Top 5 Things to do in Stavanger, Norway with KLM
Norway is one of the hidden gems of Europe for nature lovers. Within just a few hours of flight time you could easily be hiking through the Fjords of Norway.
On my recent trip I flew on a KLM Cityhopper and went to explore the city of Stavanger which is located on the west coast of Norway.
Known as the oil capital of the Lysefjord, Stavanger has a rich maritime history from its past and is now a popular stopping point for many cruise ship routes.
Looking to combine a city break with breathtaking nature? Book flights to Stavanger and stroll from the medieval Stavanger Cathedral straight to the Valberg Tower for a beautiful view of the city.
A visit to the fascinating Norwegian Petroleum Museum will explain Stavanger’s history as the oil capital of Norway. And the Maritime museum will help to tell the story of Stavanger’s nautical past.
It’s also the gateway to the steep mountain walls and waterfalls of Lysefjord. Also, the narrow streets offer great shopping and perfect spots to grab a coffee.
Quick travel facts: Currency is the Norwegian Krone (NOK), dial code is +47. The time zone is GMT 1+ and the European Round two-pin plugs are in use for all electrical outlets.
Flybussen airport bus service links the airport and Stavanger City every 20-30 minutes, and tickets cost NOK 120.
KLM connects Stavanger easily from Amsterdam
KLM offers UK departures from 17 regional airports: Aberdeen, Birmingham, Bristol, Belfast, Cardiff, Durham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Humberside, Inverness, Leeds, London Heathrow, London City, Manchester, Newcastle, Norwich and Southampton.
From the UK you can easily connect to many European and global destinations via KLM’s main hub in Amsterdam Schiphol airport.
It’s easy to travel to Stavanger with KLM as they have daily connections from Amsterdam Schiphol airport.
Altogether KLM European network gives you an enticing reason to travel to your destination of choice. Giving you 101 reasons to travel more around Europe.
Here are my top 5 things to do on your next visit to Stavanger, Norway:
1. Visit the Viking Swords of Sverd I Fjell
Sverd I Fjell (which is Norwegian for swords in the rock) can be found outside of Stavanger city centre in the Hafrsfjord neighbourhood.
These three bronze swords are called Sverd I Fjell. They stand 10 metres tall and are planted right into the rock. They commemorate the historic Viking battle of Hafrsfjord.
The swords stand tall and are fascinating to admire for a pure and peaceful moment in nature.
The best way to reach the area is to get a short local bus which will take you 10 minutes, because walking might take up too much of your time.
The area is also a perfect spot to enjoy a sunset on the beach area close by and set up a BBQ if the weather is nice.
2. Head to Øvre Holmegate for coffee
Øvre Holmegate street, located in the city centre can easily be spotted by its colourful wooden shop fronts that line the streets.
Here you can find a selection of shops and cosy cafes to enjoy a catch up with friends over a coffee.
3.Explore the Stavanger street art scene
When you think of Norway you wouldn’t automatically think about street art, but Stavanger has adopted local artists to create wonderful and breathtaking pieces that can be found scattered around the city.
Explore by foot, get lost down back streets and you never know what street art you might find waiting for you around the corner.
4. Take a cruise and enjoy the scenic Fjords of Lysefjord
One of the highlights for any visit to Stavanger has to be jumping onto a local boat trip and head out to see the fjords of Lysefjord.
Journey time is around 4 hours and will take up half the day, but it will be totally worth it when you’re transported from the Norwegian fishing huts of the city to the beautiful outdoors of the Fjords.
See the Pulpit Rock, local mountain goats, seals chilling on the rocks and pass by coves and waterfalls. There’s so much natural beauty to be found in the Lysefjord area.
The views of the Fjords will take your breath away and will make a trip to Stavanager totally worth it.
You can also hike to The Pulpit Rock (called Preikestolen in Norwegian) if you have enough time to enjoy the stunning nature trails and outdoor scenery.
I only had enough time to see the Pulpit Rock from the waters below on the ferry trip to the Lysefjord Fjords, but if you want to hike the climb up to the viewing spot this will take you around 8 hours.
You can get a car boat from the city to the start of the trail. You can also find cabins to stay along the trail if you fancy staying up in the Fjords for the night and break up the hike.
5. Explore Gamle – the old quarter of Stavanger
Traditional white Norwegian wooden houses line the streets of Gamle. Some have been around since 1860 and survived many fires that have happened in Stavanger.
The buildings located in the district are now protected, and have to follow a certain set of rules to ensure the upkeep and maintenance of the buildings and keep the area pristine and as it always has been.
This cute little neighbourhood is really worth walking around on foot, and it’s also a great spot to grab some traditional Norwegian Waffles.
Walk around this small community for hours and get great views over the docks.
Thank you for reading all about Stavanger
This article was put together in collaboration with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.
Thank you for reading my blog post all about what to get up to with KLM in Stavanger. I hope you have a wonderful trip on your next visit to the Western coast of Norway. Safe Travels!
Checkout my Instagram from my trip