Grimstad is an idyllic town with small, white wooden houses, narrow cobbled streets, tiny cafés and bakeries scattered around the town centre. Ask any one of the 25,000 inhabitants in Grimstad to describe their town, and they will likely tell you about the beautiful coastline adorned with islands, skerries and small secluded beaches. Grimstad is located only 40 minutes by car from Kristiansand.
5 facts about Grimstad
- Approximately 3,000 UiA students.
- Approximately 25,000 inhabitants.
- Grimstad is known as 'the town of poets' due to having been home to some of Norway's most famous authors.
- Grimstad is the Norwegian town closest to Denmark.
- Grimstad town centre is listed on the Directorate for Cultural Heritage's register of urban environments with significant national cultural heritage conservation interest.
Groos beach in Grimstad.
Photo: Hanne Feyling (c) Visit Sørlandet AS
The library in Grimstad centre.
Photo: UiA
Walking street in Grimstad centre.
Photo: UiA
There are many green areas available around the town for different kinds of activities.
Photo: UiA
Snow in Grimstad centre.
Photo: UiA
Christmas lights and snowy conditions in Grimstad centre.
Photo: UiA
Summer in Grimstad.
Photo: UiA
Grimstad Cinema and Cultural Centre.
Grimstad seen from above.
Photo: UiA
Bluebox student house
Social activities and the town's coolest concert venue!
Transportation
Bus
With Agder kollektivtrafikk (AKT) you can travel around the entirety of Agder for a very reasonable price! If you want to go even further, you can travel with both VY and Konkurrenten.
Train
With Sørlandsbanen you can travel to Stavanger or Oslo. The nearest station is Kristiansand. Alternatively, you can take the train from Arendal to Nelaug and transfer onto Sørlandsbanen there.
Bicycle
Grimstad is a cycling town that can boast of having nurtured two of Norway's biggest cyclists; Thor Hushovd and Dag Otto Lauritzen. Here, you will find cycling opportunities for everyone, with bike trails both in the town centre and beyond.
Read more about biking in Grimstad
Boat
Grimstad has a beautiful archipelago, so how about renting a boat or taking a trip on badebåten when summer comes around?
It's also not far to Kristiansand, where you can find Fjordline and Color Line, which both go to Denmark, and also other smaller boats that go out to the islands surrounding Kristiansand.
Air travel
Not far from Grimstad, you will find Kristiansand Airport with both domestic and international flights.
Hidden gems
Homborsund lighthouse
Homborsund lighthouse - a lighthouse just outside Grimstad from 1879, where you can swim, fish and stay overnight all year round.
Dømmesmoen
Dømmesmoen - a wonderful hiking area with a park, museum, burial mounds and more.
Groos recreation ground
Groos - an area right by the centre of Grimstad that boasts a beach, grassy areas, a pier with diving board, beach volleyball pitch, and a kiosk, to mention just a few attractions. There's plenty of fun to be had here!
Hill hikes
There are five hills surrounding Grimstad that offer beautiful views of the town.
Byhaven
Byhaven - a park area located by the harbour, offering a parkour course, slacklining, a trampoline, playground, and lovely places to sit. It is also situated close to the library and BUA, where you can rent equipment for various activities.
Lots to do and much to explore
Explore the region
Visit Southern Norway gives you an overview of experiences and exciting places you can visit in Southern Norway.
Borrow for free
BUA Grimstad offers free loan of sports and outdoor equipment. See what you can borrow (in Norwegian).