Overview
Stavanger sits on Norway s southwestern coast, where oil wealth has transformed a historic fishing and canning town into one of Scandinavia s most cosmopolitan cities. The impeccably preserved Old Town (Gamle Stavanger) — 173 white wooden houses along cobblestone streets — sits alongside a vibrant street art scene, excellent restaurants, and the famous Norwegian Petroleum Museum. But Stavanger s greatest draw is as the gateway to Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock), a flat-topped cliff 604 meters above Lysefjorden that is one of the most photographed natural viewpoints on earth. The Norwegian krone (NOK) is the currency.
Daily Budget Breakdown
Budget travelers ($110/day): Stay in hostels or budget hotels, self-cater from supermarkets, walk the compact city center, and prioritize the free Preikestolen hike (you only need bus transport to the trailhead) and free Old Town exploration.
Mid-range travelers ($260/day): Book a harbor-side hotel, enjoy Stavanger s excellent restaurant scene, take a Lysefjord cruise to see Pulpit Rock from below, hike to Preikestolen, and visit the Petroleum Museum and the street art trail.
Luxury travelers ($580+/day): Stay at luxury hotels, dine at Stavanger s top restaurants (the city has a strong culinary reputation), book a private Lysefjord RIB boat tour, and arrange a helicopter flight over the fjord landscape.
Where to Save
The Preikestolen hike — arguably the most spectacular free hike in Norway — costs nothing except transport to the trailhead. Gamle Stavanger s 173 white wooden houses are free to wander and photograph. The Nuart street art festival has left Stavanger with world-class murals throughout the city, all free to discover. Stavanger Cathedral is free to enter. The harbor area and Ovre Holmegate (the colorful street) are free. Self-catering saves 50-60% over restaurants. The city is compact enough that walking covers virtually everything.
Where to Splurge
The Preikestolen hike to Pulpit Rock — a 4-hour round trip with a jaw-dropping clifftop finish overlooking Lysefjorden — is the experience of a lifetime and well worth the bus fare to the trailhead. A Lysefjord cruise passing beneath Pulpit Rock and into the narrow fjord is spectacular. The Norwegian Petroleum Museum is surprisingly engaging even for non-engineers. Stavanger s restaurant scene benefits from oil-industry wealth — the city has excellent fine dining for a city its size. A RIB boat tour of the Lysefjord delivers an adrenaline-fueled perspective on the cliffs and waterfalls.
