Grimstad: Coastal Paths, Culture and Nature
Accommodation in Grimstad
Grimstad brings coastal landscapes and cultural history together in a special way: Raet National Park offers opportunities for paddling, marked trails cross varied terrain in several locations, and at Dømmesmoen, horticulture, nature and early history meet. You can tailor your stay to whether you prefer spending time outdoors, discovering museums and historic sites, or combining the two.
Trails, skerries and nature
In the Auesøya Landscape Protection Area, a marked hiking trail of about 2.4 km runs through rugged and varied terrain. The protected area lies at the outer end of Kaldvellfjord in the south of Grimstad municipality, on the border with Lillesand municipality. If you choose this trail, take the stated distance and described terrain into account when planning your day.
Ytre Maløya also has a marked hiking trail, as well as small sandy beaches. On Indre Maløya, a prepared circular trail starts at Dynamittbukta. The bay is the natural landing place for visitors arriving on the island by boat. These locations combine a desire to get active with an interest in beaches and island landscapes, without forming a single continuous route.
Hasseltangen is also part of Raet National Park. Paved paths lead to a landing place at Sømskilen and to a viewpoint overlooking the sea. The national park offers excellent opportunities for paddling and stretches from Valøyene in Grimstad along the coast of Arendal to Lyngør in Tvedestrand. For a holiday rental in Grimstad, this connection to nature and the coast may be an important reason to choose the area as a destination.
In Grimstad, the Coastal Path runs from the border with Arendal to the border with Lillesand and is mostly marked. Another hiking destination is Binabben: it is close to the town centre and offers a wide view over Grimstad and the skerries. In Østerskogen, forest paths, swimming spots and fishing opportunities sit alongside unspoilt woodland. The choices therefore range from coastal paths and viewpoints to forests and swimming spots.
Horticulture, Ibsen and early history
The Norwegian Museum of Horticulture is located in Dømmesmoen, which is also home to the visitor centre for Raet National Park. The exhibitions cover horticulture in Grimstad and the ecological interplay between nature, bees and people. The museum has a café known for its waffles. Dømmesmoen Park also contains 43 graves dating from 600 to 200 BCE; the park is easily accessible for people with disabilities.
Another historical highlight is Ibsen’s Herb Garden in Dømmesmoen. It features plants that were used medicinally in the mid-19th century. The Ibsen House opened in Grimstad in 1916, becoming the first Ibsen museum ever. The house can only be entered with a guide. For 2026, guided tours are scheduled daily at 11 am, noon, 1 pm, 2 pm and 3 pm; each tour can accommodate up to 15 people.
Fjære Church is another remarkable cultural history site: it is one of Norway’s best-preserved medieval stone churches. Theatre performances and concerts are held at Fjæreheia Amfi, a stage in a granite quarry in Grimstad. Those planning a trip with cultural discoveries will find a variety of attractions, from a museum and herb garden to a church and open-air stage.
Explore Grimstad by bicycle
For cycling trips, a project featuring 52 cycling tours offers a total of 52 route suggestions; the routes marked in black start in Grimstad municipality. National Cycle Route 1 also passes through Grimstad, mostly on cycle paths. The Vestlandske hovedvei starts in Vik in the eastern part of the municipality and runs to Kaldvell in Lillesand municipality. These different options can help you plan your trip around cycling or instead around hiking, culture and the coast, without combining the distinct routes into one.
When looking for a holiday rental in Grimstad, you can first consider which aspects of the destination will shape your stay: marked trails and coastal locations, cycling, or the cultural history around Dømmesmoen and the Ibsen House. For further orientation, Fevik, Grimstad, Homborsund and Lunden are also places within this destination.
For the overview of the wider region: Aust-Agder.
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