Hopperstad Stave Church
Hopperstad Stave Church
4.7
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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Karen55115
Twin Cities, MN165 contributions
May 2024 • Couples
Very friendly staff and/or volunteers who could answer all my questions, and happy to have been able to see the exterior and interior of the church. However, when the ticket sales window opened at 10 am all of us who had waited in the church yard were told there would be no tickets sold until 10:30 am, since there were large groups coming at 10 am (cruise ship in harbor.) This was on May 22, not the busy time of summer. Good news is that when we returned at 10:30 am we could buy tickets. I asked about the large group and staff said the bus never arrived and hadn’t called the staff to tell them. Tips for arriving by ferry at 8:10 am: in mid-May there were no restaurants or cafes open before 10 am. You can drop in to the Biix Hotel for breakfast and purchase the breakfast buffet and coffee if you would like. We took a stroll across the stream and up the hill (across from the stave church) until 10:30 and bought tickets, completed a tour, and were back at the ferry dock in plenty of time for the 11:35 am ferry ride to Balestrand.
Written May 22, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Karl P
21 contributions
Aug 2024 • Couples
This is a stunning and beautiful church (at least from the outside). We took the evening ferry from Balestrand to Vik to see this church, and it was difficult to fill the three hours until the ferry home. We walked the Vik cultural trail along to the river to the nearby stone church. This walk is pretty, but there’s not much else to do in Vik. The galleries and the one shop all closed at 3pm, and there is only one restaurant in town. The stave church is an awesome stop, but I probably wouldn’t make a ferry trip out of it again.
Written August 29, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lev740
Sacramento, CA105 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
On August 1, 2023 our Azamara cruise while visiting multiple Norwegian fjords, stopped in Vik. It was first stop where tenders were deployed to bring passengers on shore. We had plenty organized excursions prior to stopping for Vik I Sogn, so we used this stop for hiking and exploration of this small town and visiting couple historic Churches. It took about 30 minutes to reach the Hopperstad Stave Church, dated back to around 1130, and later continued walking to the new church which was built in 1877.
The entrance fee for the Hoppestad Stave Church was about $8 for seniors. Unfortunately, they ran out of English brochures and there were no other sources of information available at the site.
As a side general note, we were pleasantly surprised with availability of well marketed restrooms at lending for each port. There was also easily identifiable availability of WiFi.
Going back to the church visit. There was absolutely no availability of restrooms anywhere close enough and one should prepare yourself to hold one for the return back to the tender landing.
Good Travels
The entrance fee for the Hoppestad Stave Church was about $8 for seniors. Unfortunately, they ran out of English brochures and there were no other sources of information available at the site.
As a side general note, we were pleasantly surprised with availability of well marketed restrooms at lending for each port. There was also easily identifiable availability of WiFi.
Going back to the church visit. There was absolutely no availability of restrooms anywhere close enough and one should prepare yourself to hold one for the return back to the tender landing.
Good Travels
Written September 4, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
William S
Clinton, NJ398 contributions
Aug 2022
We left Balestrand early for our drive to Bergen, and it was an easy detour to see this well preserved stave church. Because we were there early, we had the church to ourselves. There was no tour or lecture on the church, so we learned about it from brochures and a book we had. We particularly enjoyed this stave church because we didn't encounter large tourist groups here compared to other such sites. It is an easy 30-60 stop.
Written January 16, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Karen B
London, UK31 contributions
Jul 2022
Travelling from Flam to Balestrand, this stave church was recommended as a worthwhile place to visit. We are very glad we did. Coming from the UK, we had no previous knowledge of stave churches. Constructed entirely of wood, many, if not all of the staves were of the original 12th century wood. Ox blood was once used in the preservation of the external surface but we were pleased to see that they now use tar. Worth hanging around to hear the guide’s talk.
Written July 8, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
skipitgood
Roswell, GA507 contributions
Jun 2013 • Couples
I knew when we visited Norway that we had to see at least one stave church. We saw the one in Oslo in the open-air museum, but it just wasn't the same. I was excited when I realized the Hopperstad Stave Church was an easy day trip from Balestrand.
