Haugesund is a small coastal town between Stavanger and Bergen, the city is located next to the North Sea, but shielded by Karmøy and the island community Røvær.
The City Center is beautifully situated on the mainland side of Smedasundet and the islands Hasseløy and Risøy. The area is like a miniature version of Norway: Haugalandet includes massive mountains with large waterfalls and idyllic fjords, the typical farming villages and fishing villages, some of Norway's best trout waters and stormy seas, as well as the picturesque white wooden houses, Haugesund is a town for big events.
Every year in late August, Haugesund Film Festival is arranged. This is a festival rated among the most important in Scandinavia. The most popular festival is undoubtedly Sildajazzen, a jazzfestival celebrated in August. Many of the visitors to the festivals come in small boats which occupy half the Smedasundet, like herring boats did when the herring fishery was an important industry for the city.
When on Haugalandet, you must also set aside time to take a trip out to Karmøy’s white, soft and long beaches along the Norwegian Sea.
On the edge of the southern tip of Karmøy, with its lighthouses facing Skudefjord and the North Sea, lies the charming and beautiful town Skudeneshavn, very well known for sailing anciently. The story goes back to the early 1800s, and all the 125 houses and 100 warehouses are preserved. Haugesund,with its 33 000 inhabitants serves as the regional center for just over 108 000 people on Haugalandet. It is therefore said that Haugesund is the small town with a big city’s qualities. Today the service industry is the most important industry in the city, primarily trade and services / health / education for the rest of the region. The city has a variety of spots like cafes, discos and restaurants. The main industry is related to the oil and shipping.