Stavanger Travel Information

Stavanger Travel Information

Coastal city in the south of Norway with postcard-perfect fjord landscapes and with prosperity rising from the presence of the North Sea Oil fields, Stavanger is a city worth seeing. The architecture here is charming with traditional wooden buildings coloring the city, and should you want to explore the history of the area deeper, there are excellent museums to be visited. Stavanger is also a good base for outdoor activities like trekking, mountaineering or sailing. Cruises offer an excellent way of seeing the coastal landscapes around Stavanger.

Prekestolen rock in Stavanger

Stavanger, culturally rich fjord city in Norway, with Pulpit Rock crowning the landscapes

Lively city in Southwestern Norway, Stavanger is famous for its scenic coastal landscapes. The one thing printed in most postcards sent from Stavanger is Preikestole (Pulpit Rock), a high cliff rising from the waters of Lysefjord. This steep cliff rises 604 m above the sea level and offers an amazing panorama over the Norwegian coast.

Outdoor activities. Should you want to go trekking in Stavanger, climbing the rock by foot takes about two hours. As there are plenty of boat tours from Stavanger, you can also admire the rock formation from sea. A variety of other outdoor activities from sailing and fishing to kayaking and mountain climbing are also available in Stavanger. There are also sandy beaches near Stavanger to enjoy during sunny summer days, and winter sports lovers can also find some ski resorts in the region.

Fountain in Stavanger

Cultural heritage. Besides the scenic landscapes and outdoor sport opportunities, Stavanger attracts also with its architecture and services. You can find traditional wooden buildings everywhere in the city, and historical monuments such as the 12th century cathedral and the Three Swords offer an interesting addition to your sightseeing tours in Stavanger. Museums and rich arts scene with high class theater performances and the popular Stavanger Symphony Orchestra make the picture of a culture city complete. As a bonus to this all you will have a possibility to admire the 12th century Utstein Monastery, which is among the best preserved monasteries of Norway.

Colorful houses in Stavanger

Practical information for your trip to Stavanger

Stavanger is located in the Southwest coast of Norway south from Bergen. For flights and travelling to Stavanger, search for connections to Sola Stavanger Airport, which is located only a short drive outside the city. Travelling to Stavanger by road is quite slow due to mountainous geography of Norway, with coastal fjords making the driving even more slow.

However, both Oslo and Bergen are reachable by car or train from Stavanger in a few hours. Public transport in Stavanger is offered mainly by taxi and buses. For more independent touring, try car rental in Stavanger. Cruises from Stavanger are another good way for sightseeing in the scenic area.

City center of Stavanger

Weather in Stavanger is changeable. Summers (June-August) are usually warm with up to 20°C temperatures, while winters (November- March) are cold with below zero temperatures. Moderate rainfall is received in Stavanger all around the year. If you travel for summer activities, visit Stavanger between May and September, and if for snow sports, come between December and March.

A bridge in Stavanger by night

A wealthy Norwegian city with modern and traditional attractions, Stavanger is a relatively popular travel destination. Although prices in the city are high, services are comfortable. Hotels in Stavanger range from traditional city hotels to Bed and Breakfasts, with also camping grounds available. Some of the best restaurants in Stavanger are specialized in fish dishes. As for nightlife in Stavanger, the city is among the most active in Norway. As Stavanger is a very safe destination, moving around outside is safe also after dark. English is spoken by many locals in the city.

Svalbard (Spitsbergen)

Svalbard (Spitsbergen)

A spectacular archipelago located in the icy waters well above the Arctic Circle, Svalbard is full of unique landscapes consisting of magnificent glaciers, deep blue fjords, snow-capped mountains, and picturesque villages. The islands of Svalbard belong to Norway but host also a Russian mining town, offering twofold cultural experiences. As a bonus to this all is the peace and silence offered by these beautiful islands, which are a suitable destination for travelers seeking nature experiences in extreme conditions.

North sea cruise in Svalbard

Svalbard, scenic arctic islands blending Norwegian and Russian traditions

A remote arctic archipelago ruled by Norway, Svalbard is an interesting mixture of stunning arctic nature and twofold cultural traditions coming from Norway and Russia. The majority of the local people live in Longyearbyen, a small Norwegian town located by a fjord on Spitsbergen Island at the foot of scenic mountains.

