Kristiansand Ferry Port

A port in the heart of the city

Kristiansand is the largest city in southern Norway, and its ferry port isn't on the outskirts but right next to the centre: from the car deck to the market square takes a few minutes. The two ferry companies use separate terminals in the west harbour. Color Line checks in at Havnegata 47, with an office and desk in the terminal building; opening hours follow the departures, in the morning and afternoon. Fjord Line uses the terminal at Vestre Strandgate 31, also with a desk open at departure times. The port operator, Kristiansand Havn, is at Gravane 4, between the two.

By car

Both terminals are a few minutes from the European roads. From Oslo you come in on the E18, from Stavanger on the E39 and from the Setesdal on the Rv9; all three meet on the edge of Kristiansand, and from there the ferry port is signposted. Traffic in the centre runs along a few main roads, and at rush hour getting through takes time. Allow for this for the afternoon departures with Color Line and Fjord Line, and especially with Fjord Line, where check-in closes 60 minutes before departure. Both ferry companies' deadlines are on the Check-in page.

Norwegian cities charge tolls at automatic stations; you simply drive through and the bill is sent to the vehicle's registered keeper later. There's nothing you need to do before the ferry.

Parking

In short: not at the terminal. Color Line has no car park of its own; the next multi-storey car park is about 400 metres away, and the one at Vestre Torv is the nearest larger option. Fjord Line allows just 30 minutes in front of the terminal for drop-off and pick-up, with paid short-stay parking opposite. If you're leaving your car in Kristiansand and taking the ferry as a foot passenger, park in one of the city's multi-storey car parks and walk the last few minutes.

By train, bus and plane

Kristiansand railway station is on the western edge of the city centre, a few minutes' walk from both terminals: about 200 metres to the Color Line terminal, a little further to Fjord Line. From here the Sørlandsbanen runs east to Oslo and west to Stavanger. The bus station is right next door and serves the south coast and the Setesdal. Kristiansand Kjevik Airport is about 17 kilometres away and can be reached by airport bus and taxi. The journey in both directions is described on the Getting There & Onward Travel page.

After you arrive

Kristiansand is worth a stop before you head on towards Oslo or Stavanger: the old wooden-house quarter of Posebyen, the city beach Bystranda, and the Dyreparken zoo and amusement park just outside town. If you need to press on, the E18 gets you to Oslo in about four hours and the E39 to Stavanger in about three. For the other direction, see the Hirtshals Ferry Port page.