Vassøy: Island Trails, Nature and Peisaren Cove

Vassøy offers nature and swimming spots, as well as a route with historical connections. When choosing your destination, you might consider whether you are particularly interested in a walk around a pond, a break by the water or traces of earlier settlement. You can also plan your journey around the different boat services.

Nature and swimming spots on Vassøy

Torvmyrå is an artificial, dammed pond with no fish and many aquatic plants. It plays an important role for local flora and fauna; ecological conditions may change. Vassøyturen includes a loop around the pond. Torvmyrå is therefore both a nature attraction in its own right and part of the route. Check the route’s current course before setting out.

Peisaren, a swimming cove, is also on Vassøyturen and invites you to take a break and perhaps go for a swim. The bathing spot is easy to reach with a stroller. Vassøy also has a beach and a volleyball court. Recreational facilities may change; if needed, check in advance whether the court is available for your visit. A suspension bridge leads to a small islet and offers another specific place to visit during your time on the island.

The route and traces of history

Vassøyturen passes an old schoolhouse dating from 1902. The route also features traces of an Iron Age settlement. These stops bring together different periods: the schoolhouse points to more recent local history, while the settlement traces reach far back in time. If you are interested in history, you can see the route not only as a walk around Torvmyrå, but also as a way to explore these historical points of interest.

Another historical reference leads to Makkavågen: sprats were once canned there. This tells the story of the fish’s former processing and complements the archaeological and school-history connections with a local history of food production.

Getting there by boat

Vassøy can be reached by scheduled boat from Bakerbrygga. A fast boat departs from Fiskepiren in central Stavanger; there is also a car ferry service. These services differ in their departure points and modes of transport. Check the timetables with the relevant operator before travelling to make sure your journey fits your planned schedule.

Stavanger: its own cultural and natural attractions

Stavanger also offers destinations of its own for nature and culture enthusiasts. In the city centre, Byparken surrounds Breiavatnet, which is a habitat for swans, ducks and several species of gull. Mosvatnet is a protected nature reserve with significant natural values, including for birds and bats; it was designated a protected area on 15 August 2025.

Stavanger’s Trehusbyen, with approximately 8,000 houses and architectural styles ranging from Empire to Art Nouveau and Functionalism, is a highlight of architectural history. Museum Stavanger – MUST comprises eight museums in Stavanger. Stavanger Cathedral is another historical landmark: services have been held there since 1125, and it is considered the only medieval cathedral to have preserved its original architecture. It was probably built in 1125, after Sigurd Jorsalfarer declared Stavanger a cathedral city.

Another historical attraction is Sverd i fjell, a monument at the end of Hafrsfjord in the municipality of Stavanger. It commemorates the Battle of Hafrsfjord in 872. This gives you a clear distinction between the destinations when planning your trip: here, Vassøy stands for an island trail, a swimming cove and local traces of the past, while Stavanger offers its own city, architecture and history attractions.

Discover more destinations: Oanes, Randaberg, Sauda, Bokn, Utsira, Sola.

Back to the regional travel overview: Rogaland.