A quaint town with pristine beaches and fantastic views of the fjord – an expert guide to Kristiansand

What can I do in four hours or less?

If you want to soak up Kristiansand’s charm, you can easily spend a pleasant half-day walking around the old town, under your own steam, visiting the fish market, the architecturally stunning Kilden Theatre and the Cathedral. Odderoya Museum at the harbour is particularly good for families – you can borrow a rowing boat or a paddleboard and they have lots of activities for children.

Cross the bridge to Odderoya Island itself at the Fish Quay. A former naval base, it’s now a recreation area with a two-mile (3 km) walking trail. The Christiansholm Fortress, built in 1672, features ramparts and gunpowder stores, as well as an old isolation hospital that was at one time the largest quarantine station in North Europe. There are fantastic views of the fjord and two lighthouses; the brave can swim off the beach on the island’s eastern side.

Your ship is likely to offer a number of excursions, and if you want to go a little further afield, you can cover a lot of ground on the Setesdal Vintage Railway. PO Cruises offers a scenic trip on the steam train going past lakes and farms, through tunnels, under avalanche shelters and across a dam.