Dyreparken
Zoo and amusement park east of Kristiansand
Dyreparken, Kristiansand's zoo and amusement park, combines more than 100 animal species with themed areas based on Norwegian children's stories, such as Kardemomme by and Kaptein Sabeltanns Verden. More than a million people visit every year; the park lies around 12 km east of the centre on the E18.
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From summer zoo to amusement park
Kristiansand Dyrepark, known simply as Dyreparken, opened in 1966 as a summer zoo with 30 animal species. Its first director was Edvard Moseid. Four years later the zoo was already open all year round. Step by step the zoo grew into an amusement park: Kaptein Sabeltann premiered in 1990, Kardemomme by followed in 1991 and the water park in 2010.
Today the grounds cover more than 1,400 mål, or around 140 hectares, with more than 100 animal species. Over a million people visit every year. The park is run by Kristiansand Dyrepark AS, and its English name is Kristiansand Zoo and Amusement Park.
Areas of the park
Themed areas and animal enclosures alternate across the site:
- Kardemomme by: the little town with Sirkus Jesper.
- Hakkebakkeskogen: the forest you travel through by train.
- Kaptein Sabeltanns Verden: the world of the pirate Kaptein Sabeltann.
- Nordisk Villmark: Nordic wildlife such as wolves, wolverines, elk and lynx.
- KuToppen: the park's farm.
With around 140 hectares to cover, it helps to pick two or three areas in advance if you have children with you, and to plan the day around them. You will find more places in and around the city under Sights.
Badelandet in summer
The water park, Badelandet, is open from 1 May to 31 August. The indoor area covers around 1,800 square metres. Outside are the 25-metre Havbassenget pool, the Bølgen wave pool, the Overfloden lazy river and the SuperSpeed slide with four lanes and a 14-metre drop.
Entry is with a valid ticket only. The entrance is at Lagunen Beach Club; with a combined ticket for both parks you can also go in via Båtbasaren. When planning a day at the pools, it is worth checking the weather in Kristiansand.
Tickets and opening hours
Dyreparken is open all 365 days of the year, with opening times that change with the season. You can choose tickets for both parks, for Dyreparken only or for the water park only, as well as an afternoon ticket. For repeat visits there are annual and season passes; the autumn pass covers Dyreparken only, without the water park.
In the peak season from late June to early August the park uses dynamic pricing, so the price depends on the day you visit. Daily prices and opening hours are on the Dyreparken ticket page.
Getting there by bus and car
The park is around 12 km east of the centre on the E18. AKT city buses take 10-15 minutes from the centre and stop right at the main entrance. Vy express coaches stop at Dyreparken E18 and Travparken, with around 15 departures a day from Oslo and four from Stavanger.
If you drive, parking at the park is paid. Rates depend on the time of day, with separate rates for daytime, evening and night. How to reach Kristiansand is covered on the Getting there page, and ferry connections are under Ferries.
Staying in the park
If you are staying for two days, you can sleep on site. Options include the Safarihotell, Safaricamp with tents, the pirate-themed Sjørøverhotellet Abra Havn with 172 apartments, treehouses in Juliusskogen, eight houses in Kardemomme by and a motorhome site.
Outside the park, Roligheden Camping is five minutes from the centre and 15 minutes from Dyreparken. More accommodation in the city is listed under Where to stay, and sites for tents and motorhomes under Camping.