Kristiansund

Kristiansund's 366mtr-long city-centre quay can accommodate two vessels alongside at the same time.

Green parks and woodland lie near the commercial centre, complemented by beautiful views towards surrounding mountains. These contrasts provide a broad range of events and experiences during a stay in Kristiansund.

Kristiansund combines appealing shops with many historic sights and activities. Its growth has always been connected directly or indirectly to the harbour, and the town was established here for the port's sheltered, ideal position. Timber exports came first, before fish and fish processing became central, particularly klippfish. It is now Norway's largest petroleum-industry service base and the regional fish-export port. Its perfect harbour and oceanfront position keep Kristiansund thoroughly maritime in every respect.

• Southwest of Kristiansund, Grip archipelago was Norway's smallest municipality until 1964. Now a deserted fishing settlement, its distinctive architecture and setting make it a popular attraction.
• Founded in 1776, Sundbåtene in Kristiansund is recognised as the world's oldest public transport network. Small "Sundbåt" passenger ferries cross between the city's four "lands".
• Vågen preserves the structure of Kristiansund's historic fishing settlement, including old harbours and buildings. Mellemværftet, a former shipyard for sailing vessels, and Norwegian Clip fish Museum are both located here.
• Innlandet is an old Kristiansund district with distinctive coastal architecture. It suffered the least destruction during the bombing of the town in World War Two.

The Norwegian crown (norske krone), abbreviated kr, is the currency. An øre is 1/100th of a krone; 1.00 EUR is worth about 8 NOK.

Norwegian ATMs go by the name Minibank.

Mastercard, Visa and other major credit cards work in almost every shop. Bring a passport or driver's licence, as identification is required for card use.

Norwegian is the country's official language and is very close to, and mutually intelligible with, the two other Scandinavian languages. English is widely spoken.

Widespread household internet access, often broadband, leaves little demand for Cybercafés outside major cities. Public libraries normally offer free internet, while WiFi is found in many places but carries a charge.

Shop hours in Norway are better than before, though many smaller businesses still shut early on Saturday, generally at 1 PM or 3 PM, and nearly everything closes on Sundays. Door signs commonly read "9-21 (9-18)": 9 AM to 9 PM on weekdays and 9 AM to 6 PM on Saturday.