The hike to Pulpit Rock is one of the most popular hikes in Norway. With great views, a relatively easy hiking trail, and convenient accessibility from the town of Stavanger, this hike has a big appeal for many visitors to Norway.
With that being said, you should expect big crowds in the summer months. Unless you start your day early or time your visit for the end of the day, expect to share the trail with many other hikers.
We did this hike in 2013. Even then it was very, very crowded. But what an amazing experience. This is a gorgeous spot in Norway and the views over the Lysefjord are incredible.
How to Hike to Pulpit Rock
Facts About the Hike
Distance: 7.6 km (4.7 miles)
Elevation Gain: 350 meters (1150 feet)
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Length of Time: 4 to 5 hours
When to Go: It is possible to hike to Pulpit Rock year round. If you plan to hike to Pulpit Rock in the off-season (November through April), click here for important information.
About Pulpit Rock
Pulpit Rock is also called Preikestolen. This uniquely shaped rock towers 604 meters over Lysefjord.
Pulpit Rock made an appearance in Mission: Impossible – Fallout staring Tom Cruise. For one week in 2017, the rock was off limits to hikers while movie scenes were filmed.
Lonely Planet called Pulpit Rock one of the world’s “most impressive viewpoints.”
With these accolades, movie cameos, and hikers posting their photos on Facebook and Instagram, it’s no surprise that Pulpit Rock is one of Norway’s most popular hikes.
Options for Getting to Pulpit Rock
WITH PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION: Take the car ferry from Stavanger to Tau (40 minute journey) and then the bus from Tau to the Preikestolen car park.
Ferry to Tau: It is a 40 minute ride on the cary ferry to get from Stavanger to Tau. Tickets are bought on board the ferry and you cannot make reservations in advance.
Click here for the ferry schedule.
Bus from Tau to Preikestolen: The bus to Preikestolen operates from April to September, according to the Visit Norway website. During off-season, the bus does not travel from Tau all of the way to the car park at the start of the hike. You will have to take a taxi instead. See the Visit Norway website for more details.
It’s possible to book a 6 hour excursion from Stavanger, including the round trip ferry. The price for this starts at 360 NOK and is offered by Go Fjords.
Click here for the bus schedules, timetables, and prices.
If you have a car: You have two options. Take the car ferry from Stavanger to Tau and then drive on Route 13, Ryfylkevegen south through Jorpeland, following signs for Preikestolen. Your second option is to drive from Stavanger to Lauvvik, take the car ferry to Oanes, and then drive on Route 13 north to the Preikestolen car park.
Hiking to Pulpit Rock
The hike to Pulpit Rock is just under five miles round trip. By Norwegian standards, it is classified as an easy hike that people of all ages can do.
Guide books and the Visit Norway website recommends two hours to hike to Pulpit Rock, an hour to spend at Pulpit Rock, and a two hours to hike back.
At noon we started our way up the mountain. It was very steep at first, and it didn’t take long until we were scrambling up boulders amidst pine forests.
There were an incredible number of people on the trail. This made the hike less enjoyable than we were expecting. We were constantly trying to pass people on narrow, rocky trails (as a family we hike at a pretty fast speed, including our eight year old daughter). It did not take us long until we were removing layers of clothing and working up a good sweat.
The trail to Pulpit Rock alternates between relatively flat, easy sections with steep climbs up staircases built from giant rocks. For the first half of the hike to Lysefjord, there is not much of a view. You hike in and out of pine forests as you climb up these long staircases.
The last kilometer, just before reaching Pulpit Rock, is the best part of the hike. The trail levels out and now you have views of Lysefjord. To get to Pulpit Rock, there is one short section where the trail skirts the edge of a cliff, so if you have a fear of heights, this part of the hike might be challenging for you.
Pro Travel Tip: If you do not want to walk along the cliff trail, you can hike the Hill Trail to Pulpit Rock. As you approach Lysefjord, a second trail, labeled “Hill Trail” will break off from the main trail. This adds a little extra elevation gain but you can avoid walking along the cliff, great for families and those with a fear of heights.
On Pulpit Rock
It took us an hour and forty-five minutes to reach Pulpit Rock. What a view, but wow, look at all of the people!!
August is peak season for vacationing in Norway and we were hiking on a perfect day just before the start of the weekend. The crowds were unavoidable.
