The city was founded on July 15, 1641 by the Danish King Christian IV.

The shipping industry flourished in the 19th century. Since then, the city has become a world leader in the development of equipment for the oil and gas industry. Today, we are known as the most renewable region in the country with major investments in sustainable industry. Tourism is also a large and important part of business development. Kristiansand is often referred to as the best summer destination in Norway!

We encourage all residents of Kristiansand municipality to check out the website.

Here you can read more about Kristiansand as a tourist destination. 

Secrets of Agder is a meeting place for new workers and their spouses in the region. It is held 6 times a year. Each time, different speakers are invited to talk about the region. Then we mingle and get to know new people in the same situation. You can read about the next event here. A warm welcome!

Norway's most beautiful animal and leisure park is located in Kristiansand. Kristiansand Dyrepark

Kilden Theater and Concert Hall in Kristiansand is one of the Nordic region's most exciting environments for professional performing arts and music. The arts center houses Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra, Kilden Theatre, Kilden Opera, Kilden Culture and an innovative implementation of the social side of the social mission through Kilden Dialog and Digital. 

In interaction with each other, they represent an unparalleled cultural operating concept in a single organization that is also one of the country's largest houses for performing arts and music. Nearly 200,000 audience members experience around 850 concerts, performances and events at Kilden every year, performed by a diverse team representing around 260 full-time equivalents and 25 nationalities.

Southern Norway's largest water park with attractions for everyone. Sports pool, water park and wellness area in the same facility. Lots of fun for young and old. Spa for the adults. Centrally located in Kristiansand. Water park for the little ones. Something for the whole family.

Waste sorting is a well-established routine among Norwegians. The homes in Kristiansand have four waste bins. To learn more about recycling, please read more here: Recycling guide.

The emptying times for private households depend on your address. Get acquainted with the emptying times here. This page is unfortunately only in Norwegian, but please contact customer service if needed. Phone: +47 381 77 070 or e-mail post@avfallsor.no.

Feel free to send them an email and ask for a quote:
post@ok-minilager.no
post@abclagerhotell.no

Children in Norway start school in the year they turn 6 years old. The child will automatically be called to their local school based on their home address, but if desired, parents can apply to other schools in or outside the municipality and to private schools.

Everyone who settles in Kristiansand can choose whether they wish to enroll their children in a school with either Norwegian or English teaching. Here we show a small extract of the options that international students often choose:

Kristiansand International School is a public school and offers free primary education.

IB at Kristiansand Katedralskole Gimle offers high school with almost all teaching in English (The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme).

The University of Agder has its largest campus in Kristiansand, the other campus is in Grimstad. UiA has in excess of 14,000 students and 1,500 employees (2022).

Noroff offers a practical, applicable and industry-oriented education that always has a close collaboration with the business community.

Kristiansand can offer training in Norwegian for adults both during the day and in the evening.
Kongsgård School Center
Evening school

When traveling to or from our region, you can use planes, trains, buses or ferries to either Denmark or Germany.

From the port of Kristiansand in the city center, you can travel by ferry to either Denmark or Germany. The ferries are operated by Color Line and Fjord Line with several daily departures to Denmark. Holland Norway Lines sails several times a week to Germany.
The port of Kristiansand is also a very popular cruise port.

To travel by local bus, please check AKT.no/English. Tickets are purchased in their app, but on the website you can plan your journey if you wish.

Taxis can be ordered from Agdertaxi by calling 07000 or Taxi Sør on number 380 28 000.

Emergency numbers

• Ambulance: 113

• Police: 112

• Fire: 110

The largest public hospital in the county is located in Kristiansand and is called Sørlandet Hospital. To get a referral to a specialist at the hospital, you must first contact your GP.

Next to the hospital, there is also one of the municipality's two emergency services, the other being in Søgne. The emergency services are open 24 hours a day.

Hospital and emergency room
Address: Egsveien 102, 4615 Kristiansand
Telephone: 906 10 6004615 Kristiansand

Søgne emergency room
Address:Tangveien 8 F
4640 Søgne

Common telephone number: 116 117
https://www.kristiansand.kommune.no/legevakt

The police
Kristiansand Police Station, Vestre Strandgate 55, 4612 Kristiansand
Monday - Friday: 08:30-15:00.

Skatteetaten Kristiansand (Office for Taxes, Duties, National Population Register)
Skatt Sør, Kjøita 42, 4630 Kristiansand
Monday - Friday: 9:00-15:00.

NAV (The Norwegian labor and welfare administration)
NAV Kristiansand, Gyldenløves gate 23, 4611 Kristiansand S
Monday - Friday: 10:00- 14:00.