Stavanger's best cultural spots

Among high mountains, endless beaches and wide plains in Fjord Norway, lies one of Norway's oldest cities, Stavanger. Over the years, the city has grown from a small fishing port to a cultural hub, and you can now find everything from Michelin-starred restaurants to a wide range of art in the charming city. One of those who lives and breathes the cultural life of Stavanger is Katrine Lilleland.

"When I grew up here, there were lots of cultural events and communities, like the jazz scene, and, of course, the fantastic Rogaland Teater. But, I have to say, the development in the cultural life of the city has been enormous in recent years," explains Katrine.

She has always been drawn to big city life. Despite the relatively small size of her home city, Katrine's desire for a pulsating city lifestyle is more than met by Stavanger.

"Today, the city is blossoming with more alternative scenes, amazing museums and galleries, and a fantastic concert building that is home to a very skilled symphony orchestra. Stavanger's locals also seem to be good at taking advantage of what the city has to offer," says Katrine.

As director of the internationally renowned Stavanger Chamber Music Festival, as well as a yoga teacher and a bar owner, she knows a fair bit about what's stirring in the cosy coastal city.

Are you planning a weekend break or a longer stay? Find inspiration for your experience with Katrine's highlights:

Katrine Lilleland's cultural triangle

In the heart of the city centre, right by the harbour, you'll find the venerable Hotel Victoria, the first of Katrine's three cultural highlights. The hotel is easily visible for visitors who arrive by boat, and stands as a landmark in the city. Just look for an artful facade with a pattern of red and yellow bricks and white trim.

"The hotel itself is fantastic to look at, and it feels luxurious," Katrine explains.

The hotel first opened in 1900, and has later been through an extensive renovation. The result is a building filled with modern decor and well-preserved historical elements. You'll also find hand-picked antiques in several of the rooms and suites.

In 2021, the hotel was named Luxury City Hotel in Scandinavia by the World Luxury Hotel Awards.

"In addition to how fantastic it looks, they also serve an amazing lunch and excellent drinks. When the sun comes out, I like to sit outside with a good drink," says Katrine.

The hotel's restaurant and bar, SALON du NORD, is named after a hairdresser and barber salon that was located in the room in the 1900s. Here, you'll find excellent cocktails and good music at night, and fantastic lunch and dinner options during the day.

Art meets nature

"I want to take you to a place I think shows an excellent combination of nature and art, which Stavanger is all about," Katrine says.

Three kilometres from Hotel Victoria, you'll find Katrine's next cultural highlight, the Stavanger Art Museum. If the weather is on your side, and you're wearing good shoes, it's a nice 40-minute walk through the city. You can also easily get there by taxi or bus.

The museum is beautifully situated in the park surrounding Mosvatnet lake, one of Stavanger's most popular outdoor areas. Here, you'll also find a sculpture park nearby.

"Many people like to run by the lake. There's a path which you can follow all the way around. We used to have PE classes here when I was a kid. And in wintertime, we went ice skating on the lake," Katrine says.

The museum's characteristic glass dome is clearly visible from the path. Inside, you can experience a collection of distinguished Norwegian art, ranging from nineteenth century to contemporary art, including Norway's largest Lars Hertervig collection and paintings by Kitty Kielland.

"The artwork shown at the museum is always excellent, and the curators who work here are incredibly good," says Katrine.

In addition to its permanent collection, the museum also offers temporary art exhibitions. When we were there with Katrine, Course and Volume, an exhibition showcasing artworks by one of Norway's foremost visual artists, Jan Groth, was on.

"Best vegan food in town"

With its bright, yellow facade, it's almost impossible to miss Bellies. The building used to be an old canning factory, but has now been transformed into one of Stavanger's best vegan restaurants, according to Katrine.

"What's really great about Bellies, is that you don't have to be a vegetarian or vegan to enjoy the food here. The dishes they serve will even impress those who don't normally eat meat free," says Katrine.

The festival director has been a vegetarian her whole life, and she explains the difficulties with finding good vegetarian and vegan options.

"When Øystein, the owner of the restaurant, opened this place, it was just amazing. I always say that Stavanger has Norway's best vegan restaurant," says Katrine, adding that in summer, you can enjoy your meal outside in the sun.

Looking for more good veggies? Check out Norway's top vegetarian restaurants.

Explore more of Stavanger's cultural life

"A five-minute walk from Bellies, you'll find Tou Scene, where I used to work as head of programming. There, you can experience more alternative forms of art, which is really cool. The art gallery also arranges live music events," Katrine explains.

Katrine also recommends a visit to the  contemporary art gallery BGE, as well as Stavanger Concert Hall, which is the biggest concert arena in the Stavanger Region.

"And, let's not forget all the great festivals that Stavanger hosts! During summer and autumn, the city is a paradise for festivalgoers. You can really find something for every taste," Katrine says. She should know, being a festival director herself!

Check out Katrine's favourite festivals

Mablis: A two-day music festival held by the idyllic Vålandskogen woods, just outside the city centre. At the festival, you can listen to fantastic music, explore art, and taste local food and beverages. Mablis is held each summer.

Gladmat: One of the leading food festivals in Scandinavia, where you can taste fantastic food from all corners of the world. The festival is held at the end of June, and offers a variety of activities and events.

Stavanger Chamber Music Festival: One of Norway's most renowned festivals for chamber music, where Katrine works as director. The festival is held in August.

Utopia: A music festival in cosy Bjergstedparken, a short walk from the city centre, where some of Norway's most popular artists play. The festival is held every autumn. 

Kapittel: The Stavanger International Festival of Literature and Freedom of Speech. The week-long festival is organised by Sølvberget Library and Culture House (where it is also held) each September. Kapittel is the second-largest literature festival in Norway.

For more information, visit the festival websites, and also, check out more cool events in Norway.