Haugesund is a coastal town of about 38,000 people, located between Bergen and Stavanger. Most visitors to the fjord region rush between those two cities and skip this area entirely, which is a shame. Many cruise ships now dock here instead of Bergen, making it a growing gateway to western Norway.
The town centre is compact and walkable. Haraldsgata, one of Norway's longest pedestrian streets, runs through the middle. Haugesund has more Art Nouveau buildings than any other town in Norway, earning it the nickname "the city with towers". Local architect Einar Halleland designed many of them around the turn of the 20th century, including the Staalehuset, which was northern Europe's largest Art Nouveau concrete building when it was completed in 1919. Look up at the corner buildings and towers as you walk.
The pink town hall is hard to miss. It was once voted Norway's finest, and was a gift from shipowner Knut Knutsen and his wife Elisabeth in 1931. Most shops on Haraldsgata are for locals, not tourists, with very few chain stores since those have moved to malls outside the centre.
Haugesund was built on herring. Fishing made the town rich in the 19th century and remains part of the local economy today. The town is also Norway's unofficial film capital; the Norwegian International Film Festival has been held here since 1973, and the Sildajazz jazz festival takes over the first half of August.
If you arrive by cruise ship, the terminal is on Hasseløy island. You can walk to the centre in about 15 minutes. Be aware that two competing hop-on-hop-off bus companies operate here, and their rivalry has been intense. In summer 2024, staff from the two companies got into actual fisticuffs at the cruise terminal. The routes are different, so check which sights each one covers.
The town centre is compact and walkable. Haraldsgata, one of Norway's longest pedestrian streets, runs through the middle. Haugesund has more Art Nouveau buildings than any other town in Norway, earning it the nickname "the city with towers". Local architect Einar Halleland designed many of them around the turn of the 20th century, including the Staalehuset, which was northern Europe's largest Art Nouveau concrete building when it was completed in 1919. Look up at the corner buildings and towers as you walk.
The pink town hall is hard to miss. It was once voted Norway's finest, and was a gift from shipowner Knut Knutsen and his wife Elisabeth in 1931. Most shops on Haraldsgata are for locals, not tourists, with very few chain stores since those have moved to malls outside the centre.
Haugesund was built on herring. Fishing made the town rich in the 19th century and remains part of the local economy today. The town is also Norway's unofficial film capital; the Norwegian International Film Festival has been held here since 1973, and the Sildajazz jazz festival takes over the first half of August.
If you arrive by cruise ship, the terminal is on Hasseløy island. You can walk to the centre in about 15 minutes. Be aware that two competing hop-on-hop-off bus companies operate here, and their rivalry has been intense. In summer 2024, staff from the two companies got into actual fisticuffs at the cruise terminal. The routes are different, so check which sights each one covers.