Preikestolen vs Trolltunga: Which Should You Hike?
Choose Preikestolen if you want a half-day to full-day hike on a heavily built path with a dramatic fjord platform at the end. Choose Trolltunga if you are fit, prepared for a very long exposed mountain day, and ready to commit to a full day or an overnight.
Preikestolen and Trolltunga at a glance
Preikestolen is a roughly 8 km (5 mile) out-and-back walk in Ryfylke, Norway, along a built path to a flat cliff platform above the Lysefjord. Trolltunga is a 27 km (16.8 mile) out-and-back route in Hardanger, Norway, across mountain plateau to a rock ledge. Hikers compare them because both end at famous, unfenced fjord-country viewpoints, but they ask very different things of you.
| Preikestolen | Trolltunga | |
|---|---|---|
| Place | Ryfylke · Norway | Hardanger · Norway |
| Distance | 8 km (5 miles) round trip, 4 km (2.5 miles) one way | 27 km (16.8 miles) round trip from the main P2 Skjeggedal trailhead (20 km / 12.4 mi round trip from the higher P3 Mågelitopp trailhead) |
| Elevation gain | ~500 m (1,640 ft); the rock itself sits about 604 m above the Lysefjord | ~800 m (2,625 ft) from the main Skjeggedal trailhead |
| Difficulty | Moderate — well-prepared path, but long and physically demanding for a day hike | Very strenuous; usually a long day (commonly 8-12 hours), often split with an overnight stay |
| Route type | out-and-back | out-and-back |
| Official season | April to October; winter needs care | Mid-June to September; outside mid-summer conditions are harder and guiding is often advised |
| Managed by | Regional tourism & landowners | Regional tourism & landowners |
Effort and difficulty
Preikestolen is 8 km (5 miles) round trip with about 500 m (1,640 ft) of gain, rated Moderate: well-prepared, but long and physically demanding for a day hike. Trolltunga is 27 km (16.8 miles) round trip from the main P2 Skjeggedal trailhead, with about 800 m (2,625 ft) of gain, and is rated Very strenuous, commonly 8-12 hours. Trolltunga is the much bigger commitment. Its route is longer, the ground is rougher, and the return crosses the same rolling plateau on tired legs. Preikestolen's effort comes in bursts of stone staircases separated by flatter stretches.
Season, permits and booking
Preikestolen's official best season is April to October, though winter needs care, and outside the main season guided trips are the usual approach. Trolltunga's season is shorter, mid-June to September, and outside mid-summer conditions are harder, so guiding is often advised. Neither needs a permit, according to the facts here. Both have unfenced, exposed edges, so wind, wet and weather change the day. Confirm current conditions and rules with each managing authority before you go.
Which one is right for you?
Choose Preikestolen if…
Pick Preikestolen if you want a fjord viewpoint without a full mountain day. It suits hikers with a solid base of fitness who are comfortable on long flights of stone steps, and anyone building a day around a ferry and bus connection. Its path is heavily built, the route is shorter, and an early start helps you reach the platform before the main wave arrives. An evening start is also popular in long-daylight months if you are confident descending in fading light.
How to hike Preikestolen — Pulpit RockChoose Trolltunga if…
Pick Trolltunga if you are experienced, strong and ready for an exposed mountain day with full layers, food and a firm turnaround time. It suits hikers who like long, rolling terrain with rock slabs, boggy hollows, lingering snow and cairn-and-marker navigation. If you want to break up the distance, carrying camping gear onto the plateau for a night puts you at the ledge early, before the day walkers. Using the higher trailhead skips the steepest opening climb.
How to hike TrolltungaWhat the two have in common
Both are out-and-back hikes in Norwegian fjord country, managed by regional tourism and landowners, and neither needs a permit. Each ends at a famous rock platform or ledge with a serious drop and no barrier at the edge, so careful footing and respect for wind and wet matter at both. Both reward an early start, since crowds build later in the day, and both mean you walk every section twice.
How your choice changes what you pack
Preikestolen usually calls for a modest day pack, water, snacks and weather layers, with sturdy footwear for steps and wet rock. Trolltunga raises the stakes: a bigger pack with full layers, plenty of food and water, and a plan for changing weather on exposed ground. If you split it into an overnight, you also carry camping gear, which changes pack size and how you ration weight for the return.
Common questions
Which hike is harder, Preikestolen or Trolltunga?
Trolltunga is harder. It is rated Very strenuous, covers 27 km (16.8 miles) round trip from Skjeggedal with about 800 m (2,625 ft) of gain, and commonly takes 8-12 hours. Preikestolen is rated Moderate at 8 km (5 miles) round trip with about 500 m (1,640 ft) of gain.
Which is better for first-time hikers?
Preikestolen is the gentler starting point. It is shorter, follows a heavily built path of stone steps and boardwalk, and is typically done as a single day trip. Trolltunga is a very long, exposed mountain day and suits hikers with more experience and fitness.
Do I need a permit for either hike?
No permit is needed for either, according to the facts here. Both cliff edges are unfenced, so stay well back, especially in wind or wet. Confirm current rules and conditions with the managing authorities before you go.
When is the best time to hike each one?
Preikestolen's official best season is April to October, though winter needs care. Trolltunga's is mid-June to September, and outside mid-summer conditions are harder, so guiding is often advised. Check current conditions with the managing authorities before your trip.
Sources
- Regional tourism & landowners — visitnorway.com (Visit Norway, national tourist board): official information for Preikestolen.
- Regional tourism & landowners — visitnorway.com (Visit Norway, national tourist board): official information for Trolltunga.
Conditions, permits and access rules change without notice — confirm current information with each managing authority before you go. See our editorial policy.