Stavanger is the fourth largest city of Norway with a population of 126,021 within city proper as of January 1, 2011. It is in the south-western coast of the country. The urban area of Stavanger stretches across many neighboring municipalities, making it the third largest city in Norway by total urban population with 197 852 inhabitants as of January 1, 2011.

Get in

City map stavanger

Stavanger as seen from Breiavatnet

By plane

Stavanger Airport, Sola (SVG  ^IATA) is a 20 minute drive from Stavanger. There are frequent domestic services to other major cities in Norway, as well as some services to minor cities and towns. Discounted domestic plane tickets are usually available at reasonable prices if booked well in advance, even during the summer vacation (although frequencies may be reduced). SAS and KLM serve Stavanger multiple times daily from their hubs at Copenhagen and Amsterdam respectively. AirBaltic flies to their hub at Riga twice a week. SAS and British Airways each operate 2 daily flights to Stavanger from London-Heathrow. Norwegian Air Shuttle has 1 daily flight to London-Gatwick. SAS and Norwegian Air Shuttle also operate less frequent flights to a number of other European destinations, including Berlin, Warsaw and leisure destinations in Southern Europe, popular among Norwegians, such as Alicante and Malaga.

Airport Shuttle Buses (120 kr one way, 180 kr return, 90 kr child/student/senior/military personnel, 23 minutes) [1] run to downtown Stavanger every 20 minutes (30 minutes during the Easter, Summer, and Christmas holidays). Bus line number 9, direction Stavanger (33 kr, 40 minutes) runs every 30 minutes (60 minutes during the Easter, Summer, and Christmas holidays) weekdays daytime and is cheaper, but slower. Only ONE piece of luggage allowed. Make sure to board the bus in the right direction, or you might end up in Sandnes instead. When returning to the airport, make note of the fact that not all departures on line 9 go all the way to the airport. Search the schedule for the ones that do [2].

Haugesund Airport, Karmøy (HAU ^IATA) [3] (occasionally referred to as Helganes instead of Karmøy) is served by Ryanair from a couple of international destinations, including three times weekly from London-Stansted. Public transport to Stavanger is available through Nor-Way Kystbussen (see section "By bus") which corresponds with the airport coach that departs Haugesund Airport after every Ryanair arrival. Through ticket 180 kr. Traveling from Haugesund Airport to Stavanger should take around two hours (private car)/three hours (airport coach + Kystbussen). There is a ferry crossing on the way, charging 95 kr if you bring a private vehicle up to 6 m.

By train

In addition to providing a scenic route, train travel may be a cheap alternative to flying with prices starting from kr 249 one way for discounted tickets booked well in advance. Tickets are made available for sale three months before departure. About 8 hours with NSB's train from Oslo via Kristiansand. Reservation is not obligatory on long distance routes. The main train station is located next to the bus terminal. Long distance tickets can be bought at the counter or over the internet, while tickets for local trains can be bought at the main station in Stavanger, at vending machines, or from the conductor. There is a 40 kr surcharge when buying ticket from the conductor if you board the train from a station with a vending machine. The trains are modern and spacious. The trains to Oslo follow the coast. Sleeping compartments with two beds are available on the night train for a fee of kr 850.

By bus

Long distance bus services depart from the downtown bus station. Unless you qualify for certain discounts (student, senior, military etc.) or travel at times when discounted air or train tickets are hard to come by, bus travel is relatively expensive compared to travel by plane or train. It is however often the best alternative for getting "off the beaten track" without renting a car. Lavprisekspressen have a route along the coastal highway to Oslo(8 hours), calling at Kristiansand, Arendal, Sandefjord and others along the road. Booking in advance is mandatory for Lavprisekspressen. Nor-Way Bussekspress operates two routes from Stavanger: Kystbussen runs to Bergen and stops in Haugesund. Departures many times a day. Sør-Vestekspressen runs to Kristiansand. It is possible to catch a connecting bus onward to Oslo

By car

E39 from Kristiansand or Bergen.

