Lillesand

Understand

The site's original name was "Sanden" (the sand, the beach). In 1641 the neighboring city of Kristiansand was founded. Lillesand received its present name to distinguish the two towns.

Getting there

By bus The bus-connections to Oslo and the towns along the western shore of the Oslo Fjord is excellent. Nor-Way Bussexpress has 9 daily connections to Oslo, Konkurrenten.no 4-7 buses while Lavprisekspressen runs twice daily. You are guaranteed a seat - if the bus is full, the bus company will add an extra bus. Lavsprisekpressen provides online ticketing only. Long term buses stops in the outskirts of Lillesand.

By car E18 runs through the town in an east-west direction. Follow the signs at the exits towards Lillesand from the motorway.

By train or plane via Kristiansand Railwaystation or Kristiansand Airport, Kjevik. Bus connections to Lillesand.

By ferry via Kristiansand, where there are ferries from Hirtshals by Color Line and seasonal by Fjordline. Bus connections to Lillesand.

Getting around

By bus Nettbuss Sør (blue buses) operates local bus routes within the municipality of Lillesand (see time tables here). In Lillesand center are all within walking distance. If you go west, there are some local buses for example to Høvåg, but it may take a long time between buses.

By boat Good moorings if you have your own boat. Or take a sight seeing boat from Kristiansand.

By taxi Lillesand Taxi, ☏ +47 37 27 03 15.

See

Blindleia is a salt water fjord passage that is protected from the open sea by an elongated archipelago of skerries. Lots of boat traffic in Blindleia at summer time, and many rich Norwegians have their vacation house here. Blindleia pass many picturesque sites, such as Brekkestø, Kjøbmannsvik, Gamle Hellesund and Skottevik. Sightseeing boat at the summer time[1]. Lillesand Town- and Maritime Museum in the town centre of Lillesand, shows the town's history as a center for shipping and trade[2]. The Fish Market in Lillesand with a restaurant. Fresh fish and delicacies. 1 Bronseplassen. Open May to September. Reconstructed houses from the Bronze Age and Viking times and is located in Høvåg, approx. 15 km west of the town. There are also bark boats, labyrinth, offering space and cemetery. (updated Feb 2018)

Do

Take a walk in the center of this rather sleepy but cozy small town! Lillesand offers the perfect setting for activities related to the sea: fishing, sailing, swimming.

Buy

In the heart of town Lillesand Senter. A shopping centre in the outskirts of town Sørlandsparken and Sørlandssenteret, a regional, large shopping centre at the border to Kristiansand [3]

Eat

Geheb café, Vestregate 6 (entrance by the pedestrian street), ☏ +47 91 14 65 39. M-F 08:00-16:00, Sa 08:30-15:00. Cakes, baguettes and baked goods (updated Apr 2025)

Drink & nightlife

Strandgaden No1 Skjenkestue, taproom in the traditional Hotell Norge. Sjøbua (Strandgata 8), ☏ +47 37 27 03 66. Pub at the wharf, serves simple dishes.

Sleep

Camping Skottevik FerieSenter, ☏ +47 37 26 90 30. The most popular holiday centre in the south of Norway, located between Kristiansand and Lillesand. A family friendly vacation centre which offers several kinds of accommodation with the ocean on close reach. Tingsaker Camping, ☏ +47 37 27 04 21. Camping field not far from the town centre.

Hotel and guesthouses Hotell Norge, ☏ +47 37 27 01 44, fax: +47 37 27 30 70, [email protected]. The traditional, historical hotel in the heart of Lillesand [4]

Go next

Birkeland, the forest village north of Lillesand Kristiansand, a larger town, but a small city. Kristiansand, Zoo and Amusement park east of the center and downtown that gives the experience of a small city west of Lillesand. Grimstad, the neighboring town in the east which is also a nice little town.