14 Best Things to Do in Stavanger, Norway

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Stavanger may be best known as the gateway to some of Norway’s most famous hikes, but there’s plenty to see before you head into the mountains. From wandering through the white wooden houses of Old Stavanger and exploring the colorful streets of the city center to cruising through Lysefjord and hiking to Pulpit Rock and Kjeragbolten, you can easily fill several days here. In this guide, I’ll take you through the best things to do in Stavanger, including what to see in the city, the best day trips and hikes nearby, and everything you need to plan your visit.

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Best Things to Do in Stavanger

1. Explore Gamle Stavanger (Old Stavanger)

One of the best things to do in Stavanger is simply wander through Gamle Stavanger, the historic neighborhood on the western side of Vågen harbor. Its narrow cobblestone streets are lined with beautifully preserved wooden houses, many dating from the 18th and 19th centuries.

Most of the houses are painted white and decorated with colorful doors, flowers and tiny gardens, making this one of the prettiest parts of Stavanger to photograph. You don’t need a particular route. Give yourself some time to wander along Øvre Strandgate and explore the smaller streets branching off it.

Keep in mind that these aren’t museum buildings. People actually live here, so be respectful of private gardens, windows and doorways while taking photos.

2. Walk Along Stavanger Harbor

From Old Stavanger, make your way toward Vågen, the harbor that curves into the heart of the city.

Colorful historic buildings line one side of the waterfront, while boats and, depending on the day, enormous cruise ships fill the harbor itself. You’ll also find plenty of restaurants and cafés along the water if you want to stop for a drink or something to eat.

You don’t need to set aside much additional time for the harbor because you’ll naturally pass through it while exploring Stavanger. It’s also a convenient link between Old Stavanger and the attractions on the opposite side of the city center.

3. See the Colorful Fargegaten

After all the white houses in Old Stavanger, head to the opposite side of the city center to see Stavanger at its most colorful.

Fargegaten, or “the Color Street,” is the nickname given to Øvre Holmegate, a pedestrian street lined with brightly painted wooden buildings. The colorful transformation began in 2005 as an effort to breathe new life into what had previously been a fairly quiet street.

Today, you’ll find cafés, bars and independent businesses occupying the colorful buildings, but the street itself is the attraction. It only takes a few minutes to walk through, so it’s an easy addition while you’re exploring central Stavanger.

4. Visit Stavanger Cathedral

Sitting beside Breiavatnet in the heart of the city, Stavanger Cathedral is one of Stavanger’s most important historic landmarks. The cathedral dates back to the Middle Ages and combines Romanesque and Gothic architectural elements.

Even if you don’t spend long inside, it’s worth stopping as you walk through the city center. The cathedral underwent an extensive restoration ahead of Stavanger’s 900th anniversary celebrations in 2025, so you can once again explore its historic interior.

Afterward, walk through the surrounding Byparken and around Breiavatnet, the small lake directly beside the cathedral.

5. Visit the Norwegian Petroleum Museum

If you want to visit a museum while you’re in Stavanger, the Norwegian Petroleum Museum is one of the most interesting choices. Stavanger is often referred to as Norway’s oil capital, and the museum explains how the discovery of oil in the North Sea transformed both the city and the country.

The exhibits cover offshore drilling, life on oil platforms and the technology used to extract oil and gas from beneath the North Sea. Even if the petroleum industry doesn’t immediately sound like your idea of an exciting museum, the interactive exhibits make it much more engaging than you might expect.

The museum is right on the waterfront, making it easy to include while exploring the other things to do in Stavanger city center.

6. Visit the Norwegian Canning Museum

Before Stavanger became synonymous with oil, sardine canning was one of the city’s most important industries. You can learn about that earlier chapter of Stavanger’s history at the Norwegian Canning Museum, housed in a former cannery in Gamle Stavanger.

Inside, you can see the machinery once used to produce canned sardines and learn how the industry shaped the city. The museum is now part of IDDIS, which combines the Norwegian Canning Museum with the Norwegian Printing Museum.

Since it’s located in Old Stavanger, the easiest option is to visit while you’re already exploring the neighborhood rather than making a separate trip across the city.

7. See Sverd i Fjell (Swords in Rock)

A little outside the city center, Sverd i Fjell is one of the most recognizable landmarks in Stavanger. The monument consists of three enormous bronze swords embedded in the rocks beside Hafrsfjord.

The swords commemorate the historic Battle of Hafrsfjord, traditionally associated with Harald Fairhair and the unification of Norway. The largest sword represents the victorious king, while the two smaller swords represent his defeated opponents.

Sverd i Fjell is around 6 kilometers from central Stavanger, so you’ll need to take a bus, drive or cycle there. You don’t need a huge amount of time once you arrive, but the combination of the monument and its waterfront setting makes it one of the more unusual things to do in Stavanger.

