Rick Steves Thinks This Boring Coastal City Is One Of The Worst Places In Europe

Rick Steves is a trusted name in travel, so when he recommends where to go in Europe, it's a good bet you'll want to visit. However, he admittedly doesn't love a few places, including one in his ancestral country of Norway. On his website, Steves calls the Scandinavian nation "a land of intense natural beauty, its famously steep mountains and deep fjords carved out and shaped by an ancient ice age." However, in another post on the best and worst of Europe, Steves revealed his least-favorite place there: Stavanger. "Norway's Stavanger, famous for nearby fjords and its status as an oil boomtown, is a large port that's about as thrilling as...Well, put it this way: Emigrants left it in droves to move to the wilds of Minnesota," he explained. "Your time is better spent at Sognefjord, Norway's most spectacular fjord."

This coastal hub may sound boring at first. However, there's plenty of stunning nature and historical architecture in this port city to explore. If you do decide to go to Stavanger, or plan on stopping there during a trip, the closest airport is Stavanger Airport (SVG). It's less than 9 miles from town, so it's easy to spend the day exploring before you head off to other cities. If you're planning to travel around Norway by train, you may want to look into getting a rail pass, something Steves calls a "great value." Just make sure to check if the rides you're looking at require reservations.

While Rick Steves isn't a huge fan of Stavanger, that doesn't mean there is nothing to do there. If you choose to visit, you can take a trip to Hengjanefossen, aka Whiskey Falls, along Lysefjord, and the soaring cliff called Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock), both a bit outside the city. For the latter, you can hike the roughly 5-mile out-and-back Preikestolen Trail for a great view from the top. You can also take a boat tour of the Lysefjord to see the impressive cliffs, including Preikestolen, from the bottom up.

When you're ready for a meal, wander down Stavanger's Fargegaten, a pedestrian-only street lined with brightly colored buildings, cafes, and shops. It's also perfect for snapping social media pics. Stavanger Cathedral is also near the town's harbor. Built in the 12th century, it has been in use since the 1300s. You'll also find the Norwegian Petroleum Museum, where you can learn about Norway's oil industry history.

If you've got the history bug, check out the heritage-listed Old Stavanger. It's full of pretty wooden houses dating from the 18th century, as well as several museums. They include IDDIS, home to the Norwegian Printing Museum and the Norwegian Canning Museum, which explore the major industries in the area. There is also the Stavanger Maritime Museum to check out as well.

That isn't all there is to do in Stavanger. One thread in Reddit's r/Stavanger features locals talking about their city. Several people suggest visiting Borestranden (Bore Beach), including one who says, "It's the best surfing beach in the Nordics." It's also a popular spot in the summer for swimming, though note that there can be strong undercurrents. You can fly kites on this beach as well, but make sure to stay away from bird-protected areas during the off-season.

Stavanger is also a great city for food, according to the same thread. One commenter recommends trying traditional fishcakes at the fish market, and lefse, which is a potato flatbread that resembles a tortilla (and it's often an option instead of a hot dog bun at stands). The foodie account @eatingoutinstavanger on Instagram suggests the cafe Kaffelade downtown, which offers cakes and pies, coffees, sandwiches, pizza, wraps, and more. They also recommend Spiseriet, with dishes like wagyu burgers with bacon jalapeño jam; duck breast with caramelized cabbage, pickled pear, and duck jus; and an apple and white chocolate compote. (It also has vegetarian and vegan menus.)

However, if you do want to explore the places Rick Steves recommends instead — or in addition to Stavanger – Bergen, Norway's "City of Seven Mountains," is a good choice, including the funicular trip up Mount Fløyen. Or explore the fjords, some of the most dazzling places on the planet, including Steves' favorite, Sognefjord. Finally, if you're planning a trip to Norway, here are 11 sights that you have to see on your first visit.