Haugesund, Norway’s birthplace

It is tempting to go for at stroll along the strait called Smedasundet.  You can watch the boats at dock or visit the many restaurants along the seaside. This is also where you’ll find two of the major hotels in town. 

The boat to Røvær, the small island with only 110 inhabitants and one car, leaves from the harbour in Haugesund. While the boat to Utsira, the westernmost island in Norway, leaves from Garpaskjerskaien at the connecting island Risøy. Yet, there are even more islands to visit, such as Kvalen, Feøy and Espevær. If you’d like to visit the Ryvarden Lighthouse, it is only a short drive from Haugesund. 

Haugesund has many cultural scenes to visit for theatre or comedy shows. The jazz festival “Sildajazzen” is an annual event attracting international jazz musicians and music lovers to town every August. Haugesund is also the home of the national film festival attracting national and international actors and filmmakers. 

In and around Haugesund there are a number of museums of art and history. Haugesund Billedgalleri is the art museum of the region. At Dokken Museum you will see exhibitions from the time of fishing for herring during the years between 1850 and 1950. Arquebus War History Museum, situated just outside Haugesund, exhibits one of the country’s largest displays of artefacts from the resistance during WWII.  

You may learn more about how the Vikings used to live, by taking the time to visit Avaldsnes - Norway’s oldest throne. This is where we find the Olav’s Church, Nordvegen History Centre as well as the Viking Farm. For those with special interest in the history of the Vikings, there are more places to visit. Some of these you’ll find along the beautiful beaches of Karmøy. 

Snorre's sagas of the kings mention the site where Harald Fairhair is buried. In the nineteenth century it was believed the place described by Snorre had been located. This is where the national monument of the unification of Norway was erected in 1872, during the millennial celebrations of Norway's unification into one kingdom. The monument is located 2km north of the town centre.

The nature surrounding the town offers a number of hiking possibilities. From the top of Steinsfjellet you will get a view of the entire town as well as the islands west of Haugesund. In ”Byheiene” you can go for a walk on a nature trail. Haraldsvangen and Djupadalen are areas of leisure where you’ll find excellent roads to go for a walk or a jog.  

And what’s more; staying in Haugesund offers the opportunity of experiencing some of the most spectacular hiking trips in Norway. Not forgetting glacier trips at Folgefonna or visiting one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world.