When is the best time to fly to Stavanger?
Stavanger has a coastal climate, which means at best, the weather can be unpredictable on any given day. In general, though, June, July and August make up peak travel season and is when most travellers book their flights to Stavanger. Not only do these months boast the warmest weather of the year, but they also host Stavanger’s exciting festival period. The festival season is kicked off by Maijazz, Stavanger’s oldest annual jazz festival. The event attracts many artists from all over the world to come and perform in many of the 40 concerts offered to attendees throughout the festival.
December, January and February have the coldest weather of the year, which could mean a better chance of finding cheap flights to Stavanger. For the best of both worlds, try visiting during the shoulder season months of September, October, April and May, when there are fewer crowds, discounted accommodation and flight rates and enjoyable weather.
City overview
One of the largest cities in Norway, Stavanger is certainly a unique destination for even the most experienced of travellers. This seaside town, once known for its impressive sardine industry, has since become known for another natural resource: oil. Both of these local riches are celebrated in museums dedicated to their impact on the region.
But Stavanger’s celebrations hardly stop there. Annual festivals bring an easy atmosphere to the city throughout the year, whether the locals are coming out to celebrate wine, jazz or garlic. Coinciding your flight to Stavanger during a festival is the perfect introduction to the city’s old world charm, complete with hundreds of historic wooden houses and quaint cobblestone streets.
But wander through Stavanger long enough and the influences of the modern world will soon become clear. The oil industry – and the international attention it’s since drawn – has created a new Stavanger, where the wood and cobblestone of yesteryear sit side-by-side with modern bars, cafes and restaurants, offering plenty of opportunities for travellers to unwind with the locals.
While in Stavanger, there are a few attractions that aren’t to be missed. After visiting the Stavanger Oil Museum and Canning Museum and wandering through Old Stavanger, get the camera ready and head to the Three Swords monument near the Hafrsfjord. Giant bronze swords jut out from the mountainside, and with the water as a backdrop, this is a photo opportunity that’s not to be missed. Speaking of not-to-be-missed photo opportunities, the dramatic cliff of the Pulpit Rock towering over the Lysefjord is another must-see and well worth the easy hike.