We spent just enough time here to enjoy the view and take some photos.
For a view down onto Pulpit Rock, you can hike up the hill behind it for this view.
Getting back to Stavanger
Now it was time to start the trek back downhill. Weaving between groups of people, hopping over rocks, crossing over wet, muddy areas, and climbing over thousands of boulders we made it to the starting point in just 45 minutes. Tyler and Kara may be kids, but they hike fast!
At the parking lot for Preikestolen, we got in line for the bus. When we did this in 2013, there was only one bus running at the time. It took about fifteen minutes of waiting for the bus to arrive. By that time, the line had grown quite long. We managed to get on the bus, but hikers who got to the parking lot after us had to wait for the next bus.
If you are here midday on a busy day like we were, you may have to wait for the bus, unless you book one of the round-trip tours from Stavanger.
Thoughts on the Hike
The four of us had a good time hiking to Pulpit Rock. Climbing over the boulders was fun and the views from Pulpit Rock were amazing! Unfortunately, the hoards of people on the trails took away from the enjoyment of the hike. Still, we are glad we did it. For someone looking for a relatively quick and easy hike with fabulous views of the Norwegian fjords, Pulpit Rock is perfect.
However, if you have plans to visit Stavanger and only have time for one hike, take a look at Kjeragbolten. It’s a harder hike but you get the chance to do something crazy and stand on this boulder wedged between two cliffs. Learn more in our article about Kjeragbolten.
Hiking to Pulpit Rock with Kids
Tyler and Kara (who were 10 and 8 at the time) had a great time on the hike. Just put a boulder in their path and they have a good time.
As far as their hiking experience prior to this trip, we had done some hiking at home in Maryland and in Shenandoah, Virginia, and also in Cappadocia, Turkey. The hike to Pulpit Rock was easy for them, but they would be much more challenged in our upcoming hikes in Norway (Kjeragbolten, Trolltunga, and Romsdalseggen Ridge).
In our opinion, children should be at least six years old to do this hike. It is a somewhat strenuous uphill climb over rocks and boulders to get to Pulpit Rock. There is also a short section of the trail just prior to Pulpit Rock with a drop off down to Lysefjord (but you can avoid this by taking the Hill Trail).
When Can You Hike to Pulpit Rock?
The main hiking season for Pulpit Rock is from April through October. Peak season is during the summer months of June through August. Expect large crowds during these months. To avoid the crowds, hike on weekdays and start the hike early in the morning.
It is possible to hike Pulpit Rock year round. From November through March, tempertures will be very cold, snow could be on the ground, and you will have very limited daylight. Read this article to learn more.
Where We Stayed in Stavanger
The Comfort Square Hotel. This modernly decorated hotel (with interesting artwork) is located within the heart of Stavanger. Take-away breakfast is available, perfect if you want to grab breakfast and get an early start hiking.
More Information for Your Trip to Norway:
- 14 Best Hikes in Norway to Put on Your Bucket List
- 10 Days in Norway: The Fjords and the Lofoten Islands
- 10 Days Norway Itinerary: The Ultimate Road Trip through the Fjord Region
- Hiking Trolltunga: Everything You Need to Know to Have the Best Experience
- Top Ten Things to do in the Lofoten Islands
Planning a trip to Norway? Read all of our articles in our Norway Travel Guide.
You Might Also Like:
- New Zealand: Tongariro Alpine Crossing, New Zealand’s Best Single Day Hike
- France: 3 Days in Paris: The Perfect Itinerary for Your First Visit
- Iceland: Mt. Brennisteinsalda: Hiking the Sulphur Wave in Landmannalaugar
- USA: 10 Great Hikes in Zion National Park
- Scotland: 12 Must-Have Experiences on the Isle of Skye
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Comments 38
We (my boyfriend and I) were there on the 28th of July this year. We started at 6:30 AM and we were up the Preikestolen by 8:45 (we are not very good hikers and not so fast 😉 ) en we were up there with only 8 others! We have very nice pictures with no other people on it 😀
It’s very important to start early if you can, we already started late, we wanted to start around 5:30. (we were staying at an air B&B nearby so it was only a 10 minute drive for us). When we went down it was already crowded en we had to wait multiple times because of climbing people.
