If you plan to travel to Kristiansand, you’ll quickly encounter Vy, Norway’s state-owned mobility company that runs much of the country’s passenger rail and long-distance bus network. For visitors, Vy is both a practical gateway to the southern city and a window onto Norway’s coastal landscapes. Trains and buses branded Vy weave through forested hills and skerries along the Skagerrak, making the journey into Kristiansand as memorable as the destination itself.
Historically, Vy traces its roots to the Norwegian State Railways, which reorganized and adopted the name Vy in 2019 to reflect a broadened focus on integrated mobility. In southern Norway, that means reliable rail and bus links that tie Kristiansand to other cities like Oslo and Stavanger. The rebrand also ushered in modernized rolling stock on several routes and a more user-friendly digital platform—handy for travelers piecing together trains, buses, and ferries on a single itinerary.
For most tourists, the star service is the Sørland Line (Sørlandsbanen), the rail artery that runs between Oslo and the southwestern coast, with Kristiansand a key stop. The route cuts through lake country, birch forests, and dramatic granite outcrops before fanning out to the coast, offering a preview of the region’s famed summer light. From Kristiansand Station, it’s a 10–15 minute stroll to the waterfront and The Fish Market (Fiskebrygga), the city’s lively dining and boating hub, and not much farther to the Old Town (Posebyen), a photogenic grid of white-wooden houses.
Using Vy is straightforward. Download the Vy app for real-time timetables, mobile tickets, seat reservations on longer routes, and discounts for children, students, and seniors. If you prefer, ticket machines and counters at Kristiansand Station accept cards. Trains have free Wi‑Fi and power outlets, luggage racks at carriage ends, and designated spaces for strollers and bikes (reserve bike spots in advance). Buses branded Vy often fill the gaps where rail doesn’t go, including connections deeper into the Sørlandet region. If you’re arriving by air to Kristiansand Airport (Kjevik), you can combine the airport bus with a Vy train for onward travel along the coast.
Vy also makes day trips effortless. Hop a morning train or bus, explore coastal paths on Odderøya, tour Kristiansand Cathedral (Kristiansand domkirke), then ferry across to the island villages before returning in time for dinner by the harbor. In summer, consider flexible tickets to take advantage of long evenings—sunsets linger, and the waterfront hums with street musicians and seafood stalls. If you’re traveling in winter, Vy’s punctual timetables and heated carriages are a comfort, keeping coastal adventures feasible even in crisp weather.
A few practical tips: book ahead for peak summer weekends and school holidays; choose a window seat for the most scenic views between Kristiansand and Mandal; and keep an eye on platform displays, which switch between Norwegian and English. If you’re pairing Kristiansand with a broader Norway itinerary, Vy’s network dovetails with other classics like the Bergen Line (Bergensbanen) and the Dovre Line (Dovrebanen), making it easy to stitch together fjords, forests, and seaside towns without a car. In short, Vy isn’t just the way to reach Kristiansand—it’s part of the experience, bringing the landscapes of southern Norway right to your seat.