Ferry from Kristiansand to Stavanger

Kristiansand Guide

The Norwegian city of Kristiansand is located in Vest-Agder county and is Norway's fifth largest city. The city was founded in 1641 by King Christian IV from who the city takes its name. The 'sand' component of the name refers to the sandy headland the city was built on. Many tourists visit the city, especially during the summer months, and of particular importance is Kristiansand Zoo and Amusement Park which is just to the east of the city. With just under 1 million visitors in 2012, the zoo is actually Norway's second most visited attraction, after Holmenkollen. Most of the zoo's animals are shown in their natural habitats. Animals on display include wolves, lions, tigers and lynx. Although the amusement park is open during the summer, the zoo is open all year round.

The city's port provides ferry connections to destinations in Sweden, Denmark and the UK. The two main routes that operate out of Kristiansand are to Gothenburg in Sweden, which begins and ends in Newcastle in the UK, and to Hirtshals in Denmark. The ferry terminal has good passenger facilities which include public telephones, toilets, a convenience store and good access for disabled passengers.

Stavanger Guide

Stavanger is perhaps the most international city on Norway despite only being the country's fourth largest city. The city is widely regarded as being the gateway to the Norwegian Fjords and is close to the Pulpit Rock, which is one of the most popular attractions in the region. The rock is so popular that it is estimated over 200,000 people hike to the rock each year, which is around 600 meters above sea level. Popular attractions in the city include the cathedral which dates back to 1150 AD and the old part of the city that has some lovely small, white, wooden houses. For visitors seeking a bit of culture the city has a good selection of bars, restaurants and cafes and is home to the Petroleum Museum. The colourful street called "Fargegaten" is a must see where old wooden houses have been painted in bright colours.

Located outside Stavanger, the town's port services ferries to Hirtshals in Denmark. Local ferries go to Tau and Kvitsøy, while fast passenger boats go to many villages and islands between the main routes from Stavanger to Haugesund and Sauda.