8. Hike Pulpit Rock

If you enjoy hiking, Pulpit Rock (Preikestolen) should be near the top of your list of things to do in Stavanger. The enormous cliff rises approximately 604 meters (1,982 feet) above Lysefjord, with a remarkably flat plateau overlooking the water below.

The hike is around 8 kilometers (5 miles) round trip and is generally considered moderately challenging. There are some steep sections, but you don’t need any technical hiking experience to complete it.

You can easily visit Pulpit Rock as a day trip from Stavanger, and you don’t necessarily need a rental car. Bus transfers operate between Stavanger and the trailhead during the main hiking season.

The views over Lysefjord are spectacular, so if you have some flexibility, I recommend choosing the clearest day in your itinerary for the hike.

Read next: My complete Pulpit Rock hiking guide for everything you need to know about the trail, difficulty, parking and getting there from Stavanger.

9. Hike Kjeragbolten

If you’re looking for a bigger challenge than Pulpit Rock, add the Kjeragbolten hike to your Stavanger itinerary. The famous boulder is wedged between two cliffs almost 1,000 meters above Lysefjord, and you can actually step out onto it if you’re brave enough.

The Kjeragbolten hike is around 11 kilometers (7 miles) round trip and takes most people around 5–6 hours. Unlike Pulpit Rock, you’ll tackle three separate inclines, with steep sections where chains help you climb and descend.

I found most of the hike manageable, but the chained sections were considerably more challenging—particularly on the way back down. If you only have time for one hike and want the easier option, choose Pulpit Rock. If you want more of a challenge, Kjeragbolten was one of my favorite things to do near Stavanger.

Read next: My complete Kjeragbolten hiking guide covers the three climbs, difficulty, getting to the trailhead and what you should expect along the way.

10. Take a Lysefjord Cruise

You don’t have to hike to experience the incredible scenery surrounding Stavanger. Taking a cruise through Lysefjord is one of the best things to do in Stavanger if you want to see the fjord without spending half the day climbing a mountain.

Lysefjord stretches for around 40 kilometers between towering mountains, with waterfalls and dramatic cliffs rising directly from the water. One of the highlights is seeing Pulpit Rock from below. It’s a completely different perspective from standing on top of it.

If you have enough time, I actually think hiking Pulpit Rock and taking a Lysefjord cruise are worthwhile rather than choosing between them. The experiences are different enough that they don’t feel repetitive.

11. Take a RIB Tour Through Lysefjord

If a traditional fjord cruise sounds a little too sedate, you can explore Lysefjord on a RIB boat instead.

RIB tours combine sightseeing with a much faster ride, taking you from Stavanger harbor toward Lysefjord in a small rigid inflatable boat. Along the way, you can see waterfalls, rocky cliffs and Pulpit Rock towering above you from the water. Several operators run these trips directly from central Stavanger.

Because the boats are smaller, the experience feels much more adventurous than a standard sightseeing cruise. You’re also provided with the protective gear you need for the ride, so you don’t need to arrive dressed for a high-speed boat trip.

If you’re deciding between the two, I’d choose the regular Lysefjord cruise for a relaxed sightseeing experience and the RIB tour if you want something more exciting.

I chose the RIB tour and loved it!

12. Visit Flor & Fjære

For something completely different from Stavanger’s mountains and fjords, take a boat to Flor og Fjære, a colorful garden on the island of Sør-Hidle outside Stavanger.

The experience starts with a short boat ride from Stavanger before you arrive at an island filled with landscaped gardens, tropical plants, ponds and flowers. Your visit typically combines the boat transfer, time in the gardens and a meal, making this more of a half-day excursion than a quick attraction.

It’s certainly not an essential stop if you only have a day or two in Stavanger. I would prioritize the city, Pulpit Rock and Lysefjord first. But if you have several days and are looking for more unusual things to do in Stavanger, Flor & Fjære offers something very different from the rest of the region.

It’s also seasonal and visits operate on scheduled departures, so this is one experience you should plan in advance rather than simply showing up.

13. Relax in a Floating Sauna at Damp

After all the hiking and sightseeing, spend an hour warming up in a traditional Norwegian sauna. Damp operates several waterfront saunas around Stavanger where you can alternate between the heat of the sauna and a cold dip in the fjord.

Damp has multiple sauna locations in and around Stavanger, including waterfront options where you can swim directly from the sauna area.

If you’ve never tried the Nordic combination of sauna and cold-water swimming, Stavanger is a great place to do it. It’s also one of the more relaxing things to do in Stavanger after several days of hiking Pulpit Rock, Kjeragbolten and exploring Lysefjord.

