Lysefjord Cruise to Preikestolen from Stavanger: Times, Prices, Combos
You can see Preikestolen without climbing it. Rødne Fjord Cruise sails from the centre of Stavanger into the Lysefjord all year, on a round trip of 3–3.5 hours that passes beneath the cliff, which rises 604 metres above the water. As published for the 2026–2027 season, the cruise costs NOK 890 for adults, and in summer it leaves up to three times a day.
If you want both the view from below and the view from the top, the same company sells a cruise-and-hike day: the boat to Forsand, a bus to the trailhead and a self-guided hike, from May to October. In winter there is a guided version. And if Preikestolen is not enough, the Lysefjord’s other big hike, Kjerag, waits at the far end of the fjord. This guide compares all of them.
The Lysefjord in brief
The Lysefjord is 42 km long and runs north-east from the Høgsfjord, east of Stavanger. Its name comes from Old Norse and, according to Store norske leksikon, refers to the pale, ice-scoured rock along its sides. The mountains drop steeply into the water on both sides, leaving room for only a few farms and small settlements.
The landmarks that matter for visitors:
- Preikestolen, on the north side, 604 metres above the fjord.
- Kjerag, on the south side and further in, where the massif drops almost 1,000 metres vertically into the fjord.
- Flørli, with one of the world’s longest wooden staircases, at 4,444 steps.
- Lysebotn, the settlement at the head of the fjord and the starting point for Kjerag.
- The Lysefjord bridge, which crosses the fjord just inside its mouth between Oanes and Forsand.
Scheduled and sightseeing boats from Stavanger sail the fjord all year.
The Lysefjord cruise from Stavanger
The cruise leaves from Strandkaien, in the city centre close to the Fish Market, on a silent electric catamaran. It is a round trip: there are no stops and no going ashore during the tour itself.
The route, as Rødne describes it:
- Under the Lysefjord bridge, the gateway to the fjord, after which the landscape changes quickly as the mountains close in.
- Fantahålå, the Vagabond’s Cave, where, the story goes, vagrants hid from the sheriff in the old days.
- Preikestolen from the fjord, with the whole cliff visible from below.
- Hengjanefossen waterfall, where the boat goes close enough for you to feel the mist.
In spring and summer the boat often stops by the mountain goats that graze along the fjord, and sea eagles, seals and porpoises are occasionally seen. Audio guiding is in Norwegian and English.
Departures sail regardless of the weather; Rødne’s own view is that rain makes the waterfalls better. It describes the cruise as family-friendly and suitable for all ages, and the boats take baby carriages and a limited number of wheelchairs.
Timetable and prices
As published by Rødne for the season running into 2027:
| Period | Departures from Strandkaien |
|---|---|
| June to August | Daily at 10:00, 12:00 and 14:30 |
| May and September | Daily at 10:00 and 14:30 |
| April | Daily at 11:00 |
| January to March | Thursday to Sunday at 11:00 |
| October to December | Thursday to Sunday at 11:00; daily between Christmas and New Year |
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Adults | NOK 890 |
| Children aged 4–15 | NOK 445 |
| Under four | Free |
Which departure to choose
In summer you have three departures, and they suit different days:
- 10:00 gets you back to Stavanger in the early afternoon, with the rest of the day free. Rødne pitches the half-day cruise as easy to combine with the rest of a Stavanger itinerary.
- 12:00 suits a slower morning, or a cruise-ship passenger whose ship arrives early.
- 14:30 puts you on the fjord in the afternoon and evening light, after a day in the city.
Outside summer the choice narrows to one departure, at 11:00, and in the winter months only from Thursday to Sunday, so plan your Stavanger days around it.
On board
The boats have toilets, sun decks and spacious lounges with panoramic windows, a kiosk with baked goods from a local bakery, snacks and drinks, and free Wi-Fi. On a cold or wet day you can watch from inside; on a fine one, the outdoor decks are the place to be when Preikestolen comes into view. Rødne advertises a flexible change and cancellation policy; read the terms when you book.
Tickets
A guaranteed ticket needs booking at rodne.no; tickets are also sold at the pier and at the tourist information. Boarding closes shortly before departure and the boat cannot wait for late passengers, so arrive well ahead of time. Timetables and prices change by season, so check before you go.
From the water or from the top?
The cruise and the hike give you two different Preikestolens. From the boat you see the whole cliff, rising 604 metres above the fjord, together with waterfalls and sights you can only reach from the water. From the top you see the fjord, but not the cliff you are standing on. Neither is the lesser experience, and the cruise needs no fitness at all.
