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A woman on the hillside above Tonstad points out over the village, Lake Sirdalsvatnet and the valley below
Sirdal · Lister · Agder

Tonstad

Magnificentnaturesprinkledwithbenefits

How about ending the working day with a ski trip, a walk on the beach, a mountain hike or a bike ride in spectacular surroundings? In Tonstad this is a natural part of everyday life, and something the people who live here appreciate. They also appreciate the many benefits they get from their home municipality.

Tonstad in brief
Inhabitants
Under 1,000
Groomed ski trails
200+ km
To Flekkefjord and Egersund
About an hour
Municipality
Sirdal (administrative centre)
School
Primary and lower secondary
Upper secondary
Sirdal vgs, ski school

Tonstad · Contents

  1. Overview
  2. The village centre
  3. Winter and summer
  4. Benefits
  5. Children and young people
  6. Sira-Kvina
  7. Employers
  8. Jobs
  9. Location
  10. FAQ

The village centre by Lake Sirdalsvatnet

The administrative centre of Sirdal offers a fine combination of security, community and easy access to some of Norway’s most popular outdoor areas. With more than 200 kilometres of groomed ski trails in the area, attractive ski and activity facilities, and Lysefjorden and Kjerag close by, Tonstad is an exciting place to explore for those who like fresh air in their face.

Tonstad lies at the northern end of Lake Sirdalsvatnet and is home to just under 1,000 people. It takes about an hour behind the wheel to drive to the towns of Flekkefjord and Egersund, for those who need a dose of town life now and then. For many in Tonstad, though, it is probably the closeness to nature that comes first in everyday life.

A winter paradise with summer pleasures

There is plenty of ski joy and enthusiasm for winter sports in Tonstad. In winter, glittering ski trails, slopes and powder snow await. The opportunities are fantastic for anyone who likes cross-country skiing, alpine skiing, snowboarding or sledging.

A skier in a red suit has fallen over in deep snow, sending the snow flying, under a blue sky

It comes with the territory! Photo: Frode Ueland/Visit Norway

Ski areas and travel times

  1. Feed skiarena – just outside Tonstad.

    A very close option for cross-country skiing, especially when you just want to get out for a while without making a whole day of it.

  2. Mydland – about 20–25 minutes from Tonstad.

    A good starting point for cross-country skiing and trips into the mountains.

  3. Kvæven/Tjørhom – around 35–45 minutes.

    Here you get a considerably larger and more varied network of trails.

  4. Sirdal Fjellpark (Ålsheia/Tjørhomfjellet) – about 40–50 minutes.

    The nearest large alpine resort.

  5. Fidjeland – roughly 45–55 minutes from Tonstad, depending on conditions and where you start.

  6. Ådneram – around an hour or a little more.

    Here you are up in the high mountains, with a completely different terrain to explore.

But don’t despair when the snow disappears. Summer offers mountain hikes, trail cycling and exploring the varied terrain. A good half hour from Tonstad you will find Sirdal Fjellpark. All about skiing in winter, it turns into a climbing park packed with activities such as water sports and mountain carts in summer. Or how about a trip to Tonstadbadet? The municipal swimming facility offers a wellness pool, a paddling pool for the little ones, a therapy pool, a sports pool, a sauna and a steam room. And the price for children who live in the municipality? Nothing at all!

A couple shopping in the bakery in Tonstad, with bread on the shelves and a shop assistant behind the counter

Tonstad has a really cosy bakery too. Photo: Eduardo Grung/Region Stavanger

Generous gifts for the residents

Sirdal is a major hydropower municipality, and the residents benefit from it. There are many benefits to be had for those who live in Tonstad, for example free school lunches for all pupils in the village, financial support for building a home, and several favourable schemes and advantages for local businesses.

For an up-to-date list, see the municipality’s own pages (in Norwegian).

