Stavanger Norway – Best Things to Do for an Amazing Day

When you travel to Norway, you can’t miss Stavanger. It’s a beautiful city (the fourth largest in the country) surrounded by stunning fjords and mountains. There’s a lively atmosphere, an intriguing arts and culture scene, and well preserved architecture and historical areas. Stavanger is a city full of things to see and do, even if it’s only for a single day.

When Justin and i visited Stavanger a Cruise aboard the Nieuw StatendamWe decided to explore on foot after being contacted by Holland America Line. There are enough attractions to keep you busy for an entire day at the Stavanger Cruise Port.

Four ports were included in our Norway cruise: Oslo, KristiansandStavanger Flåm. Stavanger, a vibrant city in Norway, is one of my favorite cities. I love the random bursts in color in its street artwork, the rows of wooden houses in Old Stavanger and the serene lake at the center of town.

Stavanger may be the largest city in Norway but its city centre has a small-town feel. Here’s our list of what to see in Stavanger along with a self-guided walking tour map to assist your journey.

Gamle Stavanger is the Old Stavanger.

Gamle Stavanger or Old Stavanger is the perfect place to start your day. You’ll see picturesque cobblestone streets lined with rows of wooden white houses. Each property is maintained beautifully by its owners. Almost every white house has an attractively painted front door.

You’ll see manicured gardens and planters bursting with rainbows of flowers to match. In total, there are 173 wooden homes dating back to the 18th century, making it Europe’s best preserved settlement of wooden houses. This charming old town is the top of my list of things to do while in Stavanger.

Browse the Unique Boutique Shops

You can find many little shops and galleries in Old Stavanger. The neighborhood has lots of handicraft boutiques where you’re sure to find some unique gifts. Our favorite shop was called Cokott’This book features origami paper jewelry.

Coffee Break at Kafe Go Nok

You might be craving coffee if you got up early. There’s a sweet little coffee shop right in Gamle Stavanger called Kafe Go Nok. Stop by the café for an espresso beverage. You can relax in the cozy coffee shop, or you can order your coffee to go if you want to continue exploring.

Visit Norway’s Oldest Cathedral, Stavanger Domkirke

The Stavanger Cathedral is a stunning piece of architecture. Stavanger Cathedral (Stavanger Domkirke). It’s the oldest cathedral in Norway, built in the year 1125. Therefore, it’s one of the must see Stavanger attractions.

The church has been continuously used since the 1300s, and it retains most of its original architectural features. There have only been minor additions over the years, including partial reconstructions in 1272 following fire damage, an old pulpit from 1650, and newly installed stained glass in 1957.

We didn’t have the chance to check out the interior of Stavanger Domkirke because it wasn’t open until later in the day. Please let us have your thoughts if you’ve had a chance.

Even if you only get to see the outside of the cathedral, it’s one of the best things to do in Stavanger. There’s a good chance you’ll walk past this beautiful building, so you may as well stop to admire it. Stavanger Cathedral can be found on the way to Breiavatnet, close to Stavanger’s port and harbor.

Stavanger Things to do: Stroll around Breiavatnet

I’m always seeking the natural areas and peaceful parks within cities. Breiavatnet is the perfect place to find this. Breiavatnet is a small, shallow lake in the middle of Stavanger’s city center, and it’s one of the best things to see in Stavanger.

Breiavatnet’s water comes from the Kannikbekken, a stream that runs through the city and connects to Lake Mosvatnet. This stream was transferred to underground pipes and culverts in the late 1800s, so you won’t see any trace of it.

There’s a walking path that circles Breiavatnet, lined with benches overlooking the lake. We noticed several wonderful statues surrounding the lake, and there’s a large fountain in the middle of it.

There’s an abundance of swans, ducks, and other bird life at Breiavatnet. Breiavatnet, while I enjoyed walking through the city, is a great place to take a stroll in Stavanger. Plus, it’s so lovely to watch all of the swans meander around the lake.

See Øvre Holmegate (Fargegaten, the Color Street)

Øvre Holmegate is a street that’s just east of the Stavanger harbor, and it’s a feast for the senses. Locals call this street Fargegaten or Color Street. Every home is painted with a vibrant and brilliant color. This is the busiest and most crowded area of town. It is alive with tourists and other visitors.

There are many patios, shops and restaurants to enjoy a drink or a meal. I noticed a lot of beautiful street art on buildings or down a small side street.

This street is Stavanger’s “Notting Hill” as it’s quite possibly one of the most colorful streets in Norway. This street was painted back in 2005. It is a relatively young city attraction. It started when local hairdresser, Tom Kjørsvik, dreamed of drawing more attention to his business and the street.

Craig Flannagan is a Scottish artist who recommended that the houses adhere to a color scheme. He was inspired “Miami Vice”Color themes and patterns are chosen based on hues. Each detail was chosen to coordinate with the homes on the street. This included the color of the building, the window trim, and other smaller details.

