15 Best Things To Do In Stavanger, Norway

1. Archaeological Museum in Stavanger

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

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Culture enthusiasts will surely love making a quick stop in Norway’s famous Archeological Museum in Stavanger. It’s an excellent destination to satisfy your curiosity about the Vikings, including their ways of living, things they used, and clothing. Another great thing about this museum is its portrayal of the past and how it meets the present. There are tons of exhibitions and lectures you can join during your visit. In here, you get to learn a lot about their version of the beginning of time.

Archaeological Museum in Stavanger

Address: Peder Klows gate 30A, 4010 Stavanger, Norway

Website: Archaeological Museum in Stavanger

Opening hours: Tue - Sat: 11am - 3pm; Sun: 11am - 4pm (closed on Mon)

2. Fargegaten

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Your visit to Stavanger will not be complete without experiencing the scenic streets of Fargegaten. One of the best things about this place is you will get to act like a typical tourist with a selfie stick in hand while roaming around its Instagram-worthy street. Apart from checking out brightly colored shops, you can have your hair styled in one of the street’s salons. For adventurers, you can get a tattoo as well. After you enjoy everything Fargegatan has to offer, you can sit and relax in one of the cafes there. All of these are possible in just one place.

Fargegaten

Address: Øvre Holmegate 32, 4006 Stavanger, Norway

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

3. Norwegian Children's Museum

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Stavanger Museum is one of the top museums in the city for many reasons. It is more than a single museum. It features exhibitions that narrate fascinating stories about Stavanger. It provides guests with interesting information about the cultural roots of the city. Almost everything you will see inside the museum is either a work of art or cultural treasures. If you’re thinking of a place to visit where the youngsters will have fun, head to Norwegian Children’s Museum, another site inside Stavanger Museum. Children can join events such as Easter Egg Hunts and Akropoquiz.

Norwegian Children's Museum

Address: Muségata 16, 4010 Stavanger, Norway

Website: Norwegian Children’s Museum

Opening hours: Tue - Wed: 11am - 3pm; Thu: 11am - 7pm; Fri: 11am - 3pm; Sat - Sun: 11am - 4pm (closed on Mon)

4. Stavanger Botanical Garden

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Stavanger Botanical Garden is one of the breathtaking places you can visit when in Stavanger. It is open 24 hours, so you have plenty of time to enjoy and explore this charming place. Upon entering the garden, a variety of flowers will welcome you including daffodils. The botanical garden has three sections: Geographic Garden, Herb Garden, and Perennial Garden. In the first garden, you will see plants from other parts of the world, including rhododendron and hebe. Medicinal and poisonous plants are in the Herb Garden, while herbaceous plants are in the Perennial Garden.

Stavanger Botanical Garden

Address: Rektor Natvig-pedersens vei 9, 4021 Stavanger, Norway

Website: Stavanger Botanical Garden

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

5. Breidablikk Museum

If you’re someone who wonders what it is like living in the Victorian era, make sure to visit the charming scenes of Breidablikk Museum. It’s the perfect place to make your dream a reality, even for a short time. It houses authentic Victorian furnishings, ceramics, fabrics, knick-knacks, and even stunning flower arrangements. You can also enjoy witnessing collections of artworks done by remarkable Norwegian artists. Every corner of the museum is like living in the past, where class meets elegance.

Breidablikk museum

Address: Eiganesveien 40A, 4005 Stavanger, Norway

Website: Breidablikk museum

6. Old Stavanger

Old Stavanger includes about 170 wooden buildings, dating back to the 18th century. The small, white cottages received several awards for their preservation and charm. Old Stavanger was a pilot project, carried out in Norway during the United Nations’ Architectural Heritage Year, in 1975. Old Stavanger is a picturesque area with many galleries and boutiques. There is also the Stavanger Maritime and Norwegian Canning Museum, here.

Old Stavanger

Address: 4001, Stavanger, Norway

7. Norwegian Canning Museum

The Norwegian Canning Museum was built in the former canning factory, at Øvre Strandgate 88, in Old Stavanger. The museum shows an authentic factory environment and details the production of canned brisling fish balls. The canning industry in Stavanger was a significant trade, between 1890 and 1960. The exhibitions here present insight into the working conditions and environment of the canning factories. You can see the complete process here, from the arrival of the fresh fish to when the cans are ready to leave the factory.

Norwegian Canning Museum

Address: . STRANDGT. 88, 4005 STAVANGER

Website: Norwegian Canning Museum

8. Stavanger Maritime Museum

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Stavanger Maritime Museum showcases the maritime history of southwestern Norway. The vast collections display artifacts, photographs, archives, and documentation from shipping. The museum also features two sailing ships, that illustrate the maritime cultural heritage of the region.

