10 Things To Do In Stavanger, Norway

12.09.2023 - 10:41 / forbes.com

Although known as the oil capital of Norway, Stavanger is much more than just a hub for energy industry execs. Located on Norway’s southwestern coast, Stavanger serves as an ideal base for those venturing to the iconic Pulpit Rock and as a gateway to the Lysefjord.

Yet there’s plenty going on in the city itself to interest the curious traveler. From the historic cathedral to the central district of white, wooden houses, to the street art that brightens up downtown, here are the best things to do in and around Stavanger.

One of Norway’s most iconic fjords has very few viewpoints accessible by car, so boat trips and/or hikes are needed to appreciate the Lysefjord in all its grandeur.

1. Sightseeing boat trip to Lysefjord: A three-hour sightseeing cruise departs central Stavanger daily during high season, and several times a week for much of the rest of the year.

It takes about one hour to reach the Lysefjord bridge, marking the entrance to the fjord. After passing underneath the bridge, highlights include Vagabonds cove, the sight of Pulpit Rock from fjord level, a family of goats that somehow call the steep coastline their home, and the beautiful Hengjane waterfall.

2. Pulpit Rock hike: For an awe-inspiring view of the fjord that’s hard to beat, you’ll need to tackle one of Norway’s most famous hiking trails. Pulpit Rock—or Preikestolen in Norwegian—is a clifftop dangling almost 2,000 feet above the water.

The 4.7-mile hike features a total elevation gain of approximately 1,500 feet and will take most people a total of 4-5 hours for the roundtrip. Hiking experience is advised. Daily bus shuttles link downtown Stavanger with the trailhead.

3. Climb the 4,444 steps at Flørli: An optional stop on some fjord cruises is the historic fjord village Flørli. Home to one of Norway’s first hydropower plants, Flørli is today a popular vacation spot and a challenging hiking destination with a difference. Its 4,444-step wooden staircase up the mountainside is billed as the world’s longest.

4. Old Stavanger: This historic district of white, wooden houses is just a short walk from arriving cruise ships. The old town, known as Gamle Stavanger, boasts a few hundred timber homes, impeccably looked after by their owners.

A stroll along the cobbled lanes that weave their way between the white houses, brightened up by vivacious blooms spilling from hanging baskets, is hard to beat in the summer. If you have the time, it’s worth calling into the Norwegian Canning Museum to understand the city’s major pre-oil industry.

5. Stavanger’s street art: In Stavanger, age-old wooden houses blend seamlessly with dynamic street art, painted by both local and international artists. Driven largely by the Nuart festival, Stavanger's art