33 Best Things to do in Skudeneshavn and Karmoy

There are so many things to do in Skudeneshavn, and we’ve gathered our favourites here.

We lived in this pretty town on and off for four years. And it didn’t take long before Skudeneshavn and her incredible allure enveloped and swept us along like the waves on its shore.

She is not a Stavanger or a Bergen and certainly not an Oslo. Skudeneshavn, Norway, is more than all of them. She has a heart and soul, and her very breath welcomes you with a whisper.

Map: Things To Do In Skudeneshavn and Karmøy

Skudeneshavn, Karmoy

Skudeneshavn sits quietly, self-assured and confident. It knows its beauty and has a strong sense of self-worth, patriotism, and community. Skudeneshavn is an experience that deserves your attention. We regularly return, and its magic never wanes.

Situated on the southernmost tip of the island of Karmoy in Western Norway, Skudeneshavn remains relatively undiscovered.

However, it is one of the most beautiful historic towns in the country.

It is known as Norway’s ‘White Lady’ for a reason. It is modest, proud, and picturesque.

This stunning town of Skudeneshavn is also in the ‘Homeland of the Viking Kings‘ (Karmoy Island), making it the ideal base to explore the Island and its surroundings.

Skudeneshavn and Karmoy: The Perfect Mix

Skudeneshavn (pronounced as Skoodnusarven), affectionately referred to by the locals as Skudenes (Skoodnus), has a rich history.

The town was built around the fishing industry, and as you wander the rose-laden, meandering laneways, you will immediately sense its nautical history and influence.

Skudeneshavn’s spirit fondly remembers the old times, for she was once the queen of the harbours. She grew quickly in the early 19th century as her seas produced abundant herring harvest.

 Her nautical prowess is immediately evident as the shimmering waters reflect her harbour’s softly swaying yachts and boats. She has weathered a few storms in her time and welcomed many a seafarer to her port.

Here, her inhabitants’ lives are so closely integrated with the sea that both young and old navigate her waterways as adeptly as they do her paved pathways.

On Norway’s Constitution Day on May 17th, it is abundantly clear how proud the locals of Skudeneshavn are of their town.  

However, not just the sea and sparkling harbour give Skudeneshavn its allure. It is surrounded by forests, lakes and heather moorland, and just along the coast, you’ll find some of the most beautiful beaches in Norway.

The island of Karmoy itself is only about 40km in length, so it is relatively easy to explore everything that Karmoy, the Homeland of the Viking Kings, also has to offer.

We’ve compiled a list of all the things to do in Skudeneshavn and included trips to other parts of Karmoy that can easily be reached from this enchanting town.

Interested in road-tripping in Norway? Read More: Stavanger to Bergen and Bergen to Trondheim Road Trips

Video of Skudeneshavn and Karmoy

This short video offers a peek into the sensational sights of Skudeneshavn and the surrounding areas in Karmoy.

33 Top Things To Do In Skudeneshavn and Karmøy

1. Wander Through Søragadå

If Skudeneshavn strode the catwalks, you’d admire her classic style and empirical beauty. She is meticulous in her appearance, with bountiful blooms adorning her dazzling white homes. She’s called the White Lady of the Empire because her old wooden homes were inspired by the designs of ancient Rome.

In the centre of this white town is ‘Gamle Skudeneshavn’, meaning old town. The main street of Skudeneshavn Gamle is Søragadå, and here, you will be surrounded by some of Norway’s most well-preserved timber houses, dating from the 1800s.

While strolling through Søragadå, Skudeneshavn, you can admire the well-kept homes and pretty floral displays and find little clues that highlight the nautical essence of the town.

In summer, you’ll be accompanied by the faint scent of roses and the welcoming aroma of waffles and coffee hidden in unassuming little cafes that you might miss if it weren’t for the delicious smells.

2. Visit The Badehuset Cafe By The Sea

The Badehuset Kulturekafe is a homely cafe right by the harbour.

In the summer, you can sit outside and enjoy the sunshine beside the ocean. It regularly holds concerts and cultural events – check out its Facebook page for upcoming events and opening times.

3. Take a Tour of Skudeneshavn With the ‘Time Travel’ App

You can download this free app onto your phone and take a historical tour around the town with little film snippets and information about the various parts. As you walk, the information relevant to where you are pops up.

Search for ‘Time Travel in Skudeneshavn’ or Tilbakeblikk app in your app store to get the app. Opplev Karmoy runs it.

Below are some screenshots to give you an idea about it. It’s a really cool activity, and you can wander the town at your own pace and get a snippet of Skudeneshavn’s history.