Stavanger Maritime Museum

Address: Nedre Strandgate 17, Stavanger

Website: Stavanger Maritime Museum

9. Norwegian Petroleum Museum

The Norwegian Petroleum Museum is an insight into the creation, discovery and production of oil in this part of the world. The museum explains the whole process that oil undergoes and also the ways that it is used, after processing. The exhibition features original objects, films, and models, showing daily production, including technology and dramatic incidents.

Besides all this, there is the new “North Sea Divers” exhibition, illustrating the new project of divers, in the North Sea. The exhibition shows the hard work the divers have done. The museum also features a cinema, where you can watch 3D movies. Moreover, there is a souvenir shop and a museum café, called Bølgen & Moi, which provides a stunning sea view.

Norwegian Petroleum Museum

Address: Kjeringholmen 1A, 4006 Stavanger, Norway

Website: Norwegian Petroleum Museum

10. Pulpit Rock

One of the most famous Norway’s attractions, Pulpit Rock is a natural phenomenon, standing about 600 meters (1968.5 feet) above the Lysefjord. Pulpit Rock is one of the most photogenic places in the country, due to its spectacular views, and it was designated one of the world’s most spectacular viewpoints, by Lonely Planet. The cliff edge, in the shape of a square, has an area of about 25 square meters (269.1 square feet) and was probably shaped by the expansion of ice, about 10,000 years ago.

Pulpit Rock

Address: Forsand, Stavanger 4119, Norway

Website: Pulpit Rock

11. Øvre Holmegate

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Øvre Holmegate, often referred as Stavanger’s “Notting Hill”, is probably the most colorful street in Norway, or at least in Stavanger. The street was transformed into a piece of art, in 2005, when hairdresser Tom Kjørsvik came up with the idea to create something unique. The houses along the street were painted in different colors, by a scheme designed by Craig Flannagan. As you stroll along, you will find many cozy cafés, stores, and pubs.

Øvre Holmegate

Address: Øvre Holmegate, Stavanger / 51 85 92 00

Website: Øvre Holmegate

12. Stavanger Cathedral

This unique and charming cathedral is the oldest cathedral in Norway, that is still in use. The Romanesque church was build in the 12th century, although the exact time is not known. It was consecrated to Swithun, the Bishop of Winchester and patron saint of Winchester Cathedral. The church was originally used as the seat of the Ancient Diocese of Stavanger, until the Protestant Reformation.

The cathedral was damaged during a fire, in 1272 and then rebuilt, under Bishop Arne. The Romanesque part of the cathedral was extended and built in the Gothic style. The latest major restoration of the cathedral was conducted in 1999. The cathedral is situated right in the city center, between the harbor and Breivatnent Lake. Strolling around the cathedral can be paired up with a nice walk along the lake and the harbor area.

Stavanger Cathedral

Address: Haakon VIIs gate 2, 4600 Stavanger, Norway

Website: Stavanger Cathedral

13. Solastranden

Solastraden is a long beach, about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) in length, spreading out towards the airport. As the most famous beach in Stavanger, it is undoubtedly a great spot for water sports, due to its high wind. The beach is equipped with toilets, a kiosk, dressing rooms and the Sola Strand Hotel. There is also the Sola Golf course, on the beach.

Solastranden

Address: Sola Beach, Stavanger 4050, Norway

14. Jæren

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A beautiful place, with sandy beaches, dunes, broken boulders and salmon rivers, the Jæren is a national touristic route, created to make Norway a more attractive destination. You can stroll along the miles of sandy beaches, specifically 41 kilometers (25.5 miles), of the spectacular natural beauty.

Jæren

Address: Jaeren, Stavanger, Norway

15. Valbergtårnet

The Valbergtårnet was erected in 1850, by the architect Chr. Grosh. The tower was used as a lodging for the guards of Stavanger, who guarded the city and alerted people, in the case of fire. The last watchman was Tobias Sandstøl, who defended Stavanger for 18 years and was mentioned in the story, “The Town of Cardamom”, by children’s book author Torbjørn Egner. There is a little museum in the tower, about the life of the guards.

Valbergtårnet

Address: Valberget, Stavanger 4001, Norway

Norwegian charm

Undoubtedly, Stavanger is a city with charm and Norwegian atmosphere. The city is trendy and cultural, hosting popular events such as the MaiJazz Festival and the Chamber Music Festival. Are you coming to Stavanger for a longer period of time? Explore more attractions, like the Museum of Archaeology, the Stavanger Art Museum, Ledaal House and Lysefjord.