15 Tours in Stavanger to Build a Day Around

1.Scenic Fjord Cruise to Lysefjord and Preikestolen

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

Sail from Stavanger into Lysefjord on a quiet electric catamaran with panoramic windows, sun decks, Wi-Fi, and an English or Norwegian audio guide. You’ll pause at Fantahålå, Preikestolen, and Hengjanefossen waterfall, where the boat moves close enough for a cool spray. Snacks and drinks are sold onboard.

“Amazing trip. Very reasonable and impressive scenery . Best trip of our time in Norway. Drinks on board not that exepensive either for Norway . Very enjoyable 3 hours”

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2.Fjord Cruise to Lysefjord and Pulpit Rock

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

Sail from Strandkaien into Lysefjord on a 2.5-hour Helgøy Skyssbåt cruise. You will see Preikestolen from the water, Fantahåla, Ådnøy, and the Whiskey waterfall, with live or audio commentary in six languages. The clean, wheelchair-accessible boat has indoor seating, outdoor viewing areas, toilets, and refreshments.

“Sensational trip amazing views an absolute must for anyone visiting Stavanger”

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3.RIB Tour to Lysefjord

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

From Stavanger, you will race into Lysefjord on a two-hour RIB tour with an English-speaking skipper such as Eirik, Alex, Gian, or Simon. Expect close views of Preikestolen, Vagabond Cave, Whisky Falls, and Hengjanefossen, plus a chance to spot seals, porpoises, sea eagles, goats, and other wildlife. Warm floating suits and safety gear are provided.

“Axel was amazing!! Such a fantastic experience. Had the time of our lives”

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4.Lysefjord Sightseeing RIB Boat Tour

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

Join Stavanger RIB at the city harbor for a two-hour ride into Lysefjord. Your English or Norwegian guide, sometimes a local captain such as Stig, combines fast runs with stops at Pulpit Rock, Vagabond Cave, and Hengjanefossen Waterfall. Warm floating suits, gloves, goggles, and lifejackets are supplied, but bring layers and secure your hat and camera.

“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

Set out from Strandkaien in Stavanger for a two-hour RIB ride into Lysefjord. Your captain, often Aksel, Alex, Ola, or Eirik, handles the boat and shares local stories as you pass islands, fish farms, Pulpit Rock, Fantahålå, and Whiskeyfalls. Dry suits, goggles, and dry bags are provided. Expect speed, spray, and a small group of up to 12.

“Amazing experience, we all loved it! 2a and 2c ages 11 and 14! Such fun and great things to see! Kids want to book another one!!”

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6.Haugesund Shore Excursion: Åkrafjorden & Langfoss waterfall

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

Travel from the Haugesund cruise dock to Åkrafjorden and 612-meter Langfoss waterfall in an air-conditioned vehicle. Guides such as Lilly, Aline, Jamie, and Hans have added history, humor, quizzes, music, and local stories. The tour also stops at Haraldshaugen and Åkrafjordtunet for photos, drinks, or snacks.

“Phenomenal experience w Lilly. The best tour guide around. We could not ask for a more pleasant, fun, and educational experience. This tour provides many extras you other companies do not provide. You will not regret it. She also turned us on to the best chocolate in Norway!! A&&&”

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7.Guided hike to Pulpit Rock Preikestolen

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

Join a small group of up to eight for a guided hike from Stavanger to Preikestolen. You’ll cross the fjord, climb rugged trails, and pause for photos above Lysefjorden. Guides such as Erle, Ola, Toa, and Marius are praised for patient pacing, local stories, and route knowledge. Hotel 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.Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock) Hike with Local Guide

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

Travel from Stavanger’s cruise terminal to Preikestolen with local guides such as Tore, Matts, or Stein. The roughly four-hour hike crosses woods, streams, rocky steps, and steep sections before reaching the famous cliff above Lysefjorden. Bus transport, snacks, and return to the ship terminal are included.

“Tore our guide was absolutely incredible. He made us feel looked after all the way, but in the nicest way possible, while also letting us do our own things when we needed it. I cannot recommend him any higher. An unforgettable experience”

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9.Preikestolen Classic Hike and Side Trail

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

Spend eight hours hiking to Preikestolen with a local English or Norwegian-speaking guide and no more than seven other people. The route takes about 2.5 hours uphill, with a side trail used when conditions allow. Guides such as Alan, Erlend, Stephan, and Cristian add nature stories, photo stops, and steady pacing. Transport, a snack, seasonal gear, and hot berry juice are included.

“Stefan is a wonderful guide, thank you to him for a lovely day. I will probably return again”

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

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

See Stavanger from an open-top double-decker bus on a one-day ticket with 12 advertised stops, multilingual audio, and onboard WiFi. You can visit the cathedral, Petroleum Museum, Stavanger Museum, Museum of Art, Mosvatnet Park, and Ledaal Royal Residence. The 50-minute circuit runs every 30 minutes when cruise ships are in port.

“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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11.24-Hour Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Pass

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

Use a 24-hour Stavanger bus pass to see the cathedral, Old Stavanger, museums, Sverd i fjell, and the harbor at your own pace. You can board at Strandkaien Cruise Terminal or any listed stop, listen to commentary in seven languages, and hop off as often as you like. The bus is wheelchair accessible and includes Wi-Fi.

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

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12.Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock) Guided Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 121 reviews · from $136

Hike Norway’s famous Preikestolen with a guide in a group of no more than eight. You’ll ride from Stavanger, follow marked mountain paths, stop for fjord views and snacks, and reach the cliff above Lysefjorden. Guides such as Kristy, Sander, Jacob, Lisa, and Annalise are praised for patient help and local insight.

“Kamil the guide and driver was a great guy. Pick up was on time and no logistics faff. The hike is best suited to those with min basic fitness.”

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13.Customized Private Tour with a Local

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 78 reviews · from $62

Meet a Stavanger local at your centrally located accommodation and shape a private walking tour around your interests. Guides such as Tor, Anatoly, Elektra, Sandra, and Miroslava have shown visitors old Stavanger, modern streets, shopping areas, street art, local customs, food spots, and bus tips. Choose 2 to 6 hours, with English guiding and no fixed route.

“Sandra was well prepared, on time, informed and a delight to explore Stavanger with. We saw and learned so much about this incredible city. She even helped us find the perfect spot to watch the amazing Constitution Day parades.”

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14.Norwegian Petroleum Museum – Entrance Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 78 reviews · 1 day · from $19Best value

Spend a day at Stavanger’s Norwegian Petroleum Museum learning how oil and gas formed, how offshore drilling works, and how petroleum shaped Norway. See original objects, models, films, and interactive displays, then try the rescue chute, catastrophe room, picture quiz, and play platform. English and Norwegian support is available.

“Przyjemne muzeum. Można dowiedzieć się paru ciekawych rzeczy. Warto wstąpić”

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15.Preikestolen Sunrise Hike with Breakfast Buffet

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 43 reviews · from $253

You’ll hike 4 kilometers up to Preikestolen with a guide such as Stephan, Alan, or Erlend, reaching the 604-meter cliff near sunrise. Expect dark forest paths, stone steps, changing weather, and a small group of up to eight. Headlamps, poles, snacks, hot berry juice, transport, and breakfast are included.

“We had a great time and our guide was very kind and knowledgeable. It was a once in a lifetime experience and a beautiful view. The hike was challenging but manageable and our guide gave us lots of breaks for water. Make sure you bring an extra jacket, hat and gloves for the top. We had great weather but the top is freezing and very windy. Overall, a great experience and we loved our guide!”

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