkt Festival in Kristiansand. You will also find many more music and food festivals. See full list over festivals in Southern Norway.
Skiing
Skiing is a winter activity in Southern Norway. The season starts in December, and ends in April. Alpine skiing, cross-country skiing and snowboarding are all available, and the lit up trails along the coast are popular in winter. The mountainous areas in Hovden, Sirdal and Åseral are the winter destinations of Sørlandet.
Winter in Hovden
In Hovden, the winter season lasts from November to May. Hit the slopes in the region’s largest alpine centre, or explore our vast network of cross-country trails.
Cross country skiing in Setesdal
Hovden, located 850 metres above sea level at the top of the Setesdal valley, guarantees a long snow season. Also in Brokke, Evje and Åseral offers excellent cross-country trails, including floodlit trails.
Alpine skiing in Setesdal
Choose between numerous pistes of varying difficulty, check out the terrain parks and the floodlit pistes. There are also great opportunities for free boarding, some through the forest.
Ski reports and web camera in Setesdal
In the southern part of the Setesdal valley, in Evje and Hornnes, the local sports club has an elaborate network of ski trails, mainly in the forest. Further north are the three ski resorts Ljosland, Eikerapen and Bortelid in Åseral, and Brokke in Valle. Here, the trails are closer to the mountains, approx. 700 metres a.s.l. Even further north you may enjoy the extensive trail network at Hovden, leading up to mountain plateaus at an elevation of about 1200 metres.
Winter in Setesdal
Thanks to its location and climate, the entire Setesdal Valley enjoys long and stable winters. From wide, open country to floodlit trails through the forest, you are guaranteed to find your own skiing paradise. If you prefer hitting the slopes, Hovden is the largest alpine centre in the region.