Preikestolen – A hike to remember!
Preikestolen – the name is at the top of many hikers’ and nature lovers’ bucket lists. More than 250,000 tourists from all over the world visit the spectacular natural viewing platform every year to enjoy the incredible panoramic view of fjords and mountains.
The 604-metres-tall and almost vertical cliff formation with its ultra-flat surface and sharp edges towers over the Lysefjord east of Stavanger in Western Norway, and once you have experienced the incredible hike, you will know why it has been named one of the world’s most unique, beautiful places by Lonely Planet.
Traveling to Preikestolen from Stavanger
If you are bringing your car on your trip to Norway, Preikestolen is easily reached from Stavanger – in fact, the parking lot where the hike starts is only about 45 minutes’ drive east of the city. This means that you can easily do a one-day tour to Preikestolen during a stay in Stavanger.
You can also get there by express bus / Preikestolen tour bus from the centre of Stavanger. The bus has several pick-up stops in the city, some near hotels and some in the city centre. The bus ride to Preikestolen Mountain Lodge, where the hiking trail starts, takes around 50 minutes, and tickets (one-way or return) should be purchased in advance.
Both the car ride and the bus ride will give you the added experience of driving through the world’s longest underwater tunnel, the Ryfylke Tunnel – in itself an incredible experience with colourful and artistic lighting on the walls.
Find the best offers for car packages to Stavanger here.
Parking at Preikestolen
When bringing your car to Preikestolen, you can park near the trailhead at one of two major parking lots that can hold a total of 1,000 cars. The parking fee is currently NOK 250 which must be paid as you leave the parking lot, and the fee contributes to the upkeep of both the parking lot and the hiking trails to Preikestolen.
Please be aware that overnight stays are not permitted at Preikestolen parking. If you wish to stay overnight, there are different accommodation options from camping to hotels.
Foto: Fjord Norway / Explore Lysefjorden
The Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock) hike
The hike to the top of Preikestolen takes around 2 hours each way, is 8 km long roundtrip, and has a total elevation gain of 500 metres. The path follows a varied terrain of gravel roads, rock and wooden stairs, cliff surfaces, boggy ground and wooden pathways. It has been renovated in recent years with help from Nepalese sherpas, making the hike more accessible, but please be aware that it is still a hike of medium difficulty.
Foto: Fjord Norway / Visit Ryfylke
That said, you can bring your children along without problems, just make sure to take good care, especially during the parts of the trail that go alongside high cliffs (see more below).
Don’t forget to bring sensible clothes and footwear as well as snacks and water – and maybe a portable stove so you can brew a fresh cup of coffee on the viewing platform while enjoying the breath-taking view across the Lysefjord and the surrounding mountains and valleys?
Along the path you will pass some excellent spots for a break or a cooling dip in a mountain lake, and the views will change with every turn you take – so make sure to have plenty of time for the hike to enjoy it all along the way!
If you are an inexperienced hiker, we recommend that you join one of the guided tours on offer.
Foto: Fjord Norge / Visit Ryfylke
Camping near Preikestolen
If you are bringing your tent, caravan or motorhome on your trip to Preikestolen, you can stay the night at Preikestolen Camping, just 4 km from the trailhead.
Other nearby accommodation options include Preikestolen BaseCamp right at the foot of the trail, which offers everything from hotel rooms in Preikestolen Mountain Lodge to a ‘Hiker’s Camp’ where you can stay the night in small wooden ‘Hiker’s Nests’, and for a more traditional hotel experience, you can choose the Lilland Brewery Hotell between Stavanger and Preikestolen.
Hiking Preikestolen with children
You can hike to Preikestolen safely with children of all ages, as long as you take extra care along the parts of the trail that run along steep cliffs. Bringing extra snacks for encouragement may be recommended, as the trail can be strenuous, especially for small children.
Also, if you are bringing young children in strollers, make sure that they are sufficiently dressed, as they will be colder than you while going along the trail.
Preikestolen trips from Denmark
If you wish to experience Preikestolen on a short trip from Denmark, we offer several options. As we sail to Stavanger from North Denmark, it is in fact possible to experience the wonderful hike during a day-and-a-half trip from Denmark – perfect for a short outing while you are on vacation in North Denmark!
We currently offer the following Preikestolen package:
- 3-day trip with overnight stay at Lilland Brewery Hotel – with one day for a hike to Preikestolen and a day to explore the city of Stavanger.
Can’t get enough of the beautiful Lysefjord region?
- Visit the Kjerag boulder
- Cruise the Lysefjord