Living in Stavanger means accepting a simple truth: Rainy days are the default, and sunny days are the exception. Luckily, there are plenty of things to do that don’t feel like a compromise but become better on a rainy day.
Sports That Don’t Feel Like a Compromise
Climbing and Bouldering
SIS sports centre just opened a new climbing and bouldering hall. With three floors of bouldering, you will not be bored before you get tired. The main focus is on students, so they offer a fair price and student discounts. There is also an area for children and two kilterboards.
Swimming and Surfing
Indoor swimming pools offer a great escape when the weather is cold and wet. But if you’re set on seeing some sunlight, the outdoor pool at Gamlingen is a good option. For the more adventurous, surfing is a good rainy-day activity. After all, the wetsuit is only warm when it’s wet. In the summertime, the waves are fairly small and suitable for beginners. In wintertime, the waves become more challenging.
Pub Crawling
Stavanger’s compact city centre transforms into a cosy playground during rainy evenings. The short distances between pubs mean you’ll barely notice the weather as you hop between establishments. Activities to consider are pub quizzes, Shuffelboarding and Indoor Mini Golf.
Saunaing
Perhaps the most Scandinavian response to bad weather is to go to the sauna. In recent years, Stavanger’s sauna scene has exploded, with options ranging from traditional wooden saunas to modern facilities with panoramic views of the rain-swept fjords.
A Matter of Perspective
The secret to enjoying Stavanger in the rain isn’t finding ways to escape it – it’s learning to embrace it. After all, as the Norwegians say, “Det finnes ikke dårlig vær, bare dårlige klær” (There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing).
And who knows? When you’ve mastered shuffleboard, conquered the bouldering wall, or found your favourite sauna spot, you might find yourself hoping for rain.
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