Clarion Hotel Ernst

Christmas market in Kristiansand

Dates: - 30th November - 22nd December - Note, the date and time can vary. You can visit the Christmas market's own website with current information.

Take a wonderful self-drive holiday in Southern Norway with a Christmas trip to Kristiansand, which transforms into a beautiful and atmospheric Christmas town every December. From the official start of the market until Christmas is over, there will be plenty of exciting things to do in the city, from the market itself with its many stalls and lovely smells and ice rink to the big, beautiful 3D light show at the city's cathedral. The sound show has become a very popular tradition and runs for several days in December. There are also plenty of great shopping opportunities and the town's shops are usually open on Sundays for the last three Sundays in December.

Let yourself be seduced by the many impressions at the market and wander around the stalls, which offer crafts, art, homemade goods, jewellery and, of course, Christmas gifts and inspiration in all shapes and sizes. Of course, there are also several food stalls where you can find roasted almonds, mulled wine and much more.

Find a cheap hotel stay in Kristiansand and go with Risskov on a great Christmas holiday in the beautiful southern Norwegian city.

The zoo in Kristiansand

Kristiansand Zoo is one of Norway's largest family attractions, offering a complete experience package for the whole family. The park is open every day all year round and also offers places to play and learn. Over a million visitors visit the park each year. You'll find more than 150 species of animals from the wilds of Norway and around the world, as well as a number of children's attractions based on Torbjørn Egner's stories, such as The Animals of Hakkebakkeskoven and People and Robbers in Kardemomme Town.

Smaal - bar, restaurant, music scene

Lillesand is probably best known for Blindleia, but over the past few years the little harbour town has also developed into one of the best places to go out on the Sørland coast if you want to party a little in the evening.

Smaal opened with a bang when Banjo Kari himself performed on the small stage in 2014. Since then, several well-established musicians have visited Smaal, which is also known for its 'vinyl nights'.

Mandal

Norway's southernmost town, Mandal, is located on the coast and has many exciting things to offer. The town itself is incredibly vibrant and full of culture, hosting as many as 300 live concerts a year. The city centre is divided by the Marna River, which flows into the North Sea. In the centre of the city is the Buen Culture Centre, which, in addition to its impressive and beautiful façade, houses a cinema and library, varied and exciting gallery exhibitions, concerts, theatre and much more. On holiday in your own car it is easy to visit Mandal, see the beautiful building inside and get one on one experience.