4 Best Hikes Near Stavanger

September 2, 2026

Hiking is genuinely where Stavanger shines, not an afterthought to the city itself. These 4 options run from a moderate half-day to a full day for stronger legs, all seasonal, all best tackled May through September.

1. Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock)

The signature hike: about 3.8km each way from the Preikestolhytta trailhead, 3-4 hours round trip, gaining roughly 334m over several ridges. It’s rated moderate, steep and rocky in stretches but no technical scrambling, and the flat granite plateau at the top sits 604m straight above the Lysefjord with no fencing at the edge by design. Around 300,000 people made the hike in 2024, so start early if you want the summit without a crowd.

2. Kjerag and the Kjeragbolten boulder

A genuine step up from Preikestolen: roughly 2.5-3 hours each way from the Øygardsstølen trailhead, chain-assisted sections, more elevation, and closed entirely in winter. The Kjeragbolten boulder itself is wedged in a crevasse over a 241m drop, an optional, unsecured stand for anyone comfortable with the exposure. Kjerag is also a well-known BASE-jumping site, so don’t be surprised to see jumpers on a clear day.

3. The Flørli 4444 stairs

A wooden staircase of 4,444 steps climbs from the Lysefjord’s shore up to the Ternevatnet reservoir, above a 1918 hydroelectric station, widely said to be the world’s longest wooden staircase. The roadless village of Flørli is ferry-only, which makes this hike feel more remote than its modest length suggests, budget a full day once you count the ferry schedule.

4. The Jæren coast

For something flatter, the Jæren coast south of the city runs a straight, sandy shoreline for roughly 60km, a genuine contrast to the fjord cliffs elsewhere in the region. Walking the beaches near Sola, about 5km from the centre, is an easy, low-effort way to spend an afternoon outdoors between the bigger hikes.

Before you go

None of the fjord hikes are safe under snow or ice without a guide, and the weather on exposed tops can turn Arctic even in summer, so check the forecast and pack layers, boots, and a rain shell regardless of the season. The unfenced edges at both Preikestolen and Kjerag deserve real caution, fatalities are rare given the huge visitor numbers, but the exposure is genuine.

For the logistics of getting to each trailhead, see our day trips guide , and for a broader look at the region’s fjords and coastline, see our nature spots guide .