Sandnes - Fjord Norway

Sandnes is centrally located in Nord-Jæren, with a short distance to Stavanger International Airport, Sola and the ferry to Denmark. The Jærbanen train line passes through Sandnes and there are frequent train connections between Sandnes and Stavanger and several daily departures between Egersund and Sandnes. Additionally, you can travel by train between Oslo and Sandnes.

Shopping

Sandnes is known for one of Norway's longest pedestrian streets, Langgata - the town's main shopping street. It has several niche shops along with cosy cafes and restaurants, making it perfect for a shopping day out.

Sandnes and surroundings

Sandnes was previously known mostly for its masonry and pottery industries, while the production of textile products and bicycles made the town famous from the end of the 19th century. Sandnes is home to the Figgjo porcelain factory, which manufactures all of its products locally, and Sandnes Garn, which produces knitting yarns at its factory in Foss Eikeland. Agriculture is another important industry in Sandnes, as it makes various livestock. The municipality also has several oil-related industries. Sandnes offers a creative milieu and several well-known Norwegian brands, such as DBS bicycles and Polaris. Brands such as the Norwegian pizza chain Dolly Dimple Pizza, the clothing brand Cubus and the retail chain Europris? All are brands that originated in Sandnes.

The outdoors

There are many opportunities for outdoor activities in Sandnes and several kilometres of hiking trails are marked in 16 hiking areas near the centre. In addition, there are miles of hiking trails on both sides of the Lysefjord, which is also part of Sandnes. The lake area Lutsi-Imsvassdraget stretches for about 10 kilometres and is an Eldorado for kayakers and canoeists with many possibilities for camping along the shore.

Rogaland Arboretum - a 700-hectare arboretum, and the largest in Norway! It shows about 1,400 different plant species. 15 kilometres of hiking trails go through this area, a beautiful hiking location all year round. The arboretum is always open and there is plenty of parking.

Event city

Sandnes is otherwise known for organising great events. The popular roller ski festival Blink is one of the most famous events held in Sandnes every year.

Explore Edge of Norway™ with urban Stavanger, countless surrounding islands, Sandnes with the famous mountain top Kjerag, long-stretched beaches along the Norwegian Scenic route Jæren, mountains and fjords, lunar landscapes in Magma UNESCO Global Geopark or the winter paradise Sirdal.

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Holiday trips for Sandnes and surroundings

Explore more adventures in the region.

Top Sandnes tips

Do your kids love outdoor activities? Sandnes is easy to get to, easy to get around in. Give your kids a holiday to remember!

Shopping in Sandnes

Fancy a shopping spree? Welcome to Sandnes!

Topp byopplevelser i Sandnes

Tar du turen til Sandnes i år? Håper det! Hotellene, restaurantene, handelsstanden står klar og sist, men ikke minst, opplevelsene står klar. Sandnes har alt – by og natur.

Sandnes has a lot to offer!

Explore the area by Icelandic horse? Fancy a climb high up in the treetops? Or learning more at our Science Centre?

Tryggvi Islandshestgård

Experience the robust and tölting Icelandic horse - no matter your previous riding experience. Tryggvi Islandshestgård offers guided tours on Icelandic horses with different levels of experience, and the trails and speeds are adjusted to each level.

SkogSprett Klatrepark

SkogSprett Klatrepark is a unique climbing park located in beautiful Melsheia in Sandnes. SkogSprett offers three different activities: a net park for even small children, a state-of-the-art climbing park and SUP courses.

Vitenfabrikken

Discover this popular science museum in Sandnes. There are four levels of exhibitions and activities. Topics are natural science, mathematics, energy and astronomy, regional industrial history and Sandnes' city history.

Storaberget

Those who choose to go on the trip to Storaberget will see both older and newer cultural monuments along the way. Well up at the top, a magnificent view opens up in all directions. In good weather, you can see not only Riskalandet and the lakes Lutsivassdraget, but also far out to the sea and the Ryfylkeheiene moors. Storaberget offers challenges and experiences for both large and small hikers.

