Frequently Asked Questions

What is Flørli 4444? Flørli is a small settlement in the Lysefjord, famous for the Flørli Stairs that have 4444 steps.

Why visit Flørli? Flørli is a unique historic settlement on the shores of the Lysefjord. It is strategically located between attractions like Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock) and Kjeragbolten. In Flørli you can hike the famous Flørli Stairs and enjoy a stay in a jawdropping fjord-setting.

Where is Flørli? The historic fjord-hamlet Flørli is located in the Lysefjord, close to Stavanger in southwestern Norway. The roadless village can only be reached by ferry or on foot across the mountains.

Do I have to hike up the stairs to get to Flørli? Flørli is located on the shores of the Lysefjord. The Flørli Stairs start in the village by the fjord and lead to the top of the mountain at 740 metres above sealevel.

What is the history of Flørli? In Flørli, they established the first large hydropower station of the Stavanger region in 1918. It provisioned the city of Stavanger with electricity until it was taken out of service in 1999. Now, the historic power station hosts a café and a museum exhibition about its unique history.

How to get to Flørli from Stavanger with a car? If you have a car, drive to Lauvvik quay or to Forsand quay and take the ferry from there. On most days, there are two ferries per day. The ferries are bookable through https://billetter.kolumbus.no.

How to get to Flørli from Stavanger without a car? There are infrequent busses to Lauvvik and Forsand quay and ferries to Flørli from there. With some planning, you should be able to make it to Flørli with public transport. A daytrip, so returning to Stavanger on the same day using public transport, is not possible. We therefore advise you to spend a day or two in Flørli before returning.

Is there a ferry service directly from Stavanger? No, you need to travel to Lauvvik or Forsand and take a boat from there. Read our travel advice and see schedules on https://www.florli.no/getting-here.

Can I drive to Flørli? There is no road to Flørli. However, you can drive to one of the ferry terminals, drive your car onto a ferry and disembark in Flørli, where you can park your car on the quay.

Can I bring a car to Flørli? Yes, book the car-ferry in advance and it will bring you to Flørli with your car. You can then park your car for free on the quay in Flørli. Send us a mail if you are unsure about logistics and we can help you plan.

Should I book the ferry? Though you can just get on and purchase tickets on board, we advise all travellers to reserve tickets in advance. This will guarantee that it stops to pick you up and that there is place onboard for you. Tickets can be booked on https://billetter.kolumbus.no

Why can’t I book the ferry yet? Ferry schedules and booking on the Kolumbus website https://billetter.kolumbus.no is only available a few months in advance. Make a note in your calendar and try again in the course of spring.

Are there taxi boats available? There are some local operators that could take you to Flørli in a taxi boat, even from Stavanger. Typical rates are 1400NOK pp from Stavanger or 800NOK pp from Lauvvik and Forsand. Minimum price for a ride is typically around 2500NOK. Send us a mail and we will try to help you.

Can I park my car safely on a quay and visit Flørli without car? Yes, cars can be parked safely and for free on the quays in Lauvvik, Forsand, Songesand and Lysebotn. ‘

How to get from Oslo to Flørli? Driving, we suggest that you take the inland route via Notodden, Dalen and Brokke to Lysebotn quay. Take the ferry to Flørli from there. Leave Oslo very early as it is a long drive! Using public transport, you should first get to the cities of Sandnes or Stavanger and take it from there as described here. You can choose to fly or take the train or a bus to Sandnes or Stavanger.

How long does it take to hike the Flørli Stairs? Most experienced hikers of reasonable fitness use 1 hour up the Flørli Stairs, excluding breaks. The path down takes longer, about 1,5 hours. It leads over the mountain and through the forest in a loop. Adding breaks, most use 4 hours for the entire roundhike. If you need more breaks or want to enjoy the longer itinerary into the highlands, you can spend 5-6 hours for the roundhike.

What is the record up the Flørli Stairs? In races, about 25 minutes from the fjord to the top of the stairs at 740 metres above the fjord. This is trully exceptional. If you’re very fit, we challenge you to do it under 35 minutes!

