Stavanger - Norway - page 233

9

Stavanger

W ith a population of 100,000, Sta-
vanger is the fourth-largest city in
Norway and the capital of southwest-
ern Norway. Known for its low
wooden houses, the city has been
around for 9 centuries.
Stavanger lies in the midst of south-
western Norway in a setting of sandy
but very chilly North Sea beaches set
against a backdrop of deep-blue fjords
and towering mountains. The core of
the city opens onto one of Norway's
most colorful harbors, a delightful
medley of the old and the new. You
can wander the area's narrow streets
for hours, visiting shops, restaurants,

cafes, and galleries, as well as its
vibrant marketplace.
Lying on Ryfyllkefjord, Stavanger
has always been a bustling seaport
with a thriving fish-canning industry.
Today it's the oil capital of Norway. As
a center of wealth and economic clout,
it has become one of Scandinavia's
most cosmopolitan cities, yet it also
remains a charming seaport amid
beautiful surroundings. The old mar-
ketplace, where fish and vegetables
have been sold since the 9th century, is
set against the Domkirke, or cathedral
(see “Seeing the Sights,” later in this
chapter).

1 Orientation
ARRIVING
BY PLANE Flights land at Stavanger International Airport at Sola, 14km
(8 1 ⁄ 2 miles) south of the city center. SAS ( & 81-52-04-00 ) and Braathens ASA
( & 81-52-00-00 ) fly between Oslo, Bergen, and Kristiansand S, and Stavanger.
Widerøe ( & 81-00-12-00 ) flies from Bergen to Stavanger. These airlines also
serve Stavanger from London, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and Aberdeen, Scotland.
A taxi from the airport to the city center goes for 200NOK to 250NOK
($28-$36).
BY TRAIN Direct trains from Oslo require seat reservations and take 8 hours,
traveling via Kristiansand S. A one-way fare costs 783NOK ($111). About three
trains per day arrive from Oslo in Stavanger, and there is one overnight service.
For rail information in Oslo, call & 81-50-08-88 or visit www.nsb.no. For more
detailed train information in Stavanger, call the Jernbanestasjon, the Stavanger
Train Station, at & 51-56-96-10.
BY BUS There is a daily Nor-Way Buss Ekspress between Oslo and Stavanger,
taking 11 hours and costing 630NOK ($89) for a one-way ticket. Call & 81-
54-44-44 or visit www.nor-way.no for information and schedules. The same
company also offers a bus from Bergen to Stavanger, taking 6 hours and costing
380NOK ($54). There is also service between Kristiansand S and Stavanger, tak-
ing 4 1 ⁄ 2 hours and costing 320NOK ($45) one-way.