Stavanger Lysefjord
5
Day Itinerary •
Norway
Five days in Stavanger and the Lysefjord give you the full extraordinary sweep of southwestern Norway, from the extraordinary white wooden houses of Gamle Stavanger and the world-class petroleum museum to the two greatest hikes in Norway, Preikestolen and Kjeragbolten above the Lysefjord, the extraordinary Ryfylke island archipelago and the remarkable Viking heritage of Haugesund with the Haraldshaugen monument. This route covers the complete Stavanger region. The old town, petroleum museum and cathedral, the Preikestolen cliff hike and the Lysefjord cruise, the extraordinary Kjeragbolten boulder hike with its 984-metre drop, the Ryfylke islands by ferry with their extraordinary coastal landscape, and Haugesund with the monument to Harald Fairhair who united Norway in 872 AD.
Best Time To Visit
May to October for hiking
Getting There
Fly into Stavanger Sola from most European cities
Getting Around
Ferries, buses and car for Kjerag and Ryfylke islands
Budget Per Day
Approx 1,200 to 2,200 NOK per person per day
Difficulity
Moderate to challenging, 4 to 5 hour hikes on Days 2 and 3
DAY 1
STAVANGER OLD TOWN
MORNING
GAMLE STAVANGER AND THE WOODEN TOWN
Gamle Stavanger's extraordinary 173 white-painted wooden houses from the 18th and 19th centuries climbing the hill above the harbour are the finest surviving wooden town in Scandinavia, all still inhabited. The Canning Museum in the old Rogaland Canning Factory tells the story of the sardine industry that sustained the city before oil. The extraordinary cobbled lanes and the view over the harbour from the upper streets are outstanding. The morning light on the white houses is the finest in Stavanger. Travel: 15 min walk
MIDDAY
THE NORWEGIAN PETROLEUM MUSEUM
The Norwegian Petroleum Museum is the most extraordinary oil museum in the world, its remarkable interactive exhibitions explaining how the 1969 Ekofisk oil discovery transformed Norway from poverty to extraordinary wealth within a single generation. The extraordinary full-scale North Sea drilling platform section and the remarkable history of the oil workers are outstanding. The building by Lunde and Lovseth won the Mies van der Rohe Award. Entry approx 200 NOK. Travel: 15 min walk
AFTERNOON
STAVANGER CATHEDRAL AND THE WATERFRONT
Stavanger Cathedral founded in 1125 is the oldest in Norway in regular use, its extraordinary Romanesque nave and the remarkable Gothic chancel added in the 14th century the finest medieval interior in western Norway. The extraordinary Stavanger waterfront at Strandkaien has the finest collection of restored wooden warehouses in the city. The Valbergtarnet watchtower gives a panorama over the city. Cathedral free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Stavanger Fengsel former prison hotel is the most extraordinary building in Stavanger, the 1850s prison converted into a hotel where guests sleep in original cells. Non-guests can walk the exterior freely. The extraordinary Breiavatnet lake in the city centre at dusk with the cathedral reflection is the finest free view.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: N.B. Sorensen's Dampskipsexpedisjon Historic Stavanger cafe on the waterfront. Coffee and Norwegian waffles. | Lunch: Fish Market, Stavanger Fresh shrimp and local seafood from the boats. Eat on the harbour wall. | Dinner: Renaa, Stavanger One Michelin star. Outstanding modern Norwegian. Local Rogaland ingredients.
