The city borders Sm�la and Aure to the northeast, Tingvoll to the east, Gjemnes to the south, and Aver�y to the southwest. In the northwest, the small island of Grip is located. The municipality is surrounded by the Freifjordenand Kvernesfjord.
Kristiansund is built on four main islands, with many smaller islands. The island of Nordlandet ("North Land", humorously nicknamed Marokko), is the second largest island and the site of the local airport, Kristiansund Airport, Kvernberget (IATA code: KSU). Kirkelandet, third in size is made up of two areas Kirkelandet and Gomalandet. In the local dialect, Kirkelandet (the "Church Land") is pronounced "Kirklandet", without the middle e. The smallest island is Innlandet ("Innermost Land"; humorously, "Tahiti"). The largest island in the city is Frei which was merged into Kristiansund on 1 January 2008. The highest point of the municipality is located in Frei, Freikollen at a height of 629 metres (2,064 ft).
The island of Grip, located northwest of Kristiansund is also a part of the municipality. It was Norway's smallest municipality, and also one of the most remote until it merged with Kristiansund in 1964. Today the island of Grip holds status as a deserted fishing village, but in the summer season it is a popular tourist attraction due to the very special location and architecture. Grip stave church, the second smallest Stave church of Norway (Undredal stave church is smaller), is also located at Grip. It is also where Grip lighthouse is located.
Kristiansund is one of the most densely populated cities of Norway, having what is arguably the country's most urban small city centre, due to the relatively small size of the islands on which it is built and the very constricted central harbour/town area of Kirkelandet