Longyearbyen consists of colorful houses that form a picturesque contrast to the mountains and water around, making the town a stunning sight. This capital of Svalbard offers also excellent possibilities for adventurous, most would say even extreme kayaking on Svalbard or hiking on Svalbard next to the astonishing glaciers such as Esmarkbreen, blue fjords and high mountains of Svalbard. During the wintertime, which on arctic Svalbard is amazingly long, there are dogsled and snowmobile safaris on Svalbard available for visitors. During the summer period,cruises from Svalbard offer a nice way for sightseeing.

Arctic landscapes of Dvalbard

The main attraction of Svalbard is definitely its stunning Arctic nature with polar bears and seabird colonies. The many uninhabited and protected islands of Svalbard, such as Barentsøya, Nordaustlandet, and Edgeøya offer great possibilities for wildlife encounters. Boat tours and cruises on Svalbard waters can take you to these remote places. The Svalbard Islands also have a strong Russian minority, which against many beliefs is not of military origin, but settled in the islands as a working force for the local coal mines. The Russian minority of Svalbard is settled in Barentsburg, a small village hosting nationality-based cultural attractions such as Lenin statues, milk bars and Soviet-style architecture. The village offers also Pomor Museum with stuffed animals such as polar bears, and with a dinosaur footprint.

Poppies in Svalbard

Remote archipelago of midnight sun and extreme conditions

If the climate of Svalbard should be described with one word only, the word would definitely be cold. Located above the Arctic Circle, Svalbard misses the warm days and has to do with summertime temperatures of around 10°C, which restricts most of tourism in Svalbard to summer months between June and August.

During the winter temperatures on Svalbard stay below zero most of the time, with high average monthly temperatures between December and March dropping below -10°C. During the summer the archipelago enjoys the phenomenal midnight sun, which means the sun stays above the horizon all day.

Arctic cruise in Svalbard

How to get there. Located in the Arctic Ocean north from Norway, Svalbard can be best reached by air. The main airport of the archipelago is located in Longyearbyen, and offers flights to Svalbard mainly from Norway and Russia. Cruises in Svalbard usually originate from Longyearbyen. For moving around the islands, most people choose boats during the summer or snowmobiles in the winter, but also some rental cars on Svalbard are available. However, keep in mind that there is only 50 miles of road to drive here.

Seabirds in Svalbard

Services. Possibilities for accommodation in Svalbard are concentrated in Longyearbyen, which hosts also most of the restaurants in Svalbard. Shopping possibilities in Svalbard are restricted and concentrated on Lompensenteret, a two-story department store situated in Longyearbyen, which is also the least quiet place on the islands when it comes to the very quiet nightlife in Svalbard. However, as Svalbard has tax-free status, many articles have lower prices in Svalbard than in mainland Norway. Leaving aside the dangers of the Arctic nature such as the polar bears and the extreme weather conditions, Svalbard is a safe destination offering you plenty of stunning landscapes boosted with peace and silence.

Oslo Travel Information

Oslo Travel Information

Charming Scandinavian fjordside city with plenty of attractions, the capital of Norway, Oslo has been characterized as one of the most beautiful cities in Northern Europe. With ski jumping hills, museums, shopping facilities, and cultural sights, Oslo is an attractive travel destination for a reason. The city might be expensive, but it is interesting all the same.

Akershus Fortress in oslo

Attractions of Oslo from Holmenkollen to new Opera House:

Located at the coast of the Oslofjord and formerly known as Christiania, Oslo is the political, economic, and cultural center of Norway. The medieval Akerhus Castle and Fortress standing in front of Oslo’s harbor is the most important architectural sight of the city. In addition to Akerhus, Oslo is also home to other famous buildings such as the Oslo Cathedral and the Royal Palace that is the home of the king of Norway. The spectacular new seaside Opera House of Oslo can be admired also from inside when attending concerts, ballet and opera in Oslo. There are several interesting museums in Oslo to be visited. You can start from for example with the Folk Museum and get on with more special places such as Viking ship museums or the Nobel Peace Center. See also the famous Vigeland Sculpture Park within the Frogner Park of Oslo.

