Stavanger is one of the oldest cities in Norway and is set in the beautiful mountains and coastal islands of western Norway. Of course the Pulpit Rock hike (Preikestolen) is probably the top attraction to do in the Stavanger area (see my post: The mind-blowing hike to Pulpit Rock Norway) , but there is so much more to see and do around the city!
Where do you begin? Below is a list of the top 10 things to do in Stavanger that are not only family-friendly, but are also within a one-hours drive from Stavanger Sentrum (Stavanger city center).
1. Øvre Holmegate, Gamle Stavanger, Stavanger Cathedral
One of the first things you should do in Stavanger is take a walk through Gamle Stavanger (old Stavanger) to soak up the history of one of Norway’s oldest cities. Gamle Stavanger is a small area just west of the harbor that comprises 173 wooden buildings from the turn of the 18th century. Walk the streets an take in the architecture style from empire to art nouveau and functionalism.
If you keep walking towards the Byparken you will stumble upon the Stavanger Cathedral, Norway’s oldest cathedral. Construction is said to have started around 1100 and finished around 1150.
After visiting the cathedral make your way to Øvre Holmegate, one of the most colorful streets of Norway! A tourist and must-see instagram destination, the street is closed to cars and is lined with cafes, shops and bars.
2. Stavanger Museums
If you are visiting Norway during a rainy day there are plenty of museums to keep you busy! The Norwegian Petroleum Museum focuses on offshore petroleum activity especially in the North Sea. The museum shows the technological development from the beginning of the Norwegian oil history. Outside the museum is the Geopark, a fun, unique park for kids of all ages to enjoy.
Another unique site in Stavanger is the Iron Age Farm. In the Ullandhaug area, the farm is a reconstructed farmstead from the Migration Period (350-550 AD). The farm has tour guides to guide you through the three viking long houses and has a wonderful view of the Northern Jæren region and Hafrsfjord.
After visiting the farm, head back towards the Sentrum to visit the Museum of Archaeology. The museum focuses on archaeological & natural history exhibits from the Rogaland area.
Right next to the Museum of Archaeology, is the Children’s Museum. The museum displays cultural & historical exhibits, plus a children’s museum with hands-on displays.
The collection contains about 6,000 items and includes toys and objects used by or in connection with children. It also displays objects representing childhood and general children’s culture in Norway from the past to the present.
Other museums in Stavanger include:
- Norwegian Canning Museum
- Stavanger Maritime Museum
- Stavanger City Museum
- Stavanger Art Museum
3. Sverd i Fjell (Swords in Rock)
If you are enjoying a particular sunny and warm day in Stavanger, a great option is to head to Hafrsfjord to see the monument: Sverd i fjell aka “sword in rock.” The monument commemorates the historic Battle of Hafrsfjord, which by tradition took place there in the year 872, when King Harald Fairhair gathered all of Norway under one crown.
The largest sword represents the victorious Harald, and the two smaller swords represent the defeated kings. The monument also represents peace, since the swords are planted into solid rock, so they may never be removed.
There are three small beach areas near the monument for you to enjoy. You can grab some ice cream at the nearby Is Paradis and sit on the beach enjoying the Norwegian summer.
4. Beach Day
When you mention “Norway” your mind doesn’t automatically go to white sandy beaches and blue water. Yet, my oh my does Norway have some AMAZING beaches! These white sandy beaches are all south of Stavanger, so the wind can be very strong in these areas. If you can go on a day with lower winds this is a great way to spend a sunny Norwegian summer with the family.
Below is a list of beautiful beaches just south of Stavanger
- Solastranden
- Olbergstranden
- Vigdelstranden
- Hellestostranden
Looking to see what other beaches Norway has to offer around the country? Check out this article: https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidnikel/2021/07/16/in-photos-norways-best-beach-bathing-spots/?sh=116467f86af6
5. Fjøløy Fort and lighthouse
About a 30 minute drive from Stavanger Sentrum is the small island of Fjøløy. On Fjøløy is a fortress built by the Germans during WWII. Later modernized by the Norwegian military in the 1950’s- it is now reclaimed for public use.
You can walk through the bunkers and tunnels of the military installations and explore the past. The area is beautiful and has amazing views of the sea. Nearby is the Fjøløy lighthouse, built in 1879 and automated in 1977.