By boat

Some smaller places in the inner fjords in Rogaland have a boat service. Service along the coast from/to Haugesund and Bergen has been discontinued.

Get around

By bus

Public transportation in Stavanger is mainly by bus and works smoothly. The web page of the public transportation company has a very helpful journey planner (Kolumbus A single ticket will cost kr 33-73 depending on how many zones you travel although it can be used again within your last zone within a certain time limit. A better option might be to buy a day-pass for kr 85 (90 with necessary card), which can be used unlimited until midnight. In addition, you can buy the 3-day pass which costs kr 145. One and two-week passes are also available. Buses in the city center can be caught at the main bus terminal and at stops around the city lake, Breiavannet. The airport shuttle bus is very expensive (kr 120 one-way, kr 180 return) and if you are heading to a location outside the centre it may be more worthwhile to take a taxi. However, on workdays bus no. 9 which travels half-hourly between the airport and the city center, is a much cheaper option than the airport shuttle bus (kr 33 one-way) if having only ONE piece of luggage. Buses are modern and most have areas for wheelchairs and baby carriages.

By train

Local trains connect the city center to the southern parts of the city and to the towns and villages further south. There are departures to Sandnes (kr 49, 16 minutes) every 15 minutes during daytime.

By taxi

Stavanger has different taxi companies, all charging high rates. A typical daytime rate is 35 kr flagfall, 7 kr/started 500 meter and 8 kr/started minute, minimum 110 kr total payable. Expect a surcharge of about 25 % in evening/night/Saturday and a surcharge of about 45 % for Sunday. You can use credit cards to pay through the taxi meters. During weekends there can be long lines for taxis in downtown area. Try walking out of the city centre and hailing a vacant cab on its way back to downtown.

See

Oil museum, view from seaside

Gamle Stavanger

Stavanger Cathedral

• 1 Stavanger Cathedral. Stavanger Cathedral (romanesque style from about 1125, with later Gothic additions) is the best preserved medieval cathedral in Norway and well worth a visit. 
• Gamle Stavanger (Old Stavanger) is a well preserved slice of Norwegian history. Old winding streets and wooden houses are representative of accommodation from Stavangers days as the canning capital of Norway. Most houses in Old Stavanger are privately owned and well kept.
• The Stavanger Oil Museum is a very interesting building with fascinating information on Norway's oil industry. Displays of submersibles, drilling equipment, a mock oil platform, and audio-visual presentations make for a good few hours. The museum caters for all ages and is open 10:00-16:00 (Sundays and June–August 10:00-18:00).
• The Canning Museum may not seem like the most interesting place to visit but it is a surprisingly good little museum with a lot of hands-on exhibits.
• Fargegaten (lit. The coloured street), Øvre Holmegate (Walk straight out from the back of the cinema/library for a couple of minutes.). Street with vitally coloured houses, having some of Stavangers best cafes and shops. 
• The Rogaland Kunstmuseum (art museum) is on Mosvatnet Lake, only 2 km from the city center. The museum has a permanent exhibition of Norwegian art, and a rotating exhibition that is sometimes quite spectacular. Be sure to see the Lars Hertervig paintings; you'll see the landscape of the islands just north of Stavanger reflected in his work.
• A good place for a photo opportunity are the Three Swords (Sverd i fjell, literally Sword in Mountain), a monument outside the centre of Stavanger, beside the Hafrsfjord. The swords themselves are massive and in the background is the fjord. The monument commemorates the battle of Hafrsfjord in the late 800's where Harald Hårfagre beat his eastern opposition and became the first King of Norway.
• Sculptures - In 2000 the mobile installation Another Place by British sculptor Anthony Gormley was placed on and off Sola beach. A few years later a new and permanent installation Broken Column, by the same artist, was placed at various locations surrounding the centre of Stavanger.
• Stavanger Botanic Garden, a botanic garden and parkland.

Do

The seasons control what to do in Stavanger. Stavanger has a maritime climate, with cool summers and mild winters. Summers features periods of warm and nice weather, although they sometimes can be rainy. Winters usually mean more rain than snow in Stavanger, although going into the mountains will ensure snow.

