Norway is home to some of the world's most dramatic landscapes, but two viewpoints stand above all others — quite literally. Trolltunga (the Troll's Tongue) and Preikestolen (the Pulpit Rock) are bucket-list destinations for hikers and photographers alike. Both offer jaw-dropping views and unforgettable images, but they offer very different experiences. If you're planning a trip to Norway — and dreaming of bringing home a piece of that magic — this guide will help you decide which hike suits you best, and how to capture the perfect shot.
Trolltunga: Norway's Most Dramatic Rock Shelf
Jutting out horizontally over Lake Ringedalsvatnet, 700 metres above the water, Trolltunga is one of Norway's most photographed natural features. The name translates to "Troll's Tongue" — and once you stand on the edge, you'll understand why it earned its mythical title.
The hike is serious: around 27 kilometres return with 800 metres of elevation gain. Most hikers take 10–12 hours. It's only accessible in summer (typically late June to early October), as the mountain terrain becomes dangerous with snow and ice outside this window.
Best time to photograph Trolltunga: The golden hour is magical here — arrive early in the morning to beat the crowds that build up from mid-morning onward. On a clear day, the mirror-like surface of the lake below creates extraordinary reflection shots. Overcast skies add drama and mood, giving images a painterly quality that makes them perfect as canvas prints for the home.
The view from Trolltunga captures everything that defines Norwegian nature photography: raw cliffs, still water, vast sky, and a sense of solitude that's increasingly rare in our connected world. It's no surprise that images taken here have become some of the most sought-after Norway landscape prints for interior decoration.
Preikestolen: Accessible Grandeur Above Lysefjord
If Trolltunga is Norway's wild card, Preikestolen is its star player. Towering 604 metres above Lysefjord in Rogaland county, the flat-topped cliff forms a near-perfect rectangle of ancient rock — a natural platform that seems almost engineered for photography.
The hike is shorter and more accessible than Trolltunga: about 8 kilometres return, with 350 metres of elevation gain. Most people complete it in 3–4 hours. The trail is open year-round, though the most spectacular conditions come in spring, summer, and autumn.
Best time to photograph Preikestolen: Sunrise is the golden window — arrive at the trailhead before 5am in summer to reach the top for first light. The fjord below glows in shades of copper and rose, while mist often drifts through the valley in the early hours. At sunset, the rock face turns a deep amber that photographs beautifully. Images from Preikestolen translate exceptionally well into Norwegian nature photography wall art — the strong geometric lines of the cliff contrast powerfully with the organic shapes of the fjord below.
Trolltunga vs Preikestolen: Side-by-Side Comparison
Choosing between the two depends on your fitness level, time available, and the kind of shot you're after. Here's a quick breakdown:
- Distance: Trolltunga ~27km return vs Preikestolen ~8km return
- Elevation gain: Trolltunga ~800m vs Preikestolen ~350m
- Difficulty: Trolltunga (hard) vs Preikestolen (moderate)
- Season: Trolltunga summer only vs Preikestolen year-round
- Crowds: Both busy in peak summer — early starts are essential
- Photography style: Trolltunga suits lone-figure dramatic shots; Preikestolen suits wide fjord panoramas
If you can only do one, and you're a confident hiker, Trolltunga's iconic silhouette makes for photos you'll want to display. If time or fitness is a concern, Preikestolen delivers equal visual impact with far less effort.
Photography Tips for Both Hikes
Whether you're shooting on a DSLR, mirrorless, or smartphone, a few techniques will dramatically improve your results at both locations:
1. Go wide, then go tight. Start with a wide-angle lens to capture the full scale of the landscape — the cliffs, the fjord, the sky. Then switch to a longer focal length to isolate details: the texture of ancient rock, a lone hiker silhouetted against the horizon, the shimmer of water far below.
2. Use a person for scale. These landscapes are so enormous that without a human figure for reference, photographs can lose their sense of drama. Ask a fellow hiker to stand at the edge of Trolltunga or at the tip of Preikestolen — the resulting image tells a far more powerful story.
3. Shoot in RAW. The dynamic range between bright sky and dark cliff faces is extreme. RAW files give you the flexibility to recover highlights and shadows in post-processing — essential for getting the most out of these high-contrast scenes.
4. Plan for weather. Norway's weather is famously unpredictable. Moody clouds, sudden fog, and light rain can actually improve your images by adding atmosphere and reducing harsh shadows. Some of the most dramatic Norwegian nature photography prints were captured in imperfect conditions.
Beyond the Hikes: Western Norway's Photography Landscape
The region around Trolltunga and Preikestolen is packed with additional photography opportunities. The town of Odda, near Trolltunga, sits at the head of Sørfjord and offers reflections and mountain views at virtually every turn. Near Preikestolen, Lysefjord stretches 42 kilometres inland — a boat trip along its length reveals waterfalls, mountain farms, and rock formations that never make it onto the tourist trail.
For photographers interested in wall art with a personal touch, western Norway's combination of fjords, mountains, and traditional architecture offers an endlessly varied palette. The wooden boathouses of Flåm, the cascading Låtefossen waterfall, the mountain plateau of Hardangervidda — each deserves its own dedicated visit.
Bringing Norway Home: Wall Art That Captures the Spirit
Not everyone can make the trek to Trolltunga or stand at the edge of Preikestolen — but everyone can bring the feeling of Norway's landscapes into their home. High-quality canvas prints of Norwegian fjords and mountain scenery transform living spaces, bringing a sense of calm, scale, and natural grandeur that few other art forms achieve.
At NidarosPhoto, our photographs are taken by a local Norwegian photographer who has hiked these trails, waited for the light, and returned again and again until the conditions were perfect. Each image is available as a canvas print, aluminum print, acrylic print, or poster — with free shipping across Europe. Whether you're after the iconic silhouette of Trolltunga against a midnight-blue sky, or the sweeping panorama of Lysefjord from Preikestolen's edge, you'll find images that do justice to these extraordinary places.
Looking for something a little further north? Our collection also includes Northern Lights prints from Troms and Finnmark — the perfect complement to any fjord landscape on your walls.
Planning Your Visit
Getting to Trolltunga: Fly to Bergen, then take a bus or drive to Odda (about 3 hours). The trailhead is at Skjeggedal — arrive by 6am in peak season to avoid the worst of the crowds.
Getting to Preikestolen: Fly to Stavanger, then take the ferry to Tau and drive to the Preikestolen Mountain Lodge trailhead (about 1.5 hours total). The first ferry leaves Stavanger at 5:30am in summer.
Both hikes reward those who start early. Bring layers, solid footwear, plenty of water, and — above all — a camera with a charged battery. Norway has a way of presenting you with the shot of a lifetime when you least expect it.
Whether you make the journey in person or bring Norway's landscapes home through wall art, the fjords, cliffs, and mountains of western Norway are waiting to inspire you.
