Panoramic Stavanger

Explore Stavanger’s colorful past and present on a sightseeing drive that introduces the city’s most scenic locales. This 900-year-old harbor city possesses two distinct characters – one is all historical warmth and charm, the other is all youth and modernity, reflecting the city’s university vibe and recent oil and energy wealth. On this panoramic orientation tour, you’ll encounter both those personalities along with plenty of stellar beach, mountain, and fjord views. You’ll pass by the harbor’s quaint fish and farmer’s market and older residential sections, where Stavanger’s centuries-old roots are most apparent. Stavanger Cathedral, too, has retained its handsome 14th-century looks and inviting market square. Yet just beyond sits one of many contemporary landmarks that dot the city, too – the innovatively designed Petroleum Museum, looking like a sleek cluster of oil storage tanks perched on waterfront stilts. Perhaps the most photogenic of all is Gamle Stavanger, its meandering cobbled lanes lined with Northern Europe’s best-preserved collection of 18th-century wooden houses. A close runner-up will be your spin past Hafrsfjord and along the southwest Norway coast. Its magnificent blend of sand, sea, sky and light is timeless.

• Wear weather-appropriate clothing, include a sweater or light jacket.
• Flat, comfortable walking shoes are recommended.