The 15 Best Tours in Stavanger

1.Scenic Fjord Cruise to Lysefjord and Preikestolen

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 5,791 reviews · from $82Our pick

Join Rødne Fjord Cruise in Stavanger for a 3.5-hour electric catamaran trip through Lysefjord. You’ll see Fantahålå, the 604-meter Preikestolen, and Hengjanefossen waterfall, with an audio guide, indoor seating, sun decks, Wi-Fi, and a small café on board.

“The boat ride was amazing, the sights were incredible and I’m so glad we chose to go on this tour. Being able to be inside with huge windows or outside on the top deck was great as it did get very cold after a while. The choice of drinks and food was a little unusual, although the coffee was very much appreciated after being in the cold wind.”

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2.Fjord Cruise to Lysefjord and Pulpit Rock

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,357 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $89

Sail from Stavanger into Lysefjord aboard a clean, comfortable Helgøy Skyssbåt. Your captain and guide point out Preikestolen, Ådnøy, Fantahålå, Hengjanefossen, goats, and the Whiskey Waterfall. The boat gets close to the sights, with indoor seating, outdoor decks, toilets, refreshments, and multilingual audio guidance.

“Very good overall. Beautiful close ups of the various sights”

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3.RIB Tour to Lysefjord

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 1,288 reviews · 2 hours · from $131

From Stavanger, you’ll ride a fast RIB into Lysefjord with an English-speaking skipper such as Simon, Eirik, Gian, or Axel. Expect Preikestolen from below, Fantahala, Whisky Falls, wildlife spotting, fresh waterfall water, and a lively mix of speed and storytelling. Warm floating suits, goggles, gloves, and lifejackets are supplied.

“Absolutely brilliant 💯 and very organised. Breathtaking scenery and exhilarating ride. Highly recommend and looking to book this year too!”

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4.Lysefjord Sightseeing RIB Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 821 reviews · from $136

From Stavanger’s harbor, you’ll ride a fast RIB boat through Lysefjord with an English or Norwegian guide. Expect Pulpit Rock, Vagabond Cave, Whisky Falls, Hengjanefossen, wildlife spotting, local stories, and warm protective gear. The trip lasts two hours and suits active visitors who want fjord views with a shot of speed.

“An absolute amazing experience, the guide was so friendly and knowledgeable about the area. It was a once in a lifetime experience. 10/10 recommend.”

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5.Lysefjord RIB Safari from Stavanger

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 665 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $134Top rated

From Strandkaien in Stavanger, you’ll suit up in a thermal dry suit, climb aboard a small RIB, and race toward Lysefjord. Your captain guides you past islands, fish farms, Fantahålå, Pulpit Rock, and Hengjanefossen waterfall. Guides such as Alex, Ola, Aksel, and Eirik are known for lively stories, music, and careful boat handling.

“Wet and bumpy! Wet suit provided. Great views. Safety briefing. Hold on tight. Some guidance provided.”

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6.Haugesund Shore Excursion: Åkrafjorden & Langfoss waterfall

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 554 reviews · 5 to 6 hours (approx.) · from $108

Travel from Haugesund’s cruise dock to 612-meter Langfoss waterfall and Åkrafjorden in an air-conditioned vehicle. Along the way, stop at Haraldshaugen and Åkrafjordtunet. Guides such as Lilly, Aline, Jamie, and Hans add history, humor, music, and local stories. The five to six-hour tour costs $108.84 and returns to the dock.

“It’s an hour and a half bus ride to the falls. But our guide was very entertaining during the ride. We enjoyed seeing he old church and I particularly liked the lullaby that was sung to keep the trolls asleep.”

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7.Guided hike to Pulpit Rock Preikestolen

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 390 reviews · 9 hours (approx.) · from $149

Start early in Stavanger for a guided hike to Preikestolen, the flat-topped cliff above Lysefjorden. A guide such as Erle, Toa, Ola, or Marius leads the small group, manages the pace, explains Norwegian nature and culture, and takes photos at the top. Transport, pickup, and drop-off are included.

“Great trip to Pulpit Rock. Pick at accommodation right on time given . Very informative tour guide Ola . She was encouraging, patient , kind , did not risk us allowed us our own pace . Very knowledgeable. She showed us many interesting local edible plants. Was good to leave early at 7.00 am which avoided the crowds. Plenty of time given at Pulpit Rock. Ola kindly took many photos for us. Highly recommend this tour .”

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8.Lysefjorden & Pulpit Rock RIB-Safari from Stavanger

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 374 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $149

Join Stavanger RIB for a two-hour, small-group ride from central Stavanger into Lysefjord. Your captain, possibly Daniel, Christien, Sean, or another local seafarer, handles the boat and stories while you visit Pulpit Rock, Hengjanefossen waterfall, and Fantahålå. A float suit, life jacket, goggles, and gloves keep you warm on the fast, open-water ride.

