Ferry from Kristiansand to Bergen

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.

Bergen Guide

The city and port of Bergen is located on Norway's west coast, on the peninsular of Bergenhalvoyen, and is sometimes called the city of The Seven Mountains. As the gateway to the fjords, Bergen is an international city that is full of charm and history just waiting to be explored. The Norwegian Fjords are perhaps one of the world's most spectacular natural tourist attraction and have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

There are a number of cultural institutions located in the city and are also popular with tourists. These include the Den Nationale Scene theatre, Grieg Hall concert venue and orchestras like as the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. The city also hosts a number of festivals each year and includes the Bergen International Festival and the Bergen International Film Festival.

Bergen's port is the largest in Norway and is the southern terminus of Hurtigruten, the Coastal Express which operates daily services along the coast to Kirkenes. Ferry services from the port depart to Hirtshals in Denmark and to Haugesund, Stavanger, Sognefjord and Nordfjord.