The church is about a 10-15 min walk from the water, though we could afford to be leisurely since the boat arrived at 8:15 and the church opened at 9. We got there right at opening time, and in fact the guy manning the desk handed my husband the huge key to open the door! Kind of cool to be unlocking the door to a 900-year-old church.
The guide was extremely knowledgeable and gave us a very in-depth tour. He also spoke perfect English! Unfortunately I didn't catch his name. I know it can be a little expensive to pay to get into all of these different attractions in Norway, but it was worth it for the tour he gave us. Even if you don't go into the church (which you really should), the church is beautiful from the outside, in just about the most evocative setting you can imagine. It's not hard to picture everyone coming in from the farms to worship.
If you have time (which you will if you take the boat from Balestrand), it's worth walking around the rest of Vik. It feels much more like an actual town where people live and work, as opposed to Balestrand (I still can't figure out what they do for a living there). You also get great views of the fjord if you walk farther up into the town.
* If you like this review, I hope you'll click the 'helpful' button; those of us who write reviews live for helpful votes and it motivates us to do more :) *
The church is about a 10-15 min walk from the water, though we could afford to be leisurely since the boat arrived at 8:15 and the church opened at 9. We got there right at opening time, and in fact the guy manning the desk handed my husband the huge key to open the door! Kind of cool to be unlocking the door to a 900-year-old church.
The guide was extremely knowledgeable and gave us a very in-depth tour. He also spoke perfect English! Unfortunately I didn't catch his name. I know it can be a little expensive to pay to get into all of these different attractions in Norway, but it was worth it for the tour he gave us. Even if you don't go into the church (which you really should), the church is beautiful from the outside, in just about the most evocative setting you can imagine. It's not hard to picture everyone coming in from the farms to worship.
If you have time (which you will if you take the boat from Balestrand), it's worth walking around the rest of Vik. It feels much more like an actual town where people live and work, as opposed to Balestrand (I still can't figure out what they do for a living there). You also get great views of the fjord if you walk farther up into the town.
* If you like this review, I hope you'll click the 'helpful' button; those of us who write reviews live for helpful votes and it motivates us to do more :) *
Written August 6, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joshua J
Greenville, SC69 contributions
Jun 2013 • Friends
We took the express boat from Balestrand (about 25 minutes). The church is a 5-10 minute walk from the dock through the town, past sheep farms and schools - well marked. It is sufficient for some to just take pictures of the exterior - very beautiful surrounding scenery, but if you can go inside go for it. The curator is very knowledgeable and will give a 20 minute history/tour which is very interesting. You will have plenty of time to catch the express boat out.
Written June 18, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mike S
Findlay, Ohio, United States22 contributions
Jun 2013 • Friends
This is a wonderfully preserved stave church in a beautiful setting. We were fortunate enough to get there for a tour provided by a young man who spoke excellent English and who had many fascinating stories to tell about different features of the church and the people who were part of its history. While we were there a number of people showed up and were not willing to pay the small tour fee of 50 NOK.. They missed many great stories. Do not pass this up. It was an unexpected highlight of our entire trip!
Written June 29, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andebyen D
Oslo, Norway140 contributions
Aug 2018 • Friends
As a Norwegian I’ve seen some Stave Churches and this is a really good one!
The architecture is of it’s time, when they still built in dragon heads and unique imagery, just in case the old Gods were still around and got mad.
The style it’s built in is unique and specific to Norway, you won’t see it any other place (except for replicas of course).
I was told that this one dates back to 1130, although a dendrologic analysis from 1997 has dated it to be from between 1034 and 1116. They’ve stayed with 1130 because the findings were too broad I guess.
There’s (as always in churches from this time period and on to a point) a “weapon room”, where people had to put their weapons while they were inside the church.
It’s important to remember that “Blodhevn” directly translated: “blood vengeance” (where you’d avenge someone by killing the killer or someone close to him, basically) was still very much a thing.
Anyways, there is a beautiful Ciborium inside dedicated to the Virgin Mary that is a must see.
The interior is just as impressive as the exterior with it’s unusual traits.
