Preikestolen height and key facts
Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock) is a flat-topped rock above the Lysefjord. The plateau lies 604 metres above the fjord (2026 figure), and the hike to it is about 8 km return, around 4 hours, with roughly 500 metres of climbing. Lysefjord and Lysefjorden are the same fjord: English and German use the first, Norwegian the second.
The view you get depends on how you come. From the plateau you look down on the fjord. From a boat you look up at the rock face, and a cruise does not reach the viewpoint on top. To compare both, see our Lysefjord cruise guide and the Pulpit Rock hike.
Our pick: boat trip to Flørli
Flørli is the place of the old power plant covered on this page, and this RIB ride goes there and back.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Lysefjord tours from Stavanger
See the rock from the water or on foot: fjord cruises, RIB safaris and guided hikes, with live prices and availability.
The fjord and its walls
The Lysefjord is a long, narrow fjord with steep rock walls that fall almost straight into the water.
On a boat trip you pass waterfalls, the Ådnøy area and the coastal cave of Fantahålå, depending on route and conditions. Fantahålå is a cave on the coast, not a hiking goal, and it is best seen from the water.
Flørli: a hydropower village without a road
Flørli is a settlement on the fjord that has no road and is reached by boat. It is tied to the hydropower history of the Lysefjord, and the Flørli stairs are a well-known trace of it. The stairs have 4,444 steps. Today they are a hiking destination in their own right. Our Flørli stairs guide covers boat connections and the season, since a boat ticket, a bed and the café are separate things and the café is open in summer.
One tour combines a RIB ride from Stavanger to Flørli with the hike, so you can see the village and the stairs in a single day.
Roads, ferries and visitors
The inner fjord at Lysebotn is reached by the Lysevegen mountain road, with its hairpin bends, or by water. The road is seasonal and depends on the weather, and ferry line 560 runs between Lauvvik and Lysebotn. For the practical side, see Lysebotn and getting there.
Today the fjord is a destination for hikers and boat trips. Preikestolen is one hiking goal, Kjerag and the Kjeragbolten, a boulder wedged between two rock walls, are another, and cruises from Stavanger cover the water in between. Kjerag is closed for the season, with reopening expected on 1 May 2027. Planning around the season is explained in the best time to visit.
For a wider look at the coast and the other great fjords, see our guide to the Norwegian fjords.
The three landmarks at a glance
Facts for 2026, side by side.
| Preikestolen | Kjerag | Flørli stairs | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reached | On foot, or seen from a boat below | On foot from Øygardstøl | By boat; no road |
| Key figure | Plateau 604 m above the fjord | Kjeragbolten wedged between two rock walls | 4,444 steps |
| Hike | About 8 km return, around 4 h, roughly 500 m of climbing | Closed for the season; reopening expected 1 May 2027 | – |
| Parking | NOK 275 for a car over 2 hours | NOK 300 over 2 hours | – |
For most visitors who want the rock and the fjord in one trip, the answer is a cruise plus a separate day for the hike, or a guided tour that combines them. Our tours page lists both.
History and facts: frequently asked questions
How high is Preikestolen?
The plateau lies 604 metres above the fjord (2026 figure). The hike to it is about 8 km return with roughly 500 metres of climbing.
Is Lysefjord the same as Lysefjorden?
Yes. Lysefjorden is the Norwegian name, Lysefjord is used in English and German.
Can a boat reach the top of Preikestolen?
No. A cruise shows the rock face from below. The plateau is reached on foot.
How many steps are in the Flørli stairs?
4,444. Flørli has no road and is reached by boat.
Is Fantahålå a hiking trail?
No. Fantahålå is a coastal cave, best seen from the water on a fjord cruise.