Stavanger Smådyrklinikk has very kindly sponsored a bag of dog food. To win this, simply comment below on the favorite place in Stavanger where you like to take your pooch to and why. We will pick out a winner on Wednesday 23rd May 2012. The winner will be notified by email.

The Geopark, situated right outside the Norwegian Petroleum Museum (Oil Museum), is an experimental and different city park which tests new forms of reuse of both ideas and materials from the petroleum industry.

In the development of oil and gas industry’s geological and technological expertise, production methods and materials used to create a recreation park for the region’s population, with special arrangements for youth activities.

The Geopark was part of the official program for the celebration of Stavanger as European Capital of Culture in 2008 and developed by architects Helen & Hard AS and the Oil Museum in collaboration with local youth.

The Geopark is organized around a constructed landscape based on the outline and topography of the Trollfeltet in the scale 1:500. Troll field geology and drilling and production technology in this way creates a “geo-landscape” with room for many activities and versatile use. Surfaces and structures are built of recycled and transformed elements from the petroleum industry. These items are obtained from abandoned oil fields, offshore bases, equipment suppliers and scrap sites.

The development of the park has been achieved through extensive surveys and studies, workshops with youth, interviews with experts, 3D modeling and 1:1 experiments.

The project is funded through a joint effort between Stavanger 2008, Stavanger Kommune, Troll-lisensen and the Norsk Oljemuseums Venneforening (Norwegian Petroleum Museum Friendship Society). The project has also received valuable contributions in the form of artifacts and equipment from partners within the industry.

This park is a hit with the young and it is one of the more popular destinations for children who are in the after-school care program. With lots to discover and explore, I am sure your children will love it too!

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Picture courtesy of Francesca Pozzi Folkvord

One of the biggest challenges of being an expat – other than being away from family and friends – is to find food and ingredients that remind us of home. After all, nothing cures homesickness faster than a little taste of home. Unfortunately, Stavanger has very few international food restaurants, and eating out every time homesickness strikes can become prohibitively expensive very fast. Fortunately, what Stavanger lacks in ethnic food restaurants, it makes up in ethnic and international food stores where you can stock up on ingredients and foods from your home country.

We have found that most bigger grocery stores – Helgo, Meny, Coop, ICA – stock at least some basic international and ethnic ingredients. In particular, we have been lucky finding Indian and South Asian spices, American foods, and some Mexican and Asian – Chinese and Thai mostly – ingredients at the grocery stores. If you are looking for ingredients from a different part of the world, or are looking for something more exotic, here is a list of international stores where you are more likely to find produce and ingredients from your home country.

International and Imported food in Stavanger

Pedersgata and Bergelandsgata in Stavanger (next to the red St. Petri Church and close to the Aftenblad building) are ethnic food and import store central. Here you will find all kind of international food stores and ethnic food restaurants starting with Norvina on Pedersgata which not only stocks Chinese, Thai and Vietnamese ingredients, and some Indian and South Asian foods (mostly spices. lentils, and some rice), but also has a small take away counter where you can find dishes like egg rolls, noodles and Asian style fried chicken. They also stock some fresh produce used in Asian and South Asian cuisine – this is the only store in Stavanger (and Sandnes) where I have found fresh curry leaves, an essential ingredient in South Indian and Sri Lankan cooking.

Walking down on Pedersgata, away from Stavanger Sentrum, you will find Favoritt Mat – a Polish food store. Well arranged, and spacious, this store is full of imports from Poland – from Polish condiments and pickles, coffee, drinks, chocolates, cheeses, and dairy products – and from the Czech Republic. The store also stocks a few household products like laundry detergent as well as frozen and semi frozen pierogi – Polish dumplings – and kielbasa – Polish Sausage.

Just a couple of stores down from Favoritt, you will find Herkul Imports, a Middle Eastern, Turkish, Greek and Egyptian store that sells halal meat, some fresh produce, and Middle Eastern products. Here, you can find a variety of lentils, cured olives, different kinds of pastas including vermicelli, canned products like canned chickpeas, types of bulgur, and semolina, tea, tahini, and Middle Eastern dairy products like yogurt and cheeses.

