Major city · Norway
Stavanger
Give Stavanger 2 nights: one full day for the old town, harbour and cathedral, one for the Preikestolen hike (May–Sep). Skip it in winter unless you want city-only.
Stavanger is Norway's fourth-largest city and the base for Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock) and the Lysefjord. The walkable centre — Gamle Stavanger, the harbour, Fargegaten and the cathedral — fits in a day; the hike needs a second. It is also the oil capital, with the Norwegian Petroleum Museum on the east side of the harbour. Two nights is the standard first visit; three if you add a fjord cruise or a beach day at Sola.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- NOK
- Best months
- May–Sep
- avoid Nov–Feb (short days, wind, rain; the Preikestolen path is unsafe in ice)
- Airports
- SVG · HAU
- Nights
- 2
Rules in force · 7Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Nordic countries ↗Decide light or dark before anything else: summer trips (June–August) and aurora trips (September–March in the Arctic) need different countries, clothes and bases.
- Nordic countries ↗Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland and the Faroes sell stronger alcohol only in state shops with short hours; buy before evening and before Sundays and holidays.
- Norway ↗Norway is not in the EU but is in the Schengen area. Check the entry rules for your passport on official sources.
- Norway ↗Wine and spirits are sold only at the state Vinmonopolet shops; supermarkets sell beer, and not in the evenings or on Sundays.
- Norway ↗The right to roam (allemannsretten) lets you hike and camp on most uncultivated land, keeping a distance from homes and leaving no trace.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Stavanger112 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Stavanger, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Norwegian krone (NOK, kr); the euro is not used.Norway-wide
- SIM or eSIMEEA roaming applies: EU and EEA SIMs work at home prices.Norway-wide
- Tap waterTap water is excellent; streams in the mountains are usually drinkable, but avoid water below farms and grazing.Norway-wide
- TippingRestaurant: Included; round up or add 5–10% for good service.Norway-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/F. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Norway-wide
- SafetyStavanger is a safe city; the real risks are weather and terrain.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree or card-paid (NOK 10–20 (≈ US$1–2)) in towns; trailheads often have pit toilets.Norway-wide
- Emergency numbers112 police · 113 ambulance · 110 fire (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany museums close Mondays out of season; small fjord-village hotels and cafés close October–April.Norway-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportSVG Stavanger Airport, Sola (15 km (9.3 mi) from the centre; Flybussen shuttle about 25 min, or bus 42 to Koppholen then line 3 or 5).SVG Stavanger Airport, Sola (9.3 mi (15 km) from the centre; Flybussen shuttle about 25 min, or bus 42 to Koppholen then line 3 or 5).
- Getting aroundThe centre is walkable: the harbour, Gamle Stavanger, Fargegaten, the cathedral and Breiavatnet all sit within about 15 minutes on foot.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee45–70 kr
- Sit-down mealMain course in a mid-range restaurant250–400 kr
- Street or quick mealLunch sandwich or soup120–200 kr
- Beerdraught in a bar / can in a shop90–130 kr30–50 kr
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Taxi, 5 km (3.1 mi) daytimeTaxi, 3.1 mi (5 km) daytimeHigher at night and on Sundays.150–250 kr
- Museum or sight ticketMuseum entry (Petroleum Museum, canning museum)check120–180 kr
- Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per personNOK 350 (≈ US$35)
- Mid-range bedHotel double room, a night, per roomNOK 1,500 (≈ US$150)
- High-end bedHotel double room, a night, per roomNOK 2,800 (≈ US$300)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget NOK 600 (≈ US$60) · Mid NOK 1,100 (≈ US$110) · High NOK 2,200 (≈ US$250)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- SVG Stavanger Airport, Sola (15 km (9.3 mi) from the centre; Flybussen shuttle about 25 min, or bus 42 to Koppholen then line 3 or 5) · HAU Haugesund Airport, Karmøy (About 2 h by car including a ferry crossing; a fallback, not the default)SVG Stavanger Airport, Sola (9.3 mi (15 km) from the centre; Flybussen shuttle about 25 min, or bus 42 to Koppholen then line 3 or 5) · HAU Haugesund Airport, Karmøy (About 2 h by car including a ferry crossing; a fallback, not the default)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
Feb
Avoid
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
Mar
not flagged
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
Apr
not flagged
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
May
Best
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
Jun
Best
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
Jul
Best
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
Aug
Best
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
Sep
Best
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
Oct
not flagged
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
Nov
Avoid
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
Dec
Avoid
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
Best: May–Sep. Avoid: Nov–Feb. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)), coolest Jan (0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C) low), wettest Oct (18 rain days), driest Apr (12). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Stavanger: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
16 rd
Feb
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
13 rd
Mar
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
14 rd
Apr
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
12 rd
May
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
12 rd
Jun
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
12 rd
Jul
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
13 rd
Aug
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
15 rd
Sep
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
16 rd
Oct
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
18 rd
Nov
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
18 rd
Dec
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
17 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The centre is walkable: the harbour, Gamle Stavanger, Fargegaten, the cathedral and Breiavatnet all sit within about 15 minutes on foot. For anything further, Kolumbus runs buses, local trains and passenger boats; buy tickets in the Kolumbus Billett app. A single 1-zone ticket is 49 kr, a 24-hour pass 133 kr (2026). Taxis are expensive: 35 kr flagfall, 7 kr per 500 m and 8 kr per minute, minimum 110 kr, with evening and Sunday surcharges. Rental e-scooters (Voi, Ryde) and Kolumbus e-bikes cover short hops; parking an e-scooter badly can cost a 900 kr fine.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock)
goDoor to door: 6–8 h from the centre
Bus or car to the Preikestolen base camp, then the marked 4 km (2.5 mi) trail each wayBus or car to the Preikestolen base camp, then the marked 2.5 mi (4 km) trail each way
Start early; the plateau gets crowded from late morning in July and August.