• Hiking and climbing around Stavanger is the best way to see the fantastic landscape. Many of the trails have been marked out by the Turistforetning with rocks bearing a red "T". Turistforening hyttes (cabins) provide simple accommodation in the mountains. Also mountain bikes can be hired and taken on the trails.
• Solastranden (Sola Beach) is a long sandy beach by the airport. It is very popular in the summer and allows for some small waves for surfing. Along the beach, in the dunes, are the remains of defences from the 1940-45 occupation. Other less populated beaches are all along the coastline although they are sometimes hard to find.
• Ice skating on Stokkavannet - In the depths of winter the government tests the ice on its lakes. Once the official word is given many Norwegians will head for the largest lake, Stokkavannet. The lake itself is located near to Madla about 20 minutes walk/5 minutes bus ride outside of Stavanger. Should the ice not be safe, and you have a compulsion to skate, another option is to visit the Siddishallen, an indoor ice-rink.

Buy

Pewter serving utensils at several shops in town that will also sell other tourist things. They are pretty to look at, coming in several different designs, and practical to use. The cheese slicer (ostehovel) is most traditional, and the fish server (fiskespade) is something rarely seen outside of Norway.

There is a Sunday-open grocery store, "Bunnpris", in Nedre Holmegate 11, nearby the Petroleum Museum and Fargegaten ("The coloured street")

Eat

Stavanger is considered a great place for foodies, with a range of good restaurants and an annual food fair that fills up the harbour area for a week-end each summer. Eating out is generally not cheap, like everywhere in Norway. If you're on a budget you should go for the smaller ethnic restaurants (Chinese, Thai). Several excellent places exist for the traveller on an expense account - or if you want to spoil yourself or a loved one: Try Tango, NB Sørensens (upstairs restaurant) or Renaa.

• Sabi Sushi, Pedersgata 38, ☏ +47 90 40 60 70. Monday - Saturday 11:00-22:00, Sunday 13:00-22:00. Probably the best sushi in Stavanger. Take-away and restaurant. 
• Straen Fiskerestaurant, Nedre Strandgate 13, ☏ +47 51 84 37 00. 18:00-01:30. Considered one of the best seafood restaurants in Norway. However, be aware that only have seafood, you will not be served meat or poultry. 
• No 28 Pizza Pub, Øvre Holmegate 12, ☏ +47 51532828, stavanger@no28.no. In 1973 Stavanger got it´s first ever Pizza Pub in Storhaug. The doors of this place closed I 1995. We now have a lovely, large restaurant in Øvre Holmegate 12 in Stavanger. It seats 200 people and has an additional bar. We make everything ourselves, even the dough is made in house. We can proudly say that we serve Stavanger’s original pizza. We also serve "falling off the bone" Babyback Ribs! 200 NOK. (updated Jul 2015)

Drink

Stavanger has a varied and exciting nightlife, concentrated around Vågen (the bay) or a stones throw away. Even weekday nightlife is more vibrant in Stavanger than in most towns in Norway. The eastern rim of the bay gets the afternoon sun, and is the prime setting for an outdoor beer -weather allowing.

