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City in Rogaland, Norway
Photo: Knudsens Fotosenter / DEXTRA Photo, CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Stavanger is Norway's fourth largest city, at almost 150,000 residents (2023). It is the largest city in, and the administrative centre of, Rogaland county in West Norway. Stavanger is the centre of the Norwegian oil industry and has the only petroleum museum in Norway. It also has a preserved old town on the west side of a charming waterfront. Stavanger cathedral is largely unchanged since early 12th century and the best preserved cathedral in Norway.
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Stavanger domkirke
Stavanger Cathedral (Romanesque style from about 1125, with later Gothic additions) is the best preserved medieval cathedral in Norway and well worth a visit. The church patron saint is Saint Svithun. The pulpit was made by Andrew Smith in the 1650s and the stained glass by Victor Sparre in 1957.
Old Stavanger
Gamle Stavanger is a well preserved slice of Norwegian history. Old winding streets and wooden houses are representative of accommodation from Stavangers days as the canning capital of Norway. Most houses in Old Stavanger are privately owned and well kept.
the coloured street
Street with vibrantly coloured houses, having some of Stavanger's best cafes and shops..
Tou scene
Old beer factory renovated as a cultural centre. They hold art exhibitions, concerts and any other culture event. Check their website for upcoming events.
Red brick church built in 1866.
Coastal steamer built in 1929. One of the two historical ships docked in the city centre.
The other historical ship docked in the city centre. Built in 1950.
Tower used by the fire watch in the 1800s. Sits on a small hill with a view of the inner harbour.
also part of MUST
Housed in an authentic cannery that was in operation from 1916 until 1958, the Canning Museum may not seem like the most interesting place to visit, but it is a surprisingly good little museum with a lot of hands-on exhibits. Next to the museum is the Worker's cottage, an authentic 1800s house built in regency style architecture, with the first floor interior decorated c.1920 and the second floor c.1960. Tickets are valid to all open Museums the same day in MUST, which includes the Stavanger Maritime Museum and the Norwegian Canning Museum in Old Stavanger. Stavanger Museum and the Norwegian Children’s Museum, Stavanger Art Museum next to the lake Mosvatnet, and Stavanger School Museum in Hillevåg.
part of MUST
Free audio guide to take you through the entire museum, available upon request at the reception in German, English and Norwegian.
Norsk Oljemuseum
The Norwegian Oil Museum is a very interesting building with fascinating information on Norway's oil industry, which got its start on Christmas eve 1969. Displays of submersibles, drilling equipment, a mock oil platform, and audio-visual presentations make for a good few hours. The museum caters to all ages.
Arkeologisk Museum, University of Stavanger
Collection of archaeological and natural history objects from the county of Rogaland. Gives an introduction to Rogaland’s prehistory from the Stone, Bronze and Viking Ages, and up to the end of the Middle Ages. Café and museum shop.
This location covers 3 distinct topics: the history of Stavanger, the museum of natural history and the Norwegian Children's museum.
This district immediately east of the city centre used to be the home of the working class. These days, it is a dense, gentrified neighbourhood, popular with artists and creative professionals. Pedersgata, extending east from St. Petri Church, is renowned for its variety of international cuisine.
Traditionally where factory owners, ship owners, and other members of the upper class lived. This district is dominated by stately homes with large, well-kept gardens, particularly along Eiganesveien. Some of the larger estates are publicly owned, such as Breidablikk, and Ledaal, the royal residence of Stavanger.
The Preikestolen Plateau (the Pulpit Rock) is one of the most famous attractions in Norway. To get to it, there is a 4-km (one-way) out and back trail that has very steep grades, and an elevation gain of 600 m (approx 1800 feet). The hike is not to be attempted without layered clothing, and proper footwear. Every year, people have to be rescued after getting themselves into bad situations, and there have even been fatalities.
During the tourist season, one can simply follow the crowd ahead of you. The trail is also marked (on boulders using spray paint) but these are sometimes hard to see, particularly in poor weather conditions / lighting.
There are a few bus services starting from Stavanger, that offer drop off and pick up from the start of the trail - but check timings carefully. Once the last bus leaves, the only options may be a very expensive taxi ride back to Stavanger.
Wedged in a mountain crevice sits the Kjerag Boulder, suspended nearly 1,000m above sea level
The east coastline in Stavanger is a large recreation area. It's a 2.8-km-long trail that is considered perhaps the finest in Stavanger – it passes bays and promontories, sheltered coves with sandy beaches, rock slopes and popular bathing areas.
Popular bathing area including a beach, barbecue facilities and play area for children. Kiosk open on warm days. It is part of the hiking area near Gandsfjorden. About 40 min walk from the centre, 20 min from Stavanger Øst.
Less crowded beach, also with BBQ facilities.
