The Lysefjord
The Lysefjord is the southernmost of the biggest fjords in Norway. The 40-kilometre-long fjord is flanked by steep mountains, some more than 1,000 meters.
2 min readUpdated: Feb 27, 2026By: The Fjord Tours team
The Lysefjord is not only long and narrow, it is in places as deep as the mountains are high! Only 13 metres (43 feet) deep where it meets the sea near Stavanger, the Lysefjord drops to a depth of over 400 metres (1,300 feet) below the famous Pulpit Rock.
The two most well-known sights in the Lysefjord are the Pulpit Rock (Preikestolen) and Mount Kjerag. The Pulpit Rock is located in Forsand municipality and towers 604 metres on the northern side of the Lysefjord.
Mount Kjerag is located on the southern side of the Lysefjord in Rogaland. On the western part of the plateau there is a 5 m³ boulder, wedged in a crevice 1,000 metres above the fjord.
Facts about The Lysefjord:
- The Lysefjord is approx. 40 kilometres in length
- It is up to 422 metres deep, but shallows to only 13 metres near Oanes and Forsand. The Lysefjord is thus a typical sill fjord in which the sill itself was created by the ice approx. 10,000 years ago
- The Pulpit Rock and Mount Kjerag are the most well-known sights in the Lysefjord
- It is the southernmost of the biggest fjords in Norway and surrounded by high mountains
Experience more with Lysefjord in a Nutshell™
This tour takes you to Preikestolen, the Pulpit Rock. The famous rock formation is known from movies including Mission Impossible and is one of Norway’s most photographed natural attractions. The tour includes a fjord cruise on the Lysefjord and the charming city of Stavanger.
Highlights
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The Lysefjord
The Lysefjord is the southernmost of the biggest fjords in Norway. The 40-kilometre-long fjord is flanked by steep mountains, some more than 1,000 meters.
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The Geirangerfjord is one of Norway's most visited tourist sites and has been included on the UNESCO World Heritage List, along with the Nærøyfjord, since 2005.
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The Aurlandsfjord
Together with the Nærøyfjord, the Aurlandsfjord is one of the most picturesque fjords in the world.
The Lysefjord
The Lysefjord is the southernmost of the biggest fjords in Norway. The 40-kilometre-long fjord is flanked by steep mountains, some more than 1,000 meters.
The Trollfjord
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The Romsdalsfjord
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The Nærøyfjord
Surrounded by towering mountains up to 1,700 metres high, this arm of the Sognefjord is amazingly beautiful.
The Geirangerfjord
The Geirangerfjord is one of Norway's most visited tourist sites and has been included on the UNESCO World Heritage List, along with the Nærøyfjord, since 2005.
The Hardangerfjord
If the Sognefjord is the King of the fjords of Western Norway, the Hardangerfjord is the Queen.
The Sognefjord
Norway’s longest fjord, the Sognefjord, is located in the heart of Norwegian fjord country and extends more than 200 km (120 miles) inland.
The Aurlandsfjord
Together with the Nærøyfjord, the Aurlandsfjord is one of the most picturesque fjords in the world.
The Lysefjord
The Lysefjord is the southernmost of the biggest fjords in Norway. The 40-kilometre-long fjord is flanked by steep mountains, some more than 1,000 meters.
The Trollfjord
Trollfjorden is located on the southernmost part of Vesterålen, just north of Svolvær. It's only three kilometers long, but what it lacks in length, it makes up for in a dramatic fashion!
The Romsdalsfjord
The Romsdalsfjord is the ninth-longest fjord in Norway with its 94 km. The fjord is surrounded by the majestic Romsdalsalpene mountains and the fjord area is perfect for day excursions.