tunnel
Ryfylke Tunnel (Ryfast)
The world's longest and deepest subsea road tunnel, running 14.4 km beneath the fjord from Stavanger to Ryfylke and reaching 292 m below sea level.
2 km · about 5 min drive
Rogaland, Norway · Europe
Stavanger is worth a stop: 15 minutes from Randaberg, 26km from Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock).
Stavanger is a city located in Rogaland, Norway. With a population of 148,682, it is an important destination in Europe.
On a road trip, Stavanger sits in Norway, where you drive on the right. It's in the Europe/Oslo time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Stavanger to your route.
Stavanger, officially the Stavanger Municipality, is a city and municipality in Norway. It is the third largest city and third largest metropolitan area in Norway (through conurbation with neighboring Sandnes Municipality) and the administrative center of Rogaland county. The municipality is the fourth most populousRead more
in Norway. Located on the Stavanger Peninsula in southwest Norway, Stavanger counts its official founding year as 1125, the year the Stavanger Cathedral was completed. Stavanger's core is to a large degree 18th- and 19th-century wooden houses that are protected and considered part of the city's cultural heritage. This has caused the town center and inner city to retain a small-town character with an unusually high ratio of detached houses, and has contributed significantly to spreading the city's population growth to outlying parts of Greater Stavanger.
The city's population rapidly grew in the late 20th century due to its oil industry. Stavanger is known today as the Oil Capital of Norway. Norwegian energy company Equinor, the largest company in the Nordic region, has its headquarters in Stavanger. Multiple educational institutions for higher education are located in Stavanger. The largest of these is the University of Stavanger.
Domestic and international military installations are located in Stavanger, including the NATO Joint Warfare Centre. Other international establishments, and especially local branches of foreign oil and gas companies, contribute further to a significant foreign population in the city. The city has a strong international profile and 22.1% of the population has an immigrant background. In 2020, it was rated as the most liveable city for European expatriates in Norway as well as 5th in Europe by ECA International. Stavanger has, since the early 2000s, consistently had an unemployment rate significantly lower than the European average. In August 2022, the unemployment rate was 1.6%. The city also appears on various lists of most expensive cities in the world, and it has even been ranked as the world's most expensive city by certain indices.
The climate of the city is very mild by Nordic standards due to a strong maritime influence. As a result, winter usually remains above freezing whereas heat waves are rare and seldom long. Rainfall is common, although less so than in areas further north on the coastline.
Stavanger is served by international airport Stavanger Airport, Sola, which offers flights to cities in most major European countries, as well as a limited number of intercontinental charter flights. The airport was rated as one of the world's most punctual airports of its category by OAG in 2020.
Every two years, Stavanger organizes the Offshore Northern Seas (ONS), which is the second largest exhibition and conference for the energy sector. The Gladmat food festival is also held each year and is considered to be one of Scandinavia's leading food festivals. The city is also known for being one of the nation's premier culinary clusters. Stavanger was awarded the 2008 European Capital of Culture alongside Liverpool.
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Stavanger offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.
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Stavanger is located in Rogaland, Norway, Europe. The coordinates are 58.9701 latitude, 5.7333 longitude.
Stavanger has a population of approximately 148,682 people, making it a city in Norway.
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Essential numbers in Norway
Many toll roads use automatic plate recognition (AutoPASS). Headlights required at all times.
Full driving guide for Norway7 notable places within an hour's drive.
tunnel
The world's longest and deepest subsea road tunnel, running 14.4 km beneath the fjord from Stavanger to Ryfylke and reaching 292 m below sea level.
2 km · about 5 min drive
natural wonder
A flat-topped cliff rising 604 meters above Lysefjorden, one of Norway's most iconic and thrilling viewpoints.
26 km · about 30 min drive
coastal drive
Flat, windswept coastal drive south of Stavanger past endless dune beaches, stone-walled farmland and lighthouses: Norway's softest coastline and a favourite of surfers and sunset chasers.
30 km · about 35 min drive
natural wonder
A 42km sheer-walled fjord framed by Pulpit Rock and Kjerag, threaded by a serpentine fjord-side road.
39 km · about 45 min drive
scenic viewpoint
A boulder wedged in a mountain crevice 984 metres above the Lysefjord, one of Norway's most thrilling photo opportunities.
49 km · about 55 min drive
mountain pass
A spectacular Norwegian mountain road descending 900m through 27 hairpins and a spiral tunnel to the Lysefjord, near the famous Preikestolen cliff.
53 km · about 60 min drive
famous road
A dramatic mountain road in Norway with 27 hairpin bends providing access to the famous Pulpit Rock viewpoint.
55 km · about 65 min drive
May to September
Far northern latitude: short daylight hours outside summer make long drives harder.
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