Stavanger & Lysefjord

Norway's oil capital Stavanger plus Lysefjord, with hikes to the cliff landmarks of Preikestolen and Kjerag.

Stavanger lies in Rogaland county in southwestern Norway. It is Norway's fourth-largest city, the center of the North Sea oil industry, and the gateway to Lysefjord's two great cliffs, Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock) and Kjerag. The city itself is compact and walkable: on either side of the Vågen harbor are the old town of white wooden houses and the Colourful Street, and the cathedral, the Norwegian Petroleum Museum and the Canning Museum are all within walking distance. To the east, Lysefjord runs about 42 km, a narrow channel between cliffs a kilometer high. You can hike to Preikestolen (4–5 hours round trip), Kjerag (5–6 hours) or the 4,444 steps of Flørli, or enjoy the fjord from the water on a sightseeing boat; in summer a car ferry runs to Lysebotn at the end of the fjord, from which you can drive out along the Lysevegen with its 27 hairpin bends. To the south, the Jæren plain has long sandy beaches and farms, and on an island to the north stands Utstein Abbey. The best season is May–Sep; Kjerag and the Lysevegen are generally open only Jun–Sep, and in winter Preikestolen requires a guide and ice cleats. The weather is changeable, so bring a windproof, waterproof jacket in every season. Getting there: Stavanger Sola Airport has direct flights to Oslo (about 50 minutes) and to many European countries; from Bergen, a fast boat or bus takes about 4.5–5 hours. To reach Preikestolen, take the direct summer bus or drive about 40 minutes (via the Ryfast tunnel). We suggest 3–4 days: one day in the city, one for Preikestolen, and one for Kjerag or a boat trip. Norway is expensive, so pack food and water for hikes.

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