Best Things To Do in Haugesund, Norway: Cruise Port Guide

Haugesund pleasantly surprised me, I didn’t think I would particularly enjoy this stop on our Norwegian fjords cruise – but it actually turned out pretty great.

Sure, it’s not the same dramatic mountain scenery that you get on some of the other ports of call like Olden or Hellesylt. But Haugesund offered something different. It had a large-town vibe, with loads of shops and atmospheric restaurants and bars. But if you venture a little further out from the centre you’ll discover picturesque streets with traditional white wooden houses, quaint Norwegian churches, and a gorgeous coastal walk to a tidal pool.

So before you strike Haugesund off and spend all day taking advantage of the cruise ship bars (no shade), here’s everything you can get up to in Haugesund. You never know, you might just be pleasantly surprised.

Take a RIB Boat Ride to All The Mini Islands

RIB boat rides are super popular in Norway, and will most likely be an option at all of your Norway port-of-calls. But Haugesund offers something a little different from the rest. Unlike the dramatic mountainous fjord views you get in places like Olden, Hellesylt (where we did ours) or Stavanger, Haugesund takes you around the mesmerising labyrinth of tiny islands and canals that sit off the coast of Haugesund.

It’s a completely different landscape compared to the other port-of-call’s and usually a longer excursion too. Great if you fancy something a bit adventurous that mixes sea breeze, speed, and scenery all in one fun activity.

Take a look on GetYourGuide or local tour boards for tickets and availability.

Go Shopping on Haraldsgata

The main shopping street in Haugesund is pedestrianised, stretches out around 1 kilometre, and was draped in colourful bunting when we were there.

Whether you plan to cause some damage to your bank account or just simply window shop, theres plenty of shops to peruse and enjoy. We grabbed the boys some Norwegian sweets in one of the busy sweet shops, and popped into a store that claimed to be one of the oldest shops in the area. There’s also a lovely bookshop called Den Lille Bokbutikken (The Little Bookshop) which you’ll easily spot as it has an old British red phone box out the front. How very Instagramable!

If Haraldsgata isn’t enough, there’s also a small shopping mall (Markedet) just a few streets away.

Skåregata shopping street 1km Haugesund

Discover Interesting Street Art

Much like Stavanger, Haugesund also has some interesting street art. Enjoy strolling around the streets and discovering quirky pieces of graffiti and murals. I particularly liked this one which looked like someone sitting in a fairground ride – i’m not sure that’s what it actually is though!

Snap a Photo With The Marilyn Monroe Statue

We wondered why there was a statue of Marilyn Monroe in Haugesund. It seemed a little random? Well, it actually turns out to be somewhat of a scandal!

The statue was created because for a while, people believed her father was born in Haugesund, but that later turned out to be fake news. However, the people of Haugesund loved the statue so much, that they decided to keep it anyway.

You’ll find her sat down by the water, near the main bridge from the cruise terminal.

Enjoy A Breezy Coastal Walk From Haugesund

We walked from the cruise terminal all the way to the Rising Tides statue which took us about 1 hour. The walk is mostly gentle, with small inclines and uneven ground in places, and you might even spot some goats grazing in the fields.

Remember to bring some drinks (maybe even snacks) with you as there isn’t anywhere to buy anything once you’re all the way out here. You could even bring a full picnic if you fancy, as theres picnic tables dotted along the route.

Visit The Rising Tides Statue

The “Rising Tides” sculpture cleverly merges workhorses with oil extraction and carries a message about our reliance on fossil fuels and our impact on climate change. Notice how the horses have lifelike bodies, yet their hollow, angular heads resemble horse-head pumps (the mechanical arms of oil wells) symbolising the link between industry and nature.

This meaningful artwork reveals another message too, as the tide rises, the sculpture becomes a striking visual reminder of rising sea levels and the urgent threat climate change poses to our planet. While the faceless riders symbolise a sense of hope for the future.

The Rising Tides statue was originally installed in London on the River Thames, where it would disappear and re-emerge twice a day with the changing tide, reinforcing its environmental message.

Rising Tides statue Haugesund things to do

Take The City Train From The Cruise Terminal

If you struggle with mobility, or simply don’t fancy walking to explore Haugesund, you can get a ticket for the land train instead. This funky blue and white land train picks you up from right outside the cruise terminal and then takes you on a leisurely tour all around Haugesund which lasts just over 1 hour. It stops at 2 places, allowing you a short amount of time to get off and have a little wander before hopping back on and continuing the tour. The audio guide comes in 8 different languages including: Norwegian, English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Dutch and Russian.

You can prebook tickets on the Haugesund City Train website, or get them from the City Train booth outside the cruise terminal. On cruise ships days it departs from the cruise terminal every 30 minutes.

When we visited in 2025, the tickets cost 350 NOK (£26) for adults, children 170 NOK (£12.70) and family tickets 850 NOK (£63.25).

Enjoy The ‘Hop On Hop Off’ Sightseeing Bus

Taking a ride on the bright red Hop On Hop Off Sightseeing bus is an easy and convenient way to explore different parts of Haugesund. You can catch the bus from any of the Hop on Hop Off stops, then simply jump off at any of the stops that interest you. Once you’ve finished exploring that particular stop under your own steam, simply rejoin another Hop On Hop Off bus to continue your tour. It’s so easy!

These sightseeing busses give you a great opportunity to learn about Haugesund’s history, and the audio guide comes in 7 different languages including English, German, Spanish, French, Dutch and Norwegian. The bus tickets come with unlimited rides (for 24 hours) so you can explore to your hearts content!

If you just wanted to stay on the bus without getting off to explore any of the stops, then the full sightseeing tour lasts around 40 minutes.

