There are several really good roadtrips you can take starting in (or very near) Stavanger. Two of these are Ryfylke and Jæren. Both of these are also among the 18 official scenic routes in Norway that we described in another post. Jæren is a short but definitely worthwhile trip (especially if you are interested in beaches and/or surfing), and Ryfylke is a longer roadtrip with lots of classic Norwegian highlights. So lets have a closer look at each of them:
Jæren – 41 km
Norwegian Scenic Route Jæren runs from Ogna to Bore, a total distance of 41 km (Road 44/507). Kvassheim lighthouse, one of the many lighthouses along the coast of Jæren, makes for a lovely detour. Jæren is one of the shorter scenic routes, and to be fair it does not have the attractions and highlights of many of the other scenic routes. There are no mountains or fjords. There are however really nice beaches, coastlines and lighthouses. Its also right outside of Stavanger (around 20 minutes drive) and could be a natural part of making your way out of Stavanger (or short detour). On your way to Ogna, make sure to stop by Sola beach, which is right next to the airport. Jæren is also a great route for surfing.
For more information see: https://www.nasjonaleturistveger.no/en/routes/j%C3%A6ren
Ryfylke – 260 km (and 2 ferries)
The Ryfylke scenic route is a really interesting roadtrip that gives you a great mini-version of Norway – with mountains, fjords, interesting small towns, waterfalls, modern architecture and more. It starts just 1 hour outside of Stavanger – with the Lauvik-Oanes ferry. While the Ryfylke road trip could be done in a day or two, we recommend a minimum of 3 days/nights. At the northern most point of the roadtrip (Røldal), you are just a few kilometres away from the southern starting point of the Hardanger scenic route as well (see the map).
Some of the main attractions along (or near) the Ryfylke scenic route are:
– Almannajuvet (modern architecture, café and gallery in a historic setting)
– Svandalsfossen (powerful and impressive waterfall that you can get really close to)
– Lysefjorden-Preikestolen (Fjord and the famous pulpit rock 604m above the fjord)
– Sauda (Charming small town with a history of mining)
– Høse bru (modern and impressive architecture in a natural setting – a footbridge crossing the Suldalslågen river)
– Røldal (famous skiing village, and in summer great hiking and mountain views, also features one of the oldest stave churches in Norway)
For more information see: https://www.nasjonaleturistveger.no/en/routes/ryfylke
