Stavanger, Norway: travel guide
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.
- Country
- Norway
- Currency
- NOK
- Time zone
- Europe/Oslo
- Nearest airport
- SVG
Top places to visit in Stavanger
Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock)
Viewpoint · about 6 h
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
Heritage · about 1 h
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)
Church · about 0.8 h · entry NOK 60
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
Museum · about 1.5 h · entry NOK 180
An award-winning waterfront museum explaining how North Sea oil and gas transformed Norway, with real drilling equipment, simulators and interactive rigs.
Lysefjord
Nature · about 3 h
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)
Cultural · about 0.5 h
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)
Heritage · about 0.5 h
Three giant bronze Viking swords planted in rock at Hafrsfjord, commemorating the battle of 872 that united Norway into one kingdom.
Valberg Tower (Valbergtårnet)
Viewpoint · about 0.5 h
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 around
- Bus main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.