Routes · Europe

Lisbon to south-west Norway: Stavanger, Lysefjord and Preikestolen

Lisbon → Stavanger → Lysefjord (Preikestolen)

Fjord cliffs & harbour town Best season (general guide): Jun–Sep

South-west Norway is a land of fjords and rugged cliffs, and its most famous viewpoint, Preikestolen, the Pulpit Rock, hangs above the Lysefjord. This route spends three nights in Stavanger and three by the fjord. From Lisbon you'll connect through Oslo, Copenhagen or Amsterdam to Stavanger.

How to pace it: Spend days one to three in Stavanger: day one, Gamle Stavanger; day two, Petroleum Museum and the harbour; day three, Sverd i fjell and the coast. Then spend days four to six in Lysefjord (Preikestolen): day four, travel to the Lysefjord, then fjord cruise; day five, hike to Preikestolen; day six, Kjeragbolten (experienced hikers) or a rest day.

Stavanger is a harbour town with a well-preserved old quarter, Gamle Stavanger, a cluster of white wooden houses on cobbled lanes. The Norwegian Petroleum Museum tells how oil changed the country. Outside the city, Sverd i fjell, three giant bronze swords set in rock, commemorates a Viking battle.

The Lysefjord is long and narrow, with steep granite walls. Fjord cruises from Stavanger sail beneath the cliffs and pass waterfalls and small farms.

Preikestolen is a flat-topped rock that rises 604 metres above the water. The hike to the top takes a few hours each way over rocky paths and wooden boardwalks, and the view along the fjord is one of the most famous in Norway. There are no railings at the edge, so stay well back.

Kjeragbolten, a boulder wedged in a crevice high above the fjord, is reached on a longer, steeper hike for experienced walkers.

June to September is the main hiking season. Outside it, trails can be icy and services fewer.

Fjord weather can switch from sun to rain within an hour, so pack waterproofs even in July. Long summer days give plenty of light for an afternoon hike if the morning is wet.

Good to know: Start the Preikestolen hike early to avoid crowds, and wear good boots and layers. Weather in the fjords changes quickly, so check the forecast before you go. Buses and ferries link Stavanger to the trailhead in summer.

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