Author
Nice!! Thanks for sharing your experience. To be on top of Pulpit Rock with only 8 other people is pretty fabulous for the month of July. Cheers, Julie
Hi
I going to Norway in late July and want to go to Preikestolen, but I have 2 girls on 6,5 and 4,5 years old. Too much of a challenge or what do you think?
You wrote min 6 years old.
They did walk 8 km in Madeira when they were 3 and 5 years old, and they like rocks like other children.
Cheers
Arne
Author
4.5 years is very young, but it’s not impossible, if you really have your heart set on doing this hike. The most challenging part will be the short but steep climbs on the trail. I know that people have done this hike with toddlers, carrying them for most of the way. Just be prepared to take your time and get an early start to the day. If you start hiking up and realize it’s too difficult, you can always turn around early. Cheers, Julie
Loved your blog, I am leaving to Norway in a few days and happy to see all these tips,
Quick question, how did you pay for the ferry and taxies? Do I have to used Cash, do they accept American dollars or Credit cards?
Author
Do you know what, I can’t remember how we paid. It was either by credit card or by Norwegian Krone (not US dollars). It’s always a good idea to make sure you have some of the local currency, in this case, Norwegian Krone, just in case. Have a credit card and some Norwegian money and you should be good to go. Sorry I can’t remember the details! – Julie
Loved stumbling on your blog! We are cruising this summer and one of our stops in Stavanger. I wanted to do the hike last year, but we passed and think we may make a go of it this year. Quick question – we hike frequently with our daughter in a backpack (she is 4 w/ cerebral palsy). Having done this before, do you think this hike would be relatively doable with her in the pack? Thanks!
Author
Hello Krystal. Yes, it’s possible, just be prepared for the climbs and descents on the trail. I believe there is about 300 meters of climbing to get up to Pulpit Rock. And you can see in the photos what to expect the trail conditions to be like. It’s not a very difficult hike, but with your daughter in a backpack it will be a lot more strenuous. But the views are worth it! Cheers, Julie
Very useful info, I’m glad I found your page! It’s great that your family hikes together, lots of memories made in their childhood.
I look forward to hiking Pulpit Rock in a few months, thank you for the info here!
Author
You’re welcome, Kristine. Enjoy Norway…it’s awesome! – Julie
Did the terrain on the trail require hiking boots, or would running shoes with a good sole be ok? Traveling from the U.S., and not sure I’ll be doing much other hiking besides this one (will be on a boat with family most of the time) and space in my suitcase is at a premium! Love your write up of your experience!
Author
Hello Louisa. Running shoes will be sufficient. It is a trail of dirt, gravel, and rocky paths. Having a comfortable pair of shoes with good tread is all you need. Hiking shoes are not necessary for this hike. Have fun!! – Julie
And 2 more questions please 🙂
1. How much did the ferry cost from Stavanger to Tao? (Understand that you guys wasn’t travelling with a car)
2. Is there any fees to hike up Preikestolen?
Author
Hello again 🙂 I do not know the exact costs for the ferry to Pulpit Rock or to hike to Priekestolen. Visit Norway has updated information you can read: https://www.visitnorway.com/listings/bus-and-ferry-to-preikestolen-(tide-reiser)/7894/ I hope this helps! – Julie
Very informative. Thank you!! Would this be easy for those who pretty much hiked once in their entire life? Meaning this is only with stone steps and trails right? no climbing involved? or narrow pathways? We are doing a trip to Norway and the view is just to amazing for us to miss this..
Author
Hello! Yes, you can do this hike with very little experience. The trail is very well marked and not difficult. There are some sections where you will be walking up and down hills and steps but no climbing is involved. This is a GREAT hike to do if you haven’t hiked much in the past but want to see some awesome Norway scenery. Enjoy!! – Julie
Great post, you have a lot of helpful information in here. I’m trying to determine if I’ll have enough time to do the hike during the one day I get in Stavenger- fingers crossed!
Author
Hello Tamara, You will need 6 to 8 hours for the hike, including the time to take the ferry from Stavanger to Tau and back. Good luck!
The views and the sky and the water are breathtaking…but actually being on those high rocks is not my cup of tea. I prefer looking at your outstanding photos from the safety of my chair, sipping a vodka tonic.