Sprawling across several islands on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, Kristiansund is a small city that’s renowned for its Art Nouveau architecture. It’s home to Norway’s oldest opera house and is considered the country’s klipfish capital, with one of its old wharves now transformed into the Norwegian Klipfish Museum.
Things to do in Kristiansund
Spend a day exploring the streets of Kristiansund on foot, with much of the old town rebuilt following World War II bombing. Admire the Kristiansund Opera, which dates back to 1805, then soak up stunning harbour views from the Bautaen monument. Located at the highest point of Innlandet Island, it honours the 1808 Battle of Kristiansund and features antique cannons that salute arriving cruise ships in the summer months.
A highlight of visiting Kristiansund is cruising between its islands onboard the Sundbåten, which is the world’s oldest public transport service in continuous use. You can enjoy a 20-minute round trip as an introduction to Kristiansund or hop on and off as your heart desires to sightsee on land.
Interested in how the city came to be? Pay a visit to the Norwegian Klipfish Museum to learn about the fishing industry’s role in the development of Kristiansund from the 18th century to the post-war period. Located on the island of Gomalandet, it occupies a well-preserved wharf that dates back to 1749 and was historically used for klipfish production.
Getting around Kristiansund
Kristiansund Airport, Kvernberget is a 10-minute drive from Kristiansund’s city centre and has flights to destinations across Europe. Buses travel to towns and villages in the surrounding area while the Sundbåt ferry shuttles passengers to neighbouring islands. The Hurtigruten cruise vessel connects south to Bergen and north to Kirkenes and Kristiansund’s old town is compact enough to explore on foot.