4. Hire A Rowing Boat

Most of our suggestions for things to do in Skudeneshavn and Karmoy are free, and this one is no exception.

You can hire a rowing boat for free from the tourist office in the main square. You pick up the oars and lifejackets here and then can set off and explore Skudeneshavn Harbour from a different perspective.

We were struck by how much life happened on the water here. Children, not much older than nine or ten, hop in their dinghies and go off for a little jaunt around the harbour.

You can pass the old timber boathouses with a boat and get a great up-close view from the water.

Skudeneshavn Tourist Office Opening times: 1st June to 31st August (every day)

The Tourist Office has 4 hire bikes (helmet included): FREE.

5. Have A Doughnut and Coffee At 13 Humler

In the Skudeneshavn town square, you’ll find the community cafe, ‘13 Humler ‘. Translated, Humler means bumblebee, and this cafe/pub represents carefree summer days in Norway.

13 Humler is open all year round and offers snack food, delicious doughnuts, and cakes—perfect for coffee, beer, or wine.

6. Explore Skudeneshavn History at Maelandsgarden Museum

This museum is located in the heart of Skudeneshavn’s old town and is housed in one of the old listed timber buildings. Here, you can find out how the town grew up around the herring fishing boom and how this has shaped it into what it is today.

In the museum, you’ll find a shop, a wealthy merchant’s house, a dental surgery,  hairdressers, blacksmith and cooper (barrel maker) tools, and also a boathouse in which the herring used to be dropped.

We paid for the museum tour, which was worth taking because you hear many of the stories surrounding the articles in the house and learn so much more about how life used to be in Karmoy in the late 1800s.

In July, you can also follow 18th-century locals through the town as they tell of life in the 1800s.

Opening Times: Check the website here.

7. Explore Galleri Blonde Fabriken

This is the main gallery in the town, and it has various exhibitions throughout the year. The gallery was used for salting herring in the 1800s and has a unique story.

You’ll find this Gallery just beside the Skudeneshavn Museum.

8. Have Some Cake in the World’s Smallest Cafe

This Skudeneshavn cafe, ‘The World’s Smallest Cafe’,  or Verdens Minste Cafe, is small, but I really don’t know if it is truly the smallest cafe in the world. It is cosy and delightful, though.

The freshly homemade cakes and waffles were scrumptious.

You can find this gorgeous cafe at Soragada 23 in the old town.

9. Take A Stroll In Skudeneshavn Park

Above the charismatic old town, you’ll find Skudeneshavn’s haven of tranquillity. Befittingly, an old ship figurehead takes guardianship and is known as ‘The Lady in the Park’.

You’ll also find the famous moonstone in this little sanctuary high above the town. Not a meteorite as first presumed, but a remnant of rock left behind 800 million years ago. 

You also get a great view over the town’s rooftops and glimpses of the ocean through the trees.

Also, in the park,  you’ll find this lover’s bench. Depending on which seat you choose will determine your answer to a proposal of marriage. So be mindful of where you sit.;)

10. Sleepover At Vikholmen Lighthouse

At the entrance to Skudeneshavn harbour, you’ll find this cute little lighthouse. It was the guiding light for many a sailing ship in its time. It has now been renovated and you can rent it out to stay on its tiny little island.

The blood moon timed its visit perfectly during our stay in Skudeneshavn, and the Vikholmen lighthouse made a fantastic foreground for our photography of the moon.

If you’re short on photo ideas, check out this photography road trip ideas guide.

Want to stay at the Vikholmen lighthouse? Email [email protected] for availability.

11. Experience The Famous Tall Ships Skudeneshavn Festival

Every year, normally on the first weekend of July, boats of every type convene at Skudeneshavn for the largest nautical festival in Western Norway.

Tall ships, wooden boats and pleasure yachts fill the harbour to the brim.

Local artisans display their wares and demonstrate handicrafts that have been passed down through the ages. Concerts, food trucks, and a feeling of general merriment invade the old town.

It is an event that the people of Skudeneshavn, Karmoy, are very proud of. The tall ships visit Skudenesahvn across different days before continuing their voyage to assemble in Stavanger.

Not wanting to miss another photography opportunity, we took a car ferry across Boknafjorden to drive to Stavanger’s harbour and coastline.

[Note: 2024 Skudeneshavn Festival from July 4th to 7th July 2024]

⭐️ Buy this tall ship digital print from us here ⭐️

12. Do Some ‘Forest Bathing’

 Just behind Skudeneshavn town are many forest and moorland walks to enjoy.