Is it allowed to hike down the stairs? The stairs hike is one-directional and the descent is on a different path over the mountain and through the forest. It is not strictly prohibited to walk down the stairs, but we strongly suggest not to, as the stairs are narrow and you will be a nuisance to hikers going up. Also, it may be slippery and there is risk of injury.

How steep are the Flørli Stairs? The average incline of the stairs is 35°, and there are two steep sections over 50° where you will find yourself using hands and feet to climb up.

I have fear of heights, can I do the stairs? Most hikers with moderate fear of heights find themselves hiking up without problems. All along the stairs, there is cables or wooden rails to hold on to. The two steep sections are not long and you use hands and feet to hold on and walk up. Don’t look back and you’ll be fine! We suggest you start the stairs and hike the first 800 steps. There you get to a bifurcation and you can decide to return to the village if you find it too hard.

Is hiking the Flørli Stairs suitable for children? The youngest we know of to hike the complete stairs was only 4 years of age. Children from 8 can generally do the hike and may well outperform their parents!

Can I hike the stairs with a dog? Hiking the stairs is very tough on your dog’s hips. Also, dogs don’t like sections of stairs hoovering metres over the terrain. Guests bringing a dog up the stairs hike, will probably find themselves helping and even carrying their dog in some difficult sections of the stairs. Overall, it may be doable for some dogs, but we do not recommend it.

I have a knee injury, can I do the stairs hike? The hike up will probably be fine for you, but you may struggle walking back down to the village, as the path descends steeply through the forest. We suggest you do not do the hike.

Can I hike the Flørli Stairs in winter? We suggest you do not hike the stairs between november and march, as there most likely will be snow at the top. The stairs will be dangerously slippery and at the height of winter, there may be avalanche danger. Also, the descent may be icy. We maintain snow-updates on our website https://www.florli.no/florlihiking. Come back from the middle of april.

Can I hike the Flørli Stairs when it rains? The stairs are not particularly slippery when it rains, so you’ll be just fine.

Do you sell maps of the Flørli Stairs? Free hiking maps are available in the Flørli 4444 café during opening hours. You can also find them for download on https://www.florli.no/florlihiking.

What other hikes can I do in Flørli? In addition to the Stairs, you should experience the Flørli Cliffhike, up a steep crest with amazing views of the village and the fjord far below. It is considered one of the most spectacular hikes of our region. On a rainy day, try the Flørli Fosshike, up along the waterfall with a panorama over the gorge and the fjords. See pictures on https://www.florli.no/florlihiking.

How do I get to Kallaliklumpen? This rock formation offers an Instagrammable photopoint along the Flørli Cliffhike. It can be combined with a hike of the stairs, as there is a bifurcation to the Cliffhike near Flørlistølen. However, the Cliffhike is one-directional as it has a steep descent and we suggest you hike it from the village and up, as the hiking map indicates.

Can I hike from Kjerag to Flørli in one day? The hike from the Kjerag parking at Øygardstøl to Flørli is about 22 kilometres. Choosing the trail via Kjeragbolten adds 3 kilometres to the overall length. The path is rocky and boggy in places and leads through the beautiful, undulating highlands of the Frafjordheiane Landskapsvernområde. It is marked with cairns (stacked rocks) and red paint. Though the distance is not large, you’ll use about 8 hours for the hike excluding breaks. Hiking via Kjeragbolten will add an hour, totaling 9 hours. So unless you are used to hiking and above averagely fit, you should not attempt hiking from Kjerag to Flørli as a dayhike.

Can I hike from Flørli to Kjerag in one day? This is harder than hiking in the opposite direction from Kjerag to Flørli as you have to ascend the stairs. So no: for most people it is too far to hike from Flørli to the Kjerag parking at Øygardstøl in one day. You need to prepare for a night in the mountains, either in your own tent or in the Langavatn cabin by the Stavanger Turistforening.

