Merdø is a small island a short ferry ride from Arendal harbour. It has a car-free, time-slowed quality that makes it a popular destination for Arendal residents on warm summer days, and a genuinely interesting place to visit at any time of year.
The island's main attraction is the Merdøgaard Museum — a preserved sea captain's home from the 18th century — but the island itself is worth exploring for its beaches, the coastal heathland, and the views back toward the Arendal shoreline. In the 17th and 18th centuries, Merdø served as a pilot station for ships navigating the coast, and the island's position in the archipelago made it a natural checkpoint for maritime traffic.