• Folken (Student house), Løkkeveien 24, ☏ +47 51654444. 11:00 - 01:30. Folken is by far the cheaper place to drink if you bring your Student Card. The music varies in both genre and loudness. Enjoy the summer in Folkens backyard! low. 
• Bøker og Børst (Books and Booze) (Café), Øvre Holmegate 32, ☏ +47 51 86 04 76. 10:00 - 02:00. Definitely the most charming little café in all of Stavanger. Really nice atmosphere and interiors. The eccentrics' favorite. 
• On the western side you will find Checkpoint Charlie, a legendary hangout for rockers and students. It is also home to CCAP, a record label that hold Thomas Dybdahl and Popface in their expanding stable. Though its clientel has gradually gotten younger over the years (now around 18-22), it retains much of its old feel. 2 beers for the price of 1 on Thursdays (Lars Hertervigsgt. 5 4005 Stavanger, tel: 51532245 [4])
• Another bar well worth the visit is Cementen. Situated on the third floor of a concrete building alongside the bay, it has a great view of inner city Stavanger. It is easy to find, just look for the cement mixer hanging from the outside wall seven meters above its entrance. The recently added dance floor has resulted in increased popularity. (Nedre Strandgt.25, 4005 Stavanger)
• For the see and be seen crowd, Taket is the place to go (Nedre Strandgt. 15, 4005 Stavanger Tel: 51 84 37 01).
• With Hall Toll the Stavanger night scene has finally gotten a taste of cosmopolitan jet set, complete with drunken bimbos, obnoxious bouncers with headsets and a separate VIP line at the entrance.
• Clubbers are advised to seek out Sting, located next to Valbergstårnet. It is a bit cramped, but they keep great DJs and the atmosphere is inviting. The first floor is cafe style, and basement is a night-club. The rooms to the right when you enter the cafè is traditionally for gay people. If you get tired from dancing there is a lounge area, Indian style, with lots of pillows to lie down on.(Valberget 3, 4006 Stavanger, Tel: 51 89 32 84, c-sting@online.no [5])
• Munken (The Munk) is a traditional bar that serves beer, wine and spirits. Crowd varies a great deal in age (22-72), often many English speakers. Usually not very loud music. Free entrance. Prostebakken -in the Alley by the Dressmann haberdashery.
• Nåløyet Bar, Nedre Strandgate 13, ☏ +47 51 84 37 00. Nåløyet is the closest thing to an everyday pub with some of the best bartenders in town. The bar is open all days, and get packed on Fridays and Saturdays. 
• Bar Bache, Øvre Holmegate 5. Perhaps the cheapest Happy Hour in town! Tiny English style pub. 
• Cardinal, Skagen 21, ☏ +47 98204200, post@cardinal.no. 15:00-01:30 (Sunday-Thursday) / 12:00-01:30 (Friday-Saturday). One of the best beer pubs in Norway, with a selection of about 500 beers in bottles, and 25 beers on tap. On the second floor cocktails are also available. (updated Mar 2016)

Sleep

This guide uses the following price ranges for a standard double room:
Budget	Under NOK 600
Mid-range	NOK 600-1100
Splurge	Over NOK 1100

Budget

• Mosvangen camping, Tjensvoll 1B, ☏ +47 51 53 29 71, fax: +47 51 87 20 55. Check-in: 16:00-20:00, check-out: 0730-11:00. Tent + car 200, tent 150, cabins 450-650. 
• Centrum Romutleie, Baldersgata 7 (1,4 km/0,9 miles walk from bus/train station, 2 km/1,25 miles walk from city centre), ☏ +47 97 96 67 57 (17-20 GMT+1). Check-in: 17:00-21:00, check-out: 07:00-09:00. Clean, very basic room rental, one single and one double room available, sharing a bathroom, basic guest kitchen available for preparing breakfast. Single 400, double 500. 

