Set in Southern Norway, Stavanger offers the best of all worlds: stunning natural scenery, picturesque coastlines, charming historic streets, connections to cities like Oslo and Bergen, and easy access to the fjord region. The city is an excellent hub for some of the most popular activities in Norway, including hikes to Kjerag and Pulpit Rock, cruises in Lysefjord, and day trips to charming towns like Flørli.
One of the most famous hikes in Norway offers few hotel options (enjoy those uninterrupted views), and you'll want a good night's sleep before and after the adventure. Luckily, Stavanger, Norway's fourth largest city, is less than an hour away from Pulpit Rock, providing a charming base. Here are four hotels in the cobbled center with access to great restaurants and shopping.
When choosing a hotel in Norway's charming city of Stavanger, most travelers are drawn to the scenic harbor, steps from top-notch restaurants, shopping, and cultural attractions, not to mention boating fjord excursions. Here are three favorite waterfront hotels—standard, mid-range, and luxury—depending on your budget.
This trip combines the culture of Norway's cities with active excursions in nature, starting in the capital of Oslo. You'll explore its historic center and museums before heading west to hike the country's famous Preikestolen cliffs and view the wedged boulder of Kjeragbolten. Then take a scenic ferry ride north to the colorful city of Bergen to discover its hills, museums, and eateries.
With a backdrop of colorful foliage and fewer crowds, autumn is the perfect time to see southern Norway. This 11-day itinerary follows a circular route through Oslo, Bergen, and Stavanger, as you journey deep into the fjords by bus, train, and boat. By day you'll hike, kayak, or cruise to sweeping views and unspoiled wilderness, while evenings are spent discovering the Norwegian art of "koselig" in toasty saunas and cozy restaurants.
Accomplish a stunning variety of trails on this active 9-day itinerary while staying in some of Norway's best cities. After an expert-curated tour of Oslo, take an overnight train to Stavanger—your gateway for legendary hikes in the Lysefjord: Pulpit Rock and Kjerag. Then, ferry to Bergen where you'll explore the city by foot culminating with a cruise (and hike) to a farm in the Hardangerfjord, nicknamed 'Queen of the Fjords'.
Experience stunning landscapes sandwiched between two cultural cities on this 8-day Norwegian adventure. Beginning in Oslo, you'll immerse yourself in the capital's museums, summer festivals, and hip dining scene before taking an overnight train southwest towards Stavanger to hike the legendary Pulpit Rock. Finally, board a ferry for Bergen and explore the picturesque port city on your own and with a local guide.
About 14 days is the most popular trip length for Norway travelers interested in visiting Oslo, Bergen, and Stavanger, especially when also including Balestrand, Ålesund, Hurtigruten, and Trondheim. For travelers wanting to visit Oslo, Bergen, and Stavanger exclusively, plan seven to nine days for a well-paced trip. A fast-paced highlights trip is possible in five or six days for travelers with limited time. For the best itineraries, including Oslo, Bergen, and Stavanger, keep reading below.
Experience western Norway's best natural landmarks on a series of moderate to challenging hikes. Begin with a local-led tour of Oslo before heading to Stavanger, the gateway to the famous Kjerag and Preikestolen treks—get ready for unbeatable views of the surrounding fjords. Then it's a scenic bus ride to Odda, your home base for your next adventure: hiking to the famous cliffs of Trolltunga.
This active tour is excellent for travelers seeking to experience Norway's stunning fjords and rich Viking culture up close. It starts in Oslo, where you'll spend a few days in the walkable capital before heading west for exciting adventures in and around Bergen and its seven mountains. Then spend two nights at the base of Jotunheimen National Park—home of Northern Europe's two highest peaks—before finishing in Stavanger, where you'll hike to the iconic viewpoint, Preikestolen (Pulpit's Rock).