Can I hike from Vinddalen parking via Skåpet and to Flørli in one day? Yes, it’s 12 kilometres and perfectly doable for fit hikers. It will take about 5 hours excluding breaks.

What clothes should I wear on a hike? If you’re up for a dayhike, it suffices with waterproof and sturdy shoes, some warm clothes, a windproof jacket and a hat. Check the weather forecast, you may need gloves as well. Remember the highlands are 5-8 degrees colder than down by the fjord and often windy.

What can I do in Flørli, if I do not want to hike the stairs? There are surprisingly many guests coming to Flørli that are not into hiking. They come here to enjoy the marvelous fjord-setting and visit the historic village. There’s a few short strolls through the village and onto the point Flørlineset from where you enjoy great views. Then there’s a free museum exhibition about the history of Flørli in the historic power station as well as a self-guided village history tour to be done. We also rent canoes and kayaks, offer a sauna and hottub by the fjord and you can enjoy the well tasting meals in the café.

Can I use Flørli as a base for visiting Preikestolen and Kjerag? Yes, but on weekdays only due to limitations in the ferry services on the fjord. You need to get up early to take the ferry and be back in time to catch the afternoon ferry back to Flørli. Read more here.

What accommodations are there in Flørli? Flørli 4444 offers private holiday homes as well as rooms in shared housing in the village Flørli. You’ll be accommodated on one of the houses in the historic village. In total, we have about 60 beds. Read more and book through https://www.florli.no/accommodation. Then there is the cabin of the Stavanger Turistforening called Flørli Turiststasjon at the top of the village. It offers 34 beds and a simpler standard. You can read more and book it through https://www.stf.no.

Where can I book accommodation in Flørli? Cheapest way to book a stay in Flørli 4444 is on our booking site https//www.beds24.com/book-florli. Alternatively, you can book a bed in the cabin of the Stavanger Turistforening on https://hyttebestilling.dnt.no/ – their offer is not part of our business.

When is check-in and check-out? Check-out is at 12:00, check-in at 14:00. If you’d like to check-in earlier, please ask the reception upon arrival. After checking out, you can leave luggage in the café.

Do I need to climb stairs or walk far to get to the accommodation? When you disembark from the ferry in Flørli, walk up to the reception in the Flørli café. It is in the big, white historic power station, 100 metres away. There we will explain you how to get to your house in the village and you’ll receive a free hiking map. All accommodation in Flørli is within a few hundred metres from the reception, and mostly requires some uphill walking on a gravelled path. Driving a car to the frontdoor is not possible. If you need help with large suitcases, we’d be happy to carry them for you.

Can I get a discount if I stay longer? Yes, we have value discounts for guests staying longer. Flørli has enough to offer for a three day stay or longer, read our suggestions here. Discounts are automatically calculated through our online booking system on https://www.beds24.com/book-florli. You can get an additional reduction by filing a vouchercode on the second page of your booking process. See if you’re eligible and collect a vouchercode on https://www.florli.no/accommodation (bottom of the page).

Can I stay in Flørli during winter / off season? Yes, we keep part of the accommodation open to host travellers seeking winter peace in the fjord. Read about it on https://www.fjordretreat.no.

Is there a camping in Flørli? There is a large flat meadow by the fjord for camping in Flørli. Camping facilities include toilets and shower, a camping kitchen, fridge, water point and fireplaces. Register and pay the camping fee in the café. Camping spots do not need to be prebooked as you can be assured there always is enough space. Just show up! Read more about camping.

Can I bring my camping car, van or caravan to Flørli? No, Flørli has camping for tents only. We suggest you come to Flørli without your vehicle and book a room or a ready-pitched tent from us.

What are your budget accommodation options? Our rooms are good value, and you can keep costs low if you bring your own bed linen and towels, which are an upsell service to our guests. Also consider renting a tent from us: you get the prime fjordview from the camping on a shoestring! Read about camping and renting a tent.

Do you have rooms with a private bathroom? Private bathrooms are available when renting one of our  apartments, see an example here. All other room types are based on shared bathrooms.

