Stavanger is such a beautiful city, situated along the western coast of Norway, there’s no reason not to visit. Whilst it can be very cold, it’s full of stunning buildings, quirky cafes and plenty of shops – just to mention a few things to do in Stavanger. When it comes to local attractions, you won’t be bored… there are various museums, monuments and activities to keep you busy. I’m happy to say, jetting off to Stavanger, Norway for my 20th country was a great idea.
If you love small cities with beautiful buildings and plenty of things to see and do keeping you busy, then Stavanger is a great idea for your next adventure. Stavanger Airport, Sola is a short 17-minute journey to the city centre. Arranging accommodation in the city is ideal to help minimise costs.
Once arrived in the centre, there are various places to grab a bite of food, but don’t spend too long drooling over the mouth-watering menus as there are lots of things to do in Stavanger that you should consider adding to your itinerary.
The best things to do in Stavanger
1 – Take a walk around Gamle Stavanger
One of my favourite things to do in Stavanger is walking around streets in Gamle. There are around 250 buildings mostly small wooden cottages. These beautiful houses were built in the 18th century and at the beginning of the 19th century. A walk around Gamle Stavanger will keep you clicking away with your camera.
2 – Visit the beautiful Stavanger Cathedral
A visit to Norway’s oldest cathedral, Stavanger Cathedral (Stavanger domkirke) is a must. It’s a beautiful church and is situated in the centre of the city. It was built around the 1100s and finished around 1150.
Don’t just admire the exterior, take a step inside and see the stunning interior for yourself.
3 – Dine at the local restaurants
Whenever I visit a new country, I’m always keen to try out different restaurants and see what they have to offer. In Stavanger, there’s plenty of options. Take a walk along the harbour and you’ll come across a various restaurants offering a variety of cuisines.
4 – Have fun at The GeoPark
The GeoPark is situated right near the Norwegian Petroleum Museum and is constructed and developed from objects from the oil industry. Designed by the Architects Helen & Hard and the Norwegian Petroleum Museum, this park was built for youngsters offering a variety of activities from skating, climbing, graffiti art to performances, concerts, dance and classes.
5 – Hop on a fast ferry from Stavanger
If there’s one thing you must do when visiting Stavanger, that’s hopping on a fast ferry to the fjords. What an amazing experience and memories made from this trip. Head on over to the harbour in Stavanger and you’ll find the tour agency Rodne Fjord Cruise. Book a ticket and you’ll soon be off exploring the stunning fjords.
Tickets cost NOK 470 (£43) for adults, NOK 300 (£27) for children and from NOK 1 300 (£120) for families. This experience is a must if you visit Stavanger.
6 – Take a stroll from Stavanger to Breidablikk Mansion
Whilst it’s not directly in the city centre, a short walk to and you’ll come across the best-preserved mansion house in Norway. Built-in wood by architect Henrik Nissen in 1881, this stunning mansion has a beautiful exterior and incredible interior. The owner of the mansion was one of the leading businessmen in Stavanger at that time, merchant and shipowner Lars Berentsen.
The mansion is open to the public and offers an interesting insight into what lifestyle for the middle-class in Norway was like at the end of the 1800s.
7 – Take in the beautiful view of Stavanger city from Valandstarnet
I love a good view of a city and when I found out there’s a place called Valandstarnet just a short walk from the centre, I had to go there. I arrived at around 15:30, just in time to see the sunset and admire the views of the entire city, surrounding fjords and islands. Once you’ve reached the top, you’ll come across an old water tower/fire watch tower, a few benches and plenty of areas to walk around the park.
Over to you…
So those are my top 7 recommendations for things to do in Stavanger. I’d love to know what you have done, or would find interesting to do whilst in Stavanger. Unfortunately, I was only there for a few days, however, the majority of these attractions can be done in a single day or spread out over a few.
