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.
Written by
The Fjord Tours team
2 min readUpdated: Oct 29, 2026
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
Top things to do in Stavanger
Discover the best activities and attractions in and around Stavanger, from urban exploration to breathtaking natural wonders.
Lysefjord RIB safari & Flørli hike
Stavanger • 7 hr
No available price
1 May - 29 September
Lysefjord & Preikestolen fjord cruise
Stavanger
No available price
Available all year
Summer favorite
Lysefjord cruise and hike to Preikestolen
Stavanger • 12 hr
No available price
1 May - 30 September
Lysefjord fjord safari with RIB boat
Stavanger • 2 hr
No available price
1 May - 30 September
Lysefjord RIB safari & Flørli hike
Stavanger • 7 hr
No available price
1 May - 29 September
Lysefjord & Preikestolen fjord cruise
Stavanger
No available price
Available all year
Summer favorite
Lysefjord cruise and hike to Preikestolen
Stavanger • 12 hr
No available price
1 May - 30 September
Lysefjord fjord safari with RIB boat
Stavanger • 2 hr
No available price
1 May - 30 September
Read more about the fjords
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.
When to visit the fjords
What you can see and do in the Norwegian fjords changes with the seasons. Waterfalls are often at their most powerful in spring and early summer, when melting mountain snow increases the flow of water. Hiking trails high in the mountains may still be covered in snow and may not be accessible until June or later. Some viewpoints are reached by mountain roads that open only in summer. In winter, snow often covers the mountains around the fjords. The right time for you depends on what you’d like to experience. Our Bergen-based team has helped travelers explore the fjords since 1982, and in this guide, we’ll help you choose a month based on what you want to see and do.
The Nordfjord
The Nordfjord is the sixth longest fjord in Norway, spanning a distance of 105 kilometres (66 mi). It is 565 meters (1,854 ft) deep.
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.
Discover the famous Norwegian fjords
Norway has an incredible number of fjords. Get to know some of our favorite fjords here!
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
Aurlandsfjord is a 29 km long branch of Sognefjord in western Norway, with the village of Flåm at its inner end. The fjord is wider than its narrow neighbor, the UNESCO-listed Nærøyfjord.
From Flåm, you can ride the famous Flåm Railway through the valley into the mountains. Around Aurlandsfjord, visit Stegastein viewpoint 650 meters above the water, or explore Aurland, the village where the classic penny loafer has its roots.
See the fjord from the water on a cruise, enjoy the view from Stegastein, or spend more time exploring the small villages along its shores.
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 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.
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 Hjørundfjord
Discover the spectacular Hjørundfjord on an authentic Norwegian fjord cruise from Ålesund, where dramatic Sunnmøre Alps meet pristine waters away from tourist crowds.
The Nordfjord
The Nordfjord is the sixth longest fjord in Norway, spanning a distance of 105 kilometres (66 mi). It is 565 meters (1,854 ft) deep.
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
Aurlandsfjord is a 29 km long branch of Sognefjord in western Norway, with the village of Flåm at its inner end. The fjord is wider than its narrow neighbor, the UNESCO-listed Nærøyfjord.
From Flåm, you can ride the famous Flåm Railway through the valley into the mountains. Around Aurlandsfjord, visit Stegastein viewpoint 650 meters above the water, or explore Aurland, the village where the classic penny loafer has its roots.
See the fjord from the water on a cruise, enjoy the view from Stegastein, or spend more time exploring the small villages along its shores.
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 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.
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 Hjørundfjord
Discover the spectacular Hjørundfjord on an authentic Norwegian fjord cruise from Ålesund, where dramatic Sunnmøre Alps meet pristine waters away from tourist crowds.
The Nordfjord
The Nordfjord is the sixth longest fjord in Norway, spanning a distance of 105 kilometres (66 mi). It is 565 meters (1,854 ft) deep.