Finally, a few more stores down Pedersgata, in a section that is mostly residential, you will find a nameless (I couldn’t find the name of the store anywhere), tiny, nondescript African and Middle Eastern store that is almost very easy to miss. This store, which I call the store-almost-at-the-end-of-Pedersgata mostly stocks the usual ingredients found in Middle Eastern and African food, including lentils, basmati rice, canned vegetables including canned Okra (lady fingers) and spices. What is unique about this store compared to the other import stores in Stavanger is that it stocks a variety – a whole aisle full – of household and personal care products from the Middle East and Africa. So, you will find soap, creams, henna, laundry and dishwashing detergent and other household cleaning products here.

Right down the street from Norvina (towards the city) is Pranee Thai on Bergelandsgata. This tiny store stocks mostly Thai and Filipino ingredients and foods like rice noodles, condiments and fresh and frozen thai herbs. Here you will find fresh herbs like lemon grass, thai basil and kaffir lime leaves.

A few stores down from Pranee Thai is Kismet Imports. Do not be discouraged by the cluttered and disorganized shelves, the tiny aisles, and the fact that no one in the store speaks English – Kismet stocks some of the freshest, the most diverse, and sometimes the cheapest international/ethnic produce and vegetables in town. I have been very lucky in finding produce used in South Asian, Middle Eastern and American cuisine like bitter melon, calabash, butternut squash, Cassava, Taro roots and Plantains and a variety of peppers here. In addition to the produce, Kismet stocks Middle Eastern, African and some South Asian and Asian foods, including condiments like Sriracha (the only place we have found the original Sriracha), pomegranate syrup, mint water and rose water. You can also find loose cured olives and fresh Feta and Halloumi cheese here. I make some of my own personal care products at home, and I have been able to easily find coconut oil and rose water here.

Walking back towards Stavanger Sentrum from Bergelandsgata, you will find Beirut and Fares – another Middle Eastern store that sells Halal meat, and a few Middle Eastern condiments and products like ful, hummus, cured olives, spices and a few lentils. Sometimes, they also have a few vegetables on their shelves. The real attraction of the store, apart from being the only other store in Stavanger to sell Halal meat is their take-away selection. Some days you will find them selling sambusas, and fresh from the stove, falafels.

Slightly away from the Sentrum area is Noor Imports on Stiftelsesgata which stocks basic South Asian groceries including some produce, spices and lentils.

Stavanger Sentrum

Ostehuset in Stavanger Sentrum and in Storhaug is a great place to find cheeses like mascarpone and ricotta, as well as specialty cheeses from around the world. In addition to selling pre-packaged goods like pasta, pasta sauces and different kind of olive oils, Ostehuset also sells tapas style olives and cured vegetables.

If you are looking for specialty mediterranean ingredients then Oliviers&CO in Stavanger Sentrum is the store for you. Slightly on the higher end of prices, Olivers&CO is to a gourmand what a candy store is to a kid. Here you can find high end olive oils including specialty flavored olive oils like basil oil, chili oil and truffle oils, gourmet pastas, tapenades, and spreads. I highly recommend the lavender honey and the pistachio spread.

Just a few meters down from O&CO is a tiny Greek deli, called Oliventre hidden away among stores on Nedre Holmegata. Right opposite Elkjøp, this deli offers a variety of freshly prepared Greek food including Greek salads, cured kalamat olives and fresh feta cheese. In addition to their prepared food section, the store also stocks different kinds of olive oils and olive based personal care products. Tip: If you are craving for a Greek delicacy like baklava, ask the owner – he may agree to make some for you on special order.

While you can find your basic Mexican ingredients at any of the big grocery stores, for authentic and hard to find Mexican ingredients and sauces try Idsøe. They sometimes stock spices and sauces that you can use in Mexican cooking.

International and Imported food in Sandnes

Sandnes has two of the biggest import stores – Mix Imports and Sandnes Frukt, Gront og Dagligvarer. Here, you should be able to find pretty much everything you need to make a basic simple meal from your home country. Both of these stores have South Asian, Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, Middle Eastern, African, South American and Central American food products and produce, and even a few home goods and personal care products from these countries.

While both of the stores are almost similar in what they offer, I personally prefer Sandnes Frukt, Gront og Dagligvarer mostly because of the aisle arrangements. It is much more organized and has slightly more wider aisles. Additionally, Sandnes Frukt, Gront og Dagligvarer has a larger produce department – a whole room is devoted to fresh produce, and I have been able to find vegetables and fruits that I usually cannot find anywhere else, including raw turmeric and raw mangoes. The store also offers halal meat and some prepared foods including cured olives and Mediterranean style tapas items.  This is the only store in town where I have been able to find pre-packaged paneer – the Indian style fresh cheese.

