Things to do
Things to do in Stavanger: 12 ideas from Old Stavanger to the Lysefjord
Stavanger is a small city with huge nature on its doorstep. These are the twelve things we would do, from the white wooden houses of Old Stavanger and the Petroleum Museum to the Lysefjord, Preikestolen and the Swords in Rock.
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It is morning in Old Stavanger, and the white wooden houses stand close together along narrow cobbled lanes. Someone is watering the roses by a front door, and down at the harbour the Lysefjord boat is getting ready. In a few hours you will be standing on Preikestolen, looking straight down into the fjord.
Stavanger is Norway's oil capital, but there is far more here than platforms. The city has the largest collection of preserved wooden houses in northern Europe, one of the country's best food scenes and some of Norway's most famous hikes. We have chosen twelve experiences, from the centre outwards.
Short answer: what should you do in Stavanger?
Walk through Old Stavanger and Øvre Holmegate, visit the Norwegian Petroleum Museum and take a boat into the Lysefjord. With a full day, hike to Preikestolen. Finish with dinner on Pedersgata or by the harbour.
Do not miss: Old Stavanger
Best museum: the Norwegian Petroleum Museum
Best nature: the Lysefjord
Best hike: Preikestolen
Best for food: Pedersgata
1. Old Stavanger
Around 170 white wooden houses from the 18th and 19th centuries line the lanes west of the harbour. It is the largest preserved wooden settlement in northern Europe, and the houses are still ordinary homes. Walk here early or in the evening light.
2. The Norwegian Petroleum Museum
The museum on the harbour tells the story of Norwegian oil, from the first discoveries to life on the platforms. The building itself looks like a rig. Good for adults and children, and a strong rainy-day option.
3. Øvre Holmegate
The street of brightly painted houses is full of cafés, bars and small shops. Everyone who visits Stavanger photographs it, and it is just as pretty in real life.
4. The cathedral
Stavanger Cathedral dates from the 12th century and is considered Norway's best-preserved medieval cathedral. It stands by the Breiavatnet lake in the heart of the city.
5. The Lysefjord by boat
Boats leave the harbour for the Lysefjord, passing beneath Preikestolen, waterfalls and sheer rock walls. A few hours on the water gives you the view without a single step.
6. Preikestolen
The plateau 604 metres above the Lysefjord is one of Norway's best-known hikes. Read everything you need in our Preikestolen guide.
The catch: on summer middays there can be queues on the trail. Start early.
7. Kjerag
For fit hikers, Kjeragbolten, the boulder wedged between two cliffs, is a longer and tougher walk at the far end of the Lysefjord. See our Kjerag guide.
8. Swords in Rock
Three giant bronze swords stand planted in the rock at Hafrsfjord, marking the battle in which Harald Fairhair united Norway. A short bus or bike ride from the centre.
9. The Norwegian Canning Museum
In an old canning factory in Old Stavanger you can see how sprats were smoked and tinned. On some days the smokehouse is fired up and you get a taste.
10. Valberg Tower
The old fire-watch tower on top of Valberget gives you a view over the centre and the harbour. A short walk from Øvre Holmegate.
11. The beaches of Jæren
South of the city lie long sandy beaches, such as Sola beach and those further south along Jæren. Perfect for a windswept walk, a summer swim or surfing when the waves are up.
12. Pedersgata
The city's food street has everything from sushi to tasting menus. See the restaurants we recommend in Stavanger.
Home Hotel Skagen Brygge
The lobby at Home Hotel Skagen Brygge.
Where to stay to walk everywhere
The centre around the harbour and Breiavatnet is the best base. See more in our guide to the best hotels in Stavanger.
Home Hotel Skagen Brygge: on the Vågen quay
The hotel fills the old warehouses on the harbour, with Old Stavanger on one side and Øvre Holmegate on the other. You can walk to almost everything on this list, and the Lysefjord boats leave from the quay outside.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Home Hotel Skagen Brygge
Thon Hotel Maritim
The pool at Thon Hotel Maritim.
Thon Hotel Maritim: a pool by Breiavatnet
Maritim stands by the Breiavatnet lake, a couple of minutes from the cathedral and the station, and has a pool. A good choice for families who want somewhere to swim after a long day at Preikestolen.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Thon Hotel Maritim
Good to know before you go
Plan Preikestolen early: with travel it takes a full day, so save it for good weather.
Lysefjord boats: run most often in summer, so check timetables out of season.
Rain and wind: winters are mild, but the weather changes fast. Bring layers.
City bikes and buses: the centre is small, and buses take you on to the Swords in Rock and the beaches.
Stavanger: frequently asked questions
What should you see in Stavanger?
Old Stavanger, the Petroleum Museum, Øvre Holmegate and the cathedral in town, plus the Lysefjord and Preikestolen outside it.
How many days do you need in Stavanger?
Two days covers the city and a fjord trip. Three gives time for Preikestolen too.
What can you do in Stavanger when it rains?
The Petroleum Museum, the Canning Museum and the cathedral are good choices, and the city has plenty of good restaurants.
How do you get to Preikestolen from Stavanger?
In season, buses run from the centre to Preikestolen Fjellstue through the Ryfast tunnel,, and the hike takes around two hours each way.