What are the facilities in the rooms and houses? All rooms and houses in Flørli are unique with different facilities. You should read the description of the rooms as they go forth on https://www.florli.no/accommodation. When in doubt, send us a message.

Is there WIFI available? Free wifi is available in the Power Café and outdoor areas by the fjord. Our apartments and rooms have no internet.

Is breakfast included in the price? Breakfast is an upsell that you can order when booking your accommodation through our site https://www.beds24.com/book-florli. It is delivered as a picknick basket the evening before. It contains homemade bread, a choice of sliced meat and cheese, some homemade spreads, a juice, an apple, coffee as well as a sweet-bite. You can order breakfast for children at a nice price. It contains much of the same as the breakfast for adults, but in lesser quantity. A lunch-extension can also be booked, with extra content and packaging for making your own lunch pack. Read more.

Are rooms lockable? Flørli is a safe place and rooms and houses are therefore unlocked. Rooms: you will generally not be able to lock your room, though a few are lockable. Apartments can be locked from the inside at night. If you are concerned about valuables, keep them on you or give them to the reception. If you appreciate a key, please let us know.

Are pets allowed? Pets are allowed in the rental apartments and some, but not all rooms. This goes forth from the room descriptions. Please contact us prior to booking when in doubt.

Do you have housing suitable for a baby or young children? Yes, in the apartments and some, but not all of the rooms. Babies and children under 6 years of age can not be booked into shared accommodation like the rooms in our historic hostel. Read the rooms’ description before booking. A babybed can be borrowed, ask at the reception.

Is the accommodation close by the fjord? Yes, all rooms and houses are within a few hundred metres from the fjord. All offer great views of the fjord and/or the surrounding mountains.

Can elderly people and people in a wheelchair stay in Flørli? Guests of limited moveability may struggle accessing the accommodation, which in most cases is a little up from the fjord. Contact us to discuss your particular needs.

How are the toilet and shower facilities in Flørli? All rooms and houses have access to a clean and lockable toilet and shower. If you want a private bathroom for you and yours, you should book an apartment. All our other roomtypes are based on shared bathroom facilities. Capacity is good and there is only rarely queuing in front of toilets.

What types of food do you serve in the café? We serve a variety of norwegian and continental dishes at affordable prices. You can choose starters, main courses and/or desserts. We also serve snacks, cakes and the like. The menu is available for download on https://www.florli.no/cafe.

When is the café open? It’s open all weekends in the summer and all days in the main holiday season. In the shoulder season, we open for accommodation guests and groups on demand. On most days, meals are served between 12-19hrs. See opening hours.

Do I need to reserve a table? Just show up! There’s many tables, both inside and on the outside terrace. Busiest hours of the day are between 14-15hrs and 18-19hrs. We ask groups to let us know that they’re coming so we’re prepared.

Do you offer fine dining? We serve tasty meals in an informal setting. You can order two- and three-courses and we have a good choice of accompanying drinks. We call ourselves a café, not a restaurant, as there is no waiting at the tables.

What are the café’s prices? Our food and drinks are intermediately priced. Meals prices can be seen on the menu downloadable on https://www.florli.no/cafe. Foreigners will often find alcohol costly in Norway, whereas other drinks are considerably cheaper. 

Is there a grocery store in Flørli? The Flørli café also sells a basic selection of groceries in case you want to cook yourselves or prepare for a hike. You should do your main shopping before coming to Flørli though, as choice and availability may be limited.

Is there a pub in Flørli? There is no pub in Flørli, but the café offers a good choice of drinks and has some cosy sofa corners as well as a terrace by the fjord.

Do you have meals for guests with dietary preferences and requirements? Yes, if it’s not on the menu, we’ll do our best to make you a tasty meal that fits you. Just let us know!

Do you have kids meals? We have a child-friendly version of most meals, at smaller prices. We are happy to adapt to your preferences if you talk to the cook about what you want.

What are your dining offers for groups? We have extensive experience serving groups, both à la carte and as buffets. Read more about our group offers on https://www.florli.no/events.