Tonstad for the youngest – and the slightly older

Tonstad kindergarten: a red wooden building with sun symbols on the wall and an outdoor area with benches and play equipment
Tonstad kindergarten. Photo: Ssu / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Tonstad has both a kindergarten and a combined primary and lower secondary school. Sirdal videregående skole is here too, an upper secondary school specialising in skiing that has produced several elite athletes. In winter, as mentioned, young (and older) people can let loose at Feed Arena with skiing and biathlon. Feed Arena is popular all year round too, for various events in the village.

Tonstad Idrettslag, the sports club that owns Feed Arena, also has many other sports on offer. From football to gymnastics and multi-sport. And chess! Three ball courts are also part of what the club offers. Not to mention Sira Kvina Arena. Not only is the hall home to one of the finest indoor artificial-turf halls in the whole of Sørlandet, Sira Kvina Arena is also open and free for everyone. When there is no regular training, anyone can come and use the hall to play football with friends or just play. You don’t have to be on a football team to enjoy football and a friendly match without a referee.

A popular and lively place for young people is the skate and pump track in Tonstad. It is never too late on a summer evening to pick up new tricks on a skateboard, bike or scooter!

A couple walking barefoot along the white sandy beach by Lake Sirdalsvatnet, with steep mountainsides behind

The sandy beach by Lake Sirdalsvatnet. Photo: Terje Rakke/Nordic Life/Sirdalsferie AS

And while we are talking about summer – who would say no to a lovely beach with fine, white sand? Not the people who live in Tonstad. Families, groups of friends, young and old enjoy lovely, sunny days on the beach. The municipality has provided swimming facilities, a beach volleyball court and sun loungers.

Tonstad also has a free playground for the little ones, a disc golf course, fantastic fishing in Lake Sirdalsvatnet, a library, a cultural centre, a small-boat harbour and a state-of-the-art climbing wall… all in all, there is a great (!) deal on offer for residents of all ages in Tonstad.

Sira-Kvina’s head office in Tonstad, a long white building with a brown roof, and a large steel sculpture on the lawn in front

Sira-Kvina’s head office in Tonstad. Photo: Movedal / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

A couple relaxing in an old wooden boat on Lake Sirdalsvatnet, with Tonstad and the mountains in the background
Lake Sirdalsvatnet in the summer sun.Photo: Eduardo Grung/Region Stavanger
Open positions

Jobs in and around Tonstad

Within about 45 minutes' drive — the area covers Sirdal. The newest below; all of them on the jobs pages.

Tonstad · 27 October 2026
Newest · NursesSykepleier 100 % fast stilling ved SirdalsheimenSirdal kommune Helse og institusjonTonstad, SirdalHeltidFastDeadline 15 NovSee the position →
Management, administration and consultingAssisterende daglig leder på leirstedTonstadli Hotell AsTonstad, SirdalHeltidFastDeadline 8 NovSales, retail and wholesale tradeAssisterende butikksjef - Tonstad Bakeri - SirdalTonstad Bakeri AsTonstad, SirdalHeltidFastDeadline 31 Oct
PublicPrivateSee all 3 within 45 minutes of Tonstad →See all positions in Sirdal →

Curious about Sirdal?

Do you have questions about the municipality, what it offers, life in Sirdal or moving here?

Read more at sirdal.kommune.no

Location

Where is Tonstad?

Tonstad lies at the northern end of Lake Sirdalsvatnet. It takes about an hour by car to the towns of Flekkefjord and Egersund.

Tonstad

MunicipalitySirdal
RegionLister
CountyAgder
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Sources & Credits

Photography

Photos: Gunhild Vevik/Region Stavanger (top image), Frode Ueland/Visit Norway (skiing), Eduardo Grung/Region Stavanger (the bakery and Lake Sirdalsvatnet), Terje Rakke/Nordic Life/Sirdalsferie AS (the beach). Kindergarten and Sira-Kvina: Wikimedia Commons, see the captions.

Text

Text from the content provider, translated provisionally.