Experience Norway's fjords and Viking heritage up close on this summer road trip perfect for nature and outdoor adventure enthusiasts. Spend a few days in the capital, Oslo, before hiking and kayaking in Jotunheimen National Park. Travel west to Flåm for one of the world's prettiest train journeys and Bergen for ziplining and biking. Conclude in 1,000-year-old Stavanger with a hike to the iconic Pulpit Rock and a visit to a garden of 50,000 colorful flowers.
Experience the best of Norway's spectacular fjords on this active self-drive tour. The trip starts in Norway's second-largest city (Bergen), where you'll pick up a rental car and spend several days exploring charming fjord-side villages and stopping for outdoorsy activities, like hiking, summer skiing, and kayaking. Finish the adventure traveling along Norway's longest and deepest fjord towards Jotunheimen National Park — with more than 250 peaks — to see some glaciers.
This popular 10-day trip loops around southern Norway, mixing scenery, outdoor adventure, and history. Starting in Bergen, you'll hop on a bus to the pretty port of Stavanger, then ride a ferry through the Lysefjord to hike the longest wooden stairway in the world. Continuing east, visit charming island towns along the southern coast, then board a train to Oslo, Europe's fastest-growing capital. End the adventure with a ride on the Flåm Railway and boat across Norway's longest and deepest fjord.
Stop dreaming of the fjords and experience them for yourself with this 10-day Norway road trip. Survey them from above on the famous Pulpit Rock hike, then explore from the seafaring city of Bergen. Tackle mountaintop hikes near the town of Voss before you cruise or kayak through the narrow Nærøyfjord, cycle alongside the scenic Flåm Railway, and visit one of the world's oldest stave churches. End your trip in Oslo, where world-class museums and hip cafés and boutiques await.
This relaxing journey loops around Southern Norway to key summer spots for the ultimate mix of nature, history, and culture. Take a local tour of Bergen, visit the charming towns and islands along Southern Norway's coast, get to know Oslo, and take a scenic ride on the famous Flåm Railway. End your trip with a memorable ferry ride through Norway's longest and deepest fjord.
This active itinerary visits the best of Norway's fjords with plenty of chances to work up a sweat. See Bergen like a local before driving to Stavanger and beyond for endless scenery, hiking, and waterfall photo ops. Stop at villages along the Sognefjord—Norway's longest and deepest fjord—before visiting the glaciers of Jotunheimen National Park.
Discover the best of southern Norway's treasures as you and the kids embark on an epic adventure that takes you from the shores of laid-back Kristiansand to cosmopolitan Oslo. Kayak across fjords, ride the whitewater rapids at Voss, and zipline through treetops as you explore the stunning scenery around Bergen. Along the way, you'll unearth 1,000-year-old history as you experience Viking life up close through VR technology and step back in time at Viking Valley.
There are nearly 1,200 fjords along Norway's western coast and this trip covers the cream of the crop — Lysefjord, Sognefjord, and Geirangerfjord — using a mix of fun travel modes to amp up the adventure factor. These majestic gems provide the setting for activities like hiking, biking, and sea kayaking. You'll explore everything from tiny fjord-side villages to diverse cities like Oslo, Bergen, Ålesund, and Trondheim.
Explore the highlights of the Norwegian fjords on this adventurous journey to the Hardangervidda Mountain Plateau, Aurlandfjorden and Nærøyfjorden by kayak on an overnight trip, and beautiful Bergen. You'll also explore the Navvies' Road by bicycle, hike to the iconic Trolltunga (Troll's Tongue), and trek to Preikestolen (the Pulpit Rock) before ending your Norwegian adventure in Stavanger.
If seeking relaxation and exposure to some of Norway's most spectacular fjords, this trip is for you. After arriving in Norway's 2nd largest city, begin your self-guided drive to Stavanger where you'll boat through the Lysefjord for the activity of your choosing. Then, continue to the Hardangerfjord through a series of national parks, waterfalls, mountain towns, and fjord-side villages—eventually heading north where you'll wrap around the Sognefjord to get back to Bergen for one more night on the town.
