Stavanger’s Øvre Holmegate, known locally as Fargegaten, is one of Norway’s most photographed streets. Just steps from the cruise port, this row of rainbow-coloured houses is a lively hub of cafés, boutiques, and nightlife.
Gamle Stavanger, the old town, is famous for its neat rows of white wooden houses and cobbled lanes. Cruise passengers often pour into this picturesque district as soon as they step ashore, as the ships dock right next to it.
Against this backdrop, it comes as a surprise to discover that the most famous street in Stavanger is anything but white. Øvre Holmegate bursts with colour, its pastel façades creating a cheerful contrast to the muted tones elsewhere in the city centre.
What was once a rather ordinary shopping street is now a destination in itself, drawing both tourists with cameras and locals who linger over coffee, cocktails, or craft beer.
Stavanger Travel Resources
Make the most of your time in Stavanger with these useful links:
🇳🇴 My Recommendations on Things To Do in Stavanger
🛏️ Find and Book Hotels in Stavanger
🚨 Don't Forget Travel Insurance
👣 Book Tours and Experiences
🚘 Find Rates and Availability on Car Rental
A Splash of Colour in Whitewashed Stavanger
Known locally as Fargegaten (“The Colour Street”), Øvre Holmegate was transformed in 2005 thanks to the vision of hairdresser Tom Kjørsvik. Looking for a way to breathe life into his salon and the surrounding businesses, Kjørsvik enlisted the help of Scottish artist Craig Flannagan.
Flannagan proposed a bold Miami Vice–inspired palette, but what makes the street so effective isn’t just the bright hues.
Each house was assigned a carefully chosen set of four or five colours for its façade, doors, and window frames, designed to harmonise with its neighbours and even with the buildings opposite.
Getting the project approved was less of a problem than convincing individual property owners, but eventually the plan went ahead, not without drama over the inclusion of pink, as Flannagan recalls:
“Each house was given a series of 4-5 colours, which were designed to harmonise with its neighbours. The colour scheme also worked crossing back and forth across the street. Doors window frames and roof panelling where all treated to a separate colour. All the house owners had to agree on the design.”
“The problems started with pink. Some of the house owners would not accept pinks at all, others who rented apartments in some of the houses asked specifically for maximum pink. Every time I had to change a colour I had to rearrange the entire street.”
“There is no such thing as a singly nice colour; there are only colour combinations. Colours work like musical notes creating harmonies. Eventually everybody was happy, all except for one house that still refuses to follow the scheme.”
Today, almost 20 years later, the street remains one of Stavanger’s most iconic landmarks.
Life on Norway’s Most Colourful Street
The street is lined with cafés, bars, and boutiques, making it popular throughout the day and long into the evening. Visitors stop for photos, then stay for a latte, a glass of wine, or a casual lunch.
In summer, the outdoor seating areas spill onto the cobbles, giving the street a distinctly Mediterranean feel despite its North Sea location.
Boutique shops offer everything from clothing and gifts to vintage treasures, while the nightlife scene has made Øvre Holmegate a go-to spot for locals. The vibrant setting also makes it a popular backdrop for cultural events and photo shoots.
Visiting Øvre Holmegate
- Location: Just a five-minute walk from the city’s main square, and 10-15 minutes from the cruise terminal.
- Best time to visit: Sunny days bring out the colours best, but the street is atmospheric year-round. Even in winter, the bright façades stand out against the low Nordic light.
- Photography tip: Arrive early in the morning before the cafés open if you want photos without crowds.
What’s Nearby
Stavanger is a compact city, and Øvre Holmegate is ideally placed for sightseeing. Just a short stroll away is the Norwegian Petroleum Museum, where interactive exhibits explain how oil transformed both Stavanger and modern Norway.
Right outside the museum is the Geopark, a quirky urban space built from recycled oil-industry materials, where children clamber over colourful rigs and pipes.
Gamle Stavanger, with its white timber houses and narrow alleys, is about a 10-minute walk away, while the restaurants of the Vågen harbour is closer. The street also makes a natural stop for cruise passengers before or after excursions to the Lysefjord and Pulpit Rock.
Stavanger’s Street Art Scene
The burst of colour in Øvre Holmegate is part of a wider creative movement in Stavanger.
The city is regarded as the birthplace of Norway’s street art scene, largely thanks to the Nuart Festival, when leading international street artists are invited to create large-scale works across Stavanger, turning ordinary walls into striking murals.
Over the years, the festival has transformed the city into an open-air gallery, with pieces ranging from bold political statements to playful, photogenic art.
For visitors, it means that wandering the streets beyond Øvre Holmegate can be just as rewarding, as new artworks appear alongside long-standing favourites.
A Symbol of Stavanger’s Creativity
More than just a photogenic backdrop, Øvre Holmegate represents the city’s willingness to reinvent itself.
Once reliant on fishing, later transformed by oil, and now increasingly known for culture and tourism, Stavanger embraces change. The Colour Street captures that spirit, showing how bold ideas and collaboration can turn an ordinary place into something extraordinary.
Have you strolled down Øvre Holmegate? Would you like to see a similar burst of colour in your own city? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
