10 Things to Do in Arendal That You Shouldn't Miss

On the southern part of the island of Tromoy, only 10 minutes from Arendal town by car, bus or boat, there is a beautiful area called Hove. This recreation area is part of a protected moraine that lies along the southern coast. The whole area has been adapted for walks with resting places along the shore. There is a beach and kiosk at Hove camping during the summer season, and several kilometres of smooth rocks. Sundays between September and May, there is a lunch buffet at Hovestua in Hove camp from 12 to 18.  The paths are many and stretches from Hove to Alve, along Spornes beach, consisting of boulders and rocks, and sand when the sea permits. The area is used for hiking both summer and winter, and is suitable for everyone, children and adults. The trip from Hove camping to Alve and back is about 12 kms, and the network of paths allows both short and long trails. Maps for sale at Arendal tourist office, Hove camp, and Bjellandstrand Gard. Parking for instance at Hove camping and Hove camp. Bus no 3 to Tromoy ost leaves Arendal every hour during the day, Monday-Saturday.

A fun and educational experience for the whole family!In addition to our exhibition area, we also have varying activities. In the weekends an holydays you can join us to a spectacular trip to the space in 3D, and much more. Se our website for the daily program.You find the Science Center at the quay in the center of Arendal. As well as a scienceshop, parking and a cafe with the possibility to sit outside and enjoy the beautiful oceanwiew.Welcome!

- a place where time comes... The farm is located in beautiful surroundings where you can sense, experience, and fantasize. A taste of summer all year long. The farm Bjellandstrand gard (farm) and the area around has a long and exciting history.

The Trinity church is the third church on this site. The first church, a Y-shaped wooden structure, was erected in 1670. A desire to assert the town's status over Kristiansand was probably the motive behind its construction. In the 1830s, the town's shipping industry flourished, the population grew and the church became too small and was therefore demolished in 1832. In 1833, Crown Prince Oscar (Oscar I) laid the foundation stone for an octagonal church. Over the next 50 years, the population of Arendal doubled. According to church law, a church had to have Seating which corresponded to the population of the parish, so a new church again had to be built. In 1888, the third church was completed, in spite of the financial collapse of the banks in 1886. It towers above the Arendal skyline with its 87-metre-high tower. The church was ravaged by fire in 1902, but the damage was fortunately not extensive. The large chandelier which now hangs in the church vestibule originates from the town's first church. Copperplate engravings from the 16th century can be seen near the baptismal font. The new pipe organ was built by the German company Werkstätte für Orgelbau Mühleisen, and it has about 3900 pipes between 4 millimetres and 7 metres high. It is (November 2010) the fourth largest church pipe organ in Norway, with 59 voices and built in a German-Romantic style. Opening hours Tuesday-Thursday 1230-1400.

The location of the museum is idyllic, on the old outport and beautiful island of Merdo. The island is worth a visit to those who want to experience the nature, old coastal culture, or just enjoy themselves in cosy surroundings. There are a couple of small Beaches, and a nice café on the side of the island towards land. The part of the island facing Skagerrak is rocky, scattered with pebbles and boulders, and has a fantastic view both summer and winter. The museum is a small coastal farm with a main building from 1736, kept as it was in about 1800. Hourly tours in Norwegian during the summer season. The museum is a department of Aust-Agder kulturhistoriske senter, the county museum. Merdo was one of the most important outports in Sorlandet, with a customs station, pilot station, school, shop and post office. Ferry to the island from Pollen in Arendal.

Kalvoysund fort was a German coastal fort at Kalvoysund on the island Flostaoya east of Arendal town, built during WW2. The battery was meant to cover the eastern seaward approach to Arendal, and the area was more than 10 acres large. Kalvoysund fort was one of the largest fortifications the Germans built in Southern Norway during the second World War. The fortifications were built in 1941 and consisted of about 50 buildings and bunkers. There are four locations for cannons in the area, and the cannons who were there had a range of 11-12000 metres. Bunkers and other parts of the fortification are kept partially well, and the foundation walls from many of the buildings are still left in the landscape. After WW2, the fort was run by the Norwegian armed forces for a while, and there were a couple of military exercises on the fort. Then the area was given to the local authorities, and it is now a popular recreational area. There is a public bathing area in Kalvoysund, and the area is open to the public.

Tromoy church is located at Flademoen on the southern side of Tromoy, and the church was originally a Romansque stone church built around 1150. The church was reconstructed to a cruciform church between 1748-1758, and today this fabulous church is one of Arendal's oldest sights. The church is an old seamark, and due to the unsheltered location, the church is without a tower. The interior of Tromoy church is beautiful. There are wood carvings and painted interior from the 1750s, restored in 1926-1939. Several details in the church are worth mentioning, like the baptismal font made of soapstone from the 14th century, and candlesticks made of brass from 1660 Important people were buried inside the church in the Middle Ages, both in the choir and in the nave. The tombs had large gravestones in the church floor. It has been illegal to bury people inside the church since 1805, and the large gravestones were moved outside during the restoration in the 1750s. They are now visible along the churchyard wall in the west, together with boulders from Tromoy. Tromoy church has been opened to the public in July many summers, to those who wish to study the church. More information, see contact information.

The building was built as a private residence in 1826 by Johannes Nicolai von Klöcker. It is built in an empire style and clearly influenced by the building style of Copenhagen. Here are furniture from the 1800s. The parts of the house in the back are from the 1600s. The house was privately owned until 1982, when it was taken over by Stiftelsen Klöckers Hus - a local philanthropic organisation. Today this building is a museum displaying how a well-off family lived at the time. There is a living room, dining room, office and kitchen, and a wash-house with a baking oven. Part of the museum displays the home of the sailor, a small apartment in the back of the building, where a sailor lived with his family. In Klöckers Hus you can also find the old village shop with interiors from the last century. Here it is still possible to buy sugar candy, oldfashioned candy, homemade jam, local historical magazines, and postcards with pictures from old Arendal etc. The house landau, which has transported royalty visiting Arendal in the 1900s, is in the stable.