Worth remembering
- The Lysefjord is 41 miles (66 km) from Stavanger and about an hour and a half by car, though boats leave from Stavanger harbour and reach it by water.[1]
- Drive, take the local ferry, or join a fjord cruise. Cruise ships berth at Skagenkaien, Strandkaien or Skansekaien in Vågen, the city-centre inner harbour.[2]
- The Sørlandsbanen train from Oslo S to Stavanger takes around seven to eight hours, a full day of travel across southern Norway.[6]
- An excursion from Bergen to Preikestolen and Stavanger runs 13 hours with pickup and a small group limited to 7 participants, from US$299.[7]
- A year-round local ferry sails the Lysefjord and calls at Lysebotn, and the Rødne cruise from Stavanger lasts 3-3.5 hours.[4][8]
- Top choice Electric Fjord Cruise from US$75 Duration3.5 hours[9]Rated4.62 from 9,730 reviews[9]StyleOn the waterGood to knowWheelchair accessible, audio guide[9] Check availability
- RIB Safari to Lysefjord from US$126 Duration2 hours[10]Rated4.92 from 1,526 reviews[10]StyleFast boatGood to knowSkip the ticket line, audio guide[10] See this tour
- Preikestolen Hike from US$168 Duration6 hours[11]Rated4.80 from 439 reviews[11]StyleOn footGood to knowGuide: English, Norwegian, Danish, Swedish[11] See this tour
Experience the majestic Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock) from the water. Book a 3.5-hour silent, hybrid-electric fjord cruise from Stavanger.
How to get to the Lysefjord: our verdict
Plan ahead
Where the Lysefjord is and how it formed
The Lysefjord cuts inland from the Ryfylke coast east of Stavanger, a long channel of green water held between dark rock walls. It was formed during the last Ice Age, about 10,000 years ago, when colossal glaciers carved deep valleys into the landscape.[12] Today the fjord is approximately 40 kilometres long and up to 422 metres deep, though it shallows to only 13 metres near Oanes and Forsand, where the water narrows and the current shifts.[13] On a map the fjord looks close to the city, but how long it takes to reach depends on whether you travel by road or by water.
Two landmarks stand out. Preikestolen, the Pulpit Rock, rises 604 metres above the Lysefjord in Ryfylke, a flat shelf of rock that looks impossible from below.[14] Further in, the boulder known as Kjeragbolten is wedged 1,000 metres above the Lysefjord, at the end of a strenuous 12 km trail.[15] Between the two sit waterfalls dropping straight off the plateau, old summer farms and a handful of tiny settlements that you only ever see from the water. Seeing the fjord from the deck gives you the scale without the climb.
How to get to the Lysefjord from Stavanger
From the city, the choice is between water and road. By road the Lysefjord is 41 miles (66 km) from Stavanger, and the drive takes around an hour and a half, much of it through tunnels and across bare rock.[1] By water it is simpler still: fjord boats leave from Stavanger harbour itself. Cruise ships berth at Skagenkaien, Strandkaien or Skansekaien in Vågen, the city-centre inner harbour, which puts the quays a short walk from the old town.[2] For a first look at the fjord, the silent hybrid-electric fjord cruise from Stavanger runs for 3.5 hours and shows you Preikestolen from the water.[3]
The sightseeing cruises cover similar ground at different speeds. The Rødne Lysefjord cruise from Stavanger lasts 3-3.5 hours, with time on deck as the cliffs close in around you.[4] If you would rather move fast, the Lysefjord RIB safari is a two-hour boat trip that carries you deep into the fjord and back to town.[5] Comfort is the real difference between them: a warm cabin, a bench and a hot drink on one hand, spray, wind and a bouncing hull on the other. Pick by the people you are travelling with rather than by the clock, and remember that the fjord looks different again in rain, when the waterfalls come alive.
Green water, dark cliffs and the long fall of a waterfall beside the boat.
Oslo to the Lysefjord by train and road
From the capital, the train is the natural way west. The Sørlandsbanen, the Vy-operated line that links Oslo S and Stavanger, takes around seven to eight hours, which turns the journey into a full day of travel across southern Norway.[6] Book early for summer departures, take a window seat, and treat the ride as the first part of the holiday rather than dead time between two places. There are longer views of lakes, forest and high moorland than you would expect, and the last stretch into Stavanger has its own quiet drama.
Once you are in Stavanger, the fjord is a short hop from the station. Boats leave from the harbour in the city centre, and the drive out to the fjord takes around an hour and a half.[1] If your Oslo to Lysefjord plan is tight, stay a night in Stavanger instead of trying to connect in a single day, then take a morning sailing or drive out and be back for dinner. The city centre is compact, so moving between the station, the hotel and the quay is easy even with luggage.
