Stavanger – A family holiday with everything
Looking for holiday that offers experiences in nature, fun and exciting adventure parks and, of course, plenty of family time? Then look no further than Stavanger! Stavanger is less known as a holiday town than Oslo, Bergen and Kristiansand, but actually Norway’s ‘oil capital’ offers a whole host of experiences for the whole family. Here are six tips for a family holiday in the welcoming Western Norwegian city.
Foto: Martin Håndlykken / VisitNorway.com
Solastranden
Most children want at least one beach day every holiday – so isn’t it lucky that some of Norway’s longest and best sandy beaches are in the Stavanger area?In fact, Solastranden, just south-west of Stavanger, was voted the world’s sixth best beach by The Sunday Times in 2004. You can take part in any beach activity here – from lazy sunbathing and refreshing swims to action-packed surfing and kite surfing.
Kongeparken – fun and action for the whole family
Kongeparken amusement park is guaranteed hit: It’s Western Norway’s biggest adventure park and the area’s most popular attraction. There are over 50 activities and adventures to choose from here for the whole family, ranging from the Chocolate Factory, where you can make your own chocolate, to speed and thrills in Norway’s longest bobsleigh run, Norway’s biggest carousel and Norway’s tallest carousel.
Fjord cruise on Lysefjorden
Even the most mobile phone-addicted teenager will be impressed by the landscape around them when you take them on a fjord cruise on Lysefjorden. On this cruise, you can enjoy a whole host of experiences in nature, from the fabled Fantahålå cave, past Hengjanefossen, where you can taste the fresh water from the waterfall, and to the absolute highlight of the trip: the majestic Preikestolen, which towers 604 metres above Lysefjorden’s crystal clear water.
Foto: Sverre Hjørnevik / VisitFlam.com
Family-friendly hikes
The “Sverd i Fjell” artwork consists of three enormous viking swords in bronze that tower over Hafrsfjord at Stavanger. The artwork has been created to commemorate the founding of Norway as a kingdom, at this site in the year 872. The Swords. Take along packed lunch and enjoy it at the foot of the impressive sword while you look out over the fjord’s clear water and feel the importance of this historical landmark.
Afterwards, you can spend the rest of your day enjoying the area’s idyllic walking and cycling trails or visit Stavanger’s sculpture project Broken Column, which is made up of 23 cast iron figures placed around the town
Vitenfabrikken (Science Factory)
In the Vitenfabrikken exhibition and activity centre, you can brush up on your science, mathematics, energy, astronomy and the fascinating industrial history of the region. There are so many fun and exciting activities and experiments to do, where the whole family can learn in an enjoyable way. All of the exhibitions are interactive, so you’re more than welcome to touch things and compete with each other as you walk around the museum.
Foto: Ingeborg Skrudland / Jærmuseet / RegionStavanger
Old Stavanger and Farvegata
If you’d like to spend a day at a more relaxed pace, but also let the purse strings loosen a little, pay a visit to Stavanger city centre. Start the day in Old Stavanger, which consists of 173 wooden houses that were built around 1800. From here, you can take a leisurely and atmospheric stroll back in time among the small white wooden houses and visit the area’s galleries and craft workshops that exude the very special atmosphere of this part of town.
Then head towards “Farvegata”, Norway’s most colourful street. This unique street is home to a wealth of charming shops, cafes, eateries, hairdressers, tattoo artists and much, much more.
Foto: Svenn-Erik Knoff / Visit RegionStavanger