39 Best Sights in Southern Norway, Norway

Resembling a shiny offshore oil platform, the dynamic Norsk Oljemuseum is an absolute must-see. In 1969, oil was discovered off the coast of Norway, and the museum explains how oil forms, how it's found and produced, its many uses, and its impact on Norway. Interactive multimedia exhibitions accompany original artifacts, models, and films. A reconstructed offshore platform includes oil workers' living quarters complete with the sound of drilling and the smell of oil. There's also a climate change exhibition. There's even a small oil rig for children to explore. After the visit, stop by the museum restaurant, run by Kjeringholmen brasseri, and shop local products in the museum's great gift shop. 

The striking rune stone in the cemetery of Oddernes kirke says that Eyvind, godson of St. Olav, built this church in 1040 on property he inherited from his father. One of the oldest churches in Norway, it has a baroque pulpit from 1704 and is dedicated to St. Olav.

South of Stavanger, this 5-km (3-mile) beach is considered to be one of Norway's longest sandy beaches. It’s a great place for a stroll or a swim; it was granted Blue Flag status in 2017. Located along the beach, the Orre Outdoor Activity Center (Orre Friluftshus) has an information center and café. Amenities: food and drink; parking (free); toilets. Best for: solitude; sunrise; sunset; swimming; walking.

The only saltwater aquarium in this part of Norway, Risør Akvarium has more than 100 species that you can watch through massive glass windows. Kids love feeding the fish and checking out Norway's largest lobster.

A stone's throw from the fishing trawlers and store warehouses, this market is where fishermen bring their fresh catch every day. Fiskemottak means "fish landing," and the name says it all. You're likely to see types of fish you've never laid eyes on before. You will also find a fish shop here and an outdoor restaurant during the summer.

This art museum sits by the lovely Lake Mosvatnet, about 3 km (2 miles) from the city center. Its holdings, which cover the early 19th century to the present, include an extensive collection of works by Lars Hertervig (1830–1902), a great romantic painter of Norwegian landscapes. The Halvdan Hafsten Collection has paintings and drawings created between the world wars. They also have a café and a shop in the glass dome entrance. 

Housed in the only two shipping merchants' houses that remain completely intact is Stavanger Maritime Museum. Built between 1770 and 1840, the restored buildings trace the past 200 years of trade, sea traffic, and shipbuilding. Visit a turn-of-the-20th-century general store, a merchant's apartment, and a sailmaker's loft. A reconstruction of a shipowner's office and a memorial are also here, as are two 19th-century ships, the sloop Anna af Sand, and the Colin Archer yacht Wyvern, moored at the pier.

The site where Norway was founded has been memorialized by these three huge bronze swords, designed by artist Fritz Røed and unveiled by King Olav in 1983. The memorial is dedicated to King Harald Hårfagre (Harald the Fairhaired), who through an 872 battle at Hafrsfjord managed to unite Norway into one kingdom. The Viking swords' sheaths were modeled on ones found throughout the country; the crowns atop the swords represent the different Norwegian districts that took part in the battle.

Founded in the late 1200s, Utstein is the best preserved medieval monastery in Norway. It's a museum, but it's also used for weddings and events. Public transport to the abbey isn't great, so it's best to rent a car. If you rent a car to get to Utstein, you can also take in the medieval ruins and Stone Age rock carvings on nearby Åmøy Island as well as Fjøløy Fyr, a lighthouse.