Tickets start from £33 per person, and you can either sort tickets direct or book through GetYourGuide (who we use a lot on our trips!)

Walk to Norway’s National Monument – Haraldshaugen

Haraldshaugen (also called “Norway’s National Monument”) is located just north of Haugesund’s centre, at a place called Gard. It was built in 1872 to commemorate the millennium celebration of Norway’s unification into one kingdom, where it was erected on top of King Harald Fairhair burial mound.

29 large granite standing stones wrap around the main central obelisk which stand 17 meters tall. With each stone representing the old Norwegian counties before they united as one.

It’s free to visit and located just off the coastal path, so you can easily pop by if you’re walking out towards the Rising Tides or further.

Discover The Stone Cross

There’s also Krosshaugen, or “the stone cross” which sits near Haraldshaugen. This weathered stone cross dates from the earliest Christian period in Norway, which would be about the year 1000! It’s possible that Christian mass was performed here before the churches were built.

Admire Kvalen Fyr Lighthouse

Kvalen Fyr lighthouse has been standing 36 meters tall since 1857, and was used to safety guide ships in and out of Haugesund harbour. Sadly it’s now just an unlit structure as it’s longer in use, but it makes a colourful landmark and photography spot in Haugesund.

We walked most the way out, but it was so windy that we had to turn around. I think the wind could have blown us into the sea had we of ventured out any further.

Take a Swim in Haugesund’s Tidal Pool

We discovered a brilliant tidal pool along the coastal walk to the Rising Tides statue. If you fancy a dip, be sure to take your swim stuff and a towel with you. There are a couple of changing cubicles that you could use and even a covered BBQ area which reminded me of the one at our Lapland hotel! It was lovely, and there were a few people braving the chilly water for a refreshing swim.

The waters nice and shallow too, making it perfect for younger children (if they can brave the cold!) Just be careful as parts can be slippery due to algae.

Theres another pool called Haraldsvang which is further inland. That one has a diving tower, which is fun if you want something a bit more than just splashing around.

Kvalsvik Bad Haugesund Norway tidal pool

Go Inside Our Saviour’s Church

Our Saviour’s Church (Vår Frelsers Kirke) is the big red-brick neo-Gothic church you’ll see from many vantage points in Haugesund. It really stands out too as we saw very little red brick buildings in Norway. This church was designed by Einar Halleland, seats over 1,000 people and was consecrated in 1901.

Feel Tiny on The Huge Yellow Chair

Right by the waterfront (near the Monroe statue) you’ll spot this giant yellow deck chair. It’s so oversized that it makes you feel like a tiny Borrower (90’s kids will get this). Jump in and take some funny photos in the sunshine.

Admire The Fishermen Statue – Fiskere

Fiskere (the Fishermen statue) sits in front of Our Saviours Church, and is surrounded by a beautiful tiered water feature. The bronze statue features two fishermen, and symbolises Haugesund’s rich fishing history. This lovely statue was donated to Haugesund by shipowner Stolt Nielsen and was unveiled in 1920.

Find The Statue of King Harald Fairhair

The large bronze statue of King Harald Fairhair stands not too far from the city park, where he looks out across the water. He was the first king of Norway, and the one who united Norway in the 9th century.

Learn at The Viking Planet Haugesund

If you need a bad-weather activity for the family, consider The Viking Planet Haugesund. It’s fairly new (opened in 2023) and is conveniently located near the cruise terminal.

It’s a digital / interactive museum (don’t expect to see real artefacts) instead, theres immersive displays, and videos telling stories of Viking life, and how people once lived in this region.

We didn’t go, but looking at reviews I think The Viking Planet is a bit like Marmite. Some love it. Others hate it.

Visit Skåre Church

How insanely beautiful is this white church? I absolutely love the architecture of Skåre church, which was made even prettier with the deep purple leaves of the tree next to it. Olaf Nordhagen designed this almost octagonal church in a National Romantic style, and building work commenced in 1917.

Play Area For The Kids

We stumbled upon a fun kids’ play area just off the main shopping street. Great if you’re travelling with little ones who need somewhere to burn off energy, or a place to let them run while you sit and enjoy a latte on the bench. This park had a large rope climbing frame that all the kids seemed to be loving!

Relax at City Park – Byparken

Byparken is a lovely manicured park just a short walk out from the centre of Haugesund. There’s green space, little statues, and plenty of benches scattered throughout the park for people to sit and relax. It looked a peaceful spot to enjoy a picnic, or to come and get lost inside a real page-turner book on a sunny day.

Can You Walk From the Cruise Terminal into Haugesund?

Yes you can! Haugesund dock is more of an industrial port than a pretty Norway fjord, but it’s still not that far to walk into the centre of Haugesund. Overall the route is easy and only takes around 15 minutes. The steepest part is walking over the large bridge, which gives you a good view back over the port in one direction, and into the town on the other.

Is Haugesund Worth Visiting?

Haugesund was so much better than I thought it was going to be. Things I had read made it sound like it wasn’t even worth getting off the ship for, that it was just an ugly industrial port. To be honest, they have a point because if you don’t get off the cruise ship, Haugesund does look like that! But a short stroll into Haugesund and the environment around you really changes into something much prettier.

We enjoyed out time im Haugesund far more than we thought we would. It may not be as pretty or scream post-card-picture-perfect Norway quite like Olden does. But it’s got lots to see and explore and we had a great time here.

Go see it for yourself, and see what you think.

If you’re visiting other places in Norway, take a look at my guides on Hellesylt, Stavanger and Olden – where we went up one of the steepest cables cars in the world!

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