Ost og Kaffi is an interesting concept store in Sandnes sent rum that stocks coffee and cheese. I haven’t tried the coffees here yet, but you can find a variety of cheeses from around the world.

Kvadrat

The big mall, Kvadrat, has two international stores – Internasjonal Mat and Canhvan Asiamat. Internasjonal Mat stocks a variety of Middle Eastern and Asian products including condiments, spices, lentils and rice. While slightly more expensive than other international stores, Internasjonal Mat stocks a variety of Middle Eastern snacks and cured olives. Canhvan Asiamat on the other hand, stocks a variety of Asian products.

Online

iherb.com is a good online source for hard-to-find herbs and spices. I have personally never shopped there, but have heard good things about the website, including the fact that they routinely offer discounts and coupons. Be aware though that some herbs and spices cannot be legally imported in to Norway.

International and Imported food shopping tips

Here are few tips to improve your import store shopping experience and make yourself feel more at home in Stavanger. And also save money in the world’s fourth most expensive city:

• Use locally grown, procured substitutes wherever you can. Importing specialized food items can be very expensive, especially when done in small quantities. Additionally, some food items that may be common in your country’s cuisine may not be legally imported to Norway. So instead of lamenting that you are unable to find what you need here in Stavanger, try experimenting with substitutes. For example, I use Kulturmelk instead of fresh buttermilk to make pancakes, biscuits (the American kind), cakes and Indian buttermilk curries. We have also been successful in using pork neck as a substitute for pork shoulders to make carnitas. Can’t find the brand of coffee you had every morning at home? Find a Norwegian coffee brand you like. Can’t find the fish your mom made for her family every Sunday? Find a fish that is similar in taste or maybe try the recpie with another kind of fish. Who knows, you might find that the dish tastes better with the substitute fish! I admit, a lot of this will involve a lot of work and trial and error and will get frustrating at times, but remember that this is part of the fun of moving to a new country and a new city – discovering new foods and food products.

• Can’t find the kind of meat cuts you would find in your home country? Talk to your local butcher – they may be able to procure it for you. I would highly recommend Idsoe. I have never done this but have heard from friends that if you ask them and if your order is large enough, they will be able to custom prepare items like sausages etc for you according to your specifications.

• Consider making some of your own products. If you cannot find a certain prepared product in the stores here in Stavanger, consider making it at home. Pickles, jams and jellies, condiments and certain kinds of dairy products (Ghee, Sour Cream, Butter, Yogurt, Paneer) can be easily and cheaply made at home. Of course, the fact that they will taste like they have been made at home and not at a large scale manufacturing plant is always a plus. Also, consider growing herbs in your backyard or garden.

• Some cuisines – like Indian – require whole and ground form of the same spice for certain dishes. Instead of buying two different packs of the whole and ground spice, consider buying just the whole spice. Use a coffee grinder as a spice grinder to freshly grind the spice. Not only will your whole home smell of fresh spices, but you will save money buying just one pack at a time. Also, you will save space.

• As a rule, never buy spices in bulk if you aren’t using them in the next few months. Spices have a tendency to stale and attract insects etc. If you must buy bulk spices, store them in airtight containers or ziplock bags in the freezer – they keep fresher longer and you don’t have to worry about finding weevils in your bag of dried parsley. This is true for lentils as well.

• I also dry freeze fresh herbs for future use. Wash the herbs, pat them dry, separate them using a paper towel and then put them in a ziplock bag and freeze them. When you need them, just take them out of the freezer. Alternatively, you can freeze herbs with some water in a ice cube tray – use as many cubes as you need when you are cooking and store the rest for future use.

• When shopping at one of the international stores in Stavanger, consider shopping for other daily use food products as well. I have found that often pastas, fresh produce, canned goods, condiments and spices tend to be cheaper at the import goods store compared to the grocery stores.  Also, price shop. I have found that certain import stores are cheaper than others.

• Always check the expiration dates on anything you buy from an import store. While most of the times you will find products perfectly within the best before range, but sometimes import stores, because of their small market, tend to leave expired products on their shelves.

Have we missed any other import stores in Stavanger or in the surrounding areas? Let us know! Do you have a favorite store? Tells us why? Do you have tips on substitutions or on how to procure hard-to-find import items from your home country? Share your secret with us!