Lysefjord cruise
goDoor to door: 3–4 h
Passenger boat from Fiskepirterminalen
The easy way to see the fjord and Pulpit Rock from below if the hike is off.
Sola beach
goDoor to door: 1–1.5 h
Local train or bus toward Sola, then a walk
Sand beach and the Gormley sculpture installation; best on a clear, calm day.
Sandnes
cautionDoor to door: About 30 min
Local train from Stavanger station, about 15 min
Useful for cheaper beds and a short walk, not a sight in itself.
Haugesund
overnightDoor to door: 2–3 h
Express bus, or the coastal route north
Too far for a comfortable return day; sleep there if you go.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Gamle Stavanger / west harbour
Wooden houses and museums on the doorstep; quiet at night, few beds, book early.
East harbour / Fargegaten
Cafés, bars and the Petroleum Museum; the liveliest evening area, 5–10 min walk from the bus and train stations.
Breiavatnet / station area
Cheapest beds and best transport links; 5 min walk to the harbour, less character.
Sandnes
Cheaper beds 15 min south by train; use it only if Stavanger is full or priced out.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- 600–900 kr excl. bed
- Mid
- 900–1,600 kr excl. bed
- High
- 1,600 kr+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Hotel double room1 × 2 nights × NOK 1,500 | NOK 3,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × NOK 1,100 | NOK 4,400 |
| Flybussen airport shuttle, both ways2 × NOK 264 · check | NOK 528 |
| Kolumbus 24-hour pass, one day2 × NOK 133 | NOK 266 |
| Preikestolen return bus from the centre2 × NOK 400 · check | NOK 800 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × NOK 250 | NOK 500 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | NOK 949 |
| Trip total≈ NOK 2,611 per person per day, bed included | NOK 10,443≈ US$1,100 |
2026 estimate in kroner; flights and long-distance travel excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | 45–70 kr |
| Lunch sandwich or soup | 120–200 kr |
| Main course in a mid-range restaurant | 250–400 kr |
| Beer: draught in a bar / can in a shop | 90–130 kr / 30–50 kr |
| Kolumbus single 1-zone ticket | 49 kr |
| Taxi, 5 km daytimeHigher at night and on Sundays. | 150–250 kr |
| Museum entry (Petroleum Museum, canning museum)check | 120–180 kr |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Preikestolen is a 4 h return hike with 500 m of climbing and exposed edges: wear grippy shoes, carry water, and turn back in fog or ice.
- The hike is not a winter walk: the path ices over from about November to April.
- Wind and rain arrive fast on the west coast; a waterproof shell beats an umbrella.
- Taxis are among the priciest in Norway, with night and Sunday surcharges.
- E-scooters parked outside marked areas in the centre draw a 900 kr fine.
- Buses from the airport and ferry terminal are low-floor city buses with no luggage space.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 112
- Ambulance
- 113
- Fire
- 110
Pocket card
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Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
StavangerStavanger
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
Til denne adressen, takkTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police112
- Ambulance113
- Fire110
Embassy
Norway has no US or UK embassy in Stavanger; embassies are in Oslo. The US has a consulate general in Oslo (check the address).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Flybussen SVG → city centre: about 179 kr one way, 264 kr return, about 25 min (check)
- Bus 42 SVG → Koppholen, then line 3 or 5: 49 kr total, slower but cheaper (check)
- Kolumbus 24-hour pass: 133 kr, one zone
- Taxi city centre → Sola airport: 500–700 kr daytime (check)
Say or show
- Hei — Hello (hay)
- Takk — Thank you (tahk)
- Unnskyld — Excuse me (UN-shyld)
- Hvor mye koster det? — How much is it? (vor MUE-uh KOS-ter deh)
- Kan jeg betale med kort? — Can I pay by card? (kan yai beh-TAH-leh meh kort)
- Hvor er toalettet? — Where is the toilet? (vor air toh-ah-LET-teh)
Tipping is not required: service is included, round up or add 5–10% for good table service.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Stavanger. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: May–Sep · avoid Nov–Feb (short days, wind, rain; the Preikestolen path is unsafe in ice) · month by month →
- 2 airports and 4 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 5 day-trips, door to door
- 6 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for SVG: Flybussen times, bus 42 transfer chain, taxi fallback, late-arrival rung.
- Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Gamle Stavanger, the east harbour and Fargegaten, the cathedral and Breiavatnet, the station area.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (cathedral, Petroleum Museum, Preikestolen trailhead) and eat pages with last orders.
- Weather and ferry fixtures so the Preikestolen and Lysefjord days can go green or be swapped.
Sources
- officialStavanger municipality
- officialAvinor — Stavanger Airport, Sola
- officialKolumbus (public transit)
- officialFlybussen airport shuttle
- officialFjord Line
- officialGo-Ahead Nordic (trains)
- officialEntur (national ticketing)
- secondaryWikivoyage: Stavanger, revision 5296532 (CC BY-SA 4.0)