Oslo parliament house

Outdoor sports. As the Norwegians are a dedicated outdoor sport nation, it would be strange to find no sporting facilities in their capital city. The most famous sporting place in Oslo is Holmenkollen Ski Stadium that attracts many with its ski jumping hill, the tower of which offers excellent views over the city. However, do come down along the stairs, as there are more suitable places available for an average person to practice outdoor sports in Oslo. You could try for example the cross-country skiing tracks of Holmenkollen, or the walking trails of the many recreational areas located in the forested surroundings of the Norwegian capital, offering possibilities for outdoor sport activities such as trekking in Oslo and biking in Oslo. Another popular outdoor hobby, golf in Oslois also offered, after which you could try for example the services of the public swimming pools or the modern spas in Oslo.

Practical information for your trip to Oslo

Weather in Oslo is changeable. Summers (June-August) are usually warm with up to 20-25°C temperatures, and winters (November- March) are cold with below zero temperatures. Some rainfall is received by Oslo all through the year. Generally, Oslo is worth a visit anytime but at its best outside winter from April to October.

A street in front of Oslo station

How to get there. Located in Scandinavia, Norway’s capital is in most cases best reached by air. Flights to Osloare available from all over the world, in addition to which this city in the south of Norway is easily reachable also by car ferry from Germany and Denmark, and by train from Sweden. The efficient public transport system in Oslo consists of buses, trains, trams and metro, which are all available with the same ticket, making moving around in Oslo very easy. If you want to be independent, renting a car in Oslo is also easy, but by no means cheap.

Royal palace in Oslo

Visitor services. Oslo is a popular touristic city with well-maintained tourism services. The many hotels in Osloand restaurants in Oslo offer good quality for visitors. If you do not have shortage of money, the Norwegian capital offers also nice possibilities for shopping in Oslo, and many suitable places for nightlife in Oslo. Tourist services in Norway have one unpleasant feature, which is their high price. While Norway is a very expensive country, it still offers excellent use for your money. Oslo is also a quite safe destination, although pick-pocketing and theft are not unheard of. Local people in this wealthy city commonly speak also English.

Tromso (Tromsø)

Tromso (Tromsø)

Small seaside town in the northernmost region of Norway, Tromso is a gateway to arctic nature at its best. It is here you can admire the northern lights and enjoy the phenomenal midnight sun. Tromso offers you also good facilities for outdoor life and adventure sports such as trekking, skiing, and mountaineering, and if you want to take it easy, the landscape around Tromso is amazing enough to take your breath away even if you do nothing but drive across the area.

Tromsö city and mountains

Tromso, arctic seaside town in the northernmost corner of Norway

Located almost as far up in the north as you can go by road, Tromso (Tromsø in Norwegian) is one of the best places on earth to see the famous northern lights (Aurora Borealis), which color the arctic sky with miraculous shades of light. Another specific thing about the nature of Tromso is the Midnight Sun, which means the sun never goes below the horizon between the period of May 18th and July 26th.

Summer activities such as trekking in Tromso and fishing in Tromso are very popular here. For culture loving visitors, the fishing villages in the surroundings of the town offer lots to see. While in town, check at least the Tromso museum and the Polar Museum, which are both interesting for understanding local Sami culture and northern nature. Tromsø also hosts a popular music festival and an international film festival.

Tromsö city with snowy mountains in the background

Sightseeing. If you want to concentrate on enjoying the landscapes, there is a cable car available lifting you up to the coastal mountains around Tromso, to enjoy great views over the city and the scenic Norwegian coast. Organized outdoor activities in Tromso are available through the local tourist office that offers anything from dogsled tours and snowmobile safaris in Tromso to off-piste skiing and a wide range of other winter sports in Tromso. Wildlife such as whales, seabirds, and musk ox can be seen around Tromso as well. Tromsø is also a common stop in the ferry route Hurtigruten, which goes along the Norwegian coast. This means you can easily find also scenic fjord cruises from Tromso to be enjoyed.

Practical information for your trip to Tromso

Even though Tromso is located more than 300 km north from the Arctic Circle, local climate is not quite as severe some might expect. Although winters in Tromso are cold and snowy, temperatures are not at all extreme, with average monthly high temperatures during the winter ranging from -2 to 0°C.

However, hot sunny days are very rare in Tromso and average monthly high temperatures stay below 15°C also during the warmest time of the year, which in Tromso means the period between June and August.

