City walks:
Experience Stavanger in one day

Follow Elly and Danny's path through Stavanger. This sporty English couple in their thirties loves hiking in the wild. Elly is very interested in all aspects of cooking and has even written her own cookbook. As a couple, Elly and Danny have made mini golf their 'thing', and they try to play a round or two in each new place they visit.

Many attractions and sights in Stavanger are densely located, making it easy to see and do a lot in a short amount of time. Join an art walk and discover everything from massive murals to tiny works of art in doorways and on buses. Fargegaten (the street of colours) is like stepping into a photograph.

Relax with a long, pleasant walk along one of the white sandy beaches of Jæren outside the city centre, ortake a tour in one of the city's museums and learn about Norway's most important industry — oil. 

Just a five-minute walk from the harbour, you'll find the quaint old white-painted wooden houses of Old Stavanger, the oldest part of the city. A nice viewing point in the city centre is Valbergtårnet (The Valberg Tower). In the mid 1850s the tower was used by the city's watchmen, who were posted to alert townspeople if there was a fire. 

If you want to go on a famous hike, the world famous Preikestolen (the Pulpit Rock)is about a 40-minute drive from Stavanger. You will need more than 10,000 steps, but after an 8-kilometer-long hike you will be rewarded with one of the most iconic views in Norway.

Or save some steps and go on a high-speed RIB tour in Lysefjorden (it's not cheating! ). The trip starts in the centre of Stavanger.

On a visit to Stavanger, there are some things you simply cannot miss! Start with a morning stroll from the iconic Stavanger concert hall, one of the city's true architectural gems. Next, stroll through Old Stavanger,past white picket fences and blooming gardens, before reaching the IDDIS Museum, which houses both the Norwegian Printing Museum and the Norwegian Canning Museum.

Stavanger harbour is just a stone’s throw away. Admire the many old harbour warehouses, many of which are now home to restaurants and pubs bustling with life and colour, making them a popular Instagram stop. Continue to No 18 kulturkafé where you can have lunch in what is likely the oldest house in Stavanger (over 300 years old!). Make your way to the shopping area and don’t miss quality Scandinavian shopping at Oleana, Fjällräven and Chili Chocolate.

Stroll through iconic Fargegaten.  Don’t forget to take the mandatory tourist photos! Or sample some of what the colourful street has to offer: visit a barber shop, a hairdresser, dress and design shops, or you can go for drinks and a snack in one of its many cafés and pubs.

Continue to the Norwegian Oil Museum, housed in a harbour-side building shaped like an oil rig. You can't miss it. Right next door to the museum is Geoparken, a special playground made from real scrap metal from the oil industry and a real treat for young skaters and kids. If you're parched from all the walking, head for refreshments and aperitifs at Salon de Nord, in historic Hotel Victoria. The 120-year-old hotel stands proudly on Stavanger's waterfront. Round off the day by dining at the popular seafront restaurant (aptly named The Fish Market) at Fisketorget, the fish market. Sample the catch of the day or try its famous fish soup! It's mouthwatering!

If you're only in Stavanger for a short period of time, you can still catch the essence of the city with this route. We have just the plan for you. Start with lunch and an explosion of modern flavours at the popular plant-based restaurant Bellies in the eastern part of the city. The restaurant is located  in an up-and-coming area that has seen a rise in popularity and new establishments in recent years.

When your belly is full, head to the harbour area (on foot or electric city bike) and join a pre-booked RIB tour to see the sights (alright, so this won't count towards your 10,000 steps, but still, it's a great tour).

After enjoying some fresh seawater spray and wind in your hair, join on a Segway tour of the city (this does not count towards your steps, either, but balance is still exercise). ​A typical Segway tour takes you to see some of the city’s street art as well as top attractions like Old Stavanger.

And now, for true insight into Norway's Viking heritage, visit the state-of-the-art Viking House visitor centre and watch a lifelike VR film that tells the tale of King Harold the fair-haired, who united Norway into one kingdom. Lastly, catch an early dinner at Fish & Cow for a culinary feast. Eating out in Stavanger will make you want to come back again and again.