“This was a wonderfully fun experience. Since we can’t control the weather, the full body dry suits were perfect. We stayed warm and dry even in the downpours! We felt safe, secure and the captain offered great stories at every scenic stop! Highly recommended.”

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9.Pulpit Rock Guided Hike with Pickup

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 294 reviews · 7 hours · from $145

Hike Preikestolen from Stavanger with a guide such as Ivan, Rasmus, Theo, or Alexander. Hotel pickup, a small group of up to eight, a Norwegian hiking snack, and the chance to use an old forest trail are included. Allow seven hours, bring proper shoes, and expect rocky ground, changing weather, and a demanding climb.

“Ivan was an incredible guide! He was very friendly and knowledgeable and patient with the entire group. We always felt safe with him. The best part of the trip was the fact that we went up a “secret” trail that went through nature instead of the main trail with the big steps. And most importantly, the “secret” trail has basically no one else on it. So you get to hike in nature in peace, alone! Highly recommend this tour!”

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10.Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock) Hike with Local Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 279 reviews · 6 hours · from $167

Join local guides such as Tore, Mats, or Stein for a six-hour trip from Stavanger’s cruise terminal to Preikestolen. The roughly four-hour hike crosses woods, streams, rocky steps, and open mountain ground before reaching the famous fjord viewpoint. Transport, a snack, and guide support are included.

“A brilliant trip from beginning to end. Despite the very strong wind and on and off rain, it was a hard slog but Matt’s was a brilliant guide. So friendly and knowledgeable. Easy pick up and drop off.”

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11.Preikestolen Classic Hike and Side Trail

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 180 reviews · 8 hours · from $140

You’ll hike to Preikestolen with a guide such as Alan, Erlend, Stephan, or Cristian, depending on the day. After pickup in Stavanger and a 40-minute drive, expect about 2.5 hours uphill, a possible quieter side trail, time on the 604-meter cliff, and a guided descent. Small groups, seasonal gear, a snack, and hot berry juice are included.

“Absolutely amazing experience. Guide Alan and his companion Baba were absolutely fantastic”

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12.City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.6 · 174 reviews · 1 day · from $51

Spend a day touring Stavanger on an open-top double-decker bus. Start at Strandkaien Cruise Terminal or join at another stop, then hop off for the cathedral, Petroleum Museum, Stavanger Museum, Museum of Art, Ledaal Royal Residence, and the Three Swords monument. Commentary comes in eight languages, with WiFi and wheelchair access included.

“The Hop On Hop Off bus was excellent. The only feedback is that we were in Stavanger for the day on a cruise ship with 3500 passengers and the buses weren’t frequent enough. We prepaid our tickets with the expectation not to have to join a queue behind people paying on the day and had to wait 1/2 hour for next bus to depart. Maybe frequency should have been every 15 minutes”

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13.Guided hike to Kjerag and Kjeragbolten

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 166 reviews · 11 hours (approx.) · from $182

Start with 7 a.m. pickup in Stavanger and ride through valleys to the Kjerag trailhead. In a group of up to eight, you’ll tackle steep rock, chains, and mountain paths before reaching Kjeragbolten above Lysefjord. Guides such as Teo, Sean, Helga, and Kenth are praised for pacing, photos, and mountain help.

“I have to say that this hike was more challenging than I thought. For people who don't do this kind of hiking regularly and are not well trained this might be difficult. As it was raining during our hike, some parts were quite slippery and even wet chains were sometimes slippery in hands. The trip itself was nice and our guide was fine but with dry weather without rain the hike would be much easier, however one needs to count with whatever weather in Norway. I am proud of myself that I managed that trip but I wouldn't go for that again because of its demandingness. We managed to take…”

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14.24-Hour Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Pass

★★★★★★★★★★3.7 · 146 reviews · from $44

See Stavanger from a double-decker bus with a 24-hour pass valid from first activation. Ride between the cruise terminal, Gamle Stavanger, museums, Sverd i fjell, Ledaal, and other city sights. Use the audio guide in seven languages, hop off as often as you like, and return to Strandkaien 40.

“Ok but not that much to see the harbour is the best bit”

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15.Waterfalls, Caves and Rock Tour By Sea

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 145 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $143

From Strandkaien, cruise into Lysefjord aboard a comfortable boat with indoor seating, a sundeck, kiosk, and English audio commentary. You’ll pass Vagabond’s Cave, Pulpit Rock, waterfalls, islands, salmon farms, and summer-pasture goats. The boat gets close to Hengjane Falls, but mountain-water tasting and personal guiding may vary.

“Easy booking, finding the vessel, and boarding. Very nice tour with important info overhead but not constant talking. Suggest arriving early to get preferred seat on top if that’s where you want to sit. Inside is air conditioned. Would recommend this tour with beautiful scenery.”

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