Easter activities!

Although many Norwegians hit the slopes during easter, there is something about staying in town. Urban Easter is the alternative for some who prefer to visit cafés and art exhibitions when the rest of the pack heads for the mountains. There are also concerts, festivals, and other events going on all over the country at Easter time.

Here are some tips for those of you who are staying in town during Easter: 

Hiking
Norwegians enjoy hiking as much as skiing during Easter, and you will find many city hikes with incredible views. Bring along some Easter eggs filled with candy and have an Easter egg hunt with the family. HERE are a few local hikes definitely worth a try.

Bathing
Another fun (and freezing) adventure you can do during your Easter holiday is to go ice bathing, which has recently become a very popular trend in Norway. Renting a small sauna is a perfect social event. Check out Damp Sauna.

Easter disco at Blåveis on 31 March
Guilty Pleasures Galore. Friends, friends party from Thriller to Pokerface. From Oasis to Backstreet boys. From Nevermind to Lose yourself. From Vogue to Welcome to the black parade. From Barbie to Spice girl. Are you ready? You can let loose from 18:00.

The cinema
It's always nice to take the family to the cinema. Both Sandnes and Stavanger offers a wide program.

Stavanger library/Sølvberget
During the first days of easter week, Sølvberget organizes a festival for young people between the ages of 13 and 20! There will be many activities, workshops and courses, all of which the young people themselves have wanted to take part in. Everything is free, but some of the events have advance registration and limited places.

Easter at the Museum
Join the Easter egg hunt at Stavanger museum 23 March-1. April. The Easter Bunny has hidden eggs around the museum. Check out the Opening hours for MUST museum at Easter!

At Stavanger maritime museum you can help solve a Easter crime at the museum on March 24 at 11:00-16:00

Vitenfabrikken in Sandnes offers fun and educational activities during easter. Their Easter Bunnies, Helle og Henrik, gets lost all the time and needs help to find his way home. Opening Hours HERE.

Easter Reading
You might have discovered the bizarre Norwegian love of crime fiction over the easter period. Bookshops have a massive display of Easter crime books. There's even short story collections brought out every year from Norway's biggest crime writers. Get your easter crime at the Library: in Stavanger HERE and Sandnes HERE.

Nice to know about Norwegian Easter
If this is your first Easter in Norway, be aware that the country has several public holidays, and most people will take extra time off from work. The holiday begins with Palm Sunday, known as palmesøndag (March 24th, 2024). The public holidays are Maundy Thursday - skjærtorsdag (March 27th, 2024) and Good Friday - langfredag March 29th, 2024).

Then, the Saturday of Easter weekend (påskeaften, not a public holiday) precedes Easter Sunday (påskedag or 1. påskedag) on March 31, 2024. The final public holiday of the period, Easter Monday is known as 2. påskedag (April 1, 2024).

That means that most businesses and shops are closed between Thursday March 28 and Monday April 1, with the exception of Saturday (påskeaften).

HAPPY EASTER!