With one of the few urban centers in the region not destroyed by fires or World War II, Stavanger has retained a wealth of historic treasures to explore. With its plentiful music venues, international festivals and museums featuring everything from Vikings to sardines, the city is also a vibrant cultural hub. Gamle Stavanger, with its cobbled streets and beautifully preserved 18th-century homes, is one of the largest surviving settlements of wooden houses in northern Europe. A short walk away, the 12th-century Stavanger Cathedral stands in likewise pristine condition. For all of Stavanger’s charms, its most popular attraction stretches for 26 miles beyond the town – the vivid blue waters of Lysefjord bordered by cliffs soaring to heights of 3,300 feet. Take a boat tour through the majestic fjord, or embark on a rigorous two-hour hike up to the massive granite plateau of Pulpit Rock for breathtaking views from high overhead.
