Stavanger is home to Preikestolen, the cuboid-like, gravity-defying, vast slab of rock that hangs high over a fjord - one of Norway's most iconic images. The city is also famous as the centre of the oil, gas, and renewable energy industry in Norway.
Yet neither is near the top of the main draws of this magical, wild city on the west coast of Norway. Stavanger is compact, buzzing with life, and utterly adorable. Easy to get to and across, this thriving city offers so much for incentive event planners.
Stavanger Old Town is ludicrously charming. The harbour boasts a wonderful, historic promenade. The shopping and entertainment streets are an explosion of colour and urban art. After dark, the waterfront bars and restaurant terraces come alive in central Stavanger.
To the south of the city are what many consider Norway’s best surf beaches - award-winning, with glorious nature and dunes. Dining is excellent, with truly local produce. Stavanger has some remarkable and unique venues for incentive events.
Fringed by water and mountains, central Stavanger is located around the harbour, forming a truly wonderful and compact area to explore on foot. To the west of the city harbour is Stavanger Old Town, with streets of white houses that are jaw-droppingly charming. Easy to navigate on foot, these streets include residential properties, art studios and an original canning factory – a remnant of the early fishing industry.
The central harbour is lined with bars, restaurants and shops and attracts yachts and cruise ships. Just further east of the harbour lies Øvre Holmegate (colour street), which is an explosion of colours, Nordic-style. It is pure eye candy with a long line of terraces and unique bars. The entire area can easily be explored in a few hours, all on foot.
The city invested in a new concert hall, a modern masterpiece whose glass walls overlook the broader harbour and local islands. This event space can be hired for private functions and is easily reached through the old town or harbour promenade. Throughout the city are examples of street art, Banksy-like creations that hide amongst the dream-like buildings of central Stavanger - this really is a magnificent fusion of old and new.
For those looking to explore Stavanger beyond the centre, boats leave the central harbour, and the southern beaches are 20 minutes by road from the central area. Getting to or leaving Stavanger is similarly straightforward - the easy-to-transfer airport is some 15 minutes from the city centre.
Boat trips leave Stavanger harbour for the fjords and islands. The fjords can also be hiked, including the pulpit rock. RIB boats offer a more thrilling and rapid way to see the fjords - they skim down the vast fjords and stop at the main points of interest.
Just south of the city, beautiful beaches offer a range of watersports, including surfing and kitesurfing.
Cultural activities include concerts at the Stavanger Concert Hall, while more contemporary art is displayed throughout the city in the small galleries and public walls. Dining options include a trip to a private island for a feast on locally sourced produce.
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Before hydrocarbons, Stavanger’s income came from its fisheries. Today, the canning plants have closed, but the fish catches remain a staple on the menus. The variants of fish soup in Stavanger are exquisite, especially when enjoyed on the waterfront.
In addition to fish, the Stavanger region produces a wide range of fruits and vegetables, and the city's sustainability campaigns ensure that much of the food is locally sourced. There are a number of excellent restaurants in Stavanger, where visitors can mix with the locals and enjoy some wonderful regional specialities.
One truly special dining experience for an incentive event can be taken on a private island outside of Stavanger. Around 20 minutes by boat, Flor & Fjære offers the chance to dine in a converted greenhouse, amongst lush plants and trees, with first-class food and service.
This might be a greenhouse, but being Norway, it is an incredible structure with superb features and build quality. Fish is caught in the waters off the island and many of the ingredients are grown on-site. The gardens feature outdoor bars and seating areas offering sensational sunset vistas.
The harbour area of Stavanger is the most recognisable hub of nightlife. At night, this area is alive with people on yacht decks, the harbour promenade, and the bar & restaurant terraces.
There is entertainment on both sides of the water, and the reflecting water makes it a magical spectacle.
‘Colourful Street’ is a second locality to enjoy Stavanger by night. It is a hip central quarter with small bars and terraces with a relaxed atmosphere. The profusion of colours makes it an unmissable district.
The colours under lights are no less spectacular than the daytime feast and this central area offers some wonderful authentic bars, including one which offers a free book exchange alongside its beer taps.