Locations of Import Stores in Stavanger & Sandnes

Stavanger
Norvina
Nytorget 6, 4013 Stavanger
Phone: 51 89 55 16

Favoritt Mat
Pedersgata 12, 4013 Stavanger

Herkul Imports
Pedersgata 22, 4013 Stavanger

The store-almost-at-the-end-of-Pedersgata
Pedersgata 46, 4013 Stavanger

Pranee Thai
Bergelandsgata 3, 4013 Stavanger

Kismet import AS
Bergelandsgata 9, 4013 Stavanger
Phone: 414 97 591

Beirut and Fares
Smedgata 9, 4013 Stavanger
Phone: 51 55 51 52 ‎

Ostehuset Sentrum
Hospitalsgata 6, 4006 Stavanger
Phone: 51 86 40 10

Ostehuset Øst
Ryfylkegata 30, 4014 Stavanger
Phone: 51 86 40 10

Oliviers&Co
Breigata 25, 4006 Stavanger
Phone: 51 85 60 01

Oliventre
Nedre Holmgata 33, 4013 Stavanger
Phone: 96 82 45 48, 98 41 70 61

Idsøe
Verksgata 3, 4013 Stavanger
Phone: 51 89 35 05

Sandnes

Mix Imports
Langgata 70, 4306 Sandnes

Sandnes Frukt, Gront og Dagligvarer
Gjesdalveien 26, 4306 Sandnes

Ost og Kaffi
Langgata 23  4306 Sandnes
Phone: 51 62 26 20

Kvadrat / Forus

Internasjonal Mat
Gamle Stokkavei 1, 4313 Sandnes
Phone: 51 96 04 30

Cahn Van
Gamle Stokkavei 1, 4313 Sandnes
Phone: 51 96 02 05

A very sincere thanks goes out to all the expats who helped me in my research for this article.

One of Stavanger’s fabulous live bands Fake Midget will start up the evening with a couple of cover songs. Then there will be plenty of time to meet new people and to see old friends. Throughout the night there will be games, music, drinks and more. We hope that you will join in and bring along your friends. Everyone is invited – expat or not.

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Tucked away off the road to Sirdal is Månafossen waterfall and Mån farm. It’s a steep but short hike to see the falls – which at 92m is in the top 10 tallest free falling waterfalls in Norway – and well worth the visit.  It’s one of Rogaland’s most visited tourist attractions, and especially nice to take visitors who want to see some of Norway’s great outdoors. Although the path is steep, there are many steps and chains to hold on to, to help you on your way. From the path you have a great view of the waterfall, but even better is to continue following the signs along the route towards Mån.  After a short while, you will cross over a bridge and the path splits. Take the left route to come out over the top of the waterfall – and for the daring, peer over the ledge to the rushing waters below.  There are plenty of flat rocks here to set up your picnic.

If you take the path to the right, you will walk towards Mån farm.  Here you will find a restored farmhouse building which was part of the original farm from 1915.  There is also a new building with overnight accommodation and an exhibition about the farm’s history.

Getting there:

By car, take the 45 towards Sirdal after Ålgård, and then turn off at the sign to Månafossen.  This is quite a windy road up a steep hill, which ends in the car park.  Parking is 20kr.  The road also takes you past Frafjord, and there is a convenient gravel parking area off the road with views over the fjord for a great photo opportunity.

May is an exciting time in Norway! The weather tends to be getting warmer, the sun comes out and people flood to the streets. If it is a sunny day, make sure to go out and take advantage of it! There are three public holidays and students celebrating before their exams in May, making for a very lively city.


May 17 | Syttende Mai
National Day or Constitution Day. This is one of Norway’s favorite holidays. On May 17, 1814 the Constitution was formally signed – this is seen as Norway’s birthday. Many people wear bunad (traditional costumes) and most participate in or watch the Norwegian Constitution Day parade that day, consisting mostly of children, through the cities and towns. Children are generally allowed to eat as much ice-cream as they want on this day. Hot dogs are also very popular on this day.

Read our article on 17 Mai in Norway to learn about the history, days’ events and traditions. One week prior, the kommuner will release the parade schedule. We will share these in the comments below.


April 23 – May 17 | Russ
Have you noticed teenagers going around town in red overalls? Maybe they are acting abit silly, being loud or handing out ‘business’ cards? These are students celebrating their graduation – but the celebration comes before their final exams.