14. Climb Valberg Tower

For one of the best views over central Stavanger, head up to Valbergtårnet (Valberg Tower), the historic watchmen’s tower overlooking the harbor. Built in the 1850s, the tower was once used to watch over the city and alert residents to fires.

During the summer months, you can climb the tower for views over Stavanger’s colorful rooftops and Vågen harbor. It’s an easy addition while exploring the other things to do in Stavanger city center, especially since it’s just a short walk from Fargegaten and the waterfront

How Many Days Do You Need in Stavanger?

I recommend spending at least two to three days in Stavanger, particularly if Pulpit Rock or Lysefjord is on your itinerary.

You can easily see the main things to do in Stavanger city center in one day. The center is compact and very walkable, so Old Stavanger, the harbor, Fargegaten, Stavanger Cathedral and one or two museums can all be combined without rushing.

With two days, you can spend one day exploring Stavanger and use the second to hike Pulpit Rock or take a cruise through Lysefjord. Three days gives you considerably more flexibility, especially since the weather can affect your hiking plans.

If you also want to hike Kjeragbolten, I would add another day. It’s a much longer excursion than Pulpit Rock and isn’t something I would try to squeeze into the same day as sightseeing in Stavanger. However if you are a fast paced traveler, you could spend 1 day in exploring Stavanger, 1 full day for Kjeragbolten, 0.5 days for Pulpit rock if you leave early and 0.5 day during the boat cruise. It’s very doable.

With More Time

Drive the Jæren Scenic Route

If you have a rental car, explore the Jæren coast. The landscape here feels completely different from the mountains and fjords you’ll find elsewhere in southwestern Norway, with long sandy beaches, rolling farmland, sand dunes and the open North Sea.

The Norwegian Scenic Route Jæren officially runs for 130 kilometers between Bore and Flekkefjord, but you don’t need to drive the entire route. Bore is only around 30 minutes from Stavanger, making it easy to spend a few hours exploring the northern section of the coast.

Some of the best stops include Borestranden, Orrestranden and Refsnesstranden.

If you have more time, continue south toward Varhaug Old Cemetery, Obrestad Lighthouse, Brusand and Kvassheim Lighthouse. The beaches and coastal landscape are beautiful even when the weather isn’t perfect. In fact, the wind and rough North Sea can make Jæren feel even more dramatic.

This is also one of the best things to do in Stavanger if you’ve already spent several days surrounded by fjords and mountains and want to see a completely different side of Norway.

How to Get Around Stavanger

You don’t need a car to explore Stavanger itself. The city center is compact enough that you can walk between most of the main attractions, including Old Stavanger, Vågen, Fargegaten, Stavanger Cathedral and the Norwegian Petroleum Museum.

For attractions farther from the center, Stavanger has a good local bus network operated by Kolumbus. This is useful for places such as Sverd i Fjell and for exploring farther outside the city.

You can also visit several of the major attractions around Stavanger without renting a car. Seasonal transportation is available for Pulpit Rock and Kjeragbolten, while Lysefjord cruises and RIB tours depart from Stavanger.

If you’re arriving by plane, Stavanger Airport is in Sola, outside the city center. The airport bus takes approximately 20–30 minutes to reach Stavanger, and local bus services also connect with the airport.

A rental car becomes much more useful if Stavanger is part of a longer road trip or you want the freedom to explore the surrounding region independently.

Best Time to Visit Stavanger

For most people, June through September is the best time to visit Stavanger, particularly if the outdoor things to do in Stavanger are a major reason for your trip.

Summer brings long daylight hours and generally better conditions for hiking, fjord cruises and exploring the surrounding region. July and August are also the busiest months, so expect more people at major attractions such as Pulpit Rock.

I visited in early June, which I loved because the region was much quieter. However, if Kjeragbolten is one of your priorities, you need to pay closer attention to seasonal road and trail conditions than you do for Pulpit Rock.

Regardless of when you visit, don’t expect completely predictable weather. Stavanger sits on Norway’s western coast, and conditions can change quickly. If you’re staying for several days, keep your itinerary flexible and use the clearest day for your most weather-dependent activity.

Where to Stay in Stavanger

I recommend staying in or very close to Stavanger city center. You’ll be able to walk to most restaurants and attractions, and you’ll be conveniently positioned for many tours and excursions.

For a central option, Thon Hotel Stavanger is within easy walking distance of the waterfront, restaurants and many of the main things to do in Stavanger. It’s also particularly well regarded for its breakfast.

Home Hotel Skagen Brygge is another great option, especially if you want to stay right on the harbor. Its location along Vågen puts you within a few minutes’ walk of Old Stavanger, Fargegaten and many of the city’s restaurants and bars. The hotel also includes breakfast, an afternoon snack and dinner in the room rate, which can be particularly valuable given how expensive eating out in Norway can be. This is where I stayed and the location was 10/10. There is also a parking garage right next door if you have a car.