The perfect thing to do in Skudeneshavn is to step out into nature and do some ‘forest bathing’ (the new expression for absorbing all the health benefits from being out in nature amongst greenery and trees). 

This was one of our favourite things to do.  

13. Take a Hike in Skudeneshavn Surrounds

There are also lovely lakes that you can walk around or hike to. The area is well-signposted, and the various walking trails lead you further into Karmoy’s nature.

We walked around one of the lakes (Follow the sign for ‘Allmannamyr rundt‘ to the right just after you start on the forest trails behind Skudeneshavn Sports Centre).

Then detoured toward ‘Nauthydleren‘ to find a geocache and came across a great lookout over Skudeneshavn.

For another enjoyable hike – take the blue hiking route to Litlavatn.

This trail takes you over wooden walkways, through forests and hills and leads you to a beautiful lake and a small waterfall. It’s only about a 3km round trip but gets the heart pumping and makes for the perfect outdoor exercise.

14. Have a BBQ or Picnic at the New Zealand Hut

This authentic replica of a New Zealand Gold Diggers hut was built in the Skudeneshavn forest in 1936 by Kristian Kristiansen. He had travelled overseas at an early age and had been a gold digger in New Zealand.

When he returned to Skudeneshavn, he built this cottage, called the ‘New Zealand Hut’, as a memory of the old gold diggers’ cottages in which he had lived in New Zealand.

You can easily walk to the New Zealand Hut on a well-trod path as it’s only about a 5-10 minutes from the back of Skudeneshavn Sports Hall. Once there, you’ll find a huge campfire area, a BBQ  and picnic benches.

New Zealand hut in the Forest in Skudeneshavn ©Lifejourney4two

15. Take a dip at Skudeneshavn’s Bade-Olena Bybad Swimming Area

Opened in the summer of 2021, this urban space is filled with wooden pyramids and benches alongside the harbour, with an area sectioned off for swimming. A lighthouse-styled sauna is on-site and can be booked for 150 NOK/hour.

It has space for eight people and is open daily from 06:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

The community area is named after a woman who ran a bathhouse in the old part of town, Søragada, in the last century and 2021 marked one hundred years since her death.

16. Have A Coffee At Takelurfabrikken Café

Have a coffee in this old Foghorn Factory and browse local handmade handicrafts in the attached shop.

O.C. Hansen’s statue sits outside the cafe, as it was here that he built his famous foghorn. Ships coming into Skudeneshavn harbour used to use signal flags, but these were ineffective in foggy weather. Hence the invention by Skudeneshavn local, Captain O.C. Hansen, who patented his foghorn in 1881.

The factory is now a coffee shop during the summer season (volunteers run the community building). It is also a meeting place for local handicraft clubs, who can sell their handiwork in the shop.

17. Walk The Skudeneshavn Heritage Trail

Visit the Skudeneshavn Tourist Info for a Heritage Trail Map, then walk through the town to learn more about its history and significant cultural heritage of Skudeneshavn.

One iconic town building on the trail is this ‘Half house’ in the old town, at 60 Søragadå Street. Known as Vaskehuset, this house was built around the adjoining hillside. 

It was built and used as a laundry and woodshed for the house on the opposite side of the street. 

18. Take A Boat To Geitungen Lighthouse

Geitungen Lighthouse, in Karmoy, is a protected National Monument. It was first lit in 1924 and manned until 1994.

One of the Skudeneshavn locals took us on his boat to visit Geitungen Lighthouse. We walked around the lighthouse and took some photos, but if you have the opportunity to have a picnic, then you can enjoy splendid views back to Skudeneshavn.

19. Swim Or Stroll in Syre, Karmoy

Just three kilometres from Skudeneshavn, the small village of Syre lies on the coastline.

It has a cute little harbour and a gorgeous beach cove perfect for swimming or paddling your feet. The rocky coastline and pine forest make for wonderful hiking.

20. Visit The World War II Bunkers At Syreneset Fort, Karmoy

One of the best things to do in Skudeneshavn is to get out in nature. The 4.2 km one-way walk to Syreneset Fort takes you through the forest, open fields, and the rocky coastline.

We walked along the coastline from Skudeneshavn to Syre, clambering over rocks to investigate the many small inlets. It was slow going but certainly an interesting hike.

The pathway to the fort crosses Karmoy’s forested moorland, presenting stunning scenery.

The occupying Germans built the fort in WWII, which was used to monitor the shipping lane action. You can climb in among the bunkers, and there are still plenty of German signs that seem out of place in the peaceful Norwegian surroundings.