RUSS are what we call those dressed in the overalls. They are in their final year of videregående skole (equivalent to high school) and are going through a rite known as russefeiring (russ celebration). The Russ festivities take place this year from the 23rd of April and climax on the 17th of May, Norway’s National Day. There are approximately 1200 Russ in Stavanger and another 1000 in Sandnes.

There is much controversy behind Russ, and for many different reasons. Some believe that the celebrations push moral boundaries, others think Russ are too easily ‘let off the hook’ during this time for their actions while others simply believe the celebrations distract from studying for the exams and should come after graduation. We have researched about Russ and gathered the history and controversy in one post, RUSS – What It’s All About and the Controversy Behind It, give it a read.


[Here is a mini review though of the other two public holidays. May 1 (Arbeiderenes Dag) is Labor Day - Flags are raised high this day, you will see politicians making speeches about workers rights, parades, and wreaths are laid on memorials. Ascension Day (Kristi Himmelfartsdag is the 40th day of Easter - which in 2012 happens to land on May 17th. It occurs 39 days after Easter Sunday. It is a Christian holiday that commemorates Jesus Christ’s ascension into heaven according to Christian belief. In Norway there is no special celebration for this day. Spring is welcomed and a nice meal is prepared.]

So, what do you think about the upcoming holidays?
Do you have a favorite part?

When: 9th May 2012, Wednesday

Time: 1300 (right after Wednesday morning coffee at 1100)

Where: Meet at Food Story Løkkeveien 41 (where we have our morning coffee)

Duration: Approx 2 hours but of course you can leave whenever you wish to.

Area toured: Stavanger Town Area : Gamle Stavanger – Vågen – Skagen – Valbergtower – Coloured street – Kirkegata – Cathedral.

RSVP: On Facebook [click here to RSVP]. Limited to the first 30 people who RSVP. Thank you for your cooperation.

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Bjergstedparken (The Bjergsted Park) is located 10 minutes from the city centre with Gamle Stavanger (Old Stavanger) as its closest neighbour. It houses Stavanger Konserthus (The Concert Hall) and a number of other cultural institutions and organisations, namely, Kulturskolen (The Culture School), Stavanger Symfoniorkester (Stavanger Symphony Orchestra) and UiS Institutt for Musikk og Dans (University of Stavanger, Institute for Music and Dance) among others.

Bjergsted is recognized today as a cultural oasis and is unique to Norway. Beyond Norway, Bjergsted is known to be a musical centre, where professional artistes, artists, students get to meet and interact with one another and the general public.

Back in the 70s’,  it was decided that Bjergsted would be the place for Rogaland Musikkonservatorium (today’s UiS, Institutt for Musikk og Dans) and Stavanger Symfoniorkester. The building was named Musikkhuset (The Music House) and was completed in 1979.

Shortly after, construction began on a building to house the Stavanger Musikkskole (Stavanger Music School), as well a facility for leisure music. Construction of Kuppelhallen (The Dome Hall) started in 1980, under the direction of architect Ola Natvig. The park also received a much-needed facelift.



Stavanger Konserthus was completed in 1992, with Stavanger Symfoniorkester playing at the opening concert on 16th of September the same year. Stavanger Konserthus has since undergone several modifications and upgrades.



Today, there are many performances held at Stavanger Konserthus. In addition,  there many concerts in the park in the summer. The park is also the venue for the Cultural Festival of the 17th of May celebrations.

The park is a lovely and peaceful place to spend a sunny afternoon. Besides enjoying the free concerts in the summer, people also go to the park to sunbathe, read, spend time with their children. Children absolutely love the playground in the park, which offers a huge slide. There is also a short trail up to the top of the hill, where one can see fantastic views of the fjords.



From 2012 the Bjergsted Park will house the music, dance and drama major of Kongsgård secondary school, a brand new Concert Hall, a new School of Music and Arts and more. The plans for the new infrastructure renders possible the exchange of personnel across institutional borders, and will establish new meeting places for pupils of secondary schools, students, teachers, world class musicians and dancers as well as international expertise on sound, lighting and stage production.

For more information about the Stavanger Concert Hall and events, click here.

An åpen barnehage (open kindergarten) is a unique offer in Norway for parents, grandparents and other caregivers of children from 0-6 years of age.

For a small fee (40 kr per family as of April 2012), you can bring your child or charge to the barnehage for playtime. There is no registration required beforehand, all you do is show up during the barnehage’s opening hours.

