Stavanger, Norway: travel guide
Wooden houses, a food-loving harbour and the gateway to Lysefjord
A charming harbour city of white timber lanes (Gamle Stavanger) and the launch point for hikes to Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock) over the Lysefjord; also Norway's oil capital and a strong food scene.
About Stavanger
Stavanger is a harbour city on Norway's south-west coast, with a well-kept old quarter of white wooden houses and a waterfront lined with restaurants. It grew rich from oil, and today also has a lively food and street art scene.
Things to do in Stavanger include walking through Gamle Stavanger, visiting the Norwegian Petroleum Museum and taking a boat into the Lysefjord. Most visitors come for the hike to Preikestolen, the flat cliff-top above the fjord, or for the Kjerag area further in.
Stavanger suits hikers and travellers who want city comforts as well as scenery. May to September is the most reliable period for the hikes.
- Country
- Norway
- Currency
- NOK
- Time zone
- Europe/Oslo
- Nearest airport
- SVG
Last updated
Top places to visit in Stavanger
Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock)
cliff hike · about 6 h · check the fee at the gate
A flat 604 m cliff plateau towering over the Lysefjord, reached by a 4 km (2-4 hr each way) hike from the trailhead — one of Norway's most famous viewpoints.
Gamle Stavanger
old town · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
A preserved quarter of 173 whitewashed early-19th-century wooden houses on cobbled lanes above the harbour — the largest surviving wooden settlement in Northern Europe.
Stavanger Cathedral (Domkirke)
cathedral · about 0.8 h · entry kr60 (≈ ₹600)
Norway's oldest cathedral still in continuous use, begun around 1100 in Romanesque style with a Gothic chancel, recently restored for its 900th anniversary.
Norwegian Petroleum Museum
science museum · about 1.5 h · entry kr180 (≈ ₹1,800)
An award-winning waterfront museum explaining how North Sea oil and gas transformed Norway, with real drilling equipment, simulators and interactive rigs.
Lysefjord
fjord · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate
A 42 km fjord flanked by cliffs rising over 1,000 m, home to Preikestolen and Kjerag, explored by sightseeing cruise from Stavanger's harbour.
Fargegaten (Øvre Holmegate)
street · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate
Stavanger's "colour street", a run of vividly painted café and bar fronts that has become the city's most photographed and liveliest lane.
Swords in Rock (Sverd i fjell)
monument · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate
Three giant bronze Viking swords planted in rock at Hafrsfjord, commemorating the battle of 872 that united Norway into one kingdom.
Valberg Tower (Valbergtårnet)
tower · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate
A 19th-century watchtower on the highest point of central Stavanger, giving a free panorama over the old town and harbour.
Things to do
- Preikestolen Guided Hike Adventure · 8 h · from NOK 750 per person
- Lysefjord Sightseeing Cruise Sightseeing · 3 h · from NOK 650 per person
- Kjerag & Kjeragbolten Guided Hike Adventure · 10 h · from NOK 1,200 per person
- Old Stavanger & Street Art Walk Cultural · 2 h · from NOK 300 per person
- Lysefjord Sea Kayaking Water Sports · 6 h · from NOK 1,500 per person
Day trips and tours
- Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock) Guided Day Hike 9 h · from NOK 1,650
Where to stay in Stavanger
- Sentrum & Vågen about NOK 1,800 per night
Central Stavanger around the harbour and lake, steps from the old town, cathedral and dining.
Hotels
- Hotel Victoria Stavanger 4-star · NOK 1,600 to NOK 3,200 per night
- Clarion Hotel Stavanger 4-star · NOK 1,500 to NOK 3,000 per night
- Radisson Blu Atlantic Hotel 4-star · NOK 1,500 to NOK 3,000 per night
- Thon Hotel Maritim 3-star · NOK 1,300 to NOK 2,400 per night
- Comfort Hotel Square 3-star · NOK 1,000 to NOK 1,700 per night
- Preikestolen BaseCamp 2-star · NOK 500 to NOK 1,800 per night
Where to eat
- RE-NAA New Nordic, Norwegian · about NOK 3,000 per person
- Sabi Omakase Sushi, Japanese · about NOK 2,000 per person
- N.B. Sørensen's Dampskibsexpedition Norwegian, European · about NOK 550 per person
- Fisketorget Stavanger Seafood, Norwegian · about NOK 400 per person
- Bevaremegvel Norwegian, Bistro · about NOK 340 per person
- Døgnvill Burger Stavanger Burgers, American · about NOK 250 per person
- Renaa Xpress Sølvberget Cafe, Italian · about NOK 200 per person
Getting to Stavanger
Airport: Stavanger (SVG)
How visitors arrive in Stavanger
- Flight into Stavanger Airport, Sola By air from Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim, Europe · common
Stavanger Airport at Sola is the third largest in Norway, with domestic and European flights. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
- Train from Oslo via Kristiansand By train from Oslo / Kristiansand · common
Long-distance trains run on the Sorlandsbanen from Oslo and Kristiansand. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
- Express coach from Bergen or Oslo By road from Bergen / Oslo · common
Nor-Way, Vy and FlixBus coaches run from Bergen and from Oslo via Kristiansand. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
- Drive on the E39 By road from Bergen / Kristiansand · common
The E39 is the main north-south route to Stavanger. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
- Fjord Line ferry By ferry from Hirtshals (Denmark) / Bergen · possible
Fjord Line sails from Hirtshals in Denmark and onward to Bergen, docking at Risavika. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
From the airport to the centre
- Flybussen airport coach
The Flybussen airport coach runs from Sola airport to downtown Stavanger; booking is through flybussen.no. Source: avinor.no
- City buses from the airport towards Sandnes have no dedicated luggage space; the Flybussen coach is the easier choice with bags. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
From the railway station to the centre
- Long-distance trains to Stavanger Station
Trains from Oslo via Kristiansand arrive at Stavanger Main Station, next to the bus terminal. Tickets via Entur. Source: vy.no
From the port to the centre
- City bus from Risavika ferry terminal
Fjord Line ferries from Denmark dock at Risavika; foot passengers can take city bus line 2 to the centre. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
Getting around
- Bus
Kolumbus, the local transit authority, runs Stavanger's buses along with local trains and passenger boats; the old town and harbour are best covered on foot.
- Walking
Best time to visit Stavanger
- Jan 4°C
- Feb 4°C
- Mar 7°C
- Apr 11°C
- May 15°C
- Jun 18°C
- Jul 20°C
- Aug 20°C
- Sep 16°C
- Oct 12°C
- Nov 8°C
- Dec 5°C
More in Norway
Frequently asked questions about Stavanger
- What are the main places to visit in Stavanger?
- Places covered in our Stavanger guide include Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock), Gamle Stavanger, Stavanger Cathedral (Domkirke), Norwegian Petroleum Museum, Lysefjord.
- Where should I stay in Stavanger?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in Stavanger: Sentrum & Vågen.
- How do I get around Stavanger?
- Ways to get around Stavanger covered in our guide: City bus, Walking.
- What is the weather like in Stavanger?
- Average daytime highs in Stavanger run from 4°C in Jan to 20°C in Jul.
- Which airport is nearest to Stavanger?
- The nearest airport to Stavanger has the code SVG.