(The area is under development as of 2022).
Take-away "asian fusion" food. You can take the food, sit at Øst and order a hand-brewed beer
Probably the best sushi in Stavanger. Take-away and restaurant.
It seats 200 people and has an additional bar. They make everything themselves, even the dough is made in house. They also serve babyback ribs.
Considered one of the best seafood restaurants in Norway. However, they only have seafood, you will not be served meat or poultry.
Seafood restaurant
Small dishes with ingredients influenced by season, regularly change menu. In the Michelin guide.
Very good quality and cosy Italian restaurant.
Seasonal set menu. In the Michelin guide..
High-quality tacos and other Mexican food by the same guys of Fortou
Indoor and outdoor with food, drinks, music and other events. Checkout their website for the upcoming events.
Bistro with a focus on bar and sourdough
Specialty coffee, design and architecture
Great selection of specialty coffees.
Plant-based cafe (opening late summer 2024)
Good place to have a coffee/tea and fresh bread, pastry or sandwiches.
Spacy and cosy place with good quality food, drinks, coffee, bread and cheese.
Excellent bakery and cafe in a cosy place.
Innovative dishes inspired on the Norwegian nature. ★ ★ ★ 3 Michelin star
Seasonal, local, organic food. ★ 1 Michelin star
Omakase sushi. ★ 1 Michelin star
Vegan high cuisine. Seasonal food, checkout the video in their website. In the Michelin guide.
Great selection of wines. ★ 1 Michelin star
Half restaurant half garden walk. Both are good, but the garden walk stands out as almost otherwordly, and even more so considering that you are in Norway. The 20 minute boat ride from downtown Stavanger is included in the price. Discounts for children and an appropriate kids menu.
Student house
Folken is by far the cheaper place to drink if you bring your Student Card. The music varies in both genre and loudness. Enjoy the summer in Folkens backyard!
Café
Definitely the most charming little café in all of Stavanger. Really nice atmosphere and interiors. The eccentrics' favorite.
Nåløyet is the closest thing to an everyday pub. The bar is open all days, and get packed on Fridays and Saturdays.
Perhaps the cheapest Happy Hour in town! Tiny English style pub.
One of the best beer pubs in Norway, with a selection of about 500 beers in bottles, and 25 beers on tap. On the second floor cocktails are also available.
Hand-brewed beer. They have about 10 different types of excellent beer written in a blackboard which they change every few days. You can order half glass if you want taste different types. A little pricey but really worth it!
Cocktail bar, specialized in nordic liquors and gins.
Wines and vinyls.
Clean, very basic room rental, one single and one double room available, sharing a bathroom, basic guest kitchen available for preparing breakfast.
Hostel of rather high standard, all bedrooms ensuite, basic guest kitchen. No alcohol allowed.
Typical **(+)-hotel. All rooms with sink, no rooms ensuite, TV lounge with free wireless internet zone. No alcohol allowed.
Typical hotel. No rooms ensuite, all rooms with small TV sets.
Hostel of very high standard, totally comparable to ***-hotel except making your own bed is required. All bedrooms ensuite. Nice cafe and basic guest kitchen. No alcohol allowed.
Typical ***(+)-hotel. Rather large rooms with TV/DVD and high quality beds. Economy rooms smaller, not ensuite, standard **+.
Typical ****(-)-hotel. Rooms with cable TV, telephone, coffee/tea maker, hair dryer, work desk, high quality beds. No alcohol allowed.
Typical ****-hotel. Rooms with cable TV, telephone, hair dryer, work desk
Typical ***(+)-hotel. Rooms with cable TV, telephone, work desk.
New (2011) ****-hotel. Rooms with cable TV, telephone, hair dryer, work desk.
Typical ***-hotel. No alcohol allowed.
By train
5 hours) including a night service (which runs all days except for Saturday), in addition to a daily roundtrip from Kristiansand.
By bus
Stavanger Bus Terminal is next to Stavanger Main Station.
By car
E39 is the primary north-south route in western Norway, and the fastest route from Kristiansand or Bergen.
By boat
Fjord Line operates a daily overnight cruise ferry from Hirtshals in Denmark to Stavanger, and onwards to Bergen.
By public transit
Public transit in Stavanger consists of bus, railway and passenger boats. Fares and schedules are organised by the transit authority, Kolumbus.
By bicycle or e-scooter
Stavanger boasts one of the most ambitious bicycle super highways in Scandinavia (Norwegian: Sykkelstamvegen), with the final section scheduled to open in 2026.
By taxi
Stavanger has different taxi companies, all charging high rates. A typical daytime rate is 35 kr flagfall, 7 kr/started 500 m and 8 kr/started minute, minimum 110 kr total payable.
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Stavanger · International · SVG
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