After working at a hostel nearby, I learned a ton about the best way to beat the crowds at the Preikestolen hike in Norway. From specific times of day to visit to certain days to avoid, here are the best tips for your visit to the famous Pulpit Rock.
The Preikestolen hike is located in Rogaland, Norway. Also known as Pulpit Rock, the hike is one of Norway’s most epic things to do. It is easy to access, not a particularly difficult hike, and has some of the best views you will see in your life time.
As one of the most beautiful hikes to do in Norway, Preikestolen is consequentially one of the busiest attractions as well. To the point where it can get incredibly crowded at times. The cliff side can be packed with people, with a long line waiting to get their photo taken on the edge.
BUT the good news is, there are several ways you can beat the crowds on your visit to Preikestolen. I was able to strategically plan when I went and was pleasantly surprised. There were still tons of spots available to take photos without others in the background and by the time I was leaving there was no line for pictures at all. There will always be other people there, but you can find times/days that significantly reduce this.
More Info For Hiking Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock) – FAQ:
- How long is the Preikestolen hike? The hike is 4 km each way and is said to take a total of 4 hours. The average hikers on this trail includes families with kids so for avid hikers it can definitely be completed in less.
- Is the Preikestolen hike difficult? Not particularly. If you do not hike at all, then it might be a bit of a challenge simply because there is a lot of uphill and some stone stairs. However, for an uphill hike it is very easy. The terrain offers zero challenge and there are extended periods of flat ground between the steeper sections.
- How do you get to Preikestolen? Car is the easiest way to get to Preikestolen but you can also take a bus from Stavanger in the high season. You can find more bus info here. Or even hitchhike!
It is definitely very possible to beat the crowds at Preikestolen and here are 7 tips for how to do it.
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7 Tips for How to Beat the Crowds at Preikestolen Hike This Summer
1. Don’t Hike to Preikestolen in the Middle of Day
My first tip for avoiding the crowds when visiting any popular tourist attraction is always going to be: Don’t go during the middle of the day. Obviously the majority of people like to visit at this time simply due to convenience. So right away, by avoiding mid-day you already eliminate a significant portion of the crowds.
There are other reasons for not hiking Preikestolen mid-day though. For one, it is pretty common for the parking lot to fill up during peak season. There’s a good chance you’d come across parking agents telling you to return later instead.
Also, the buses from Stavanger arrive to Prekeistolen at 9:50am and 11:40am, meaning a huge flock of other hikers will be hitting the trail at the exact same time. You don’t want to be in that.
2. Hike in the late afternoon/early evening
I was working at a hostel near Preikestolen and we always told the guests that it was best to get to the hike early in the morning. This is definitely going to help you avoid some of the crowds at Preikestolen, but my own experience changed my advice on this. I arrived to Preikestolen at 4:30pm and hiked in the evening. From what other guests were often telling me, it seems that when you go early in the morning you may have some moments of less crowding but then it gets busier and busier as time progresses. Plus, most people think the best way to beat the crowds is in the morning. When I went, the big crowds were hiking down at that point. And the longer we stayed up there the fewer and fewer people were there.
There can still be long lines and crowds even if you go for 8:30 in the morning (as was shown to me in pictures by guests). So my biggest recommendation is to go as late in the afternoon/early evening as you can.
3. Consider Spending the Night Camping at Preikestolen
One of the coolest things about travelling in Norway is that you can wild camp for free on almost all public land. Some popular spots might have some restrictions, but at most of the popular hikes you can actually camp there.
There is camping allowed on the Preikestolen hike. There are some restrictions in place, like not camping directly on the cliff face where everybody is (for obvious reasons). But very close by you can set up tent.
If you are looking for a cool overnight spot to camp, then this would be the perfect way to beat the crowds at Preikestolen. You could enjoy the late evening and early morning with almost nobody else there. You might even catch a beautiful sunset/sunrise.
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4. Avoid Weekends at Preikestolen
Just like everywhere else, Preikestolen is going to be busier on weekends. It just works out that way with how tourists tend to strategically plan their vacations over weekends or due to there being people in the area who are temporarily working (like me) and would need to visit on their days off. Visiting during the week will eliminate some more of the crowds.
5. Avoid the First Sunny Day After Multiple Rainy Days
Norway is pretty notorious for its unpredictable and oftentimes rainy weather. It can rain for days and days on end. So naturally on the first sunny day after a ton of rain, everybody is going to be eager to get outside and enjoy the hikes they weren’t able to do. This will make the Preikestolen hike substantially more busy.
Allow for some extra flexibility in your Norway itinerary to account for this.
6. Go for a Sunrise Hike
There are many reasons to do a sunrise hike, but one at Preikestolen is an especially good idea. For one, the views are going to be FANTASTIC. Two, not a lot of other people are willing to get up super early and hike in the dark. I don’t have to tell you how much quieter it will be on this hike if you go so early in the morning.
Bring some flashlights and enjoy the extra special views without the crowds.
7. Leave Some Flexibility in Your Itinerary
One of the best ways to avoid the crowds anywhere in Norway is to leave some wiggle room in your itinerary. By doing so, you’ll be able to use tips like in this post to strategically choose when you do the Preikestolen hike.
If you are stuck in a rigid schedule, you may find that the only day you are free to do Preikestolen is on a weekend on the first sunny day in a long time. And if your itinerary is rigid down to having to be places at certain times, then you might even find yourself there in the middle of the day.
At that point it would be hard to do anything but accept your fate. It is going to be extremely busy. But if you have a some extra time to choose from it will be easier to beat the crowds at Preikestolen.
Final Thoughts on How to Beat the Crowds at Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock) in Norway
As one of the best hikes to do in all of Norway, you can expect Preikestolen to be a pretty busy place. But it doesn’t have to be that way! By following and combining some of the tips from this post, you can easily ensure a better experience at Pulpit Rock.
Happy adventuring!
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