DAY 2
PREIKESTOLEN
MORNING
FERRY AND BUS TO PREIKESTOLEN
The extraordinary journey to Preikestolen begins with the 40-minute ferry from Stavanger's Fiskepiren terminal across the Boknafjord to Tau, the fjord crossing giving the finest views of the Stavanger skyline from the water. The bus from Tau to the Preikestolen Mountain Lodge trailhead takes a further 30 minutes through extraordinary mountain and lake scenery. The first ferry departs at 9am. Total transport approx 300 NOK return. Travel: 4 hour hike
MIDDAY
THE PREIKESTOLEN HIKE
The Preikestolen trail is 8km return with 350 metres of ascent, the extraordinary path through birch forest, rocky plateaus and beside mountain lakes opening onto the extraordinary flat granite cliff 604 metres above the Lysefjord. The view straight down the fjord from the cliff edge is the most famous in Norway. The extraordinary flat rock gives standing room for dozens but the early morning arrival finds it quiet. Take the Vagabond extension along the plateau edge for extraordinary solitude. Hike free. Travel: 1.5 hour bus and ferry
AFTERNOON
LYSEFJORD VIEWS AND RETURN
The return ferry from Tau to Stavanger in the late afternoon gives extraordinary views of the entire Boknafjord and the Stavanger coast in the low afternoon light. The fish market at Fiskepiren on the Stavanger waterfront sells fresh catch directly from the boats until early evening. Buy fresh shrimp for supper. The extraordinary Stavanger old town lights up in the evening and is at its finest after 8pm when the day visitors have left.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Vagabond Trail beyond Preikestolen along the plateau edge gives the most extraordinary continuation of the hike with views into the Frafjord and Forsand valley away from all other hikers. Add approximately 2 hours to the standard hike. The finest hidden extension to the most famous hike in Norway.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Preikestolen Mountain Lodge Outstanding lodge breakfast before the hike. Pack provisions for the trail. | Lunch: Cliff-top picnic, Preikestolen Norwegian flatbread, brunost and smoked salmon 604m above the Lysefjord. | Dinner: Fisketorget, Stavanger Outstanding seafood restaurant on the fish market square. Local Rogaland lobster.
DAY 3
KJERAGBOLTEN
MORNING
BUS TO KJERAG TRAILHEAD
The bus from Stavanger to the Kjerag trailhead at Oygardstol travels through the extraordinary Sirdal valley and up the remarkable switchback road to the plateau at 630 metres. The journey takes approximately 2.5 hours through extraordinary mountain scenery entirely unlike the fjord landscape below. The Kjerag trailhead car park at Oygardstol gives the first extraordinary view into the Lysefjord far below. Bus approx 400 NOK return. Travel: 5 hour hike
MIDDAY
THE KJERAGBOLTEN HIKE
The Kjeragbolten hike is the most extraordinary mountain walk in southwestern Norway, its extraordinary 11km return trail gaining 700 metres over three chain-assisted scrambles before reaching the famous boulder wedged in a mountain crevice 984 metres above the Lysefjord. The extraordinary Lysefjord visible far below through the crevice beside the boulder is the finest single view in Norway. The queue to stand on the boulder can be up to 1 hour in July and August. Hike free. Travel: 2 hour bus back
AFTERNOON
RETURN THROUGH THE SIRDAL VALLEY
The return from Kjerag through the extraordinary Sirdal valley gives the finest views of the inland Norwegian mountain landscape, the extraordinary dairy farms and the Sirdalsvatnet lake entirely different from the coastal landscape around Stavanger. The extraordinary Tonstad hydroelectric station below the valley is the largest in Norway. The Ryfast road tunnel under the Boknafjord returns to Stavanger in 20 minutes.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Floya cliff between Preikestolen and Kjerag is the most extraordinary undiscovered viewpoint in the Lysefjord, accessible from the Forsand road with a panorama over the entire fjord from 700 metres. No marked trail and almost no visitors. The view is even more extraordinary than Preikestolen for those who seek it out.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe at Oygardstol trailhead Coffee before the Kjerag hike. No facilities on the mountain itself. | Lunch: Pack lunch on Kjerag Bring all provisions for the 5-hour hike. No facilities beyond the trailhead. | Dinner: Straen Fiskerestaurant, Stavanger Outstanding seafood after the extraordinary day. Local Rogaland crayfish.
DAY 4
RYFYLKE ISLANDS
MORNING
THE RYFYLKE ISLAND FERRY FROM STAVANGER
The Ryfylke archipelago north and east of Stavanger is the most extraordinary island landscape in southwestern Norway, its extraordinary network of small islands accessible by the Kolumbus ferry service from Stavanger. The island of Finnoy is the finest, its extraordinary traditional fishing village character and the remarkable Judaberg village entirely authentic. The ferry from Stavanger to Judaberg takes approximately 1 hour through extraordinary island channels. Travel: 30 min ferry to Sjernaroya
MIDDAY
SJERNAROYA AND THE COASTAL WALK
Sjernaroya is the most extraordinary undiscovered island in the Ryfylke archipelago, its extraordinary rocky coastal landscape and the remarkable Nedstrand village at the head of the fjord almost entirely unknown to international visitors. The coastal path from the ferry landing to the Nedstrand viewpoint gives extraordinary views over the entire Ryfylke island chain. The extraordinary lighthouse at Geitungen is the finest on the island. Entirely free to walk. Travel: 1.5 hour ferry back to Stavanger
AFTERNOON
EVENING IN STAVANGER
The return from the Ryfylke islands gives the finest approach to Stavanger by sea, the extraordinary city skyline with the cathedral tower and the Valbergtarnet watchtower visible from the water. The extraordinary Stavanger old town in the evening with the restaurants open and the white houses lit is the finest time to explore Gamle Stavanger. The Nedre Holmegate street, known as the Colour Street, has the finest painted facades in the city.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The island of Sand in the inner Ryfylke is the most extraordinary undiscovered fjord village in southwestern Norway, its extraordinary position at the head of the Sandsfjord with the remarkable Suldal valley beyond giving the finest inland Ryfylke scenery. Ferry from Stavanger takes approximately 2 hours. The extraordinary Latefossen waterfall above Sand is outstanding.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Bakeri in Stavanger Coffee and Norwegian bread before the morning ferry. | Lunch: Restaurant on Finnoy or Sjernaroya Outstanding island restaurant. Local fish, extraordinary island setting. | Dinner: Fisketorget, Stavanger Outstanding farewell seafood dinner. Local Rogaland lobster and white wine.
