Top 14 Things to Do Near Stavanger, Norway

Tap to Read ➤ Ishaan Govardhan

Perched on a peninsula, the Oil Capital of Norway is a picturesque port city with a lot more to offer than what meets the eye. You can embark on excursions to the surrounding wilderness and return to Stavanger for the best-in-class modern comforts.

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 video. Stavanger may be one of the more expensive cities you'll visit, but you'll get a lot of bang for your buck!

Most visitors arrive at Stavanger on a cruise - it's one of the most popular ports of call for cruise ships. You can set off on a beautiful cruise to Lysefjorden from Stavanger's ports.

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 video. Head for the popular 604m tall Pulpit Rock or Preikestolen. This dramatic cliff towers over the beautiful Lysefjorden, near Stavanger.

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 video. There are scenic hikes and gorgeous views of fjords waiting for you in the immediate vicinity of Stavanger. The most popular hike leads to the Dalsnuten.

Adventurers will be drawn to the Kjeragbolten peak for a photo on this famous boulder wedged precariously between 2 lofty cliffs.

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 video. Once you've made it to the top of the Kjerag, you can opt for the more scenic descent: paragliding.

On one of your hikes from Stavanger, you'll be stopped in your tracks by this surreal sight - 3 huge bronze swords (the Sverd i fjell Monument) emerging from the Hafrsfjord terrain.

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 video. Back in Stavanger, check out this imposing old observation tower - the Valberg. The view from the top will get you acquainted with the city you're about to explore.

Wandering the streets, you'll find yourself in Gamle Stavanger (Old Town) - a quaint neighborhood consisting of charming wooden houses from the 18th and 19th centuries.

Next, you should check out the magnificent Stavanger Cathedral - a blend of the Anglo-Norman and Gothic architecture styles. It's Norway's oldest cathedral.

Dive into the city's history: swing by the Stavanger Petroleum Museum to learn about the thing that put Stavanger on the map - its burgeoning oil industry.

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 video. If you're yearning for a day at the beach, just head for the fine sands of Sola Beach - it's a stone's throw away from the city limits.

For a change of pace, visit the reconstructed Iron Age Farm. Built on an actual prehistoric farmstead, it's a snapshot of life 1500 years ago.

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 video. Every year, Stavanger hosts one of the biggest food festivals - Gladmat. Taste new, exciting flavors and dishes at exhibitions held by chefs and gastronomes from around the globe.

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 video. In winter, you'll be itching to hit the powdery white Norwegian snow slopes of nearby ski resorts like Sirdal or Sauda.