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Norway · Western Norway

Stavanger and Pulpit Rock travel guide

Pulpit Rock, Kjerag and the Lysefjord

Preikestolen above the Lysefjord. Photo: Clementp.fr, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

1h 30mflight from London
SVGnearest main airport
15° in Augwarmest month
2° in Febcoolest month

Stavanger is a friendly city of white wooden houses and the base for the Lysefjord, with two of Norway's most famous hikes: Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock), a flat cliff 604 metres above the fjord, and Kjerag, with its boulder wedged between cliffs.

Lysefjord cruises sail below both.

Good forHikingFjordsCity breaksViews

What Stavanger is known for

  • Preikestolen

    Pulpit Rock.

  • Kjerag

    A boulder over the void.

  • Lysefjord cruise

    See them from below.

  • Old Stavanger

    White wooden houses.

Top things to do in Stavanger and Pulpit Rock

  1. 1

    Hike Preikestolen

    About 4 hours return.

    Find tours and tickets
  2. 2

    Hike Kjerag

    A tougher full-day hike.

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  3. 3

    A Lysefjord cruise

    Waterfalls and cliffs.

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  4. 4

    Old Stavanger

    Cobbled streets.

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See all tours and tickets in Stavanger

Where to stay in Stavanger and Pulpit Rock

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Best time to visit Stavanger and Pulpit Rock

Best value: May, Sep. June to September: the hiking season.

  • Best valueGood weather, smaller crowds
  • PeakBusiest, highest prices
  • QuietCheapest, cooler or wetter
2.1 C2°J1.5 C2°F2.7 C3°M5.7 C6°A9.3 C9°M12.5 C12°J15 C15°J15.3 C15°A12.8 C13°S9.1 C9°O5.8 C6°N3.5 C4°D
Bar height is the average temperature in Stavanger and Pulpit Rock, °C, 2001–2025 (NASA POWER).

Getting there and around

About 1h 30m from London to SVG, and flights from most UK airports. How long is the flight from your airport?

Buses and ferries run to the trailheads in summer.

Airport transfer to Stavanger

Find flights to Stavanger (SVG)

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Good to know

  • Start early to beat the crowds on Pulpit Rock.
  • Wear proper boots and check the weather.
  • Off-season hikes need a guide.
Norway guidesVisasPlugs & adaptersWhen to go

Stavanger and Pulpit Rock FAQ

How hard is Pulpit Rock?

Moderate, about 8km return.

When can I hike it?

Best from June to September.

More places in Norway

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