Stavanger Walks: Old Town and Colour Street

November 5, 2026

Stavanger is easy to explore on foot, and the best routes cost nothing. The streets are cobbled in the old town, so wear shoes with grip, and rain is common, so pack a waterproof.

Gamle Stavanger

The old quarter above Vågen has about 170 small wooden houses painted white, mostly from the 18th and 19th centuries. Walk the lanes slowly, because the houses are private homes with small gardens. Do not look into windows or step onto private ground. IDDIS, the canning and printing museum, is inside the quarter, and a MUST day ticket at 170 NOK covers it along with other Museum Stavanger sites (Museum Stavanger ).

Fargegaten on Øvre Holmegate

Fargegaten is a pedestrian street where the building fronts are painted in bright colours. It is a different place from Gamle Stavanger, which is all white. Bøker og Børst at Øvre Holmegate 32 is a bookshop café that becomes a bar in the evening, and Hanekam is another bar on the street. Opening hours vary, so check them on the day.

Vågen harbour

Vågen is the inner harbour, lined with old waterfront warehouses and quays such as Strandkaien and Skagenkaien. The Maritime Museum stands at Nedre Strandgate 17 to 19. From the harbour it is a short walk up to the cathedral, which reopened in 2024 and charges 75 NOK for visitors. Hours are on domkirkenogpetri.no .

Street art with Nuart

Nuart has run a street art festival in Stavanger since 2001, and its murals are spread through the city. Guided walking tours and a self-guided route exist, but tour dates change, so look at nuartfestival.no . Tou Scene, a former brewery at Kvitsøygata 25 in Storhaug, is an arts venue on the same side of town.

The Hafrsfjord path

A walking and cycling path of nearly 9 km runs along Hafrsfjord, in the municipalities of Stavanger and Sola. It passes Sverd i fjell at Møllebukta, three bronze swords about 10 metres tall that commemorate the Battle of Hafrsfjord around 872. A Kolumbus bus goes to the monument, so check the line and timetable on kolumbus.no .

Walks outside the city

The famous walks, Preikestolen and Kjerag, are mountain hikes rather than strolls. Preikestolen is 7.6 km return with no fence at the edge, and Kjerag is 11 km with chains and steep rock. Both are covered in the day trips guide.

Browse Stavanger walking tours for guided options.