Stavanger - Norway

Stavanger offers 4 docking locations where cruise ships can dock. All of them are located right in front of the city center of Stavanger. For all the information we recommend you to visit the full Stavanger cruise port guide.

The canning museum is located in the former canning factory. With all the fathers on sea catching fish the women and children were left behind to work in the canning factory. See here how the working conditions were and why only tiny little children hands could fill the sardines cans. Depending on where you dock the canning factory is a few minutes walk. You’ll find it is Gamla Stan “old stavanger”.

This 19th century structure is the old watchtowers and watchmens’s museum. This used to be the highest point in town and men used to stand watch here to raise the alarm whenever a fire was spotted. From here you will have a lovely view over the harbor and your ship in port. The watch tower is in the city centre.

This is the oldest stone church of Norway. It was build in 1125 when Stavanger only had 200 inhabitants. It is one of the most interesting buidlings in the country, especially because there is so much history behind it. Did you know this is the only church in the world depicting a devil? Take you time to get into the stories behind the church. The Cathedral is only a few hundred meter walk from the ship.

In front of the cathedral you will find a market square where you can pick up your local souvenirs like t-shirts, local products and even reindeer skin.

This is “old Stavanger” where you’ll find a 173 white washed houses from the 18th century. This used to be the poorest neighbourhood of Stavanger. The mothers and children used to work in the canning factory and the fathers were out on sea. Why were houses white? Red is the colour of copper, yellow color means you used fish oil to paint your house and if you had something to spend… you painted your house white. Gamla stan is in the city centre.

In the city centre you will find the Maritime Museum of Stavanger where you can learn more about the history of Stavanger as fishing village and much more.

Stavanger is known for its white wooden houses. There is one exception to the rule: Øvre Holmegate. This is without doubt the most colourful street of Stavanger. Find many lovely stores and coffee places here.

At the end of the bay you will find a small builing that houses the fish market. Inside you will find all kind of fishy products from the local area. Try all kind of sausages, king crab or the famous Norwegian crab cakes.

When you see this very tiny staircase: stop. It leads from the harbor to the main square in front of the cathedral. The steps are there so that the ducks who breed outside of the city can bring their little ones back to the city in spring time. This happens every spring. When this happens the Norwegian are obligated to call the police so that the police can give the little duckies an escort over the square to the garden behind the cathedral. The steps are in the city centre.

This tall modern piece of art is the eye catcher of the port. Many locals did not get the meaning of it. It is called the “Shrimp” statue because of its form. It actually commemorates the sailors that where lost at sea.

The museum that represents archeology, natural sciences and modern cultural history. It is a very nice museum to visit, especially if you want to know more about vikings and their voyages. From port is 15, km / 20 min walk to the south.