There are picnic tables and grills in the area for you to sit and enjoy lunch outside if you wish. Or, you can head to the Utstein Kloster hotel you passed along the way to the fort.
Their summer restaurant is open from June 19th every day between noon and 8pm. You must make a reservation, but can enjoy a delicious lunch along the water’s edge and see the newly renovated sloop Restauration.
6. Fjord Cruise Lysefjord
A fjord cruise on Lysefjord provides amazing views of rugged mountain scenery and dramatic rock formations. You can see Pulpit Rock (Preikestolen) from the cruise and may get to see steinkobben (seals). On nice days they will climb up on the shore and experts reckon that there are as many as 300 seals in the fjord.
The cruise leaves directly from Stavanger Sentrum harbor (Strandkaien) and can seat about 250 people. There is a snack bar on the cruise to purchase items to eat and drink. For those traveling with kids they have a bingo card to help keep your little ones busy during the cruise!
For those that want to cruise the Lysefjord AND hike Norway’s Pulpit Rock, they have a package that includes the cruise and a guided tour to Pulpit Rock.
The Lysefjord cruise is about 3 hours long and you can book tickets here: https://rodne.no/fjordcruise/.
If you have a car or rental and want to drive around Lysebotn and perhaps have lunch at the Kjerag Cafe and restaurant (or attempt the Kjerag hike!) you can take the ferry through the Lysefjord.
The Ferry leaves from Lauvvik during May-August. https://www.norwaysbest.com/no/ting-a-gjore/fjorder/fjord-cruise-lysefjord/
7. Flor & Fjaere
A unique experience in Stavanger is to book tickets to the Flor & Fjære, a tropical garden and dining experience! They are open for the summer season only and is about a 5 hour total trip: boat ride that leaves from Stavanger sentrum to the island, gard tour, dining experience, and then return boat ride back to Sentrum.
Tours operate Monday-Saturday and is NOK 1390 or NOK1490 on Saturday.
8. Traditional Norwegian Food in the Mountains
At just an hour outside of Stavanger, Byrkjedalstunet is a gem in the mountains! This complex has a hotel, bakery, large gift shop with all sorts of tchotchkes, a candle factory, and a restaurant that serves up traditional Norwegian dishes. If you visit this places on the weekend you may see the hordes of bikers grabbing a snack before setting back out on their route.
They have a candle factory in the back of the shop and a section for guests and children to make their own candles! A lovely souvenir to bring home. They also celebrate Christmas all year with a variety of santas, snow globes, and ornaments to shop and choose from.
Byrkjedalstunet is a recreation of Giljastølen, an old mountain dairy farm house. It was used by the girls in charge of the cows during the summer grazing period in the mountains.
This is such a fun place to hang out for a bit and grab a meal before heading off to your destination in the mountains. Just 15 minutes from Byrkjedalstunet is Månafossen, a large waterfall if you are looking to catch the beauty of the mountains in the area!
Gloppedalsura
Another 5 minute drive down highway 503 from Byrkjedalstunet is Gloppedalsura, a large end moraine in Byrkjedal. It is also a UNESCO Global Geopark. After the formation of the moraine there was a large landslide in the valley.
Blocks as large as houses fell off the steep cliff and made a huge pile on top of the moraine. The force of the rock fall was so great that some blocks were swept up over the northern side of the valley. It was one of the largest landslides in Europe.
Gloppedalsura was also a heavy combat site during WWII and German planes flew regular missions over the scree. The scree was a stronghold for the Norwegians and provided good air cover from raids.
The Germans launched an attack on April 22, 1940 but never came close to the Norwegians. The Norwegians suffered the loss of 1 man while the Germans had heavy losses.
9. Rogaland Arboretum
Another way to enjoy the gorgeous Norwegian summers is to head to the Rogaland Arboretum. At over 700 acres, the arboretum is a large collection of both common and unusual shrubs and trees from all over the world. There are picnic tables and pavilions with grills to sit and enjoy lunch while you explore the beautiful area.
10. Jorpelandsholmen
A fun park that has something for the whole family is Jørpelandsholmen. The park is located right out of Jørpeland center connected by a bridge that goes from the Scana area to the island.
The park has a 1.2 km trail around the island and has various picnic tables and grills to have lunch and spend the day on the island. The island has a frisbee golf course, playgrounds for the kids to play on and beach areas to swim or kayak around.