The church blends in perfectly with the nature around it, doesn’t feel out of place at all, quite the opposite.
The stunning scenery alone is worth taking a detour, if you’re not originally headed down there.
If, on the other hand, you are headed to Vikøyri or the ferry from Vangsnes, or further along the road: this is a real must see!
You don’t have to be religious in any capacity to appreciate it’s beauty. The same goes for people with other religious beliefs.
So, most of the church is from around 1100 (officially 1130), with some sections added in the 1600’s.
The style of it is iconic and quintessentially Norwegian, not to mention marvelous to behold.
If you get the chance I highly recommend that you stop by.
There is an admission fee, but if you don’t feel like paying for that, you can get a good view of the outside, pretty close too, without paying anything.
The architecture is of it’s time, when they still built in dragon heads and unique imagery, just in case the old Gods were still around and got mad.
The style it’s built in is unique and specific to Norway, you won’t see it any other place (except for replicas of course).
I was told that this one dates back to 1130, although a dendrologic analysis from 1997 has dated it to be from between 1034 and 1116. They’ve stayed with 1130 because the findings were too broad I guess.
There’s (as always in churches from this time period and on to a point) a “weapon room”, where people had to put their weapons while they were inside the church.
It’s important to remember that “Blodhevn” directly translated: “blood vengeance” (where you’d avenge someone by killing the killer or someone close to him, basically) was still very much a thing.
Anyways, there is a beautiful Ciborium inside dedicated to the Virgin Mary that is a must see.
The interior is just as impressive as the exterior with it’s unusual traits.
The church blends in perfectly with the nature around it, doesn’t feel out of place at all, quite the opposite.
The stunning scenery alone is worth taking a detour, if you’re not originally headed down there.
If, on the other hand, you are headed to Vikøyri or the ferry from Vangsnes, or further along the road: this is a real must see!
You don’t have to be religious in any capacity to appreciate it’s beauty. The same goes for people with other religious beliefs.
So, most of the church is from around 1100 (officially 1130), with some sections added in the 1600’s.
The style of it is iconic and quintessentially Norwegian, not to mention marvelous to behold.
If you get the chance I highly recommend that you stop by.
There is an admission fee, but if you don’t feel like paying for that, you can get a good view of the outside, pretty close too, without paying anything.
Written August 5, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jeff B
Garden City, NY43 contributions
Aug 2016 • Family
We hopped on an early morning ferry from Balestrand (left at 7:50 am). 15 minutes later we were in Vik. After an easy 20 minute walk that took us though a pleasant town and some farmland, we came to the Hopperstad Stave Church. The church is so unique-the handful of Norwegian stave churches are unlike anything that you'll see in the rest of Europe. The exterior is nothing short of majestic. The setting is peaceful. 20-30 minutes is plenty of time to visit. You have plenty of time to walk back to the harbor, stop for a coffee, or check out a few of the charming shops in the village, before catching the ferry back to Balestrand for lunch.
If you're staying in Balestrand, or you're in the area, it doesn't take much of an effort to get here. It really is worth it.
If you're staying in Balestrand, or you're in the area, it doesn't take much of an effort to get here. It really is worth it.
Written August 23, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LiveSuperlatively
Galveston, Texas
How difficult is the walk from the ferry dock? I am travelling with my (80-yr-old) mom from the Kviknes in Balestrand.... the distance is fine, but I'm curious about the conditions.... dirt road or paved? Uphill? Are taxis available? Any insight would be appreciated! TIA
Written April 3, 2018
The walk from the ferry to the church is not trivial. It's a good twenty minute walk uphill (though not steep, and scenic). The way is paved. I don't know about taxis, though.
Written June 12, 2018
When did you visit Hopperstad Stave Church? We want to visit in May and be sure it is open. Thanks!
Written March 25, 2018
We would like to visit this church April 29, 2018 taking the ferry from Balestrom. Will the church be open on that date and what are the hours?
Written November 30, 2017
If doing the visit to the Hopperstad on the early ferry (0750 from Balestrand) is there any place at the port in Vik to leave a suitcase, or would I just have to take it with me on my visit to the church?
Written April 9, 2016
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