Cruising to Kristiansund, Norway

Located in the Nordmore region of More og Romsdal county, Kristiansund is a city and municipality on Norway’s western coast. Because of the similarity between the names of this city and Kristiansand, in southern Norway, the town’s postal designation is Kristiansund N. (for Nord, “North”). This Northwest region is an excellent starting point for a wide range of outdoor activities because of its dramatic topographic changes. Molde and Kristiansund, one of Norway’s most unique towns, are linked by the Atlantic Road.

Kristiansund attractions

During the summer, you may go hiking on well-maintained trails amidst verdant mountain scenery, and during the winter, you can go skiing beneath a canopy of dancing northern lights.

Kristiansund is known for the colorful homes that line its little harbor. Some of the early Norwegians probably made their home in the area that is now known as Kristiansund because it was free of glacial ice after the last ice age. Nordlandet, Innlandet, Kirkelandet/Gomalandet, and Frei are the four main islands (called “lands” by the inhabitants) on which Kristiansund is situated. Kirkelandet serves as the city’s focal point, while the surrounding islands create a natural harbor, shielding the area from the blustery weather of the Norwegian Sea. There is a thriving cultural scene in Kristiansund, highlighted by the Nordic Light International Festival of Photography and an opera that hosts more than 100 performances each year.