Stavanger

Two things that spring to mind when visiting Norway:

1. According to the United Nations Standard of Living survey, Norway is still one of the world’s best countries to live in
2. Norway’s famous saying is “There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing!” so be warned, a bit of rain or snow will not stop anything here.

Stavanger

Stavanger is a city situated around a beautiful harbor “Skagen”, located in the West of Norway with a population of approx. 150,000 inhabitants (estimated 2024 covering an area of 235.4 km² .  Stavanger is within the municipality of Rogaland, Norway (Official Website).  The Gulf Stream which creates warmer temperatures throughout the year compared to other cities at similar latitudes. According to Köppen climate classification, Stavanger experiences an oceanic climate (Cfb) with five months with a mean temperature above 10 °C (50 °F). The city has also a slight continental climate influence which can create subzero lows during winter. The city is relatively wet with an annual average of 1,180 millimetres (46 in) of precipitation, however, you can also experience some very beautiful summer days from May through to October.

A city that often hits lists of expensive cities in the world, Stavanger has even been ranked as the world’s most expensive city by certain indexes; however, you cannot fail to be impressed but its natural beauty and delightful charm. Stavanger has the largest collection of wooden houses in northern Europe, there’s an estimated 8,000 of the timber buildings lining the city’s streets.  Gladmat Food Festival is held each year and is considered to be one of Scandinavia’s leading food festivals.  Stavanger was officially established as a city in 1125 and celebrates its 900^th birthday in 2025, you can read more about this exciting time here.

Safety And Emergency Services

In the event of an emergency, please call: 110 – Fire, 112 – Police, 113 – Ambulance.  Seat belts are compulsory, plus there is the “Right Hand Rule” where means all drivers must give way to traffic from the right (typically on smaller roads). Drivers must always yield to pedestrians at zebra crossings (even without traffic lights) and this rule is strictly enforced.

Smoking restrictions

It is not permitted to smoke in public buildings and other places open to the public.

Crime

Whilst crime is very low here, it pays to be observant at all times plus like any other bustling, affluent city midnight around the bar areas is very loud and full of activity.  I would suggest a visit, not in terms of danger just due to your typical youngsters enjoying life!

Travel And Transport

The local airport is Stavanger Airport, Sola, and offers direct flights to over 50 different cities. In terms of taxis, you can pay in cash (kroner only) or by credit card. If you wish to pay by card, inform the driver at the start of the trip, the majority accepts the most common cards. NB – Upon arrival at the airport, there is always a long line of taxis waiting outside arrivals (taxis won’t accept bookings to pick up from the airport) and you can expect to pay approx. NOK400-500 from Sola Airport to the City Centre. You can take a taxi from the many taxi ranks throughout the city, plus you are free to use whichever taxi company/driver you wish and do not have to choose the first in line at the rank.  You can also hail a taxi in the street or simply phone for one, however, some companies charge for a call-out fee and start the meter the moment they arrive at your location, plus they are very expensive! NB – Safety Tip – swipe (not pay) your credit card upon entering the taxi into the pay machine so you are registered in the system. I suggest using www.stavangertaxi.no to book either online or call 0047 5190 9090.

The most common method of transport within the city is walking so don’t be shocked when you get a “strange look” from the hotel receptionist if asking for a taxi to the nearby local restaurant. A cheaper option is to take the www.flybussen.no/en, approx. costs NOK169 and takes approx. 20 mins, plus we have a very good train network www.vy.no and bus www.kolumbus.no network.

The Culinary Region

Restaurants and food ingredients in these parts of Norway have received excellent reviews from national food critics, as well as from the Michelin guide. Stavanger became in 2016 the first Norwegian city, except for the capital, to have this highly sought-after Michelin star. Stavanger has three one starred restaurants, plus one three Starred Michelin restaurant.  There are very many popular bars situated around the waterfront (Skagen), from the vibrant “place to be seen” Tom And Lello Nightclub to the chilled, sophisticated Norvold Vinbar! plus we have the delightful “Fargegaten”, the colourful candy coloured buildings which house everything from gorgeous niche shops, cool hairdressers, delicious restaurant and cozy cafes and bars and the up and coming “Pedersgata” area with an exciting variety of food, drinks, sales, services and art & culture from all corners of the world, Pedersgata is simply a small town in the city, and the only place in Stavanger you can get a sense of Copenhagen, Greenland and exciting neighbourhoods in big cities, like Williamsburg/Brooklyn.

Suggestions for restaurants, Fresh fish at Fisketorget, authentic South East Asian at Noodlenoodle and the newly built K8 boasting a roof top bar/restaurant, a delightful coffee bar and excellent conference facilities.  

Local Business Etiquette and Customs

Family and home/work-life balance are very important to Norwegians, the working day usually starts at 08.00 and ends at 16.00 (prompt!) and weekends are for family and friends. Norway boasts a “40% women on the board or dissolve” sanction, whilst both parents share the childcare for the first year; with fathers taking up to three months off work (paid) to look after their child.

The dress is very comfortable and casual (office workers even wear jeans to work), so most people venture out in waterproof/windproof clothes and as the centre is full of cobbled streets, so high shoes or “taxi shoes” are not recommended, plus “Luxury” items such as hairdressers and beauty treatments can be very costly.

“Oil Capital of Europe” 

Whilst Norwegians are often referred to as laid back and generally, quite modest Stavanger is also known as the “Oil Capital of Europe”.  Oil was discovered near Stavanger in 1969. Shortly before Christmas in 1969, the Norwegian government was informed by Phillips Petroleum Company of the discovery of what became Ekofisk, a large oil field about 320 km southwest of Stavanger. To this day, it is one of the most significant oil fields in the North Sea.

The petroleum industry provided the Norwegian government with a total estimated net income of NOK 238 billion in 2019 alone, and that figure is expected to rise to NOK 245 billion in 2020.  Norway have been sensible with their money, and the funds currently reside in two separate pots. In 1967, the government introduced the Government Pension Fund Norway, a form of national insurance fund that is limited to domestic and Scandinavian investments.

The far bigger of the two sovereign wealth funds, is the Government Pension Fund Global. Established in 1990, it is known informally as the ‘Oil Fund’ and has over 1.6 trillion US Dollars’ worth of assets worldwide. It is the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund holding, approximately 1.4% of global stocks and shares.

Every two years, Stavanger organizes the Offshore Northern Seas (ONS), which is the second largest exhibition and conference for the energy sector.

Leesa Sikveland  – Originally from Manchester, I moved to Stavanger in 2009 with my Norwegian husband and live here as a “local foreigner”. I have two children and work full time as an Executive Assistant to the Management Team within the oil industry.   I have over 30 years of EA/Event Management experience within various industries and love trying out new places and sharing the information (however more importantly I hate not knowing about new places!). I run a local Facebook group called “Moving to and Living in Stavanger” with nearly 7000 members, plus a network group for PA/EA’s of the main Oil Industry Leaders within the Stavanger region.

Please feel free to contact me personally with any questions you may have or you can find out more about the beautiful region on http://www.regionstavanger.com/en and  www.visitnorway.com.