It’s still Summer and the water temperature is around 20 degrees this week. I encourage you all who are here to bathe. In Brazil, I used to bathe and swim practically year round. I’m glad I still do it here in Norway. It’s Summer, I bathe. Once you are in the water, the experience is worth it. Plus, the water is usually clean.
Still, if you feel that the water is too cold for you, just put your feet in it for a while. The Norwegian verb å vasse = to wade, means walk in the water up to your knees. That’s what I do in the Fall and Spring. From September to April, Norwegian water is too cold for me to bathe. Then I vasse. Sometimes the water is so cold I lift one leg up in the air for the blood to circulate again and give it a rest from freezing. Just like a flamingo. Seriously, I feel all my feet bones freezing in so much pain. Most children don’t mind the cold, though.
Some of you who have read my first post about bathing in the fjords https://makingnorwaymyhome.com/swimming-in-norway-nadando-na-noruega/ have asked me for tips on where to bathe in Stavanger region. So here are my favorite places to bathe:
Vaulen Beach. It’s located near Mariero neighborhood. The place is beautiful and there’s both grass and sand for you to sit. There’s a zipline for children. No waves and it’s pretty safe. Diving board. There are toilets and free parking.
Sola Beach. It’s near Sola international airport. There are buses that stop nearby and free parking for cars. This beach reminds me of the Brazilian beaches as the sand is thin and bright. The small waves are no threat as the water is shallow in a long distance. Sola beach has been crowned sixth best beach in the world by The Sunday Times. There’s a Hotell and spa called Standhotell where you can have dinner and admire the view. Many Norwegians who live in Stavanger stay there for one night with their best friends or for a romantic night with their better half. The cover picture is also Sola beach.
Badedamen. It’s downtown. It’s a good choice for those who live in Sentrum and Stavanger Øst. There’s a diving board and slide. It’s small and cute.
Hellestrøstranden. It’s a bit farther from Sola beach. It’s very beautiful long beach, with 3,5 km long. I like to go there for a walk in the Winter.
By Juliana Linares Øverland.
Møllebukta. It’s the one by the three swords monument. I love this place. The three swords refer to the battle that brought Norway together. King Harald Fairhair won and unified Norway. Also safe, shallow, no waves. Diving board.
Boganes Beach is located near Jåttå neighborhood. It’s a nice place to go for a walk, cycling, sailing, kayaking, and bathing, of course. The sand stripe is narrow though.
Lille Stokkavannet is a lake, not a beach, but you can bathe there. The whole area is worth a visit.
Other suggestions for you to bathe here:
Do you have a favorite beach? Enjoy the Norwegian Summer!
Cover picture By allen watkin from London, UK – Stavanger beach, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=32035501
Realmente Sola Beach tem características que nos fazem lembrar mais das praias brasileiras. Penso ser a mais bonita.
Enjoy the summer ! Each season has its charm.