The season changes the view too. Rødne’s description: spring and summer bring green landscapes and long days, autumn colours the mountainsides, and in winter the fjord is quiet and the peaks may be covered in snow. In winter, look out for frozen waterfalls along the cliffs.
Cruise and hike in one day (summer, self-guided)
Rødne’s Experience Preikestolen day combines the cruise with the hike. You sail in, then a bus takes you up to the trailhead and you walk to the plateau on your own.
From May to September:
- The boat leaves Strandkaien at 10:00 and reaches Forsand quay at about 12:30.
- A bus, run by Rødne’s partner Boreal/Pulpit Rock Tours, takes you to Preikestolen BaseCamp.
- The hike there and back takes approx. 4 hours — two hours each way, eight kilometres in all.
- The return bus leaves BaseCamp at 18:15 and takes about 45 minutes to Stavanger. In high season there are several return buses.
In October the boat leaves at 11:00, arrives at Forsand at about 13:30, and the return bus leaves at 19:15.
The day lasts 8–9 hours, depending on the weather. As published by Rødne, it costs NOK 1415 for adults and NOK 970 for children aged 4–15, and is free under 4. The season runs from May to October.
What to know before you book:
- There is no guide on the hike. You need reasonable fitness, hiking shoes, food and water.
- Dogs are not allowed on this tour.
- The hike is not suitable for wheelchairs or baby carriages, even though the boat is.
- The timing is generous but not loose. Arriving at Forsand around 12:30 and catching the 18:15 bus leaves room for a 4-hour hike and a rest on top. If you are a slow walker, check the later return buses before you set off.
The advantage over the express bus is the fjord itself: you see Preikestolen from below before you climb it, and you come back by road through the undersea tunnel. Our guide to getting to Preikestolen compares the road options.
Winter: cruise and guided hike
From November to April Rødne runs a winter edition with a mountain guide, which it describes as the only guided Preikestolen cruise-and-hike in winter.
| Departures | January to March and November to December, Thursday to Sunday at 11:00; April daily at 11:00 |
| The boat | Leaves Strandkaien at 11:00, arrives at Forsand quay at 13:20 |
| The hike | From Preikestolen Mountain Lodge, 14:00–19:00 |
| Back to Stavanger | By minibus, at 19:00 |
| Length | 8–9 hours, depending on the weather |
| Price as published | NOK 2790 adults; NOK 2150 children aged 8–15 |
At Forsand the guide meets the group and drives it to the trailhead. The price includes the 2-hour fjord cruise, the guide, the use of snow spikes if needed, hiking poles and a head lamp, hot drinks and a packed lunch, transport and drop-off at Stavanger hotels.
The rules are stricter than in summer. The tour is not allowed for children under eight, it suits people in generally good physical condition with previous hiking experience, and it is only available pre-booked at rodne.no.
Why pay for a guide in winter? Because the trail changes. The tourism board recommends a guide in winter, and Preikestolen BaseCamp notes that from October to April the path is often covered in ice and snow. Our guide to the Preikestolen hike covers winter conditions in detail.
Cruise only, hike only, or both?
| Cruise only | Express bus and hike | Cruise and hike (summer) | Cruise and guided hike (winter) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What you see | Preikestolen from below, waterfalls, the fjord | The view from the top | Both | Both, in snow |
| Walking | None | About 8 km, about 4 hours | About 8 km, about 4 hours | Guided, 14:00–19:00 |
| Length of day | 3–3.5 hours | About 6 hours | 8–9 hours | 8–9 hours |
| Season | All year | Main season only | May to October | November to April |
| Price as published | NOK 890 | NOK 550 return (Go Fjords) | NOK 1415 | NOK 2790 |
The big catamaran is not the only boat. Smaller operators run fast fjord safaris in open boats (RIBs) — the tourism board lists Ryfylke Adventure’s year-round fjord safaris, for example — and some combine the boat with a guided hike, so you see the cliff from below and then stand on top. They are quicker and more exposed to the weather than the catamaran, so dress for wind and spray.
The short version:
- Short on time, or not a hiker? Take the cruise. You still see Preikestolen, and you are back for lunch or an afternoon in Stavanger.
- Want the view from the top as cheaply and quickly as possible? Take an express bus and hike.
- Want the whole Lysefjord day without a car? The cruise-and-hike is the one to book.
- Visiting in winter? The guided version solves both problems at once: transport and the icy trail.
Going deeper: Lysebotn by boat or ferry
The sightseeing cruise is a round trip from Stavanger that never goes ashore. To travel the full length of the fjord, or to stop along the way, you need one of the scheduled boats.
