Lysefjord & Pulpit Rock cruise
3–3.5 h
from NOK 890 per person
Lysefjord cruises from Stavanger
Stavanger is southwestern Norway's liveliest small city and the gateway to one of the country's most photographed fjords, the Lysefjord. Prosperous on North Sea oil — it's the headquarters of Norway's energy industry — Stavanger pairs a well-preserved quarter of white wooden houses (Gamle Stavanger) with a buzzing café and restaurant scene, all a short walk from the quay where the fjord boats tie up.
The draw on the water is the Lysefjord itself: a 42-kilometre gash of near-vertical granite, its most famous feature the Preikestolen or Pulpit Rock, a flat cliff-top that juts 604 metres straight above the water. Sightseeing cruises sail directly beneath it, which is the only way to grasp the sheer scale of the drop, and continue on toward the Kjerag plateau and the waterfall-fed cliffs deeper in the fjord. Unlike the trek to the top, the cruise needs no hiking boots and runs year-round, making it the accessible way to experience the Pulpit Rock.
Stavanger rewards a day or two on either side of the cruise. The city grew rich first on sardine canning and then on North Sea oil, a story told well at the Norwegian Petroleum Museum on the waterfront, while the cobbled lanes of Gamle Stavanger preserve the wooden Norway of an earlier age. Good restaurants, a walkable centre and easy transport links make it one of the most comfortable bases in the fjord country — and the Lysefjord waiting just offshore is the reason travellers keep coming back.
Why sail from here
- See the Pulpit Rock from below — no hiking boots required
- Runs year-round, unlike the summer-only trail to the summit
- Cliff-side highlights: the Hengjane waterfall and the Flørli goat farm
- Compact old town of white wooden houses right by the departure quay
What to do on the water
The Lysefjord cruise is the reason to sail from Stavanger — a three-hour round trip into one of Norway's steepest, most dramatic fjords.
The main outing is a three to three-and-a-half-hour Lysefjord sightseeing cruise that runs the length of the fjord, pausing beneath the Pulpit Rock and at the Hengjane waterfall, where the boat edges close enough to feel the spray. Guides point out the cliff-side goat farm at Flørli and the mountain-goat colonies on the walls above. It's a comfortable, weatherproof way to see scenery that otherwise demands a strenuous hike.
Getting there
Stavanger has an international airport (Sola, 20 minutes from the centre) and frequent flights and ferries from Bergen and the continent. Lysefjord cruises depart from the guest harbour (Skagenkaien / Strandkaien) in the middle of the old town, steps from the shops and restaurants.
Good to know: The cruise is a relaxed alternative to the demanding two-hour hike up to the Pulpit Rock, and many travellers do both — the trail one day, the fjord the next. Bring a windproof layer, as it can be cool and breezy deep in the fjord even on warm days. Pair the cruise with a wander through Gamle Stavanger, Northern Europe's best-preserved quarter of wooden houses, a few steps from the harbour.
Frequently asked questions
- Do Lysefjord cruises sail under the Pulpit Rock?
- Yes. The sightseeing cruise sails directly beneath the Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock), 604 metres below the cliff edge — the best way to appreciate its scale without the two-hour hike to the top.
- How long is the Lysefjord cruise from Stavanger?
- The standard round-trip Lysefjord sightseeing cruise runs about three to three-and-a-half hours, departing from Stavanger's guest harbour in the old town centre.
- How much does a Lysefjord cruise cost?
- A Lysefjord sightseeing cruise from Stavanger starts from around 890 NOK per adult. Prices vary by operator and season — request a quote for exact rates and departure times.