The harbourfront is the social centre of Grimstad in summer. The town's characteristic white wooden houses cluster around the inner harbour, their reflections in the water giving the place the slightly theatrical quality of a Norwegian picture postcard. On warm evenings the quayside fills with people eating ice cream, watching boats come and go, and sitting on the rocks that line the shore.
The harbour is also the departure point for boat trips into the archipelago — the scattered islands and skerries offshore that are one of the main reasons to come to this part of the Norwegian coast. Kayak rental is available in season, and the protected waters between the islands are ideal for paddling. The sailing scene here is active; in summer the harbour hosts a steady stream of pleasure craft from across Scandinavia.