The Lysefjord is 42 miles (68 km) long and lies between two well-known plateaus—Pulpit Rock and Kjerag in western Norway. The closest city and airport to Lysefjord is Stavanger. From there, it takes approximately an hour and a half by car, bus or private tranfer. If you’re coming from Oslo, consider taking a non-stop flight to Stavanger before reaching the fjord by car, public transport or private transfer for an easy travel day, otherwise plan for an eight to ten hour drive.
If you are planning to hike—Kjerag and Pulpit Rock—you’ll want to sign up for this Lysefjord tour where you’ll have everything organized and planned.
From Stavanger
Duration: 1.5 hours by ferry + car, 2-2.5 hours by ferry + bus, car, or private transfer
Stavanger to Lysefjord is a distance of 41 miles (66 km) and the drive is around an hour and a half. You’ll begin your trip by boarding the ferry at the Stavanger port and ferry crossings take forty minutes. During the weekdays, ferries are frequent. On weekends, we recommend you plan around the ferry schedule to ensure a smooth trip. Tickets are purchased at the time of crossing.
Once onboard, you can walk around the ferry, buy food at the kiosk, use the restrooms, and have access to the outside deck. When you reach Tau, you’ll have a 30-minute drive passing by farmland and small towns before reaching the Pulpit Rock parking lot or you can stop in another area of the Lysefjord.
You can also opt for public transportation, taking the ferry and a local bus to reach your destination. You’ll want to take the ferry from Stavanger to Tau and then catch a local bus going to Preikestolen Mountain Lodge, which is the starting point to hike Pulpit Rock. Buses operate April to September. During the off-season, you can reach this region by taxi or with a private transfer.
If you want a different perspective of the fjord, you'll take a two-hour ferry ride to truly experience being inside the Lysefjord. You can board the ferry in the town of Lysebotn or Songesand to the town of Forsand or Lauvvik. Ferry crossings happen twice a day so it’s important you reserve your ferry tickets in advance. Tourist ferries only operate during the high season so keep this in mind when making plans. Otherwise, you can opt for the express boat that operates year-round, except on Saturdays and weather permitting.
From Oslo
Duration: 1.5 hour by ferry + private transfer, 6.5 hours by ferry + car, 9.5-10 hours train +ferry +bus
Flying is the quickest way to get from Oslo to Stavanger with a flying time of 50-minutes. Most airlines offer non-stop departures daily. Upon arrival in Stavanger, you can choose to take a private transfer, rent a car, or take the ferry and a local bus to reach the Lysefjord.
Going by car takes around eight hours as you traverse 290 miles (467 km). Leaving Oslo, you’ll take the E18 and after an hour into your journey, you’ll pass by the Gjellebekkmyrene Nature Reserve. This reserve is special for the rich lime soil where the rare flora and fauna thrive. You’ll pass by many rivers and lakes, including one of the largest lakes in Norway, the Drammenselva.
Keep in mind this route has toll roads. Talk with your rental company about the best way to pay for tolls to ensure an easy trip.
Taking the train is an option with an eight-hour ride and then, an additional hour and a half from Stavanger to Lysefjord— requiring a full day of travel. We recommend alternative methods of travel, unless you have the time and want to go by rail from Oslo to Stavanger.