Beaches
Swimming in Kristiansand: city beach, sandy beaches and islands
Bystranda is right in the city, and the sandy beach at Hamresanden is a quarter of an hour's drive away. Add to that sheltered coves, the island of Odderøya and, in summer, beach boats out to the skerries.
On this page
Beaches in Kristiansand at a glance
Kristiansand sits right on the Skagerrak, and you barely need to leave the city for a swim. The city beach, Bystranda, borders the centre, and smaller swimming spots are dotted around the districts and on the islands off the coast. For a long sandy beach, head to Hamresanden. The main question is: do you want to walk there, drive or go by boat?
| Beach | Location | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Bystranda | City centre, on the beach promenade | Blue Flag, bathing jetty, shallow water, bathing ramp |
| Hamresanden | Around 13 km, a quarter of an hour by car | Around 3 km of sand, shallow, windsurfing, beachside campsite |
| Bertesbukta | Lund district | Diving tower, sheltered cove, rocks for snorkelling |
| Romsviga and Helleviga | Romsviga also by beach boat | Café in summer, shelters |
| Odderøya | Island by the centre, reached by bridges | Small beaches on the east side, walking trails |
Bystranda: the city beach
Bystranda lies along the beach promenade next to the Tangen headland and is Kristiansand's main city beach. It holds the Blue Flag, whose season in Norway runs from 5 June to 31 August. There are playgrounds, beach volleyball courts and palm trees on the sand. The water is calm and shallow, and there is a bathing jetty.
For people with limited mobility, Bystranda has a bathing ramp. Right next door are the Aquarama water park and the Scandic Kristiansand Bystranda hotel. In summer the beach hosts the Palmesus festival.
You can walk to the beach from Kvadraturen. If you would like to stay right by the sea, you will find the hotels near the beach under Where to stay.
Hamresanden: the long sandy beach
Hamresanden is a gently shelving sandy beach around 3 km long and is popular with families. You can go windsurfing here. By car it is around 13 km via the E18 and Rv41, which takes about a quarter of an hour without traffic.
Right on the beach are a campsite and an apartment hotel. In summer the BUA equipment lending service is sometimes on hand. The beach is close to Kristiansand Airport, Kjevik. The Camping page covers the sites right by the sand.
Coves and swimming spots in the city
Alongside the two big beaches, the municipality has smaller swimming spots.
- Bertesbukta in the Lund district has a diving tower for older children and a sheltered cove for younger ones. You can snorkel off the rocks.
- Romsviga and Helleviga have a café in summer and shelters where you can stay overnight.
- Åros-stranda and Høllesanden are in Søgne, which is part of Kristiansand municipality.
You will need to make your own way to these spots. In summer you can also reach Romsviga by beach boat. For freshwater swimming, head to the Baneheia woods and lakes north-west of the centre, where there are swimming spots on the 3rd Stampe lake.
Odderøya: swimming and walking by the centre
The island of Odderøya lies right by the centre and is reached by bridges. Around 3 km of waymarked paths cross the island, one of them wheelchair accessible. There are small beaches on the east side, and a café opens at the southern tip on Sundays. Odderøya is also home to the Kilden theatre and concert hall and a climbing park, and the Kunstsilo art museum stands on the island's quay, so a swim combines easily with a museum visit.
By beach boat to the islands
Off Kristiansand lie islands with no road connection, which you can reach in summer by beach boat.
- MS Bragdøya sails to Bragdøya, Randøya, Dvergsøya and Stokken. It leaves from Quay 6 (Tollkaia) in the centre.
- MB Høllen sails to Bredalsholmen, Romsviga and Ny Hellesund.
The boats only run in the summer season, and not every boat sails daily. Bragdøya Kystlag publishes the departures for both boats.
Sjøsanden in Mandal
For a trip along the coast, Sjøsanden in Mandal is well worth it. The sandy beach is around 800 metres long, shelves gently into the sea and sits next to the Furulunden recreation area. You can reach Mandal via the E39 in just over half an hour. For more to see there, see Around Kristiansand.