Grimstad is an easy 20 minute bus ride from Arendal on route 100. It's a small town with many white wooden houses, made famous by Henrik Ibsen, who came here at the age of 15 to become a pharmacist apprentice but went on to become a writer.
I start my walk at the local church, which is perched up the hill called Kirkeheia with a panoramic views of the city. It was built in 1880 and can accommodate over 1100 worshippers.
Descending downhill, I reached Grimstad's star attraction, the old Reimann apothecary where Ibsen worked as an apprentice. On show is the original pharmacy and the room where he lived and wrote his first play. He eventually left in 1850 to work in theatre.
From here, I'm in the city centre with lots of narrow streets full of white wooden houses. Grimstad historically had 3 arterial roads and a lot of small alleys and stairs but more urban planning came after it became a trading town in 1816.
After passing by many shops and cafes, I then headed uphill to Lillerore, a residential street.
Heading back downhill, I reached Kunstforening, the art association, with its distinctly yellow exterior. This building dates back to the 1700s and where Ibsen lived and worked when he first came to Grimstad.
Right along the waterfront is Grimstad Library, which opened in 2017.
Unfortunately, the fish market was not open that day, but it was a nice walk along the waterfront with lots of boats under a beautiful blue sky.
