About Grimstad/attractions

A short presentation of Grimstad and some useful links;

Grimstad with its approx. 22.000 inhabitants is a lovely small town with white, wooden houses and friendly people. It is located on the southern coast of Norway and sheltered against winds and waves by the idyllic skerry-landscape. With good reason the area is called "The Norwegian Riviera".

The town's appearance and character bears witness of it's maritime tradition. In the late 19th century, the days of sailing ships brought prosperity to many towns on the Southern coast of Norway. Farmers, ship builders and merchants all profited from brisk trade, which brought about close ties to the continent and the rest of the world.

Grimstad is proud of its relation to the world-famous Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen and novelist Knut Hamsun: You can visit the pharmacy where Ibsen worked as a chemist's apprentice in the Ibsen museum or you can follow the path Hamsun took in 1945 to secretly post a letter to his family.

The cultural life in Grimstad is prospering, from golfing times at Grimstad Golfklubb, theatre and music performances at Grimstad Cultural Centre, festival days in June with the Norwegian Short Film Festival and open-air performances in the quarry at "Fjæreheia".

A special summer event is St. John's Eve (June 23), when Grimstad's inhabitants gather in their decorated boats in the harbour before setting out for the traditional picnic on the islands. Later, in the dusk of the summer night, bonfires will be lit along the coast to celebrate midsummer.

Grimstad offers many outdoor activities: Boat trips to the skerries, picnics on small islands in the sea or on top of one of the big bald rocks in the district, walking through lonely forests, swimming or fishing in one of the countless clear lakes, riding, biking, canoeing... 

The weather in Grimstad

What's on in Grimstad

What to do and where to go in Grimstad: Visit Norway/Grimstad 

Restaurants/dining in Grimstad: Restaurants in Grimstad

WELCOME TO GRIMSTAD!