Stavanger Activities: Oil, Fjord and Pubs

November 5, 2026

Stavanger is a compact harbour city, and most of its indoor and urban activities sit within a short walk of Vågen, the inner harbour. Prices are in Norwegian kroner (NOK), not euros, and Norway is one of the most expensive countries to visit, so check the current price before you plan a day around any single ticket.

Norwegian Petroleum Museum and Geoparken

The Norwegian Petroleum Museum (Norsk Oljemuseum) at Kjeringholmen 1a tells the North Sea oil story, from the 1969 Ekofisk discovery to the 1980 Alexander L. Kielland platform disaster. From 1 June to 31 August it opens daily from 10:00 to 19:00. From 1 September to 31 May it opens Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 16:00 and on Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00. It closes on 24, 25 and 31 December, 1 January, Good Friday, Easter Sunday and 17 May.

A single ticket costs 180 NOK for adults, 140 NOK for pensioners aged 65 and over, 90 NOK for students and 60 NOK for children aged 4 to 16. Children under 4 enter free, and a family ticket for two adults and three children costs 420 NOK. Details are on the museum’s own site .

Next to the museum, Geoparken is a free playground designed by Helen and Hard from oil-industry components. It was built for Stavanger’s year as European Capital of Culture in 2008.

On the fjord

Fast rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) leave from the harbour front at Strandkaien for roughly two-hour trips into Lysefjord. Fjord Events and Stavanger RIB are among the operators, and one operator lists a season from 1 May to 30 September. Prices and departure times change, so ask the operator directly. A longer, calmer option is the electric catamaran cruise run by Rødne , which takes 3 to 3.5 hours and costs 890 NOK.

Sea kayaking is possible in the sheltered waters around the city. Choose a guided trip if you are new to it, because the water is cold at any time of year and the wind can rise quickly.

Beer, saunas and the evening

Lervig Local at Alexander Kiellandsgate 2A is the taproom of the Lervig brewery, with tastings and a brewery tour of about 90 minutes for guests aged 18 and over. See the Lervig page for hours. Bøker og Børst on Øvre Holmegate 32 is a bookshop café that turns into a bar, and Cardinal Pub at Skagen 21 is known for a very long beer list. Hours differ between listings, so check before you go.

Damp runs floating saunas at Svankevigå and Hinna that must be booked ahead. One listing from 2024 gave about 225 NOK per person for an hour, so confirm the price on dampsauna.no before you book. A dip in the fjord afterwards is cold.

What Stavanger does not offer

There is no whitewater rafting or canyoning here, no zoo or aquarium, and no tram or metro; local transport is Kolumbus buses and boats. Whales are not watched in Lysefjord. The big outdoor days, Preikestolen and Kjerag, are covered in the day trips guide.

Browse Stavanger activities for guided options.