MANDAL
The southernmost city in Norway is' white” city of Mandal, famous for the most beautiful beach - Sjøsanden. 800-one meter beach is in the distance 1 km from the center, and because its hinterland is as beautiful as the sand and the sea, it is considered the Norwegian Copa-cabana. On cloudy days, you can walk between the white-paneled houses in the old part of town, north of the Mandalselva River. The city flourished in the old days thanks to pine and oak forests, which formed the basis of the wood industry (mainly in the 15th and 16th centuries.).
Information
Turistlnfo Mandal (38278300, fax 38278301, turistkontor@mandalnett.no), Adolf Tidelmandsgate 2, is open in summer on weekdays from 9.00 do 16.00.
Mandal Museum
On a rainy day, you can visit the Mandal Museum (city museum; 38273000), at Store Elvegata 5/6, where a collection of antique handicrafts related to sea travel and fishing has been gathered, as well as works by local artists, such as Amaldus Nielsen and Adolph Tidemand. There is also one work by Gustav Vigeland – favorite Mandal. The museum is open from 1 VII do 15 VIII from Monday to Saturday in hours 11.00 – 17.00, and on Sundays from 14.00 do 17.00. Admission costs 10 nkr.
Accommodation and gastronomy
Campers can stay at Sandnes Bobilcamp (38265151), east of Mandalselva, 2 km north of the city. You have to pay for pitching a tent 100 nkr, and for setting the trailer – 120 nkr.
Many travelers choose Købmandsgården Vandrerhjem (Store Elvegaten 57, 38261276, fax 38263302), where accommodation in a shared double room costs 175 nkr (The price includes breakfast). Or you can choose Sjøsanden Feriesenter (38266037, fax 38260922), beachfront resort, which gave it its name (Sjøsanden means the beach). Accommodation in double rooms costs money 490 nkr, while for an apartment for 2 – 6 people (with own supply) you have to pay 600 – 750 nkr. You can also pitch a tent here (60 nkr).
Situated west of the center of First Hotel Solborg (Nesveien 1, 38266666, fax 38264822) offers accommodation in single rooms- and double rooms respectively for 550 i 800 nkr. You go to the beach from here 10 minutes, but on less sunny days, guests can use the indoor swimming pool. This hotel has a restaurant (probably the best place of its kind in town), there is also a bar, and on the weekends there is a disco. Nightlife is also concentrated in the Soldekket and Grand restaurants. For tasty fish or meat dishes (ok. 150 nkr) Biffen and Dr Nielsen restaurants are nearby.
Call information
Rutebilstasjon in Mandal is located north of the river, where you can walk from the historic district. Bus #301 connects Mandal with the Oslo-Kristiansand-Stavanger railway line and goes to Marnardal station (30 min, 29 nkr).