Stavanger (not to be confused with Stavangry)

Stavanger is a city located in southwestern Norway, known for its charming old town, delicious seafood, and incredibly high prices.

The city was founded in the 12th century, but it wasn’t until the discovery of oil in the North Sea that Stavanger really hit its stride. Suddenly, everyone wanted a piece of that sweet, sweet petroleum action, and Stavanger became the oil capital of Norway faster than you could say “fracking hell.”

These days, Stavanger is a bustling metropolis, home to over 130,000 people and approximately 900,000 oil rigs. That might be a slight exaggeration, but seriously, there are a LOT of oil rigs.

One of the city’s biggest attractions is its beautiful old town, Gamle Stavanger, which features cobblestone streets, colorful wooden houses, and a delightful lack of cars. It’s the perfect place to take a stroll and admire the architecture, or to try to catch a glimpse of the city’s elusive street performers (they tend to be a little shy).

If you’re feeling hungry, Stavanger has got you covered. The city is famous for its seafood, particularly its salmon, which is smoked, grilled, baked, pickled, and served in every possible way. If you’re not a fan of fish, don’t worry - there are plenty of other culinary delights to sample, including reindeer meatballs (yes, really) and waffles topped with sour cream and jam (yum).

Of course, all of this deliciousness doesn’t come cheap. Stavanger is one of the most expensive cities in Norway, and that’s saying something. If you’re on a budget, be prepared to subsist on a diet of bread and water (which, to be fair, is probably what the oil rig workers are eating anyway).

Despite the high prices, Stavanger is a popular destination for tourists, with plenty to see and do, from hiking in the nearby mountains to taking a boat tour of the fjords. And hey, if you’re really lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of those elusive street performers. Just don’t be too disappointed if they turn out to be oil rig workers juggling wrenches or something.