Discover Talvik

As a destination, Talvik brings together the history of Talvik Church with the trails and activities at Småvannet. If you are looking for a hotel for a stay in Talvik, these two themes can help you weigh your interests when planning your trip: cultural history or seasonal outdoor activities.

Talvik Church: Building history and furnishings

The present-day Talvik Church was consecrated and put into use on 17 October 1883. Before its centenary in 1983, the church interior was restored under the supervision of the Directorate for Cultural Heritage (Riksantikvaren). The older history of the church also includes the church on Årøya: it was dismantled and transported across the fjord to Talvik, where it was ready for use in 1705.

The old furnishings of Talvik Church include items from Sørvær Church, Årøya Church and the older churches in Talvik. These include a 16th-century baptismal font, which originally came from Sørvær Church and is deposited at the Alta Museum. The building history and provenance of the furnishings show different stages in the local church tradition, without equating the present-day church with the former church on Årøya.

Småvannet: Trails and seasons

Småvannet in Talvik is a hiking area with a gravel road leading to the water. Facilities in the area include a shelter, a fire pit, a floating jetty, benches and a toilet. Alongside the trails, these provide practical options for spending time by the lake.

Activities vary by season: in winter, a prepared ski trail leads to Småvannet. Numerous trim-kasse routes start there in both summer and winter. A snowmobile route crosses the lake and continues into the mountains. This lets you distinguish between activities described for both seasons and the ski trail, which is specifically for winter.

More to explore in the wider Alta destination

The wider Alta destination also has cultural attractions in their own right. The Northern Lights Cathedral–Alta Church is in the centre of Alta at the end of a pedestrian street and was consecrated on 10 February 2013. The permanent exhibitions at the Alta Museum cover the rock art of Alta, pre-Christian Sámi religion, the Northern Lights and sport fishing in the Alta River.

Hjemmeluft is the largest of Alta's World Heritage sites. The rock surfaces on both sides of the bay feature more than 3,000 rock carvings, and a three-kilometre trail system connects the different sites. In summer, the Alta Museum offers Stone Age activities for all ages, including archery, stone grinding and making rubbings of rock carvings.

Alta also offers the marked Byløypa trail for hiking and winter sports enthusiasts. It runs from Tverrelvdalen and Kaiskuru in the east, via Sandfallet and Komsa in the centre, to Skoddevarre and Øytun in the west. In summer, the route is used for hiking and cycling; in winter, it is groomed for cross-country skiing. This seasonal use differs from the ski trail at Småvannet and adds further options in the wider Alta destination to Talvik's local attractions.

For the wider travel overview: Alta.