Trip to Stavanger 2026

When is the best time to visit?

The fjord season runs from May to October: dry, long daylight hours and all hikes open. July and August are peak season with 1,500 to 2,000 hikers per day on Preikestolen; start before 8am then for the best experience. In June the heather blooms around Lysefjord and it's the quietest. Kjeragbolten is only accessible from June to October (snow and ice close the trail in winter). In winter Stavanger itself is a quieter harbour city with a Norwegian Christmas market in December.

Best spots around Stavanger

• Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock) The iconic plateau rock at 604 metres above Lysefjord. Hike: 3.8 km one way, 2 to 3 hours. The best photo you'll ever take.
• Kjeragbolten A 5-cubic-metre boulder wedged in a mountain crevice at 1,000 metres. Harder than Preikestolen (5 hours), but almost nobody forgets it. Open June to October.
• Gamle Stavanger (Old Stavanger) The best-preserved wooden house row in Scandinavia: 173 white wooden houses from the 18th and 19th century, right on the harbour. Free to visit.
• Norwegian Petroleum Museum How Norway discovered its oil wealth and what it did with it. Impressive building right on the water. Adults: 175 NOK (approx. 15 euros).
• Lysefjord cruise Day excursion by boat from Stavanger along the fjord walls to the foot of Preikestolen. About 3 hours, adults 650 to 900 NOK (approx. 55 to 75 euros).

Top 5 things to do in Stavanger

• Hike Preikestolen Complete Norway's most famous hike. Take the ferry from the city centre to Tau (30 min) and bus 100 to the fjellstue. Total approx. 50 euros transport return.
• Lysefjord cruise Go by boat along the imposing fjord walls including past Preikestolen from below. Book in advance in high season.
• Explore Gamle Stavanger Stroll through the city's narrowest lanes past 173 white-painted wooden houses. Free and protected as Norwegian national monuments.
• Norwegian Petroleum Museum Surprisingly interesting museum about how Norway made its fortune in the North Sea. Interactive and good for all ages.
• Fish market and harbour Buy fresh prawns straight from the boat and eat them on the quay with a baguette. A Norwegian flavour ritual, costs about 10 euros.

Flights + transport from the Netherlands

KLM flies direct from Schiphol (AMS) to Stavanger Sola Airport (SVG) daily in about 2 hours 25 minutes; booked early 120 to 200 euros return. Transavia flies seasonally. From Eindhoven: no direct flight, but combination with bus to Schiphol (2.5 hours) or a connection via Brussels or Dusseldorf. Airport bus to the city centre: Flybussen, 140 NOK (approx. 12 euros), 30 to 45 minutes. City bus: 37 NOK per ride (approx. 3.15 euros) via the Kolumbus app. Taxi to the centre: 250 to 350 NOK (approx. 21 to 30 euros). Tip: buy a Stavanger day pass for unlimited city transport via the Kolumbus app (120 NOK).

How much does a trip to Stavanger cost?

Norway is expensive but Stavanger is slightly cheaper than Bergen or Oslo. Realistic budget for 4 days: direct KLM flight 120 to 200 euros return, hotel 80 to 120 euros per night (3 nights), Preikestolen transport return 50 euros, Lysefjord cruise 65 euros, Petroleum Museum 15 euros, food and drink 150 euros. Total: 550 to 850 euros per person. Free: Gamle Stavanger, Stavanger Cathedral, walking along the harbour.