Stavanger is located at the Southwest coast of Norway. The city grew immensely after Norway’s blooming offshore oil industry in the late 60’s and 70’s. It’s today an international city, with almost 140.000 inhabitants. More than 10% of Stavanger population represents foreigners; mainly Polish and British.
Stavanger is more than the Norwegian oil capital. It is also one of the most productive agricultural regions of the country. It’s the city where my life in Norway began.
One of the reasons why I love Stavanger is because it manages to be at the same time big and small, rural and urban, quiet and agitated, typical and international. On the streets, we hear all kinds of different languages and, of course, the typical Stavagish dialect, which sounds a bit like French. There’s Rogaland theater always with nice plays, cinema, shopping centers, international conferences, events and concerts (I love classical concerts at Stavanger Konserthus), international airport. all a metropolis can offer. Here you find International Food Markets, all sorts of clothes and pretty much anything you need to buy. All kinds of Cafes and restaurants, including a two-stars Michelin.
When I moved to Norway, I realized I would have to create new roots and make it my home so that I would be happy here. So I started trying new places when I was hanging out with my classmates from Norwegian course. Soon we got our favorite Cafe: Wayne’s. Awesome smoothies and delicious capuccino and sandwiches, plus international customers made us feel comfortable there. Today, Wayne’s is gone, but remains in our memories.
Old Stavanger 
Gladmat food festival 
Tourism. Huge cruise ships used to come to Stavanger in the Summer (before Corona), because of the fjords. Lysefjord is very popular, with its famous Pulpit Rock. Stavanger downtown is also popular for its cute white houses. The area is called Old Stavanger. On Saturdays, all Cafes are crowded so are the streets and stores. Check my favorite Cafes in Stavanger. There’s so much life in Stavanger Sentrum! In the Summer, there’s the International food Festival and I always visit the Brazilian food kiosk as well as some African kiosks. I see many Norwegians interested in tasting new food. International beach volley also takes place in June/July.
Stavanger history is amazing. In Stavanger and its surroundings, there’s been found remains of the vikings, underground. The three swords bronze sculptures are one of the city’s symbols. They represent the battle of Hafrsfjord, in 872, in which Norway was reunited by king Harald Fairhair.
There are beautiful beaches to visit, forests and parks, boat tours, mountains to go hiking. Contact with nature is intense in Stavanger region. Sola beach is beautiful and super popular in the Summer. The sand is thin and bright like in Brazil. The water, though, is freezing, but worth bathing when the sun is strong and the breeze is weak. Sola is actually another district, neighbor to Stavanger. My favorite places for outdoor activities are: Stokkavatn, Sørmarka, Dalsnutt, Tungenes Fyr.
There’s always a supermarket and a pharmacy nearby. Criminality in Stavanger is mostly about stealing bikes (which is terrible).
Most neighborhoods are calm and quiet. You don’t see many people in the Winter. What a difference when Spring arrives! There’s small tractors and digging machines in every street. All Norwegians renovate their gardens, roofs, etc at the same time, as soon as Spring comes. Check more here: https://makingnorwaymyhome.com/spring-effect-on-norwegians/
Stavanger has given me all I needed to adapt to the Norwegian way of life. In Stavanger, I’ve created new roots, found my favorite places to hang out, to cry, to relax, to have fun, to be myself, to grow. I still find new favorite places after seven years. Here I’ve found wonderful and different groups os friends. Here, I’m raising my family. It’s because I’ve found a sense of belonging here that I decided to create the blog.
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Stavanger is so easy to fall in love with! Accessible, friendly and diverse. I also love my adopted city!!
So true. Thanks for your comment, Sonia. 😉
Your chronic today reminds me that one of Olavo Bilac telling about the little farm of his friend. It makes everyone who doesn’t know Stavanger to be ready to go there.
It’s a lovely description of your town.
The beautiful photos shows it’s really awesome. 👏👏👏
How lovely! Thank you so much for your message. 🙂
Stavanger is really a very nice city.
I’m glad that you like Stavanger too. Thank you for your comment. 😉