Another attractive option is Hotel Victoria, a historic hotel right by the harbor. The building dates back to 1900, and the location is excellent if you want to stay close to Vågen and Old Stavanger.

You don’t need to stay directly on the waterfront. As long as you’re within the central area, Stavanger is small enough that you’ll rarely be far from where you want to go.

Where to Eat in Stavanger

Stavanger has a surprisingly strong food scene, so I wouldn’t treat meals as an afterthought while you’re here.

For a special dinner, K2 is an excellent choice. The Michelin-starred restaurant focuses heavily on seasonal Norwegian ingredients, with a strong emphasis on produce sourced from local farmers and suppliers. It’s a great option if you want a memorable tasting-menu experience without going all the way to Stavanger’s most extravagant fine-dining restaurants.

For something less formal but still special, Restaurant SÖL serves a seasonal Nordic menu and is a good choice if you want a more relaxed fine-dining experience. This was the best meal I had during my 2 weeks in Norway!

If you want seafood by the harbor, Fisketorget Stavanger combines a seafood market with a waterfront restaurant. Its location makes it particularly convenient for lunch while you’re exploring the things to do in Stavanger city center.

I recommend making reservations for any restaurant you particularly want to try, especially for dinner during the summer months.

Cocktail Bars in Stavanger

Stavanger has a surprisingly good cocktail scene, and there are several excellent places to grab a drink after a day of sightseeing. If you’re looking for more things to do in Stavanger at night, these are the bars I recommend.

Espier Bar

Espier Bar is a cocktail and sky bar on the 14th floor of the Clarion Hotel Stavanger, with panoramic views across the city. Come here for creative, beautifully made cocktails and one of the best views you’ll find at a bar in Stavanger.

Salon du Nord

Located inside the historic Hotel Victoria, Salon du Nord has a sophisticated 1900s-inspired interior and a menu of creative craft cocktails and aperitifs. It’s an especially good choice if you want somewhere elegant for a pre- or post-dinner drink near the harbor.

Bøker og Børst

Bøker og Børst isn’t strictly a cocktail bar, but it’s one of the coolest places in Stavanger to stop for a drink. Located on Fargegaten and filled with books and board games, you can come here for coffee during the day or stay for cocktails, craft beer or wine later on.

Things to Do in Stavanger FAQs

Is Stavanger worth visiting?

Yes. Stavanger is worth visiting for the combination of a charming, walkable city center and easy access to some of Norway’s most spectacular scenery. You can explore Old Stavanger and the harbor one day and hike above Lysefjord the next.

How many days do you need in Stavanger?

Plan on two to three days for Stavanger. One day is enough for the main city sights, but you’ll want additional days if you plan to hike Pulpit Rock, cruise Lysefjord or hike Kjeragbolten.

What is Stavanger best known for?

Stavanger is known for its historic wooden houses, its role as the center of Norway’s petroleum industry and its proximity to Lysefjord and Pulpit Rock. It’s also one of the best bases in Norway for combining a city break with hiking.

Can you see Stavanger in one day?

Yes. Stavanger’s city center is compact and walkable, so you can see Old Stavanger, Vågen harbor, Fargegaten, Stavanger Cathedral and several other central attractions in one day.

Is Stavanger walkable?

Yes. Stavanger is very walkable, and you won’t need transportation for most attractions in the city center. You’ll only need a bus, car or organized transportation for places farther away, such as Sverd i Fjell and the major hikes.

Do you need a car in Stavanger?

No. You don’t need a rental car if you’re staying in central Stavanger. You can walk around the city, use local buses and book transportation or tours for many of the major attractions outside Stavanger.

Can you visit Pulpit Rock from Stavanger?

Yes. Stavanger is one of the most convenient places to stay if you want to hike Pulpit Rock. You can drive to the trailhead or use seasonal transportation from Stavanger.

Can you visit Kjeragbolten from Stavanger?

Yes, but Kjeragbolten is a much longer day trip from Stavanger than Pulpit Rock. You’ll need to account for transportation to the trailhead as well as approximately five to six hours for the hike itself.

Is Stavanger or Bergen better?

If this is your first trip to Norway and you can only choose one, I would probably choose Bergen for the city itself.

However, Stavanger is the better choice if your priorities are Pulpit Rock, Kjeragbolten and Lysefjord. The city is smaller, but its access to some of Norway’s most famous hikes is what makes it special.

What are the best free things to do in Stavanger?

Some of the best free things to do in Stavanger include wandering through Old Stavanger, walking along Vågen harbor, seeing Fargegaten, walking around Breiavatnet and visiting Sverd i Fjell. You can easily spend several hours exploring the city without paying for an attraction.

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