Norway | Tips and activities for Stavanger and the Preikestolen

On the west coast of Norway you will find the fourth largest city of Norway and the capital of the province Rogaland. Stavanger is known for beautiful natural landscapes. It is the gateway to well-known fjords such as Lysefjord and to the beautiful hikes: the prikestolen en the crank bolt. Stavanger is also nice to visit because of the beautiful streets and houses, the Street Art, the picturesque harbor and the old open-air museum Old Stavanger. In this blog you can read about everything you can do in artistic Stavanger.

Also read: Norway | The most beautiful National Scenic Routes for car and camper

1. Admire the Street Art

While walking through Stavanger, we quickly noticed something. Everywhere we came across beautiful graffiti works of art, in the shopping center and the residential areas. After a bit of googling it turned out that Stavanger is known for its vibrant Street-Art scene and is considered an important destination for street art enthusiasts. This is largely due to it Nuart Festival, an international Street-Art festival that has been taking place in the city since 2001.

Nuart Festival

The Nuart Festival is an annual event that brings together Street-Art artists from all over the world to brighten up the city with their creations. Not only are houses painted, installations and other forms of art are also set up by the city. Many of these creations are permanent and people in Stavanger can give permission for Street Art to be placed on their home.

Public Art Trails

As a tourist in Stavanger, you can plan an afternoon to walk the public art trails. Various routes have been set up that lead you past the street artworks. The most popular route is the Street Art Alley which takes you past impressive paintings and graffiti. How nice is this activity, nice in the open air and also free! As far as I'm concerned, this makes the city unique.

Social involvement

The Street-Art in Stavanger has more than just a visual purpose. The beautiful paintings often have a deeper message. The artists bring art together with social aspects, in which social issues are raised. Some artworks have hidden messages about political, environmental or social issues.

All in all, Stavanger has been transformed into a large open-air museum by the magic of the artist's works. We had a great time during our search for the paintings through the city!

2. Visit the old quarter: Gamle Stavanger

In the district Old Stavanger (Location here) take you on a charming journey back in time. It is an enchanting part of the city that is now considered an open-air museum. However, it is just a neighborhood where people still live and live. But because of the elegance and history that come together in Gamle Stavanger, it is a real treasure for architecture lovers. Gamle Stavanger exudes romance with its beautiful white wooden houses. Each house has a unique charm, with white facades and gardens full of flowers. Really very cute!

Gamle Stavanger is also known as Old Stavanger. It is one of the largest collection of preserved wooden houses in the world Europe and consists of more than 170 well-maintained buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries. The nice thing is that you can just walk to this old fairy tale from the city center, there are signs everywhere pointing you to it. You take a trip in a time machine to Old Stavanger. What I found most special about the appearance of Gamle Stavanger is that almost everything is white. You don't see this often and makes the city (again) unique.

3. Walk through Øvre Holmegate: the colored street

A must see for anyone visiting Stavanger is the Ovre Holmegate (Location here). It stands for 'colorful street' and is a visual treat for tourists and locals alike. Located in the heart of the city, this special street is distinguished by a variety of colors. Each house has its own color palette, giving it a unique look.

In addition to the cheerful appearance of the houses, Øvre Holmegate is also a place where boutiques, cafes, restaurants and art galleries merge into a vibrant neighborhood. Here you can eat or shop in a relaxed atmosphere. You will find interesting shops and it is of course also nice to drink a nice cup of coffee in the middle of an artistic character. Street Art is also reflected in this area. This means that I can say for the third time in this blog that this part of Stavanger is also like an open-air museum!

Tip: For example, visit these 3 interesting shops in Øvre Holmegate:

Seventh Heaven Stavanger (click here). Just as colorful as the street is this shop and its items. Here you can find unique clothing, accessories and decorative items from days gone by. You will immediately be happy when you step inside!

Kant Butiken (click here). Lace Butikken offers an extensive selection of high-quality lace products, including different styles, patterns and colors. Whether you're an experienced lace artist or just interested in exploring lace, the shop has materials for both beginners and experts.

Kokkeløren: If you are interested in Scandinavian design and handmade products, Kokkeløren is a store you will enjoy. Here you will find a variety of craft items, such as pottery, textiles and jewelry, made by local artists and designers.

