Cheap flights to Stavanger from PLN63*

With a charming 18th-century downtown, Gothic cathedral, fjords and islands, plus a university and an oil industry that attract an international crowd, Stavanger has it all, from cutting-edge cuisine to a booming cultural scene. Water is everywhere, be it the spectacular seaside, long inlets, or the lakes large and small that dot the city and its environs. Enjoy the lively city centre, or take off to the nearby cliffs, fjords, lakes and beaches to experience the best of Norway’s culture and nature.

 

Fly to Stavanger, Norway for

A getaway to nature and culture

Stavanger is a seaside city with a valiant history – here, Harald Fairhair fought a battle that united Norway into one kingdom in the year 872, becoming the first Viking king, and this is memorialised by three massive Viking swords plunged into the rock, representing peace, unity and freedom. Feel free indeed in Stavanger to delve into history from Gothic to 18th-century, explore the city’s industrial power in oil and canning, hike above the fjords, stroll the sandy beaches, and taste the city’s seafood specialities.

 

Old-town charm and interesting industry

As soon as you arrive, you’ll be drawn to Gamle Stavanger, the old town full of carefully preserved 18th- and 19th-century wooden houses. Be sure to see the colourful houses lining Ovre Holmegate as well as the pristine white homes with green gardens in the neighbourhood. Then walk down to the harbour area of Skagenkaien to see Norwegian maritime life in action or relax at a cafe or restaurant on the water. Enjoying the waterfront and the greenery? Take a ferry to Flor og Fjære, a carefully curated garden with tropical plants you won’t believe survive the Scandinavian conditions! Stavanger Cathedral dominates downtown, and the city marks its history from its completion in 1125. Rebuilt in the late 13th century after a fire, this Gothic masterpiece is the only medieval cathedral in Norway that has retained its original appearance and been in constant use. As Norway’s oil-production capital, Stavanger is home to the Norwegian Petroleum Museum, where you can learn how oil and gas are formed, discovered, produced and used. The museum itself mimics Norwegian bedrock, the coastal landscape and offshore oil rigs. Before oil became the lifeblood of the city, the canning industry dominated – all the way until about 1960. For a glimpse of this, visit the Norwegian Canning Museum. In summer, visitors can taste freshly smoked brisling.

 

Seafood and sea views

Stavanger boasts two Michelin-starred restaurants. RE-NAA’s husband-and-wife team is proud of the local ingredients – seafood, game, mushrooms, lamb and more. For slightly cheaper options, try the bistro RE-NAA Matbaren or RE-NAA Xpress. Sabi Omakase, meanwhile, is Norway’s most exclusive and exciting sushi restaurant. With space for just 10 guests, be sure to book far in advance. Naturally, seafood dominates the menu at many a Stavanger restaurant, with freshness guaranteed. Try The Fish Market, a restaurant offering up the catch of the day, prepared in imaginative ways. At the pier of the Petroleum Museum, dine overlooking the water at Bølgen & Moi, which offers light dishes and fresh-baked cookies by day, and a seven-course “artistic menu” by night.

 

Creative drinks, music, art and design

Stavanger’s nightlife is vibrant and varied, from the craft beers at the traditional pub Cardinal to creative cocktails at Broremann Bar. Wine lovers can consult the sommeliers at Vinkontoret, the Wine Office. For live music with your beer, try Backstage, or Hanekam for a more sophisticated atmosphere. Check out the always-lively Beverly Hills Fun Pub, or pick up the dance beat at Taket Nightclub, which has two floors, resident DJs and never a dull moment. Shops in the old town offer handicrafts and local designer goods. Kant, in one of the classic white houses, proffers organic cotton clothing items screen-printed by hand in Stavanger using water-based environmentally friendly ink. You might catch founder, designer and screen printer Frode Goa himself in the shop, and perhaps share a barista coffee or a glass of fresh organic juice. Nearby, find a selection of fine art, locally crafted ceramics and glassware at Neo Galleri. For a wider range of shops, head to downtown shopping mall Arkaden Torgterrassen.

 

Hiking to view breathtaking fjords

Perhaps Preikestolen, or Pulpit Rock, should be your first destination outside the city – this is a massive rock seemingly suspended 640 metres above Lysefjorden. Book a tour to beat the crowds and watch the sun rise over the fjord, then have breakfast at the mountain lodge near the rock. Did we mention that this is the location for the cliff-hanging scene in the film Mission:Impossible Fallout? Experienced hikers may want to brave Kjeragbolten, a rock wedged in a cliff 1000 metres over the fjord. For a different type of challenge, climb the world’s longest wooden staircase! It’s 4,444 steps to Flørli, but you can stop several times to enjoy the panoramic view across the Lysefjorden. On the way down, you can follow a 100-year-old trail used by the “rallarer,” hardy Norwegian men who built the stairs and the Flørli hydroelectric power station. If you’d rather be on the water, there are ferries and rigid inflatable boat (RIB) options for exploring the Lysefjorden, which stretches for no less than 42 kilometres. For the historic monumentally minded, let guides in authentic medieval clothing tell the local tales at the only preserved medieval monastery in Norway, Utstein, on the serene island of Mosterøy. It was built as a royal residence of the Viking King Harald. South of Stavanger you’ll find sandy beaches such as Sola. This can be your starting point for exploring the whole Jaeren area of the coast, dotted with sandy beaches, rocky coastline and lighthouses, with the sound of the surf mixing with the ring of the bells around the necks of sheep and cows. Catch a sunset in this area, part of the 41-kilometre National Scenic Route from Bore to Ogna, which often features a lake on one side and the sea on the other.

 

Stavanger airport

Stavanger Airport is 20-30 minutes from the city by taxi or Flybussen bus service. Shops include clothing, books, souvenirs and travel items. There’s a restaurant featuring all fresh Norwegian salmon dishes, and eateries offering seafood, Italian specialities, burgers, coffee and baked goods. For a last taste of Norway, fill your bottle with fresh Norwegian water for free before your flight!

 

Stavanger weather

Stavanger’s low-lying location, surrounded by islands and fjords, keeps temperatures moderate, at least by Norwegian standards. Average temperature in July and August is 15°C, whereas the average in the winter months is 1-2 degrees and it doesn’t go too far below freezing. That said, this waterfront city gets a lot of precipitation, so be prepared for rain or snow.