Practicalities

Risør is located on the E18 highway in Southern Norway, between Arendal and Kragerø.

By car

Exit E18 at Vinterkjær and follow signs to Risør town centre. From Oslo: approx. 3 hours. From Kristiansand: approx. 1.5 hours.

Town centre parking

Pay parking 9am-4pm (9am-1pm Saturdays), NOK 31.50/hour, max 2 hours. Pay by card, EasyPark or Risør Parkering app. Free parking at Risørhallen in Viddefjell, approx. 10 minutes walk to town centre.

By bus

NOR-WAY Konkurrenten runs daily along E18 with a stop at Vinterkjær. Book connecting transport to Risør town centre with your bus ticket at nor-way.no

By air

Nearest airports are Kjevik (Kristiansand) and Torp (Sandefjord), both approx. 1.5 hours by car. Rental car or bus connections available.

By train

There is no direct train to Risør. Take the train to Arendal and continue by bus.

Campervan

30 spaces at Tjenna, 5 minutes from the town square. Price: NOK 400 (May 20 - Aug 20). Electricity and water available.

Book early! Risør is a small town, and accommodation fills up quickly during the festival.

Hotels in town centre

• Risør Hotel - Right on the quay, hotel rooms and apartments. risorhotel.no
• Det Lille Hotel - 19 suites in historic wooden houses + rooms in the Customs House. detlillehotel.no

Guesthouse

• Risør Pensjonat - B&B in Frydendal, 12 min walk from town centre. risorpensjonat.no

Camping

• Sørlandet Feriesenter - Camping, cabins and apartments. sorlandet-feriesenter.no
• Campervan parking at Tjenna in town centre (see Travel and parking)

Other options

• Heimat Brokelandsheia - Unique treehouse cabins. heimat.no
• Airbnb - Search Risør for private rentals. airbnb.com

Risør offers a surprising number of excellent restaurants for such a small town.

In town centre

• Strandgata - A touch of France, a touch of Spain, mostly Risør
• Rådhusgata - Danish open sandwiches and multi-course meals
• Brygga Restaurant - Pizza and shellfish by the ferry terminal
• Kast Loss - Seafood restaurant with floating terrace

At Stangholmen

Food and drinks are available at Stangholmen. If you'd like to dine at the lighthouse restaurant, book a table well in advance. You cannot bring your own alcohol to the island.

All our concert venues are within a short walk in Risør town centre.

Risør Church

Our main venue for classical concerts. A white wooden church from the 17th century with outstanding acoustics.

Hollenderhagen

Outdoor arena in the heart of town, perfect for summer concerts.

Stangholmen Lighthouse

Unique concert venue on an island outside the harbour. Boat included in your ticket. See the Boat to Stangholmen section for details.

Other venues

We also use other venues in town - check the programme for details.

Stangholmen is on an island just off Risør harbour. Boat transport is included in your concert ticket.

Departure from

• The ferry terminal to Øysang
• The quay outside Risør Hotel

Schedule

Boats run a shuttle service from 4:30 PM on concert days. We recommend arriving early.

Important

Take an early boat and enjoy the island before the concert. Food and drinks are available at Stangholmen.

The festival takes place in late June. Southern Norway usually enjoys fine summer weather, but conditions can change quickly along the coast.

What to bring

• Light jacket or sweater for evenings
• Rain gear (just in case)
• Sunglasses and sunscreen
• Comfortable shoes for cobblestones

Outdoor concerts

Some concerts are held outdoors. In bad weather, these may be moved indoors. Follow our website and social media for updates.

Arrive early

Doors close at concert start. Be in your seat at least 15 minutes before.

Explore the town

Risør is beautiful. Take time to wander the narrow streets, down to the quay, and out to the archipelago.

Combine experiences

Festival and holiday go hand in hand. Visit islands, walk the coastal path, or enjoy dinner by the water.

Festival info

During the festival, you'll find us at the town square where we can help with tickets and information.