4. The Port of Stavanger

Not unimportant to mention is that the port of Stavanger is located in the heart of the city. We were a big fan of the iced coffee in Norway's supermarkets and we plopped down by the water with this! We didn't find the harbor of Stavanger very special, but it was still nice to relax on the water between all the artistic walks.

The Port of Stavanger is an important and vibrant maritime hub on the west coast of Norway. It plays an essential role in the city's economy and acts as a major hub for trade, fishing and tourism. It is also the place where (cultural) events are often organized in the city.

5. The hike to the Preikestolen

Something you definitely don't want to miss is the hike to the Pulpit Rock. Preikestolen, also called pulpit, is an adventure that attracts tourists from all over the world. It is located on the breathtaking Lysefjord and you can do the hike just outside Stavanger. We did this hike and this has been one of the most beautiful experiences of my life! The feeling that you are so insignificant in this world, discovering how great nature can be and going all the way from civilization to a nature reserve that stretches for miles. Beautiful!

Also read: Norway | Route and tips for a train journey with Interrail

The starting point

The hike starts in the village Preikestolhytta, here you can also get information and maps for the route. The exact starting point is the Pulpit Rock fjellstue, a mountain hut (location here).

• By car: If you come by car from Stavanger, you can choose the ferry from Stavanger to Tau and then drive via Jørpeland and Riksveg 13 to Preikestolen fjellstue. If you are coming from Sandnes you can take the route from Lauvvik to Oanes and continue to Preikestolen fjellstue. 
• Public transport: There are bus connections from Stavanger to Tau Ferry Terminal. From the ferry port you take a shuttle bus to the starting point of the hike. But beware, these bus connections do not run all year round. We were there just outside the high season and could not go to the Preikestolen by public transport. Fortunately, we accidentally ran into Dutch people in Stavanger with a car, who also went on the hike the next day and we were able to ride along!
• Parking: You can park at Preikestolhytta for a fee. It's smart to arrive early, especially during peak season, as parking spaces are limited. If you plan to stay overnight, there is a mountain hut (Preikestolhytta) nearby where you can stay.

The duration

From the starting point it is about a four kilometer hike to the top of the Preikestolen. It takes you about 2 hours to get to the top and then 2 hours back. Along the way you will encounter the most beautiful nature and views, so that the adrenaline starts to flow through your body. You will really be rewarded with a spectacular environment during the hike. Think green valleys, rocky paths, rushing streams and views of the Lysefjord. After 2 hours you will reach the top and stand on a protruding rock plateau that floats 604 meters above the fjord. Speechless! One of the most beautiful hikes I've ever done.

Difficulty

It is quite a tough climb, because you are busy for a total of 4 hours and have to walk on special paths. There is a rise of about 350 meters and there are steep paths. But if you have a bit of an average condition it is really doable. The advantage is that the steep paths are also interspersed with flat paths, so you do not have to walk up continuously. This variety makes the Preikestolen feasible for different target groups. In fact, my grandpa and grandma also did this hike.

Weather conditions

We were very lucky with the weather and received a radiant sun as a gift. However, the weather in Norway is unpredictable, especially in nature reserves like this. You can experience all seasons in one day and that is why it is important to be well prepared. This of course starts with mountain boots, you really don't want to miss these during the hike. Even with mountain boots you can easily fall here, so make sure you have soles with a lot of grip! In addition, it is wise to bring a bag with a thermos shirt and put on a rainproof jacket. You don't want to walk back soaked. The weather is hard to predict, so be prepared for anything.

To give an example: when we just reached the top of the Preikestolen, right on top of the plateau, it suddenly started to storm! It only took 10 minutes, but we had to hide behind some rocks. After that the sun broke through again luckily, but this shows that you can't predict the weather. The most reliable weather app to keep an eye on is Yr. This is managed by the Norwegian Meteorological Institute.

Conclusion

When you walk into Stavanger, you don't necessarily see an impressive city at first sight. There are cities in Norway that look nicer and more charming. But still, if you get to know Stavanger, you will experience how much the city has to offer and that it is actually a quirky and artistic city. The Street-Art, the old quarter and the colored street, are examples of unique and iconic features of Stavanger. It is therefore very interesting to learn more about this! We soon discovered that we could, for example, walk an art route along the Street-Art, and came across the colored street in surprise. The city is full of surprises AND it is the gateway to the Preikestolen, which is also very special.