Stavanger is easy: you dock in the town center. The big draw, Pulpit Rock, needs about 6 hours round trip including a 3-hour hike, so only try it with a long port day and a booked bus.
Where Stavanger lies
StavangerBergenOsloStockholmÅlesundFlåmGeirangerGothenburgHammerfestHaugesundHellesyltHelsinkiHonningsvågKristiansandLeknesMoldeNordfjordeidOldenSkagenSkjoldenTallinnTromsøVisbyWhere your ship docks
Ships dock at quays in the harbor: Strandkaien, Skagenkaien, Skansekaien or Konserthuskaien. A tender anchorage exists but is rarely needed. The tourist office is at Strandkaien 61.
Shuttle. Not needed.
Getting to the sights
| The way | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Walk to Old Stavanger and harbor | 5-10 minutes | Free |
| Express bus from city center to Preikestolen BaseCamp to Pulpit Rock (Preikestolen) hike | About 1 hour each way plus about 3 hours hiking; about 6 hours total | Unverified, book online |
| Boat from the harbor to Lysefjord sightseeing boat | About 3 hours (unverified) | Unverified |
Walk to Old Stavanger and harbor
- Walk off the ship; Old Stavanger is beside the harbor.
Cobblestones.
Express bus from city center to Preikestolen BaseCamp to Pulpit Rock (Preikestolen) hike
- Book online (tickets not sold on the bus).
- Walk to the city-center bus stop.
- Take a morning bus (the operator suggests 09:00 for an 08:00 arrival).
- Hike up (604 m above the fjord) and back.
- Take the return bus (example: 15:00, back 16:00).
Only for fit hikers with good shoes. No facilities on the trail. Ship delays can ruin the plan.
Boat from the harbor to Lysefjord sightseeing boat
- Book ahead.
- Boats leave near the cruise quays.
Easier way to see Pulpit Rock from below.
What to see
Old Stavanger
Streets of white wooden houses.
- How
- Walk from ship.
- Time
- 45 minutes
- Tickets
- Free
Pulpit Rock (Preikestolen)
Flat cliff 604 m above the Lysefjord.
- How
- Express bus + hike.
- Time
- About 6 hours
- Tickets
- Bus must be booked online
Lysefjord cruise
See Pulpit Rock and waterfalls without hiking.
- How
- Boat from the harbor.
- Time
- About 3 hours (unverified)
- Tickets
- Unverified
Norwegian Petroleum Museum
How oil changed Norway; good in rain.
- How
- Walk along the harbor.
- Time
- 1-1.5 hours
- Tickets
- Paid; price unverified
Stavanger Cathedral
Medieval stone cathedral.
- How
- Walk.
- Time
- 30 minutes
- Tickets
- Unverified
Your day, hour by hour
Planned for a typical call. Check your ship's all-aboard time and be back an hour early. The ship will not wait.
- Long day (9+ hours) and fit: book the morning Pulpit Rock bus, hike, return by mid-afternoon.
- Otherwise: morning Lysefjord boat.
- Afternoon: Old Stavanger and the Petroleum Museum.
- Back on board 30-45 minutes before all-aboard.
What goes wrong, and how to avoid it
Beware
- Pulpit Rock weather can be very different from town. Bring layers and rain gear.
- Morning buses sell out weeks ahead in summer.
Do this
- Check your ship's arrival time against the bus timetable before booking.
Fees, money and access
Rules & fees
- Norway has no cruise passenger tax in 2026. A national fee of NOK 100 per passenger per 24 hours in port is proposed from January 1, 2027, if approved (reported by The Local Norway, March 2026). Norway's separate local tourist tax of up to 3% applies to hotel stays, not cruise passengers.
Accessibility
Docks in town; harbor area is flat. Old Stavanger has cobblestones and slopes. Pulpit Rock is not accessible.
Money
Norwegian krone (NOK). Cards (tap-to-pay) are accepted almost everywhere, even for small amounts. You rarely need cash. Tell your bank you are traveling.
More of the Norway & the Fjords
Sources & what we could not confirm · 4 sources · checked 2026-11
- Cruise Norway: Stavanger port information (PDF)
- Go Fjords: Preikestolen from a cruise ship in Stavanger
- Cruise Industry News: Norway to introduce cruise taxes for guests (June 2025)
- The Local Norway, how the proposed cruise tax will work (Mar 2026)
- Bus, boat and museum prices
- Lysefjord cruise length