Bergen to the Lysefjord
For Bergen to Lysefjord travel, decide early whether you want to drive it yourself or hand the whole day to an operator. One option is the excursion from Bergen to Preikestolen and Stavanger, a 13-hour day with pickup and a small group limited to 7 participants, from US$299.[7] It is a long day out, and also the simplest way to see the rock without rearranging the rest of your trip.
Driving south from Bergen means crossing fjord after fjord, with ferries that slot into the journey rather than interrupt it, and the scenery shifting from green islands to bare high ground as you go. Allow a full day, plan around daylight in winter, and check timetables before you set off, because the crossings are part of the road rather than an optional detour. If you would rather not drive, there are connecting options by coach and rail, but none of them are quick, and a night in Stavanger makes the whole thing easier.
from US$75
The electric fjord cruise to Lysefjord and Preikestolen takes 3.5 hours from Stavanger and is rated 4.62 from 9,730 reviews.[9]
Getting around the fjord by boat, road and trail
Once you are in the fjord, the water is the main road. A year-round local ferry service sails through the Lysefjord with calls at Lysebotn and a string of small places along the way, so you can move between the inner end of the fjord and the outer villages without a car.[8] On land, Lysevegen winds from the high plateau down into Lysebotn with 27 hairpin bends, a road that is an attraction in itself on a clear day.[16] Nearby, the Flørli stairs climb the mountainside in 4444 steps, which is a leg-burning alternative to sitting on a boat.[17]
Kayakers get their own view of the cliffs. Nordic Paddling organises private guided kayak tours on the Lysefjord for groups of up to 12 people, a good shape for a family or a group of friends who want the rock walls at water level.[18] If you plan to stay out here rather than day-trip from town, The Bolder offers architecturally unique cabins in Lysefjorden, designed to minimize environmental impact.[19] Otherwise, base yourself in Stavanger or Sandnes and treat the fjord as a day out, with the ferry, the boat and the trailhead all reached from the same compact corner of the coast.
When to go and what to wear on the water
The hiking trail to Preikestolen is open year-round, including during the winter off-season.[20] That said, the season changes what kind of day you get: midsummer gives long evenings on deck, spring and autumn bring quieter boats and mist on the water, and winter turns the plateau white and the cliffs black. Winter is a serious season for anyone planning to walk rather than cruise, and a local guide earns their fee then.
Whatever the month, dress for a boat rather than a city street. Layers, a windproof shell, a hat and gloves, and shoes with grip are the basics, since the fjord funnels wind even on still days inland. A small rucksack with water and a snack helps on longer days, and a charged phone or a power bank is worth packing because cold drains batteries fast. Sunglasses matter more than you expect when the sun bounces off the water, and a light rain jacket earns its place on almost every trip.
Planning around your ship, train or hire car
If you arrive by cruise ship, you are already in the right place. Ships berth at Skagenkaien, Strandkaien or Skansekaien in Vågen, the city-centre inner harbour, so you step off into the middle of town with the fjord boats and the old town close by.[2] That makes a fjord cruise one of the few excursions you can take without a bus, a taxi or a timetable you do not control. Book a sailing that leaves you a comfortable margin before all aboard, and watch the weather rather than the clock.
Tours on the fjord come in very different shapes. The electric fjord cruise to Lysefjord and Preikestolen takes 3.5 hours from Stavanger, has an audio guide in English and Norwegian, and is wheelchair accessible; tickets can be reserved now and paid later, with free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.[9] A guided walk to the plateau runs longer, and the trail itself is less than 10km (6.2 miles) with an elevation gain of just over 600m, taking about 3 to 4 hours.[21] If you have the time, leave a spare day for weather that refuses to cooperate.
How long Lysefjord tours last
Durations in hours as listed for these tours:[9][10][11][22].
From-prices for getting onto the fjord
From-prices in US dollars from GetYourGuide listings[9][10][11][22][23].
How long each Lysefjord option takes
Getting to the Lysefjord
Choose your base
Stavanger and Sandnes are the practical bases; the villages inside the fjord are small and quiet.
Decide how to travel in
Car, local ferry, cruise boat or RIB all reach the fjord; the drive from Stavanger takes around an hour and a half.[1]
Book the water early
The electric fjord cruise lasts 3.5 hours and can be reserved now and paid later.[9]
Add the plateau
The Preikestolen trail is less than 10km (6.2 miles) with an elevation gain of just over 600m, taking about 3 to 4 hours.[21]
Keep a spare day
Weather and daylight shape a fjord day, so leave room to move your plans if you can.
See Preikestolen from the water on an electric cruise
from US$76Reserve now & pay later
