Dotted along the coast of Sørlandet are towns, whose charm has been enhanced by the influence of the fishing industry, arts and crafts and European trading.

Here you will find alleys, port facilities, parks, shops, restaurants, and cafés, museums and not least the characteristically white-painted wooden houses. Until the mid-1880s the building walls were dominated by ochre and red shades. The trend of painting houses white took over when white paint became cheaper to buy, and white is still the standard colour now.

It is in these towns and villages that you will discover a charming blend of  good, old-fashioned idyll and modern, Norwegian urban life.

Flekkefjord - population: 8,800. Flekkefjord, snugly located furthest in the Lafjord, is a classical Southern Norwegian town with warm summers and mild winters. Man-made trails lead you to the many vantage point summits. Just thirty minutes’ drive from the town centre brings you to an 18-hole or to the unique water skiing facility at Egenes.

Farsund - population: 9,500. At one point in time, ”The town by the sound” was the world’s largest maritime town per capita. The landscape surrounding Farsund is a mixture of weatherbeaten segments and soft sandy beaches, marshy areas and woodlands with indigenous trees. We recommend a visit to the treshold fjord Framvaren, which is 180 metres deep, and completely oxygen-free below 15 metres.

Mandal - population: 14,000. A captivating town, whose buildings are predominantly painted white, close by to many, and long, sandy beaches, good fishing and a charming town centre. Good starting point for fishing trips and a number of destinations further inland.

Kristiansand - population: 76,000. “The city on the Sand” was founded in1641 by the Danish-Norwegian King Christian IV. Agder University College with around 8,000 students has made its mark on the city, which has a triving cultural environment. The city is also host for the annual Quartfestival, which is regarded as one of the country’s best young people’s music festivals. In addition to being Southern Norways’s larges city, Kristiansand is also the junction for air, rail and ferry traffic.

Lillesand - population: 9,900. White-painted captain’s residences and wooden town buildings bear witness to the time when sailing ships lorded over the seven seas. Large stretches of this domain in and around the stunning skerries close to the town are reserved for the use of the general public.