Kristiansand (Norway)

Kristiansand is a major port city in Norway, located on the country's southern coast). By population (around 90,000, metro over 155,000), the city is ranked Norway's 5th largest - following Oslo, Bergen, Stavanger and Trondheim. Port Kristiansand is very often mistaken with Kristiansund (a Hurtigruten ferry port located on Norway's western coast).

Two Norwegian passenger shipping companies - FJORD LINE and COLOR LINE - offer direct connections from Kristiansand to Denmark (Hirtshals). FJORD LINE schedules 3 daily crossings (travel time 2 hours 15 min), while COLOR LINE schedules 14 weekly crossings (3 hours 15 min). Since April 2022, Kristiansand is ferry-linked with Eemshaven Holland (crossing time ~18 hours).

Kristiansand faces Skagerrak Strait, at the entrance to Baltic Sea. This 17th-century town features wide streets, lively fishing harbor, market, boat / yacht marinas, restaurants and shops, traditional wooden houses. It was named after Christian IV of Denmark (1577-1648), who founded it in 1641. Until 1877, the town's name was written "Christianssand" and "Christiansand".

The city is connected with 4 main roads - E18 (from the capital Oslo), E39 (from Stavanger), National Road 9 (from Evje) and National Road 41 (from Telemark). National Road 41 also connects with the international Kristiansand Airport (located approx 16 km / 10 mi by road). The large Varodd Bridge (part of E18) stretches over Topdalsfjorden (fjord's length is 12 km / 8 mi).

Tourism is important for the local economy, the summer season being the most popular. Among the city's best tourist attractions are its Zoo and Amusement Park (Norway's largest zoo, visited by over 900,000 people annually). Other popular destinations are Kristiansand Cathedral (Norway's 3rd largest church), Markens Street (downtown's main street), Bystranda (sand beach in Kvadraturen), Hamresanden (city's longest beach, between Hanesand the airport), Hamresanden Camping (family campsite), Somstranda (nudist beach). In the summer, once per week here is hosted a free musical concert. Outside the city is located Norway's largest mall - Sorlandssenteret.

The list of largest local businesses includes:

• Christianssands Bryggeri (1859-founded brewery producing beer and soft drinks - all made with spring water)
• Sorlandschips (Norwegian crisps brand, one of the country's most popular potato chip brands)
• Dampbageriet (1862-founded large bakery chain with 4 stores in the city)
• Hennig-Olsen Iskremfabrikk (Norwegian ice-cream company)
• Kristiansand Dyrepark (zoo selling most giraffe in Europe)
• Sorlandsparken (industrial shopping park outside the city, covering an area of approx 0,7 km2 (0,3 mi)
• Sparebanken Sor (1824-founded savings bank, one of the first opened in Norway)
• shipbuilding companies -  Kristiansands Mekaniske Verksted, P. Hpivolds Mekaniske Verksted.

In 2014, the cruise port handled 76 ship calls, in 2017 - 51.

In 2018, Regal Princess (Princess Cruises) became the first-ever ship to receive shoreside power connection here. During booking, vessels fitted with shore-power connectivity receive berth priority.

For season 2019, the port had scheduled 56 cruise ship calls (berth bookings) with ~100,000 passengers.

Kristiansand cruise terminal