And Tom Kjørsvik’s idea worked. There are always lots of people wandering up and down Øvre Holmegate with its colorful homes. Ovre Holmegate (or Fargegaten) is a must when it comes Stavanger sightseeing. If you’re looking for things to do in Stavanger in a day, don’t leave this one off your itinerary.

Stavanger Street Art: Visit Stavanger and admire the street art

If you’re a fan of street art, Stavanger is the place to be. The Nuart Festival Stavanger has a street art festival that takes place every year. This ensures the addition of more works to the city’s growing collection. Update 2024 – the Nuart Festival is on hold until 2024 due to a lack in cultural funding. I really hope that changes in the future – art is important!

One of my top suggestions for things to do is to explore the street art in Stavanger. You could spend the entire day searching for every piece of art in Stavanger if you were to visit the city in one day. The beauty of street art and public art is that it’s always evolving and changing.

Some of the artwork we see is new to those who visited Stavanger a year ago. Stavanger continues to add new murals each year. Finding street art is fun. Who knows what you’ll discover on a random wall or down a narrow alley! Check out the street art in Stavanger for more details.

Geopark, one of the most unique playgrounds

Justin and I came across this quite by chance on our street art search. The Geopark in Stavanger combines a playground with street art by transforming an industrial site into a functional space. It’s the most interesting playground I’ve ever seen. It’s raw, there are pipes and tubes all over the place, and graffiti is everywhere.

This area was a former oil platform in Stavanger, the main oil base of Norway. As the space wasn’t being used, it was redesigned and transformed into a unique playground while retaining its history. The playground is made entirely of oil industry scraps. It’s not just for kids: Justin and I may have had a little too much fun trying to balance and run across the pipes, too.

Stavanger Restaurants, Where to Eat in Stavanger

You’re looking for the perfect place to grab lunch? There are many places to grab a bite to eat. Vegan options on cruise shipsWe thought it would be fun for a change to dine in one of the local Stavanger restaurant. We noticed that Døgnvill Burger StavangerWe went to a restaurant that had a few vegan dishes on its menu.

Justin and I both ordered The Vegan Viking burger, which was unlike any veggie burger we’d eaten. The Vegan Viking Burger contains ingredients such as smoked eggplants, paprika beans, Portobello mushrooms and garlic. There are many toppings including tomato, fried chilies and parsley root chips.

It has an interesting combination with peanut butter, spinach, and chipotle-sauce, as well as a slice vegan cheese. The verdict? Delicious! I wouldn’t have thought peanut butter could go well with chipotle sauce and vegan cheese, but it was super yummy.

There’s even a vegan dessert on the menu, a vegan chocolate pudding. As there weren’t too many vegan desserts on our cruise ship, this was a really delightful treat. Dognvill Burger in Stavanger is a great place to find vegan meals and restaurants. Justin and I felt very satisfied and happy after our meal.

Views of Stavanger as seen from Nieuw Statendam

Most of the things to do in Stavanger that we have listed are either free or very inexpensive (apart from the Stavanger Restaurants). If you visit Stavanger from a cruise ship, you can’t help but admire the spectacular scenery from the ship itself (another free activity!).

There’s really nowhere else in town to gain this vantage point of the city. Some of the best views of Stavanger could be seen from our cabin’s balcony. When you’re seeking what to see in Stavanger, part of that journey starts right when you wake up in the morning and look out the window on the cruise ship.

Where to stay in Stavanger

If you aren’t traveling to Stavanger on a cruise ship, there are lots of places to stay right in the city center. I recommend staying near the center of town to be able to walk around and explore.

Book your stay at the Radisson Blu Atlantic HotelBreiavatnet is located on the edge. The Radisson Blu Atlantic, with its fjord and mountains views and ideal location in Stavanger, is my first choice.

Stay at the charming and highly-rated hotel in Stavanger to save money during your trip. Stavanger Bed and Breakfast. It’s just a short walk to old town, and it has free parking and complimentary Wi-Fi. Plus, you’ll enjoy a light complimentary breakfast in the morning.

Stavanger is a city that you can explore in a single day. There are many attractions, cultural experiences, and scenes to be explored. Stavanger’s city center is full of things to do, so you should get out and explore.

Put on a pair if comfortable vegan shoes. Pack a raincoatBring a. Refillable Water Bottle. Hopefully, we’ve provided you with lots of ideas for things to do in Stavanger. Wander around and explore this wonderful city that feels like a small village. Enjoy experiencing Stavanger in a day, whether you’re visiting the Stavanger cruise port or taking an epic road trip journey of Norway.

Lauren is a full-time travel writer and content creator for Justin Plus Lauren. She started Justin Plus Lauren back in 2013 and has traveled to more than 50 countries. Lauren is one of the first vegan travel bloggers and an expert in vegan travel. She also focuses her attention on eco-friendly travel, outdoor adventure travel and creating incredible travel itineraries in cities and small towns.