Grimstad

Travel Guide

A snowy town with a church, harbor, and snow-covered hills.
A snowy town with a church steeple, houses, and a harbor.
A calm lake with houses and a church steeple in the distance.
A narrow street lined with white houses, a flagpole with a flag, and a no parking sign.
A marina with several white yachts docked, surrounded by a row of traditional houses with red roofs.

Enjoy idyllic Southern Norway at its best with quiet days in the sun either on the beach, at sea, on one of the isles in the archipelago.

In Grimstad, you can wander around narrow streets and alleyways, enjoy fantastic food at many restaurants and eateries, such as Smag & Behag, go on a pleasant boat trip or follow in the footsteps of writers Knut Hamsun and Henrik Ibsen. If you are travelling with children, there are also plenty of excursions and interesting activities on offer.

Grimstad is a coastal municipality in Aust-Agder and dates back to the Viking Age when it was a market town at the heart of the Vikkilen area. In the Middle Ages, the area was a great fishing town with strong international trading networks.

A visit to Grimstad lets you explore the archipelago and its many isles. Visit the Homborsund Lighthouse, paddle through the Reddal Channel or go camping on Ytre Maløya. You can hire a bicycle and explore the town or take a trip to Dømmesmoen, a beautiful park just outside the town centre. The Oddensenteret shopping centre, situated on the quay, is a haven for a spot of retail therapy.

Literature enthusiasts should visit the Ibsen Museum. It is a short trip to the other towns in Southern Norway, such as the charming town of Arendal or Kristiansand. You can hire a boat in Grimstad and explore more of the breathtaking coastlines around Grimstad.

The closest airport is Kristiansand, approximately 30 minutes’ drive away from Grimstad. Grimstad has no train station but there is a regular bus service. If you’re thinking about visiting Grimstad in the summer, make sure to book in advance, as hotels can get booked up very quickly.

In Grimstad, you can relax and enjoy the beautiful summer days. You can completely unwind at one of the many beaches or explore the archipelago and the surrounding area. The town is well known for its narrow streets and wooden houses, and large parts of the town centre now feature on Norway’s preservation list for towns of national interest.

Comfort Hotel Grimstad

Comfort Hotel Grimstad

3 out of 5
Terje Løvås vei 4 Grimstad
The price is RM479 per night from 24 Oct to 25 Oct
RM479
RM536 total
24 Oct - 25 Oct
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this hotel in Grimstad. Enjoy breakfast (surcharge), a 24-hour fitness centre and parking (surcharge). Popular attractions Grimstad Art Society Reimanngarden ...
9/10 Wonderful! (166 reviews)
"It is a new hotel near the city center. The staff is very nice and helpful. The room and the common areas were clean and beautiful. The breakfast could be better."

Reviewed on 10 Sept 2026

Comfort Hotel Grimstad
Topcamp Bie - Grimstad

Topcamp Bie - Grimstad

1.5 out of 5
85 Arendalsveien Grimstad
The price is RM523 per night from 15 Oct to 16 Oct
RM523
RM585 total
15 Oct - 16 Oct
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this cottage in Grimstad. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and an outdoor pool. Popular attractions The Ibsen House and Ibsenhuset og Grimstad Bymuseum ...
Topcamp Bie - Grimstad
Strand Hotel Fevik - by Classic Norway Hotels

Strand Hotel Fevik - by Classic Norway Hotels

4.5 out of 5
Nedre Hausland 80 Grimstad
The price is RM495 per night from 5 Nov to 6 Nov
RM495
RM555 total
5 Nov - 6 Nov
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this luxury hotel in Grimstad. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and room service. Popular attractions Hauslandsanden and Lille Moviga are located ...
Strand Hotel Fevik - by Classic Norway Hotels
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Topcamp Bie - Grimstad

Topcamp Bie - Grimstad

1.5 out of 5
85 Arendalsveien Grimstad
Stay at this cottage in Grimstad. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and an outdoor pool. Popular attractions The Ibsen House and Ibsenhuset og Grimstad Bymuseum ...
Topcamp Bie - Grimstad
Hotell Arendal

Hotell Arendal

3 out of 5
Østre gate 2-4 Arendal Agder
Stay at this aparthotel in Arendal. Enjoy free Wi-Fi and daily housekeeping. Popular attractions Glass Elevator to the Top of Fløyheia and Alti Arendal are located ...
7.6/10 Good! (636 reviews)
"Goid customer support and location was central."

Reviewed on 16 Aug 2026

Hotell Arendal
Raet Camping

Raet Camping

2 out of 5
Hoveodden 200 Arendal
Stay at this campsite in Arendal. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and a marina. Popular attractions Hove strand and Bukkevika are located nearby.
Raet Camping
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Stay near popular Grimstad attractions

Things to do