Stavanger Day Trips: Preikestolen and More

November 5, 2026

The best day trips from Stavanger are outdoor ones, and the two famous hikes are separate days. Preikestolen is a half to full day. Kjerag is a demanding full day that suits experienced hikers only. Do not try to combine them: they sit at opposite ends of Lysefjord, about 2.5 hours apart by road.

Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock)

Preikestolen is a flat plateau 604 metres above Lysefjord, about 25 metres square, with no fence or railing. Keep well back from the edge, especially in wind, rain or ice. The trail starts at Preikestolen BaseCamp and runs about 3.8 km each way (7.6 km return), with roughly 330 to 350 metres of climbing on built stone steps. Allow 3 to 4 hours of walking return, more with time at the top. About 300,000 people visit each year, and the busiest hours are 08:00 to 16:00, so start early.

By car it takes 40 to 50 minutes through the Ryfast tunnels. Parking costs 275 NOK for a day, or 40 NOK for up to 2 hours, paid at machines after the hike (parking details ). Express buses run in the season from Byterminalen, with Pulpit Rock Tours fares from 498 NOK, and GoFjords also runs a Preikestolen Express. Outside the season, take bus 100 to Jørpelandsvågen and then a taxi of about 10 minutes.

The trail is usually snow-free from May to September. In autumn and winter there is snow and ice, and BaseCamp advises ice cleats and spiked poles, which can be rented there. Guided winter hikes are available.

Kjerag and Kjeragbolten

Kjerag starts at Øygardstøl, with parking of about 300 NOK. The hike is 11 km return with about 800 metres of climbing and takes at least 5 to 6 hours. Steep bare granite is crossed using fixed chains, and wet rock is dangerous. Kjeragbolten is a boulder wedged above a 241 metre drop, and stepping onto it is unroped and voluntary. The season is roughly May to October, and the road was expected to reopen on 1 May 2027 (kjerag.info ). Driving takes about 2.5 hours through Sirdal and up 27 hairpin bends. Beginners should join a guided group.

Flørli and its 4,444 steps

Flørli is a roadless village on Lysefjord reached by ferry from Lauvvik, in about 45 minutes. Its wooden stairway of 4,444 steps is billed as the longest in the world. The steps are narrow, so most people leave them after 700 to 800 steps by a side path back to the village. Book the return ferry and allow time to catch it. See florli.no for ferry details and the Power Café.

Utstein Abbey and the beaches

Utstein Kloster on Mosterøy is about 30 minutes by car and is Norway’s best-preserved medieval monastery complex. From 15 May to 31 August it opens Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 16:00 and on Sunday from 12:00 to 17:00, with Sundays only in spring and autumn (hours ). It is included in the 170 NOK MUST day ticket.

South of the city, the Jæren beaches face the open North Sea. Solastranden is near the airport, and Borestranden is a surf beach about 30 km south. Waves, wind and cold water make swimming and surfing a matter for confident, equipped people.

Not day trips

Bergen lies roughly 160 to 210 km north across several fjords, and Sognefjord is over 300 km north. Both need an overnight stay.

Search Stavanger day trips for guided options.