If you’re planning on taking a trip to Stavanger, Norway, for the first time, it’s a good idea to know the must-see attractions in town and the area nearby. Although we have collected a list of awesome things to do in Stavanger, this beautiful region still has so much more to offer than this. However, in order to get the best out of your trip and not to miss the main highlights, then look no further!

Lysefjord cruise

Thanks to the breathtaking panoramic views and peaceful scenery, Lysefjord is one of the most beautiful fjords of Norway and one of the most popular highlights that attracts thousands and thousands of visitors each year.
The easiest and the most common way how to experience the Lysefjord is by taking a boat tour. You can find regular ferries connecting different little towns along the fjord, but it’s much nicer, easier (and not more expensive) to just take the Lysefjord cruise that leaves from Stavanger. Sail deep into the magical fjord and admire the steep walls around you, including the most famous one – The Pulpit Rock, stretching over 600 m above the water. During the cruise, you’ll pass some tiny islands, waterfalls, and caves. It’s a sight to behold and marvel at.

Trip to Kjeragbolten

You’ve probably seen the iconic photo of a boulder wedged between two cliffs hovering nearly one kilometer above the fjord. It’s Kjeragbolten!
This boulder was deposited during the last glacial period about 50,000 B.C. When the Norwegian Glacier melted, rock formations changed as the ice was removed and in Kjeragbolten’s case, the forming process was actually faster than the rising sea level, which led to wedging the rock into its current position. Being able to take an epic picture on it is the reason why Kjerag has become more and more popular in recent years. The experience is incredible – standing on it is dizzying and thrilling at the same time!

The Pulpit Rock hike

The Pulpit Rock hike is one of the most popular hikes in Norway. It’s very common for people to travel to Stavanger just to do the hike to the Pulpit Rock. This is neither for the fainthearted nor to be missed! This is an unforgettable experience and will definitely be one of the best highlights of your trip to Norway. Even Tom Cruise was at the Pulpit Rock recently. In his later Mission Impossible: Fallout movie, you can see him hanging by a thread on the Pulpit Rock!

Visit Gamle Stavanger

Gamle Stavanger is the old part of Stavanger. It’s a small historic area full with beautifully restored wooden buildings dating back to the 18th-19th century. This protected area used to be home to the workers of the sardine canning industry and today about 170 houses have been nicely restored. Visiting this historic quarter filled with white wooden houses, narrow streets, well-kept tiny gardens, empty benches, and colorful flowers feels like going back in time. You almost forget that people actually live here today! This is the best thing to do if you want to experience an authentic feel of old Norway.

Experience the Norwegian Petroleum Museum

This is a thing you certainly cannot miss! The Norwegian Petroleum Museum was built as a replica of an oil platform and it’s difficult to miss it thanks to its very special architectural design. However, there is so much more to this museum than just its impressive exterior! There is so much to see and do inside the museum – no wonder why it’s often chosen as the best museum of Stavanger by guidebooks and previous travelers. Here you will not only learn everything about oil, but you will also get great insights and a better understanding of the importance of the petroleum industry in Norway. From a country that was once on the edge of poverty, this industry turned it into one of the most wealthy countries in the world!
In the museum, you will find models of oil ships and platforms, rigs with emergency slides, and even an escape room where you are able to experience what it would be like to try to evacuate from a burning rig.