Vik: Stave Church, Hiking and Fjord Views

In Vik, medieval churches meet hiking trails with views over the Sognefjord. Hopperstad Stave Church dates from around 1130; Hove Stone Church has been dated to around 1170 and is one of Norway’s oldest stone churches. Together, they give the village a distinctive cultural and historical focus—and a practical way to experience different periods of architecture and church styles on one trip.

Discover the stave church and stone church

Hopperstad Stave Church preserves the original narrow opening to the chancel. This architectural detail adds insight into the design of the church interior to its great age. At Hove Stone Church, by contrast, the focus is on the early date of a stone church building. The two visits therefore offer different points of interest: a preserved detail of the stave church here, and one of the country’s oldest stone churches there.

Groups visiting Hopperstad Stave Church are required to book in advance. If you would like to combine the churches with other stops, the cultural heritage walk in Vik starts in Vikøyri and includes Hopperstad Stave Church, the Moahaugane burial mounds and Hove Stone Church, among other sites. This brings architecture and burial mounds together in a shared cultural setting, while allowing each stop to retain its own character.

A cultural heritage walk with local specialties

The walk includes a tasting of Gamalost cheese and raspberry juice. Both products are Vik specialties; the roots of Gamalost date back to the Viking Age. This experience combines local flavors with the historic sites along the route. Before booking, check whether the walk is offered during your travel dates.

Even apart from the walk, local specialties offer a distinct way to experience Vik: raspberry juice and Gamalost are products associated with the village. Gamalost has a long tradition, while raspberry juice adds another local specialty. When planning your days in Vik, you can combine the cultural walk with an interest in local specialties, rather than viewing the stops only as individual attractions.

Hiking on Vikafjellet and in Stølsheimen

Vik offers easy access to Vikafjellet. Hiking trails starting on Vikafjellet are often almost level and offer panoramic views over the Sognefjord. The Stølsheimen protected landscape has both short and long hikes. If you have a particular route in mind, choose a starting point and route that suit your plans for the day.

Finnafjord is part of Stølsheimen National Park. The Stølsheimen protected landscape and the national park are separate protected areas. The natural surroundings around Vik therefore offer several different experiences: easy access to Vikafjellet and the protected landscape, hikes of varying lengths in Stølsheimen, and the protected scenery of Finnafjord.

Arnafjord is a small hamlet in the municipality of Vik, set in a distinctive natural landscape. It offers another perspective on the municipality’s scenery, without needing to be considered part of the hiking areas on Vikafjellet.

Getting to Vik and finding your way around

The road over Vikafjellet connects Vik with Oslo, Bergen, Hardanger and inner Sogn. Road conditions vary by season, so take this into account when planning your drive. To find your way around the village, visit the tourist information office at the Kristianhus Boat and Motor Museum in central Vik.

If you are looking for a hotel in Vik, the focus of your stay can guide your plans: cultural heritage walks and churches on the one hand, and trails on Vikafjellet and hikes in Stølsheimen on the other. This lets you choose your destination based on the experiences in Vik that interest you most.

Discover more destinations: Vik, Arnafjord, Feios, Fresvik, Vangsnes, Viksøyri, Vågsøy, Aurland.

Back to the main travel overview: Sogn Og Fjordane.