Åpen barnehage serves many purposes, including but not limited to:

• allowing children to play, interact and socialise in a safe and fun environment.
• allowing caregivers to interact, socialise and meet other people in the neighbourhood and in similar situations.
• offers a taste of what barnehage life is like.

I find Storhaug Åpen Barnehage a great place to be in. The managers of the place, Mette and Anette, are warm and welcoming and make you feel at ease immediately. They also make it a point to remember your and your child’s names.

Storhaug Åpen Barnehage is situated 5 minutes from the city centre and is spread out over 2 floors of a house. It also has a pretty big outdoor play area. Inside the house, the rooms are demarcated well (playrooms, toilets, dining area, kitchen) with tons of toys for the children to entertain themselves with and of course couches for the caregivers. There are also 2 slides indoors and a well-padded room for younger babies.

There is an activity plan done up for every month, with activities such as music sessions, excursions, talks, garden work days, storytelling, etc. Adults and children who attend the barnehage come from all walks of life and you can hear 2 or more languages being spoken at any one time.

Here are what some people have to say about Storhaug Åpen Barnehage:

My girls really love coming here to play. I also enjoy meeting other parents and especially the music sessions.

I am very impressed with the standard of cleanliness of the place and the fact that the toilet does not stink at the end of the day.

I try to come once or twice a week as my son really enjoys it here and it tires him out for the night.

Besides playtime for my child, I find that this is a place where I can talk to others really easily as everyone is friendly and I can ask for advice from the managers of the barnehage and/or other parents.

This place is great – my boy gets so bored when we are home the entire day, here he gets to play with other toys and children.

More information about Storhaug Åpen Barnehage here. Here is a map of the place.

Information about other åpne barnehager in the Stavanger area, download this PDF.

If you are living in other parts of Norway, check your Kommune’s website for information on åpne barnehager.

Stavanger Expats is organising a playday at Storhaug Åpen Barnehage on Sunday, 13th of May, 2012. Please contact Cynthia at cynthia@stavangerexpats.com for more information and to RSVP.

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History of Utstein Kloster

Utstein Monastery (in Norwegian Utstein Kloster) is Norway’s best-preserved medieval monastery. It is located on the island of Mosterøy in Rennesøy municipality, in Rogaland. The monastery, dedicated to Saint Laurence, was founded in its present location during the reign of King Magnus VI of Norway (1263–1280). It was a house of Augustinian Canons. It appears however that this community was the one previously established as St. Olav’s Abbey, Stavanger, one of the earliest Augustinian monasteries in Norway if not the very earliest: the exact date of its foundation is unknown, but it was well established by 1160.

At its height, about 20–30 monks lived there, with twice as many lay people working on the building, the cooking and the farming. The abbey owned extensive lands, and could feed about 250 people a year. It was dissolved in 1537 during the Reformation and was given in fee to Trond Ivarsson, a nobleman who served as local bailiff. It served as a private residence for many years. The property came under the control of the Garmann (1706) and Schancke (1885) families. In 1899 the estate was acquired by the state.

Utstein Kloster is the best-preserved monastery in the whole of Norway, still using both the church and the eastern and southern part of the ground floor of the conventual buildings. In 1900-1904 major restoration work was carried out on the church, and in 1965 work on the remaining buildings was completed. The monastery was restored under plans designed by architect Gerhard Fischer. Church west window were reconstructed, the ceiling was rebuilt with the original angle and all interiors have been restored and put in a position so that the buildings now serve as venue for concerts, seminars, conventions, etc. It is now owned entirely by the Utstein Kloster Foundation. (From Wikipedia)

Utstein Kloster Review

The building and grounds of Utstein Kloster make a nice half-day excursion from the city. Located at an approximate 30 minute drive north of Stavanger on the island of Klosterøy, in Rennesøy kommune, it is convenient to access from the E39. The island itself is quite picturesque and there are opportunities for exploring the nearby countryside and a nearby lighthouse. The abbey and chapel date back over 500 years. The kloster is available for holding conferences, weddings, and other large events and also boasts an old wine cellar. For many years running, there has been an annual Shakespeare play performed at the kloster by a travelling group each summer.

The buildings also contain a museum and self-guided tours are offered throughout the year. Entrance fees are 60 kroner for adults, 30 for children. For more information on the seasonal opening times and other visitor information, please see the Utstein Kloster website. For driving directions, see here.