21. Skudeneshavn Lighthouse

Skudeneshavn Lighthouse is nowadays automated and located on private land. However, we were lucky enough to be there when an American relative of the owner was overnighting.

We were clambering on the rocks below the cottage when he saw us and welcomed us to join him. He had spotted us taking photos of the lighthouse from below. 

The scenery around the area is worth exploring.

22. Visit Skudeneshavn Kystfort

Kystfort is another war bunker located on top of the hills around Skudeneshavn, overlooking the ocean.

Lars had fun looking around, whilst I enjoyed the scenery, the views across the ocean, playing with my camera and talking to the sheep.

If you enjoy photography, you can get some great shots here, though the sheep aren’t particularly chatty.

23. The Beach at Sandve – Sandvesanden, Karmoy

You may not expect to find glorious white sandy beaches like this in Norway – but here they are.

These beautiful beaches, just five minutes drive from Skudeneshaven, Karmoy, are nestled by outcrops of rock. The beach at Sanvesanden is particularly picturesque.

When we visited, the weather was warm, and birds flitted around us. Every few metres, we were distracted and stopped to admire the different types of plant life.

24. Ferkingstad Fishermen’s Memorial, Karmoy

About a 20-minute drive north from Skudeneshavn, you’ll see signs from the main road to the Ferkingstad Fishermen’s Memorial. Many of Karmoy’s fishermen headed to America to make their living, especially when the herring boom dried up.

This memorial is to remember those who left and lost their lives in American waters. The memorial plays a tune of remembrance at various times of the day.

We didn’t know this at the time of our visit and wondered where the music was playing, but we soon found the source and reason behind it.

25. Akrasanden, Karmoy

Akrasanden is another gorgeous beach at Akrehamn, Karmoy, about 20 minutes north of Skudeneshavn. This one-kilometre stretch of sand has been awarded the Eco-friendly Blue Flag award, an exclusive international environmental certification of beaches and marinas.

Akrasanden has again won the award in 2024. Complimenting the beach are the crystalline blue waters that gently lap the sand.

It also won the Most Beautiful Beach in Norway award in 2014. You can find shops, cafes and a Coastal Museum in Akrehamn.

26. Coastal Walk From Akresanden To Ferkingstad

A coastal path on the western side of Karmoy leads from the beach at Akrasanden to the Fisherman’s Memorial in Ferkingstad.

The walk takes about two hours to complete and is the best way to experience the western coast of Karmoy. The winds can get fresh on the coast, so take some warm clothes if you get nippy.

27. Visit The Statue of Liberty

We thought they were joking when Karmoy locals told us we could visit the Statue of Liberty!

In the 1870s, the town of Visnes, Karmoy, operated the largest copper mine in Norway. This mine supplied the copper for the New York Statue of Liberty.

It was in operation until 1972 and now has a museum on site. The Little Statue of Liberty in Visnes is life-size, so somewhat smaller than the more famous one.

28. Walk In The Footsteps Of The Viking Kings At Avaldnes, Karmoy

The island of Karmoy is the home of the Viking Kings.

They ruled from the site at Avaldsnes, about a 30-minute drive from Skudeneshavn. Here, you can visit the Viking History Centre and experience life on a Viking homestead.

Our visit here coincided with the Viking festival at Avaldsnes. It was a step back in time.

For more information about the Viking connection to Karmoy and what to do in Avaldsnes, read our detailed post, In the Footsteps of the Viking Kings, Avaldsnes.

29. Visit St. Olav’s Church At Avaldsnes, Karmoy

In northern Karmoy, on the hill overlooking Karmsund Strait, sits St. Olav’s Church just beside the Viking History Centre.

This stone church was built in 1250, but it is believed to have replaced a wooden church built by King Olav Tryggason around 1000 AD.

Here, you’ll also find the Virgin Mary’s Needle, an ancient stone from around 200 AD. The story passed down through the ages is that if the stone touches the church, Doomsday will descend.

Legend also suggests that priests would climb up the pillar at night and chip away pieces of it ensuring it did not contact the church.

Hence, we are apparently now 9.2 centimetres away from the end of the world!

30. Go For A Day Trip Or Overnight At Utsira

We found this awesome island of Utsira, just west of Karmoy, at the end of our stay in Skudeneshavn. However, we wish we’d found it sooner. 

If you enjoy hiking (this was one of our best hikes in Norway) or love street art, then Utsira is a must-have on your bucket list. 

You can catch a free ferry from Haugesund, about a 30-minute north of Skudeneshavn.

For detailed information on visiting Utsira, check out our article, ‘Why Utsira Should be on Your Norway Bucket List’. 