DAY 5
HAUGESUND VIKING HERITAGE
MORNING
HAUGESUND AND THE HARALDSHAUGEN MONUMENT
Haugesund is the most extraordinary Viking heritage city in Norway, its extraordinary Haraldshaugen monument marking the burial mound of Harald Fairhair, the king who united Norway in 872 AD in the Battle of Hafrsfjord. The extraordinary granite obelisk and the 29 surrounding stones representing the Norwegian regions are outstanding. The boat from Stavanger to Haugesund takes approximately 2.5 hours or the bus takes 1.5 hours through extraordinary coastal scenery. Travel: 30 min walk to harbour
MIDDAY
HAUGESUND OLD TOWN AND THE HARBOUR
Haugesund's extraordinary harbour and old town have the finest wooden trading house architecture in the region, its extraordinary fish warehouses on Smedasundet giving the most authentic Norwegian fishing port atmosphere in southwestern Norway. The remarkable Krosshaugen cairn overlooks the extraordinary Smedasundet channel. The Haraldsgata main street with its extraordinary 19th-century facades is the finest in the city. Entirely free to walk. Travel: 1.5 hour bus back to Stavanger
AFTERNOON
RETURN TO STAVANGER AND DEPARTURE
The return to Stavanger from Haugesund gives the finest coastal views of the Rogaland coast, the extraordinary island landscape of the Ryfylke visible to the east and the open North Sea to the west. The Stavanger airport at Sola is 14km from the city centre, easily reached by airport bus. The extraordinary final view of the white Gamle Stavanger houses from the bus is the finest farewell to southwestern Norway.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Hafrsfjord battlefield south of Stavanger is the most historically important site in Norway, the fjord where Harald Fairhair won the Battle of Hafrsfjord in 872 AD that unified Norway. The extraordinary Sverd i fjell monument of three Viking swords thrust into the rock at the fjord entrance is the finest Viking memorial in Norway. Free to visit. Only 10 minutes from central Stavanger.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe in Stavanger Coffee before the departure to Haugesund. | Lunch: Fish Restaurant, Haugesund Outstanding harbour restaurant. Local Haugesund herring and Norwegian white wine. | Dinner: Farewell dinner in Stavanger Outstanding final meal on the Stavanger waterfront. Local Rogaland seafood.
Where To Stay
Stavanger, All 4 Nights Radisson Blu Atlantic or Thon Hotel Maritim. Near old town. Approx 1,100 to 2,200 NOK. Budget Option Stavanger Bed and Breakfast or Citybox. Approx 700 to 1,200 NOK per night. Ryfylke Option Stay on Finnoy or Sand for night 4. Island guesthouse experience. Approx 900 to 1,600 NOK.
Top Tips
1. Start Preikestolen before 8am. The cliff to yourself in morning mist is the finest experience in southwestern Norway.
2. Kjerag requires proper hiking boots. The three chain sections are manageable but slippery when wet.
3. The Ryfylke ferry islands are almost entirely unknown internationally. Take the ferry with no plan and explore.
4. Haugesund's Haraldshaugen monument marks where Harald Fairhair is buried. Almost no international tourists visit.
5. The Lysefjord cruise is the finest alternative to hiking for experiencing the cliffs from the water. Approx 500 NOK.
6. Bring all food and water for both hike days. The Preikestolen lodge has a cafe but Kjerag has no facilities at all.
Total Budget
1,200 to 2,200 NOK/day