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Municipality in Rogaland, Norway
Photo: Sjoehest at German Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Haugesund is a city in the county of Rogaland, in the West Norway region of Norway. The town offers a much wider range of goods and services than might be expected from a city of its size (approximately 37,000 inhabitants in 2020), due to its position as the definite centre of its relatively populous region. The historical village of Avaldsnes, sometimes known as Norway's birthplace, is 8.5 km south of Haugesund.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Rådhuset i Haugesund
A gift from shipowner Knut Knutsen and his wife Elisabeth, the town hall was designed by architects Gudolf Blakstad and Hermann Munthe-Kaas and opened in 1931.
Karmsund Folkemuseum
A museum of local culture and history.
Our Saviour's Church
Church of Norway (Lutheran) parish church, built in 1901, in the centre of Haugesund with a capacity of 1050.
Vigsnes Grubemuseum
Copper from Visnes was used on the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor. A much smaller version of the statue is at Visnes to commemorate the connection. Guided tours are offered, including peasant re-enactments with 19th-century crofters’ lunches.
2 km north of downtown Haugesund you will find Haraldshaugen, a testimony to the fact that although the city is young, the area has been known and used for thousands of years. Haraldshaugen consists of four important monuments in Norwegian history; the burial mound, the stone cross, the church site, and the National Monument (Haraldsstøtta). The latter was unveiled in 1872 in commemoration of Harald Fairhair’s gathering of Norway into one kingdom. The legend goes that he was buried here.
The Icelandic Book of Settlement, Landnáma, says that Flòke Vilgjerdson build a beacon at Ryvarden in 868 before he sailed to Iceland. He was the first man to sail to Iceland with the purpose of settling there, and he is also the one who gave Iceland its name. The story goes that he used three ravens to show him the way, hence the name he is now known by; Ravnafloke (Raven-Floke). The first Viking raid is also said to have originated from Ryvarden. There is a small museum at Ryvarden telling the story of Ravnafloke. Of course, the highlight of a trip to Ryvarden, about 40 min by car north of Haugesund, is the breathtaking scenery.
Stødle is another important historical area in Haugalandet. During parts of the Middle Ages, Stødle was the main seat of power in Norway. From here king Magnus Erlingsson ruled Norway at the end of the 12th century. His father, earl Erling Skakke, built a chapel at the royal farm. The chapel dates back to 1160 and today it is part of the current Stødle church. At Stødle you will also find remnants of the Bronze Ages.
King Håkon Håkonsson erected the St. Olav’s Church around 1250 AD as part of the royal farm on Avaldsnes. Next to the church stands one of Norway’s tallest pillars, “Jomfru Marias synål” (Virgin Mary’s Sewing Needle). According to the legend when the pillar touches the church wall it means the end of the world. That is why the priests through the years have chipped off parts of the top. St. Olav’s Church is situated on Avaldsnes, approximately 10 minutes by car south of Haugesund.
At Nordvegen History Centre, an audio visual King Harald Fairhair invites us in to walk in the footsteps of our ancestors. He is our guide through a 3500 year long history about Avaldsnes as a meeting spot between Norway and Europe, and as a national and, at times, international centre of power. The Viking king presents some of the kings who have controlled the Norwegian coast from Avaldsnes. Some of these kings are known through archaeological findings, and some through tales. The history centre is placed next to St. Olav’s Church. To preserve the integrity of the church as well as the historical landscape, most of the centre, opened in 2005, is underground. Café can hold up to 130 people. Also combo ticket with Viking Farm: adults 150 kr; child under 16 50 kr; senior 100 kr.
The Viking farm at Bukkøy is a reconstructed farm at Avaldsnes. The museum provides knowledge about the lives of our ancestors. In the museum courtyard you will find a traditional longhouse as well as smaller dwellings, a Viking boat and plants and animals. During the summer people are dressed in Viking clothes as they display the Vikings’ way of life. You get here by walking from St. Olav’s Church, 15-20 minutes through the open beautiful landscape before getting to the tree-covered island. In summer there's an English guided tour starting 13:00 at the Viking Farm.
Near to Karmøy, this is the ancient hole dating back to 972 in which irritating Swedes were thrown to be mauled by bears. The practice eventually deterred Swedes from passing through, although some credit this to the nearby 'Bird Cage'.
A nice hiking area with beautiful paths. Good conditions for swimming and diving in the lake, and for play and fun for children.
Maritime cuisine.
An Italian restaurant.
Aside from meals they also offer cooking-courses, cooking-battles, theater and concerts.
specialises in maritime fare served in intimate and cosy surroundings that reflect part of Haugesund's history.
A Japanese sushi-restaurant.
Considered one of the best places in the city, it has prices to match. It is also not a place to visit if you are a vegetarian, but then most places in Norway aren't. The restaurant is best known for its tapas.
Located on the waterfront, Sam Son's chic decor provides an excellent place or relax in the afternoon or party all night. They offer food, beer, wine and cocktails. It is also worth trying one of their smoothies.
Provides a warm atmosphere during day and into the evening. Drop in for a drink, coffee or a meal. The food is good and prices are reasonable.
is lined with a variety of smaller and larger stores. This includes clothing stores, toy shops, bookstores, and jewellers. On the parallel street Sørhauggata is the shopping centre Markedet.
By boat
The boat service in Haugesund goes to the islands of Røvær and Feøy, while a passenger and car ferry operates to the island of Utsira.
By car
The main road connection to eastern Norway is via the E134 road over Haukeli; another option is along route 7 across Hardangervidda.
By bus
Nor-Way Bussekspress operate two express bus routes to Haugesund.
By bus
The local buses are managed by Kolumbus, which manages the buses for the entire Rogaland county. The bus routes for North Rogaland, which includes Haugesund, are available online.
By taxi
Taxis are operated by Haugesund Taxi (phone: 52 80 80 80) and Haugaland Taxi (phone: 52 81 81 81).
By car
While it is possible to explore the city on foot, it may be beneficial to hire a car to see the surrounding area.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Karmøy · Regional · HAU
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