Maudlandsområdet

Huge hiking area northeast in Sandnes with several mountains and ponds.

Rent outdoor equipment - frilager

At Frilager.no, you will find nearly everything in terms of equipment for rent. If you are planning a tent trip, it is possible to rent equipment for cooking, accommodation, tents and transport. If you want to frolic in the water, they have fishing equipment, kayaks and canoes. If you lack clothing for the mountain hike or a map and compass, they also rent out this type of equipment.

Lysebotn Explorer Roundtrip

The essence of Norway's beauty! Get the best of the best on this Explorer tour with Norway Bike Experience.

Sunrise hike to Preikestolen

Preikestolen sunrise hike is one of Norway's most popular hikes. Experience the sunrise over the mountains on this guided tour with Lysefjorden Adventure.

Kvadrat shopping centre in Sandnes

Holidays and shopping go hand in hand. Kvadrat shopping centre in Sandnes is a great place to start. And Kvadrat offers much more than just shopping!

Melshei

Melshei is a popular forest area in Sandnes for hiking year-round.

All activities related to Sandnes

Things to do in Sandnes

Explore things to do in Sandnes.

How to get there

Are you travelling by car or public transport? Wondering how to get there? We can help you!

Getting to and around the Stavanger region See the map

Sleep well!

Stay in the city centre or be closer to nature.

GamlaVærket Hotell

GamlaVærket Gjæstgiveri & Tracteringssted is more than just a hotel, it's a tale of the city's history.

Kronen Gaard Hotell

Explore the tranquility, charm, quality food and historical bustle of the Kronen Gaard Hotel: a traditional and cozy hotel in a rural setting, a short distance from the center of Sandnes.

Hommersåk guest marina

Hommersåk guest harbour is Bryggen Senter's own marina. Guests of the centre can dock by boat. Fresh pastries from the bakery outlet in the centre.

Havneparken Bobilparkering i Sandnes

Sandnes municipality offers campervan parking in the center of Sandnes by the Waterfront. The parking lot is established by the municipality in collaboration with Sandnes Havn and Sandnes Tomteselskap and is situated by the harbour promenade. It is only a 5 minutes' walk to the town centre, train- and buss-station and grocery store.

Guest marina in Sandnes

Guest marina in Sandnes. For those arriving in Sandnes by sea, we have a very sheltered harbour innermost in the Vågen harbour.

Hotel Sverre

A 3-minute walk from the bus and train station in Sandnes city centre, Hotel Sverre offers great value-for-money accommodations and breakfast.

Quality Hotel Residence

Quality Hotel™ Residence: In the centre of Sandnes, part of Vågen shopping centre. Walk dry-shod to the cinema, shopping, and Mathallen.

Thon Hotel Sandnes

After great experiences and powerful impressions, a good night's sleep awaits. Thon Hotel Sandnes is located at Lura with a great view of the Gandsfjord. What more do you need?

Holiday home in Lauvvik by the Lysefjord

Experience paradise in the Lysefjord near Preikestolen! Panoramic views, and evenings by the fire in Lauvvik.

All accommodations related to Sandnes

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Cities in the Stavanger region

Read more about all the cities in the Stavanger region.

Stavanger

From historic small-town charm to modern street art, welcome to an international fjord city that offers exciting experiences! The city of Stavanger is known for street art, good food, culture and proximity to beautiful natural attractions.

Bryne

Ready for some small-town charm in the name of literature? Bryne has fostered many authors, one of them being Arne Garborg, whose works have been translated into English. Or is football more your cup of tea? Famous football player Erling Braut Haaland is also from Bryne.

Egersund

Experience the historical town of Egersund: A cosy town filled with wooden houses and a beautiful centre with restaurants, cafes and niche shops. All this and more only an hour from Stavanger.

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