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Stavanger on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
It is possible, but Stavanger will never be cheap; the trick is free hiking and supermarket food. A realistic minimum is about NOK 1,330 a day per person sharing a room — around NOK 550 for a bed, NOK 450 for food, NOK 200 for sights and NOK 130 for transport.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | NOK550 | NOK950 | NOK1,800 |
| Food & drink | NOK450 | NOK850 | NOK1,400 |
| Sights & tickets | NOK200 | NOK550 | NOK1,000 |
| Local transport | NOK130 | NOK300 | NOK600 |
| Per person, per day | NOK1,330 | NOK2,650 | NOK4,800 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Stavanger day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Walking the lanes of Gamle Stavanger, the old town of white wooden houses
- Fargegaten (Øvre Holmegate), the street of brightly painted houses
- The view from the Valbergtårnet over the harbour
- Hiking Preikestolen (only transport or parking to pay)
- Sverd i fjell, the Swords in Rock monument at Hafrsfjord
- Solastranden, the long sandy beach with dunes south of town
Cheap eats
- Fish cakes from a fish counter
- Shrimp sandwich from a fish counter or supermarket
- Kanelboller (cinnamon buns) from a bakery
- Waffles with brown cheese (brunost)
- Fish soup on the harbour — about NOK 200–250, a filling lunch
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in hostels and simple hotels near the railway station, about 5 minutes' walk from the harbour and buses, where a double costs about NOK 900–1,300. Apartments with kitchens help you save on food. Book early for summer.
Getting around cheaply
Walk the compact centre. Use Kolumbus buses with the app (single about NOK 45–50, 24 hours roughly NOK 130). From the airport, the Flybussen takes about 25 minutes. For Preikestolen, the summer bus is cheaper than a taxi for one or two people.
A sample budget day
- Morning: Gamle Stavanger, Fargegaten and the Valbergtårnet, all free
- Lunch: fish cakes or a shrimp sandwich from a fish counter (about NOK 100–150)
- Afternoon: Norwegian Canning Museum or Petroleum Museum (roughly NOK 180–200)
- Evening: supermarket dinner cooked in your hostel or apartment (about NOK 150–200)
- Total: about NOK 1,330 including a shared room (about NOK 550)
More ways to save
- Choose either the Lysefjord cruise or Preikestolen if money is tight; the hike costs far less.
- Bring snacks and a packed lunch for hikes, as there is nothing to buy on the trail.
- Stay in a place with a kitchen and shop at supermarkets.
- Drink tap water and bring a thermos for hot drinks on cold days.
- Share a car with others for Preikestolen to split parking and the tunnel toll.
- Look for the free beaches and coastal walks of Jæren instead of paid tours.
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Common questions
Can you visit Stavanger on a budget?
Yes, with care. Hike for free, eat from fish counters and supermarkets, and stay near the station. Plan on about NOK 1,330 a day.
How much is the bus in Stavanger?
A Kolumbus single is about NOK 45–50 and a 24-hour ticket roughly NOK 130, bought in the app.
How do I get to Preikestolen cheaply?
Take the summer bus from the centre, roughly NOK 400–500 return, or share a car to split parking and tolls.