There are so many things to do in Skudeneshavn and on the small island of Karmøy that a week here would keep you more than busy.

So, next time you want to visit Norway, be sure to put Skudeneshavn and Karmoy on your itinerary. It’ll take you away from the crowds and offer you a tantalising, diverse taster of Norway, all within easy reach.

31. Visit The ‘Rising Tide’ Sculpture In Haugesund

Hidden almost out of sight is the sculpture The Rising Tide. It is the work of Jason deCaires Taylor, a British artist who first placed it on the Thames in the United Kingdom. 

The sculpture comprises four life-size horses, representing the origins of industrialisation. It is also meant as a warning about climate change. 

Each horse head has been modelled on an oil well pump, making a political comment on the impact of fossil fuels on our planet. Haugesund is about a 40-minute drive north of Skudeneshavn.

The sculpture is at the end of Kvalsvikvegen, Haugesund. Take the right-hand fork along the road, not the left. 

32. Drop By The Old Farmhouse Derikhuset

Derikhuset, built in 1840, is a charming old farmhouse – now a museum. It has a stone-walled garden and a peat cellar at the rear. 

We visited in early spring, snow still melting on the surrounding fields as the daffodils bloomed.  

A little bit further along the road, you’ll find the path leading to the forest hikes, allowing you to take a circular route back to Skudeneshavn through the forest. 

33. Have a drink and a meal at the local Pub and Piano Bar, Smia

The perfect setting for a sundowner in the land of the midnight sun. You can be cosy inside or enjoy the weather outside in the pretty, terraced area.

The perfect end to exploring Skudeneshavn and the island of Karmoy.

Special Events: Experience 17th of May Celebrations

If you find yourself in Skudeneshavn during May, you’re in for a treat. Norway’s Constitution Day celebrated on 17th May, is one of the most important events in the Norwegian calendar, and Skudeneshavn knows how to celebrate it in style.

On this day, the town wakes up to the booming of cannons across the harbour at 7 a.m., marking the start of a day filled with pride, tradition, and community spirit. The streets, usually calm and serene, are transformed by marching bands and a street procession with locals dressed in their traditional bunads or their Sunday best.

The Barnatorget, or children’s parade, is a highlight, with young ones waving flags and playing mini trumpets as they march through the town. This day isn’t just about parades, though—it’s also a day to indulge in traditional treats like ice cream, hot dogs, and the local favourite, Dronning Maud’s pudding.

Dronning Maud’s pudding

The Russ, or graduating students, add youthful energy to the day with their red jumpsuits and playful business cards, a tradition that’s uniquely Norwegian.

Experiencing the 17th of May in Skudeneshavn gives you a true sense of the town’s community and patriotic spirit. It’s an event that goes beyond the usual tourist attractions, offering a deeper connection to Norwegian culture.

Accommodation In Skudeneshavn

Skudenes Camping

Here, you can rent self-service cottages with free wifi and cooking facilities.

There is also motorhome/RV parking available. 

⏹ Book a room at Skudenes Camping here

Apartment in the old town (Sorogada 15)

This one-bedroom apartment with a garden, free wifi and a kitchenette in the heart of Skudeneshavn.

 🏠 Find Prices at Soragada 15 here

Norneshuset Overnatting

One of the highest-rated accommodation options in Skudeneshavn, this historic house on the waterfront offers a full continental breakfast, free wifi and an ideal location within the heart of the old town.

We stayed here and can highly recommend both its location and facilities.

🏠 Book a room at Norneshuset Overnatting

Find more accommodation deals in Skudeneshavn here.

Getting to Skudeneshavn

Haugesund Airport is about a 30-minute drive north of Skudeneshavn, on the island of Karmøy.

We had a car when we travelled around Norway, which was the easiest way.

However, we also used buses that ran frequently across the Karmøy, north to Haugesund and south to Stavanger.

Check the bus timetable on the Kolombos website here.  

Things To Do In Skudeneshavn … That’s A Wrap

It’s hard to forget her when she gives you so much to remember. Skudeneshavn swept us up in her warm embrace, and we have had a love affair with her ever since.

Skudeneshavn’s allure spreads from her coast to her forest. She has an abundant personality and easily satisfies an inquisitive traveller’s desire to explore.

With its nautical nuances, stunning coastal plains, and boundless, beautiful countryside of forests and lakes, Skudeneshavn may just steal your heart, too.

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What would be your list’s first thing to do if you visited Skudeneshavn?

If you’ve been here, are there any places you think should be added to our list of things to do in Skudeneshavn and Karmoy?

As always we’re happy to answer any questions you have.

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