Kristiansund

Kristiansund

Kristiansund sits across four islands joined by bridges and the Sundbåten — a small harbour ferry that has been running continuously since 1876, making it the world's oldest public transport boat still in service. A ride across the harbour costs less than a coffee and tells you more about the city than any guide could.

The city was built on klippfisk — salt-cured and air-dried cod shipped from these shores to southern Europe for centuries. The Norwegian Clipfish Museum occupies a 1749 wharf on the waterfront; the guided tour includes a taste of bacalao and is worth the hour. Beyond that, there are galleries, a summer opera festival, a good fish market, and the Varden lookout tower with 360° views over the sea and Grip on the horizon.

Kristiansund is also the departure point for Grip Island — the daily summer boat leaves from the harbour, and combining a morning in the city with an afternoon on Grip makes for a full and varied day. From the house, it is about 30 minutes by car.