Mid-range

• Mosvangen vandrerhjem, Henrik Ibsens gate 19 (4 km/2,5 miles walk from train/bus station, or bus no 9 daytime every 30 minutes), ☏ +47 51 54 36 36. Check-in: 16:00-22:00, check-out: 07:00-10:00. Hostel of rather high standard, all bedrooms ensuite, basic guest kitchen. No alcohol allowed. dormitory bed 315, single room 495 (low season only), twin-bedded rom (bunk bed) 825, four-bedded room (two bunk beds) 1415, prices pr Des 2011 and incl bed linen, towel and basic breakfast buffet. Showing your own bed linen (Norwegian-sized blanket/pillow cover/duvet cover) + towel at check-in allows a discount (45/bed), also a 10 % discount to members of HI International.. 
• Rogalandsheimen Gjestgiveri, Muségata 18 (0,4 km/0,25 mile walk from bus/train station, 1 km/0,6 mile walk from city centre), ☏ +47 51 52 01 88, fax: +47 51 53 69 36. Check-in: 16:00-22:00, check-out: 07:00-11:00. Typical **(+)-hotel. All rooms with sink, no rooms ensuite, TV lounge with free wireless internet zone. No alcohol allowed. single 700, double 825, prices pr Des 2011 and inlc Norwegian breakfast buffet.. 
• Stavanger BB, Vikedalsgata 1A (0,6 km/0,4 mile from bus/train station, 1,2 km/0,75 mile from city centre), ☏ +47 51 52 25 00. Check-in: 16:00-22:00, check-out: 07:00-11:00. Typical hotel. No rooms ensuite, all rooms with small TV sets. Single 750-850, double 850-890. 
• St Svithun vandrerhjem, Armauer Hansens vei 20 (2,5 km/1,6 miles walk from train/bus station, or bus no 11 (Monday-Saturday two departures/hour, Sunday hourly departure) direction), ☏ +47 51 51 26 00. Check-in: 16:00-22:00, check-out: 07:00-10:00. Hostel of very high standard, totally comparable to ***-hotel except making your own bed is required. All bedrooms ensuite. Nice cafe and basic guest kitchen. No alcohol allowed. single bed in four-bedded room 495, twin-bedded rom 1095, four-bedded room (two bunk beds) 1695, prices pr Des 2011 and incl bed linen, towel and large breakfast buffet. 10 % discount to members of HI International if pre-booked by phone. 
• Stavanger Lille Hotell, Madlaveien 7 (0,6 km/0,35 miles walk from bus/train station, 1,2 km/0,75 miles walk from city centre), ☏ +47 51 53 43 27, fax: +47 51 53 03 81. Check-in: 15:00-21:00, check-out: 08:00-11:00. Typical ***(+)-hotel. Rather large rooms with TV/DVD and high quality beds. Economy rooms smaller, not ensuite, standard **+. Single economy 770, double standard for single use 1420, double economy 940, double standard 1490, double superior 1690, prices pr Dec 2011 and incl breakfast buffet and wireless internet. 

Splurge

• Havly Hotell, Valberggata 1 (heart of city centre, five minutes walk from bus/train station), ☏ +47 51 93 90 00, fax: +47 51 93 90 01. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Typical ****(-)-hotel. Rooms with cable TV, telephone, coffee/tea maker, hair dryer, work desk, high quality beds. No alcohol allowed. single standard 1260, twin standard 1360, double standard 1360, prices pr Dec 2011 and incl breakfast buffet and wireless internet. 
• Hotel Maritim, Kongsgata 32 (three minutes walk from bus/train station, eight minutes walk from city centre), ☏ +47 51 85 05 00. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Typical ****-hotel. Rooms with cable TV, telephone, hair dryer, work desk double standard 1625 (single use 1325), double business 2125 (single use 1825), prices pr Dec 2011 and incl breakfast buffet and wireless internet. 
• Park Inn, Lagårdsveien 61 (local train to Jåtta (5 minutes, train departure every 15 minutes) + 7-8 minutes walk), fax: +47 51 76 20 01, reservations.stavanger@rezidorparkinn.com. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Typical ***(+)-hotel. Rooms with cable TV, telephone, work desk. single standard 1495, single business 1795, double standard 1695, double business 1995, prices pr Dec 2011 and incl breakfast buffet and wireless internet lat=. 
• Hotel Scandic Forus, Bjødnabeen 2 (11 km outside city centre, close to the inter-town business area), ☏ +47 21 61 48 00. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Brand new (2011) ****-hotel. Rooms with cable TV, telephone, hair dryer, work desk. standard single/double 1690, prices pr Dec 2011 and incl breakfast buffet and wireless internet in reception area. 
• Hotel Atlantic, Olav Vs gate 3 (two minutes walk from bus/train station, five minutes walk from city centre), ☏ +47 51 76 10 00, fax: +47 51 53 03 81. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. ****(+)-hotel, best available in town. Rooms with cable TV, telephone, hair dryer, work desk etc. Single standard 1995, single business 2495, double standard 2295, double business 2695, prices pr Dec 2011 and incl breakfast buffet and wireless internet. 

