The sailing area around Stavanger is a unique place for sailors, explorers and nature lovers due to its breathtaking scenery, wildlife, historical sights and culinary opportunities. Due to its unique geographical location in the south of Norway and scenic beauty, it is a special sailing area. It is located on the coast of the open Atlantic Ocean, but at the same time in sheltered fjords and bays that protect against strong winds and high waves. Discover for yourself the fjords around Stavanger: Lysefjord, Høgsfjord, Byfjord, Boknafjord and Hafrsfjord. The Byfjord is especially suitable for beginners or family cruises, while the other fjords are more suitable for experienced sailors due to currents, tidal range and more difficult wind conditions.More interesting about the sailing area in the south of Norway is the fact that the nights can be quite short at the 60th parallel.
Climate: oceanic, with temperatures up to 18 °C
Winds: predominantly northwest winds, in the fjords you can often expect calm conditions
Season: June to September
Yacht charter Stavanger
Immerse yourself in the natural beauty of Norway with a yacht charter Stavanger. The archipelago, islands and rocks off the coast offer a breathtaking backdrop for sailors and are also a paradise for animal lovers. Here you can see whales, dolphins, seals and numerous bird species such as sea eagles and puffins. The region is also known for its fishing and seafood, which provides an excellent opportunity for sailors to catch and prepare fresh fish directly from the boat. There are cruises available from Stavanger for different levels of experience. Navigation is relatively easy, you should sail in daylight as navigation is often a bit more challenging even in coastal areas. But in Norway in summer the days are long. In June up to 19 hours.
If you arrive in Stavanger and still have a little buffer before your cruise, there is a lot to experience. As early as the 8th century AD, Stavanger was an important trading center and military base in the region. In the 10th century AD, the city was conquered by King Harald Schoenhaar and incorporated into the unified Norwegian Kingdom.
In the Middle Ages, Stavanger became an important ecclesiastical center, with the construction of the "Stavanger Domkirke" in the 12th century. The city continued to grow as a trading center and fishing port, and in the 16th century it became an important base for the whaling industry. Today, Stavanger is a major business center and has become an important location for international trade fairs and congresses. Stavanger is also known for its cultural and recreational opportunities, including art, music, theater and outdoor activities. Stroll through the historic Gamle Stavanger district, along cobblestone streets lined with white wooden houses from the 18th century, and immerse yourself in the city's history. The "Stavanger Museum" offers visitors the opportunity to learn about the history of the region through an extensive collection of artifacts. If you are looking for culinary specialties, you should try Pølse i lompe. The snack of a thin flatbread with a sausage and various toppings is popular in Norway as a snack between meals.
Getting there: You can reach Stavanger from many major European cities via Stavanger International Airport Sola. With a yacht charter Stavanger you start in marina Aamoy. The distance from the airport to Stavanger is about 30 kilometers and can easily be reached by cab. So please inform yourself in our customer area, if a transfer can be arranged in advance. As a citizen of the EU, your passport must be valid for three months beyond your stay in Norway.
Sailing between fjords and skerries - bay cruising in Norway
During the ice ages, mighty glaciers covered large parts of Norway and dug deep valleys into the land. Gravity slowly pulled the glacier downhill and filled the valley with ice. During this movement, the fjord landscapes of the Norwegian coast were formed. Sailing around the fjords has its own special charm. Due to prevailing currents, the tidal range and strong winds caused by the channel effect, sailing in most of the fjords around Stavanger is not recommended for beginners. The exception is the Byfjord, which forms the entrance to the harbor of Stavanger and extends to the northern tip of the headland Tungeneset and the lighthouse Tungenes fyr there.
The landscape of Norway is unique! Discover the beautiful bays along Norway's rugged coastline © Max Topchii/AdobeStock
Adventure at sea and on land: experience the wonders of Norway on a yacht charter Stavanger
On a yacht charter Stavanger, you'll find a wide potpourri of options. Depending on the focus you want to put on your trip. Make a stop in Helgoysund at the small island Talgje in the Boknafjord. The lush island invites you to go hiking and if you don't want to go too far from the water, you can rent a canoe at the marina and experience, for example, the North Talgje Lagoon from a canoe. The area around Hebnes and Vatlandsvåg is very popular with anglers.
Fish for polak, coalfish or ling in beautiful surroundings. For information on regulations and closed seasons, please visit the website of the Norwegian Ministry of Fisheries.
If you want to explore the fantastic natural landscape of Norway on foot during your sailing trip from Stavanger, there are many possibilities. From the small marina in Erøyna. It goes from here mainly through wooded terrain on paved paths. The routes are suitable for all levels of experience and short walking routes are also possible. Again and again you will find small villages with landing stages on the archipelagos spread between the fjords. For example in Skartveit on the small island Halsnøy. The place has a small beach. Depending on the weather, you can spend a day at the beach or hike up to Eikefjellet. The hike is suitable for inexperienced summiters and can be reached in less than an hour. From 211 meters above sea level, the view is rewarding.
There are also interesting places to visit south of Stavanger. Jørpeland is a larger village, southeast of Stavanger. Here you will find a cinema, several restaurants and a golf course. On the island of Klungholmen in the Jørpeland archipelago, artist Stian H. Skjæveland has installed the so-called Sun Garden. The 8-meter-high work of art, also called the Stonehenge of Norway, represents an ensemble of a pyramid and several ring stones, decorated with Viking runes and ornaments, and is a popular photo motif.
Sailing into the past: a journey through Norway's maritime treasures
If you are drawn to the open sea, you can start from Stavanger and head west. Past the Tungenes Fyr lighthouse, with a stopover at Randaberg Golfklubb if you wish, you will sail to the island of Karmøy. Skudeneshavn is also known as "the white town". Here you can still see many of the traditional white wooden houses while strolling through the small streets. Every year in June the Skudefestivalen takes place here, which is dedicated to coastal culture. The harbor gets very crowded at this time of the year and if you want to find a place next to the countless old wooden ships, you have to book early. The island of Utsira is the smallest municipality in Norway. Take your time and stroll around the island, in recent years many, also international street artists have immortalized themselves here and there is a lot to discover.
Around the island of Røvær there are some beaches to discover and past Haugesund, with the tomb of the first Viking king in the Karmsundet, an approximately 7 kilometers long inlet between the island of Karmøy and the mainland of Norway. In Avaldnses, a Viking festival is held every summer. On the island of Bukkøy there is an open-air museum. There, life in the days of Harald Schoenhaar and his successors is recreated with a large market, traditional crafts and various activities.
The north of Norway also has a lot to offer. Start like the explorers Amundsen and Nansen from Tromsø, the largest city in the north of the country. Sweden and Finland also have varied sailing areas to offer. If you prefer to sail through more southern climes, you will find a wide range of sailing spots among the classics Croatia, Greece and Spain.
Skudeneshavn, with its traditional whitewashed wooden houses, exudes its own special charm © paffy/AdobeStock
Yacht charter Stavanger - set sail with 1a Yachtcharter!
