Arendal Norway
Norway
45
Cruises availables
At departure or passage at this port
Crystal Cruises (3 Cruises)
Oceania Cruises (3 Cruises)
SeaDream Yacht Club (2 Cruises)
Frequently Asked Questions
Right in the centre, at Batterikaien or Hotellkaien, a two- to five-minute walk from everything that matters. No shuttle, no transfer: you walk down the gangway and the town begins.
It is the inner basin at the heart of town, a kind of village square set on the water. Fishermen still land their catch there, cafes line up chairs facing the boats, and locals come to take the pulse of the day. It is the natural starting point of the call.
The 18th- and 19th-century wooden shipowners' houses, remarkably preserved and mostly painted white. Following Nedre then Øvre Tyholmen streets, you pass from the merchants' grand homes to the more modest dwellings of sailors' families. The old town hall, once Norway's tallest wooden building, marks the entrance to the quarter.
The Pollen and a walk around Tyholmen take about two hours at an unhurried pace. With half a day, add the Aust-Agder regional museum or the crossing to Merdø island. Arendal suits packed schedules poorly: the pleasure lies in slowness.
By ferry, fifteen minutes from the centre. This low island once sheltered the anchorage of the great sailing ships. You will find sandy beaches, paths through wild roses, and Merdøgaard, an 18th-century pilot's house turned museum with its period general store.
Collections devoted to the maritime 19th century: figureheads, navigation instruments, objects brought back from distant ports. Allow an hour. It is the rainy-day stop, and children linger happily in front of the ship models.
Yes, with no special effort. The town quays, the boats in the Pollen and the beaches on Merdø all go over well. Everything is done on foot or by a short ferry ride, with no coaches and no long waits.
Because Arendal belongs to Sørlandet, Norway's south coast, where Norwegians themselves come to spend the summer. The climate is milder than on the west coast and terraces spill onto the quays as soon as the weather turns.
The Norwegian krone (NOK), and cards are accepted everywhere, even in cafes. The language is Norwegian, but English is widely spoken in shops and museums. There is no need to carry cash.
June through late August, when the town lives outdoors: full terraces, sailboats moored side by side in the Pollen, ferries to Merdø running at full pace. Off season, the island and some museums slow right down.
