A view of a city from across a body of water

Stavanger

Stavanger is a small city in southwest Norway, known for the wooden houses of Old Stavanger, its oil-industry history and the Preikestolen cliff over Lysefjorden.

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Stavanger is a city on the Stavanger Peninsula in southwest Norway and the administrative center of Rogaland county. It is Norway's third largest city and is known as the Oil Capital of Norway because of its oil industry. The main landmark is Stavanger Cathedral, dedicated to St. Swithun, and the city counts 1125, the year it was completed, as its founding year. Old Stavanger, next to the city center, has protected 18th- and 19th-century wooden houses. The center itself is small, with narrow streets and open spaces kept free of car traffic.

Many travelers use the city as a base for the fjords. Preikestolen, also called Pulpit Rock, is a massive rock about 604 meters above Lysefjorden, reached from the Stavanger area. Kjeragbolten, a rock wedged in a cliff about 1,000 meters above Lysefjorden, lies farther into the same fjord system. For rainy days, the Norwegian Petroleum Museum, opened in 1998, is the city's most visited museum. Spring and early summer are the driest seasons, while rain is common in late autumn and winter. Two days allow time for the town and a fjord trip.

Stavanger in five

Start Preikestolen early and allow four hoursVisit Norway lists the hike at 8 km round trip, about 4 hours, with roughly 500 m of climbing. Start in the morning so the descent does not run into the dark.Preikestolen from Stavanger
Use buses and boats instead of renting a carKolumbus buses cover Stavanger and Sandnes, a bus service runs from the city to Preikestolen, and passenger boats leave the Stavanger terminal for Ryfylke and the nearby islands.
Walk Old Stavanger, then Øvre HolmegateThe white wooden quarter is a five-minute walk from the harbor. The colored street of boutiques and cafés, locally called Fargegaten, is the next stop for lunch outdoors.Stavanger in 2 days
Keep a museum for the rainThe Norwegian Petroleum Museum and the IDDIS museum quarter (printing and canning museums) cover a wet afternoon. Check seasonal hours on the museum's own page before you go.

Things to do in Stavanger

See all attractions in Stavanger

Museum · StavangerNorwegian Petroleum Museum

Museum · StavangerStavanger City Museum

Historic site · StavangerGamle StavangerChildren manage the cobbles better on foot than in a stroller, so leave the pushchair at home.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to StavangerPut the places you like in Stavanger on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Stavanger Airport, Sola (SVG), south-west of the city
Getting there: Train from Oslo via Kristiansand; bus from Bergen about 5 hours
Getting around: Walk the compact center; Kolumbus buses; passenger boats to Ryfylke
Best base: Harbor area for transport, Old Stavanger for quiet streets
Time needed: 2 days; 3 with Preikestolen or a Lysefjord cruise

Weather by month

Rainy days
Snowy days

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryRain20 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh5°Low1°Dark, mild
FebruaryRain17 rainy daysHigh5°Low1°Cold snaps
MarchRain16 rainy daysHigh6°Low2°Light returns
AprilRain13 rainy daysHigh9°Low4°Spring
MayRain13 rainy daysHigh12°Low8°Hiking opens
JuneRain15 rainy daysHigh15°Low11°Long days
JulyRain18 rainy daysHigh16°Low13°Warmest
AugustRain19 rainy daysHigh17°Low14°Warm, busy
SeptemberRain18 rainy daysHigh15°Low12°Calmer
OctoberRain21 rainy daysHigh12°Low9°Wetter
NovemberRain20 rainy daysHigh8°Low5°Dark, wet
DecemberRain21 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh6°Low3°Winter lights

Average daily high and low in Stavanger, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Stavanger

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 8°
Humidity: 65%
Wind: 12 km/h
Chance of rain: 0%

Stavanger

09:47 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+1

Today10°6°0%Monday: Partly cloudy. High 10°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 0%.
Tue10°4°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 0%.
Wed10°5°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 0%.
Thu9°2°0%Thursday: Fog. High 9°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
Fri7°2°0%Friday: Fog. High 7°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
Sat7°2°2%Saturday: Fog. High 7°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 2%.
Sun8°1°5%Sunday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 5%.

Updated 06:10 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 9.213 NOK

Amount

Converted to

NOK · Norwegian Krone

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Day trips from Stavanger, the full guide

Preikestolenabout 40 min by car, plus a 4-hour hikeThe Pulpit Rock rises 604 m above the Lysefjord; most visitors go by bus or boat plus bus.Read the guide
Lysefjord cruiseabout 45 min to the fjord by carA cruise or RIB trip shows the cliffs from the water and skips the climb.Read the guide
Egersund and the Jæren coastlocal train at least hourlyA flat coast of sandy beaches south of the city, reached on the Stavanger to Egersund line.

Before you go to Stavanger

Hotels by the harborBoats and buses within walking rangeCheck availability

Lysefjord cruise or guided hikeGuided tours run daily April to OctoberCompare tours

eSIM for NorwayFerry apps work; trails can lose signalRead the guide

Travel insurance for NorwayHiking rescue and cancelled boatsRead the guide

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Rules for Stavanger, checked

Norwegian Petroleum Museum: June to August open daily 10:00 to 19:00; September to May Mon to Sat 10:00 to 16:00, Sun 10:00 to 18:00. Adults NOK 180.Checked Oct 3, 2026 · Source
Preikestolen hiking season runs from May to October; from November to April you need special equipment and a guide, says Visit Norway.Checked Oct 3, 2026 · Source

All Stavanger guides

ItineraryStavanger in 2 days: Old Stavanger, museums and a fjord dayChecked Oct 3, 2026

Where to stayWhere to stay in Stavanger: harbor, Old Stavanger, Sola or fjordChecked Oct 3, 2026

How toPreikestolen from Stavanger: bus, ferry, car or cruiseChecked Oct 3, 2026

Plan around Stavanger

Bergen and the southwest fjords

Hardangerfjord and the road north to Bergen

Read the guide Southern Norway

White wooden towns along the coast to Kristiansand

Read the guide Bergen

The west-coast city about five hours away by bus

Read the guide All of Norway

How Stavanger fits between Bergen, Oslo and the south

Read the guide

Stavanger FAQ

How many days do you need in Stavanger?

Two days cover Old Stavanger, the Petroleum Museum, the harbor and a beach hour. Add a third day for Preikestolen or a Lysefjord cruise, since the hike alone takes about four hours plus travel.

Is Preikestolen worth it from Stavanger?

Yes if you are comfortable on a rocky 8 km round trip with about 500 m of climbing, and the weather is clear. In rain or fog the view is lost, so a fjord cruise or a town day is the better use of the slot.

Can you get to Preikestolen without a car?

Yes. Visit Norway says there is a bus service from Stavanger to Preikestolen Fjellstue, and boats leave the Stavanger terminal for Ryfylke. Check the Kolumbus timetable for the day, since schedules change by season.

What is there to do in Stavanger when it rains?

Spend it indoors at the Norwegian Petroleum Museum and the IDDIS museum quarter, then walk Old Stavanger between showers. Keep the Preikestolen and cruise days for a clearer forecast from yr.no.

How do you get from Bergen to Stavanger?

Visit Norway puts the bus at roughly 5 hours. Boats and flights are alternatives, so compare them in the Entur planner for your date. The bus leaves room for Hardangerfjord stops if you break the trip.