Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock)
Preikestolen
A cliff rising 604 metres above Lysefjord, with a flat top like a pulpit. It is reached by a hike of about 4 hours return. It is Norway's most famous natural landmark.
Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock) lies on the north shore of Lysefjord, near Stavanger in Rogaland County. It is a nearly perfectly flat square rock platform, about 25 by 25 metres, standing 604 metres above the sea. From the edge, you can look down over the whole fjord. The climactic scene of the film Mission: Impossible – Fallout was filmed here. The hike starts from the Preikestolen Fjellstue car park. It covers about 4 km one way, with a climb of about 500 metres. A person of average fitness reaches the top in about 2 hours. The round trip takes 4–5 hours, with stone steps and rocky slopes along the way. The difficulty is moderate, and it is very crowded in summer. Getting there: from Bergen to Stavanger, take a bus or fast ferry (about 5 hours) or fly (about 35 minutes). From Stavanger, take a ferry and bus for about 1 hour to the trailhead, and there are direct buses in summer. Driving requires paying for parking (about NOK 300). You can also take a Lysefjord cruise from Stavanger and look up at Pulpit Rock from the water.
Note: there are no railings at the cliff edge, so do not get too close when taking photos. Wear hiking boots and bring rain gear and plenty of water. In foggy weather, you cannot see the fjord, so check the weather before setting out. In winter, snow and ice make the hike dangerous, and it is only recommended with a guide.
Opening hours
Open all day (trail)
Nearby sights
- Lysefjord Cruise
- Månafossen
- Flørli 4444 Steps
- Kongeparken
- Kjerag & Kjeragbolten
- Dalsnuten
- Norwegian Petroleum Museum
- Stavanger Cathedral