Kristiansand museum
Open-air museum at Kongsgård in Kristiansand with around 40 historic houses from the town, Setesdal and Eiken, and Minibyen (Mini Town).
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Kristiansand museum was founded on 10 October 1903 as Kristianssands Folkemusæum and was the sixth open-air museum in Norway. The initiative came from Vilhelm Krag, who proposed a museum for the town in a newspaper article in 1901. The first two buildings, a årestue (living room) and a loft from the farm Kveste in Setesdal, were purchased in December 1901. The museum moved to Grimshaugen in 1906 and to Kongsgård, just outside the town centre, in the late 1940s.
In 1952 the museum became a county museum and was named Vest-Agder Fylkesmuseum. In 2005 it became part of Vest-Agder-museet. The last building was erected in 2002.
Today the open-air museum consists of around 40 antiquarian houses in three areas. Bygaden has houses from Kvadraturen in Kristiansand, including a tinsmith's workshop, a clock shop, a general store and a manor house with a pavilion. Setesdalstunet has the museum's oldest building, Nomelandsloftet from 1585, and Vest-Agdertunet has a complete farmstead from Nedre Eiken, a schoolroom from Holum and the ferry house (ferjebua) from Tonstad with rosemaling from 1780. In addition, Minibyen shows detailed copies of old Kristiansand at a scale of 1:10.
Highlights
- Around 40 historic houses from the town, Setesdal and Eiken
- Nomelandsloftet from 1585, the museum's oldest building
- Bygaden with general store, clock shop and craft workshops
- Minibyen with miniature houses of old Kristiansand
- Old schoolroom and the ferry house (Tonstadbua) with rosemaling
- Farm animals and children's activities in summer
Permanent exhibitions
- Bygaden – Houses that formerly stood in Kvadraturen, including a tinsmith's workshop, a clock shop, a general store and a manor house with a pavilion.
- Minibyen – Miniature houses at a scale of 1:10 showing blocks of old Kristiansand around 1900.
- Setesdalstunet og Vest-Agdertunet – Two farmsteads with buildings from Setesdal and Eiken, including Nomelandsloftet from 1585, a schoolroom and the ferry house from Tonstad.
- Founded
- 1903
- Operated by
- Vest-Agder-museet
Admission & discounts
| Adults | NOK 125 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | NOK 50Children aged 4–18; students get a 50% discount with a student card |
| Children & teens | NOK 50free up to age 3 · Children aged 4–18; younger children enter free. |
| Visitors with disabilities | –companion free · Companion cards are accepted, and the companion enters free. |
| Students & apprentices | –50% discount with a student card. |
| Groups | –Guided tour for private groups during working hours NOK 2,200 and outside working hours NOK 3,200; NOK 2,500 per hour beyond the first 1–1.5 hours. Maximum 20 people. |
| Families | NOK 2902 adults and 3 children |
| Annual pass for the museums of Vest-Agder-museet and Aust-Agder museum og arkiv | –Valid at around 40 museums and visitor sites in Agder; bought in the online shop or at the museums. |
Free admission: Free admission during the autumn holiday (28 September–2 October 2026).
Tickets are bought at the museum shop at the entrance, or in the café on Sunday opening days. Payment by card, Vipps (mobile payment) or cash.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: not available
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The area around Bygaden is flat and easy to access, and Minibyen has no steps. All the houses have steps and narrow doors; Setesdalstunet lies on top of a hill, and the road down to Eikentunet is steep. The main building has stairs to the first floor and no lift or ramp; the museum shop has a small ramp. An accessible toilet (HC toilet) is located with the public toilets at the end of Bygaden. The exhibitions have text in Norwegian and English, calm lighting and no sound, but no induction loop. Benches are placed throughout the area. Dogs are allowed on a lead.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Time needed | approx. 1.5 hrs |
|---|---|
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 3 |
| Family ticket | NOK 290 · 2 adults and 3 children |
- Family tours & workshops
- Playground / play area
In summer there are various activities for children every day, and the farm animals are a popular attraction. In Barnas hus (the Children's House) there are old-fashioned outdoor toys, and there is a playground by Mørchs paviljong. Children can feed the animals. Sunday opening with a children's activity in early summer.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Bjørndalssletta
Bus M1, M2, M3 and M4 from Henrik Wergelandsgate in central Kristiansand to the Bjørndalssletta stop (timetables at AKT and Entur). Train to Kristiansand city centre.
By car
Free parking
Free parking at the main entrance.
It is possible to drive right up to the museum.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Museum shop
Café in Mørchs paviljong (Mørch's pavilion) with freshly made waffles, coffee and tea, open in the summer season. Museum shop with gifts and souvenirs at the entrance.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | A visit to the open-air museum takes about 1–2 hours. Groups can book a guided tour all year. The museum offers school and nursery programmes all year round. |
