Flørli is a tiny village on the south side of the Lysefjord with no road in or out. You arrive by boat, climb (or don’t climb) the 4,444 wooden steps, and leave by boat again. That makes the logistics the real question. This guide explains how to get to Flørli from Stavanger, which boats stop there, when the stairs are in season, and where you can eat and sleep once you arrive.
Where Flørli is, and why there is no road
Flørli sits on the steep southern side of the Lysefjord, between Forsand at the mouth of the fjord and Lysebotn at the far end. The village grew up around a hydropower station that opened in 1918, one of the early ones in Norway. The famous staircase follows the old water pipes from the power station up the mountainside.
Look at the cliffs on this side of the fjord and it is easy to see why there is no road. The only ways in are by boat, or on foot over the mountain from the trail network above. For almost every visitor that means the boat.
How to get to Flørli by boat
There are three realistic ways to reach the quay at Flørli.
1. The Kolumbus ferry from Lauvvik
The regional transport company Kolumbus runs a ferry route on the Lysefjord between Lauvvik and Lysebotn all year round. It calls at small quays along the way, and Flørli is one of the stops. Two boats are listed on the route: a fast passenger boat (MS Rygercruise, no cars) and a slower car ferry (MS Sveio). The whole trip from Lauvvik to Lysebotn takes about 1 hour 15 minutes on the fast boat and about 2 hours 30 minutes on the car ferry, and Flørli is part-way along.
A few practical points matter here:
- Book ahead. Booking is needed to make sure the boat actually stops at Flørli and that you get a seat. Tickets are sold through Kolumbus, and online booking opens about a month in advance.
- Check the day of the week. Flørli’s own ferry page notes that the Kolumbus boat does not sail on Saturdays, and a slightly different winter timetable applies from October.
- Lauvvik is not in Stavanger. The ferry quay at Lauvvik is in Sandnes municipality, east of Stavanger, so you need a car, a taxi or a bus connection to get there first. You can park free at the quays outside Stavanger.
2. The tourist car ferry in summer
In the summer season, Rødne runs a scenic car ferry on the Lysefjord. For 2026 it sailed from 15 May to 30 September. It is mainly used by people driving to Lysebotn for Kjerag or the Lysevegen road, but it is worth checking whether a sailing stops at Flørli on your date.
3. A taxi boat or private boat
Local operators run taxi boats directly from Forsand and Lauvvik. This is the most flexible option if the ferry times do not suit you, or if you are a small group. A private boat from Stavanger is another option, and it turns the trip into a fjord day in its own right. We arrange private boats on the Lysefjord as part of our fjord and coastal experiences, so the boat waits for your timing rather than the other way round.
Whichever you choose, write down the return time before you start climbing. Missing the last boat out of a roadless village is not a small problem.
The Flørli 4444 stairs: what you are signing up for
Fjord Norway describes the Flørli stairs as the world’s longest wooden staircase. The numbers:
- 4,444 steps, about 1,470 metres of staircase
- 740 metres of ascent from the quay to the lake Ternevatnet
- About 5 km for the full loop, roughly 3.5 hours without breaks
- Graded challenging (red). Demanding, but done by fit children with extra time and care on the steepest parts
You go up the stairs and come down a different way, on Rallarstien, an old workers’ path from the time the Ternevatnet dam was built. It crosses bare rock and a scree field, with stone steps on the steep sections. Walking down the staircase is not recommended: it is steep in places and you would be in the way of people coming up.
If the full loop is too much, there is a shorter option. You can leave the stairs after about 700 steps and walk back to the village on a forest path. Fit hikers who want more can do a longer loop of about 9.7 km past the Stora Flørlivatnet dam, which takes around 4.5 hours.
For a fuller picture of the climb itself, stage by stage, see our page on the private guided Flørli 4444 hike.
When you can climb the Flørli stairs
The season listed by Fjord Norway runs from mid-April to the end of October. Snow on the steepest part is usually gone by mid-April. In winter there is a risk of avalanches and slipping, and this is not a winter hike. We guide Flørli from June to September, when the days are long and the trail is at its best.
Autumn is lovely, but it is also the wettest part of the year around Stavanger. Wooden steps get slippery in rain, so leave time to go slowly. Our guide to the best time to visit Stavanger goes through the seasons month by month.
Food, water and where to stay
Plan on being self-sufficient. Bring your own food and enough to drink for the day, because there is nowhere to refill water bottles on the hike. In summer there is a café and an art exhibition in the old power station on the quay, which is a good place to wait for the boat.
If you want to stay overnight, Flørli 4444 rents rooms and holiday homes, and offers car-free camping and tents for hire. Stavanger Turistforening, the local branch of the Norwegian Trekking Association (DNT), also has a tourist cabin in the village. Staying a night changes the whole experience: once the day visitors have gone, the village and the fjord are very quiet in the evening light.
A realistic day plan from Stavanger
- Morning: drive or take a transfer to Lauvvik or Forsand, and take the boat in to Flørli.
- Midday: climb the stairs at your own pace. Eat lunch by Ternevatnet if the weather allows.
- Afternoon: come down on Rallarstien, have a coffee at the café if it is open, and catch the boat back.
- Evening: back in Stavanger, or a night in Flørli if you booked one.
If you only have one day for the Lysefjord and want to compare Flørli with Preikestolen, Kjerag or a fjord cruise, read our guide to the Lysefjord from Stavanger.
How we plan a Flørli day
We live in the Stavanger area, and Flørli is one of the hikes we enjoy most. It is also the one where good logistics make the biggest difference. On a private day we sort out the transport and the boat, check the weather the day before, and set the pace around the slowest person in the group. If the forecast turns, we tell you honestly and suggest another day or a different plan. Our Norway vacation packages show how Flørli can fit into a longer trip.
Frequently asked questions
Can you drive to Flørli?
No. There is no road to Flørli. You arrive by ferry, taxi boat or private boat, or on foot over the mountains.
Where does the Flørli ferry leave from?
The Kolumbus ferry runs between Lauvvik and Lysebotn and stops at Flørli on the way. Taxi boats also leave from Forsand and Lauvvik. Always book, so the boat knows to stop.
How long does the Flørli 4444 hike take?
About 3.5 hours for the full 5 km loop, not counting breaks. Add time for the boat, lunch and photos, and plan for most of a day.
Can you climb Flørli in winter?
No, it is not a winter hike. The season runs from mid-April to the end of October, and we guide it from June to September.
Is there food in Flørli?
There is a café in the old power station in summer. For the hike itself, bring your own food and water.
Check route details on Fjord Norway and current ferry information on Flørli’s ferry page before you travel.
Why travel with NORDIQ Travel?
NORDIQ Travel is a small team based in Stavanger. John and Gert Olsson started guiding here in 2019, under the name TrollAdventure. Both work as firefighters in Norway, and our guiding network is built around people from the emergency services: fire, police and medical. We also hike these mountains because we love it, not only because it is our job.
That shows in how we work: careful preparation, clear communication and calm decisions when conditions change. We plan your days, sort out transport and ferry connections, match you with a local guide and set the pace around the people travelling. You have one person to talk to from your first message to your last day, and we will always tell you honestly what is possible, and what depends on the weather and the season.