Things to Do in Stavanger and Preikestolen
Norway's most famous cliff, a long blue fjord and a white wooden old town.
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Preikestolen, or Pulpit Rock, is a square-edged slab of granite that sticks out 604 meters above the Lysefjord, east of Stavanger. Reaching it takes a hike of about four kilometers each way over rocky paths, stone steps and boardwalks; most people take four to five hours for the round trip, and the reward is a view straight down the fjord. Go early or late in summer to avoid the busiest hours, wear proper shoes, and stay well back from the edge, which has no railing. In winter and spring the trail can be icy, and a guide is a good idea.
The Lysefjord itself is long, narrow and steep, and boat trips from Stavanger sail beneath Preikestolen, past waterfalls and seal colonies to the village of Lysebotn at its far end. That is the starting point for the harder hike to Kjeragbolten, a boulder wedged in a crack high above the fjord, which experienced hikers can step onto. Fast RIB boats offer a quicker, wetter version of the fjord trip.
Stavanger, Norway's oil capital, is a pleasant small city. Gamle Stavanger, the old town above the harbor, has some 170 white wooden houses from the 1700s and 1800s along cobbled lanes, and nearby Ovre Holmegate is painted in bright colors and lined with cafes. Stavanger Cathedral dates from the early 1100s. The Norwegian Petroleum Museum, on the harbor, explains the North Sea oil industry that transformed the country, and on the shore of the Hafrsfjord the giant Swords in Rock monument marks a Viking battle that, by tradition, united Norway. Buses run from Stavanger to the Preikestolen trailhead in summer, and by car the trip takes under an hour through the Ryfast undersea tunnel.
Don’t Miss
A flat cliff 604 meters above the Lysefjord, reached by a hike of about four kilometers each way.
A narrow fjord with sightseeing boats from Stavanger and the Kjeragbolten hike from Lysebotn.
About 170 white wooden houses from the 18th and 19th centuries on cobbled lanes above the harbor.
Hands-on exhibits on North Sea oil and gas and how it changed Norway.
A cathedral begun in the early 1100s, among the oldest in Norway.
Top-Rated Tours, Tickets & Activities in Stavanger
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Get free trip quotes »Stavanger — FAQ
How hard is the Preikestolen hike?
It is moderate: about eight kilometers round trip with roughly 500 meters of climbing over rocky ground. Reasonably fit walkers, including older children, manage it in four to five hours with good shoes.
Can I see Preikestolen without hiking?
Yes, from below on a Lysefjord sightseeing boat from Stavanger, though the view from the top is only reachable on foot.
When is the best time to hike Preikestolen?
June to September, when the trail is usually free of snow. Outside summer, check conditions and consider a guide.
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