Kolumbus runs an express boat and a car ferry on the 42-kilometre fjord all year round:
- The express boat carries passengers only and calls at quays including Lauvvik, Forsand, Songesand, Flørli and Lysebotn. It sails every day except Saturday.
- The car ferry calls at Lauvvik, Forsand, Songesand, Flørli and Lysebotn and sails on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
Rødne also runs a Lysefjord scenic car ferry between Lauvvik and Lysebotn, about 2.5 hours one way, from NOK 595. It is seasonal and was closed for the season at the time of writing, so check its dates before planning a road trip around it.
These boats are how hikers reach Lysebotn without driving the mountain road, and that is where Kjerag starts.
Kjerag: the other big Lysefjord hike
Kjerag is the Lysefjord’s second famous hike, and the harder of the two. Its best-known sight is Kjeragbolten, a round boulder wedged in a crevice at about 1000 metres above sea level; the massif’s highest point reaches 1,132 metres.
The tourism board’s figures for the hike are about 11 km in total, around 6 hours round trip and a total elevation gain of about 760 metres. It describes a demanding hike for people in good physical shape, with steep climbs over several ridges and several hundred metres of chains on the steepest parts.
Getting there and when to go
The hike starts from the Kjerag car park at Øygardstølen, a short drive up 27 hairpin bends from Lysebotn. You can get there by:
- express boat or tourist ferry to Lysebotn, then a shuttle bus to the car park;
- car from Sirdal, over the mountain road; or
- the summer express bus from Stavanger to the Kjerag car park.
The season is May to October inclusive. The mountain road, Rv500 between Sirdal and Lysebotn, closes with the first snowfall, usually in October or November, and usually opens again in mid-May. The tourism board does not recommend the hike in winter, and if there is snow in the mountains it recommends a guide.
Preikestolen or Kjerag?
| Preikestolen | Kjerag | |
|---|---|---|
| Distance | About 8 km round trip | About 11 km round trip |
| Ascent | Around 500 metres | About 760 metres |
| Time | About 4 hours | Around 6 hours |
| Season | All year (guide advised in winter) | May to October |
| Hikers | 348,000 in the summer of 2022 | Roughly 50,000 a year |
| Getting there from Stavanger | Bus or car through the tunnel | Boat and shuttle, summer bus, or a long drive |
If you have one day and no hiking experience, choose Preikestolen. If you have done Preikestolen, are fit and the season is right, Kjerag is the bigger adventure — and from a ferry or sightseeing boat you can glimpse Kjeragbolten 1000 metres above you even if you never climb it.
Other Lysefjord walks
Two more walks are worth knowing about if you have time:
- The Flørli steps: a climb of 4,444 steps up one of the world’s longest wooden staircases, with a season from May to September. Both the Kolumbus express boat and the car ferry call at Flørli.
- The Lysefjord Panorama Trail: a quieter alternative to Preikestolen that opened in 2022, winding along cliffs and gorges high above the fjord. It can be reached from Preikestolen Parking.
From a cruise ship
A Lysefjord cruise fits neatly into a port day in Stavanger. The boats leave from Strandkaien in the city centre, the round trip takes 3–3.5 hours, and the summer timetable offers three departures. If you would rather hike, Go Fjords notes that most cruise ships stay in port for 8–10 hours and that the express-bus excursion to the trailhead and back takes about 6 hours. Private guided hikes also offer cruise-port pickup.
The tours page lists Lysefjord cruises, combinations and guided hikes you can book.
Frequently asked questions
Can you see Preikestolen from the Lysefjord cruise?
Yes. The cruise passes beneath the cliff, and from the boat you can see the whole of it rising 604 metres above the water.
Does the Lysefjord cruise stop at Preikestolen?
No. The sightseeing cruise is a 3–3.5 hour round trip with no stops or going ashore. To hike, book the cruise-and-hike, which lands at Forsand and continues by bus to the trailhead.
Does the cruise run in winter and in the rain?
Yes. Rødne sails all year, with fewer departures in winter (Thursday to Sunday at 11:00 from January to March and October to December), and sails regardless of the weather.
Can I do the cruise and the hike in one day?
Yes. From May to September the cruise-and-hike leaves Stavanger at 10:00 and the return bus leaves the trailhead at 18:15. From November to April the winter version includes a guide.
Is Kjerag harder than Preikestolen?
Yes. Kjerag is about 11 km with around 760 metres of ascent and takes around 6 hours, with chains on the steepest parts; its season is May to October. Preikestolen is about 8 km, around 500 metres and about 4 hours.