Hiking in the mountains around

How to get there. Located in the northern region of Norway in the northernmost part of Europe, Tromso is a long way north from almost anywhere in the world. However, flights to Tromso are available not only through Oslo, but also other alternatives are offered. Tromso is a common stop in the popular ferry route Hurtigruten, going along the Norwegian coast and offering you a possibility to travel to Tromso also by ferry. There are buses as well as rental bikes available for moving around in the area of Tromso. Car rental in Tromso is available at the airport.

Tromso landscapes, shot in November

Services. Due to its northern location, Tromsø is not one of the most common choices for a holiday destination. However, if you do choose this arctic coastal town, you will get to enjoy quite modern services. Although hotels in Tromso and restaurants in Tromso are not that many, they are of good quality, and in spite of being a small town, Tromso has also lively nightlife available, including a popular beer hall. Tourist services of Norway have one unpleasant feature, which is their high price. Norway is generally a very expensive country. However, it offers excellent use for your money. Tromso is also a very safe destination, where English is commonly spoken.

Angkor and Siem Reap

Angkor and Siem Reap

The magical ruins of Angkor offer you a trip deep into history and to the world of magnificent archaeological wonders left behind by the once so powerful Khmer Kingdom. This all, and by Cambodian standards very well organized tourist services, are offered to you in one package by the city of Siem Reap and the nearby Angkor temples in Cambodia.

Buddhist monks in Angkor Wat

Siem Reap and Angkor, famous for its temple ruins

The most famous sight and tourism destination inCambodia is naturally Angkor. These famous ruins date back for more than 1,000 years and can easily capture your attention for days. With thousands of temples and statues stretching over an area of 400 square km, the ruins within Angkor Archaeological Park are the most significant monument left over from the ancient Khmer Kingdom. With more than four million yearly visitors, they are also the most important archaeological site in Southeast Asia. Angkor temples are also an UNESCO World Heritage Site.Sightseeing tours in Angkor are offered with a variety of ways from walking tours to helicopter rides.

The sculptures of Bayon in Angkor Wat

In addition to Angkor, the city of Siem Reap offers interesting Buddhist temples and many museums representing the history of the area and war-time atrocities in Cambodia. For the more peace-loving visitors, there is also an outdoor theater in Siem Reap with traditional dance and theater performances. For nature enthusiasts, the Lake Tonle Sap offers a spectacular place for boat tours, protected areas with wildlife and interesting sights like traditional lakeside dwellings or fishing communities. Tonle Sap is one of the most productive inland fisheries of Southeast Asia, and thus offers ideal surroundings for those who want to go fishing. Other outdoor activities in Siem Reap region include guided hiking and birdwatching trips.Golf in Siem Reap is also available, and shopping in Angkor and Siem Reap is good with affordable prices. With a growing influx of foreigners, nightlife in Siem Reap is also lively with a range of inexpensive bars and pubs available.

Sightseeing in Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Practical information for your trip to Siem Reap

The climate in Siem Reap, as in all of Cambodia, is tropical with hot temperatures all year round.

The best time to travel to Siem Reap is during the Cambodian dry season which lasts from December to April. Outside this period, the monsoon winds bring rains to the area and floods can be expected, but all services are available and with some luck, weather can also be very nice.

Angkor Wat World Heritage Site at sunrise

More peaceful times have come to Cambodia after years of violence. You should still pay extra attention to safety issues even if you are traveling to Siem Reap, which is considered a safer destination than the capital city of Cambodia, Phnom Penh. Although violent crime is rare, it is advised to take good care of your belongings and watch out for scam artists while visiting Angkor and Siem Reap. Another safety issue concerning Cambodia is that it is one of the countries where AIDS is a widespread problem.

Apsara dancers in Siem Reap, Cambodia

How to get there. Flights to Siem Reap are easy to find from many Asian countries. You can also travel to Siem Reap by bus from Thailand, and by bus or boat from Phnom Penh. If you want to explore the surrounding regions by yourself, car rental in Siem Reap is provided by many international firms. There are plenty of restaurants in Siem Reap to choose from, and hotels in Siem Reap also offer a wide variety of choices. Some of them provide also services of spas in Angkor and Siem Reap.