Hotels in class **** generally allow a 15-25% discount when booking a room with check-in Friday/check-out Sunday or a booking for minimum three nights during July.

Close to the airport/the Sola Beach should be mentioned:

• Himmel og hav, Solastrandveien 114 (1,6 km/1 mile walk from the airport, close to the Sola Beach), ☏ +47 51 65 04 60, fax: +47 51 93 90 01. Check-in: 16:00, check-out: 12:00. Typical ***-hotel. No alcohol allowed. single standard 1100 (Fri-Sat 790), twin standard 1300 (Fri-Sat 990), prices pr Dec 2011 and incl breakfast buffet. 
• Sola Strandhotell, Axel Lunds vei 27 (1,6 km/1 mile walk from the airport, close to the Sola Beach), ☏ +47 51 94 30 00, fax: +47 51 94 30 99. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. ****-hotel. Cosy rooms with cable TV, telephone, hair dryer, work desk - and a great sea view. Restaurant with high quality and price level, expect about 650 kr/person for a three-course meal (ex beverages) + coffee/tea. single standard 1850, twin-bed standard 2050, prices pr Des 2011 and incl breakfast buffet and wireless internet. 

Stay safe

Stavanger is generally considered a very safe city. The local police force are efficient, usually speak good English and have a strong presence in the downtown area at weekends. Call 112 in an emergency.

During weekends, the small downtown area tend to fill up with intoxicated people. Be careful when wandering around this area late at night, as a some people may have had a few too many to drink.

Be careful taking a taxi alone if you are a girl, as there have been reports of a rise in numbers of violent rapes related to cab drivers. Always stay in groups when walking or taking a taxi home from the city center on weekends. Night busses run after midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, but have higher fares than during the day.

Cope

• Laundry - Renseriet Løkkeveien 73 (near Radisson Blu Royal) 51 52 30 05; Kongsgata 40 (near Thon Maritim and Lake Breiavatnet) 51 89 56 53.

Go next

• Go south, to rural areas in Jæren. Take a fast-boat to some of the islands like Usken. Go to the family theme park Kongeparken close to Ålgård.

• Preikestolen (The Pulpit Rock) is a massive 600 metres vertical cliff that sits on the edge of the Lysefjord. Its top is a natural lookout of several hundred square metres, almost perfectly flat, and the rock is the region's main tourist attraction, and one of the nation's landmarks.

To get to the top, follow the marked path for 2 - 2.5 hours from the Preikestolhytta, where food and accommodation is available, 1.5 - 2 hours for the return walk. Buses meet many of the Stavanger to Tau ferries during the summer, through ferry+coach tickets available from Tide Reiser (can be bought onboard the ferry), or buy your own ferry ticket and then for the local Boreal bus to the lodge. Costs around NOK 250. Total travelling time one way (less the climb) from Stavanger harbour is 1 hour 10 minutes. If you opt to go by your own car, there is a NOK 100 parking fee.

• The Kjerag is almost double the altitude of Preikestolen but the access is more difficult. It is further into the Lysefjord. There you can find the Kjeragboltn. There is a bus that can take you there runs from Stavanger and Sandnes by Tide Reiser. It operates from mid June to the beginning of September. It is not possible to see both Kjerag and Preikestolen in one day.
• The Lysefjord runs 45 km deep underneath both these plateaus. Several options for cruising this fjord, among others Tide

If the climb sounds too rough, you can take a fjordcruise, leaving the harbour most days at noon and returning 3,5 hours later, NOK 450. If you want to both cruise and hike, there's also a 10am summer cruise + hike option which first cruises through Lysefjord then a bus takes you to hike Pulpit rock, NOK 750.

Routes through Stavanger

Bergen ← Leirvik ←

N  S

→ Sandnes → Kristiansand