A Guide to Gamvik (and Slettnes), My Favorite Spot on Nordkyn

I love an end-of-summer road trip to Northern Norway and this year I was pretty set on revisiting national parks around Bodø for ten days. I took my time planning, which could only mean one thing… I was going to change my mind.

And that I did. I looked at the map on my phone and glanced at the few areas of Norway’s far north that I hadn’t yet driven to. That left Havøysund, the Sværholt Peninsula, and the Nordkyn Peninsula (Nordkinn). I decided to visit them all, with an additional two nights on Magerøya.

I had previously looked at visiting Nordkyn enough to know a little about it. And there was one place in particular that always caught my eye: the village of Gamvik. Gamvik was at the end of the road at the very top of the peninsula. It was known for Slettnes Fyr (a historical lighthouse) and the surrounding nature reserve that is teeming with bird-life during the summer.

What I didn’t expect was just how much I would love the place. So much so that I extended my trip so I could stay there longer.

I knew I was probably missing the birds since I was arriving at the very end of August (and yes, they had left), but I figured I could lounge around, enjoy the nature reserve and some easy hikes, and wait for some decent weather since the rain had been incessant throughout my trip.

Gamvik was PERFECT for this. The village only has around 200 residents but a fair number of things to do that it warrants an overnight. I met quite a few other travelers there. Most were coming by campervan, but also a few cyclists. A few thousand people come by each summer, but for the most part, this is an area of Norway that is very underexplored.

In this guide, I will share everything I did during my stay in Gamvik, including the restaurant I ate at and where I stayed. If you have any questions, please let me know in the comments.

About Gamvik, Norway

Gamvik is a fishing village of around 200 people that is situated at the very top of the Nordkyn Peninsula. The town’s main industry is fishing and the majority of residents work at Gamvik Seafood AS, which was only founded in 2010 by two Icelandic men. Despite the village’s few residents, they are fairly multinational as several people have moved up from the Baltic states to keep the community afloat.

The small fishing village sits at the end of the road on the Nordkyn Peninsula and faces east into the Barents Sea. The area is windswept, treeless, and looks like a tundra. It is still classified as a maritime tundra, but with climate change’s effect on Norway, it is more subarctic than anything else these days.

Gamvik is the home of Slettnes Fyr, the northernmost mainland lighthouse in the world. It also has a lot of WWII history, the Slettnes Nature Reserve, the Gamvik Museum, and more.

Map of Gamvik (and Nordkyn)

I have put together a little map that will help you find everything in Gamvik, including helpful places for the road trip up there. A lot of these stops and convoys will be discussed later in the guide.

Things to Do in Gamvik & Slettnes

For a tiny village that is pretty removed from other places, there is a bit to do in and around Gamvik!

Gamvik Museum

I am not a museum lover, but I do love one that is located in a historic building and focuses on telling the story of a place. Added bonus if there are some taxidermied local animals inside (trust me… it’s a Northern Norway thing).

The Gamvik Museum is located in an old fish factory at the entrance of the village, right on the water. The building was reconstructed after WWII and the museum moved in in 1998. Inside, you can learn all about the village, from its earliest settlers (around 13,000 years ago!) to the local witch trials at Omgang (present-day Gamvik). There is also a lot of information about the Pomor Trade and World War II.

Outside the museum is a drying flake that stands as a monument to the village’s historical stockfish production and is the last full-sized ‘hjell’ on Nordkyn. There is also a large shuttleboat outside called the ‘Pramma’, one of two preserved (the other is in Berlevåg). These were used to shuttle passengers from the Hurtigruten to the village since Gamvik had no docking capabilities for the large coastal steamer.

Also inside is Bøkkerbua Kafe, which is mainly used for events during the summer. It was not open when I was there, but I was able to grab a nice coffee and food at Slettnes Fyr, so I wasn’t too stressed about it.

The museum is open Monday to Friday from 10am until 4pm. It is closed on Saturdays and Sundays except during some weekends in summer. If you want to visit outside of the opening hours, you can call +47 90654846 to see if you can get them to let you in.

Tickets are 60 NOK for adults (about $6), 40 NOK for groups of 10 or more, 50 NOK for students and seniors, and free for kids under 18. You can see their official website here.

Slettnes Fyr (& Cafe)

This is probably the reason most visitors find themselves in Gamvik. Slettnes Fyr is the world’s northernmost mainland lighthouse station (that is accessible), and is a must-visit! Slettnes Fyr is actually 3.5 kilometers (2.1 miles) north of Gamvik. It was built in the early 20th century and went into operation in 1905.

Like much of Finnmark, it was destroyed in 1944 but was quickly rebuilt from 1945 until 1948. The 39-meter-tall structure (128 feet) remained manned until 2005. But you can actually visit and climb the 139 steps to the top to get a view out over the unruly Barents Sea. You can also stay overnight at the lighthouse station in separate accommodation (it is not inside the lighthouse itself).

Slettnes Fyr is open daily during the summer months from 12pm until 8pm. If you want to visit the lighthouse and climb to the top of it, it is 60 NOK ($6). You will need to pay on-site and grab the key from the staff. As mentioned above, you can also purchase a combo ticket with the museum, which is 100 NOK.

There are a couple of well-maintained rooms at the historic property that you can book from the beginning of May until the end of October. No rooms were available when I visited and when one opened up, I didn’t feel like relocating from my accommodation at Brakkebo over there, so I will be booking ahead of time on my next trip!

Another plus of visiting Slettnes Fyr is that they have a restaurant and cafe open during the summer. I had some fish soup out there (was 225 NOK, or $25) for a bowl with some bread. It was very tasty. They also have a lot of baked goods and a rotating menu of Norwegian and international dishes.

Slettnes Nature Reserve

The area around the lighthouse is Slettnes Nature Reserve, one of the most important bird breeding grounds in Norway. You can find Arctic skua, Turnstones, Arctic terns, and Common gulls around here. It is also home to wetland birds like Pintails and Black-throated divers… as well as eider ducks along the shore.

There are a lot of hiking trails throughout the reserve and you must stay on them during the breeding season from May to July. There are also some bird-watching huts around if you’re into viewing them at a slower pace. Please leave the drones at home if you’re visiting outside of winter.

When I was there, most of the birds had departed, aside from some gulls. And… there were cloudberries and crowberries even though it seemed to be at the end of the season. It made for a delicious snack during the three times I visited the reserve.

At Slettnes Nature Reserve, you can head straight down to the water and I highly recommend doing so as it is a beautiful color if the sea is calm! It is also encouraged to bring back some trash with you if you see some (which you absolutely will). To learn more about the hiking trails at Slettnes Fyr and all of Nordkyn, you can check out Perletur’s website.

Standhaftige Folk (Steadfast People Exhibition)

Another popular spot to visit, or see from afar, in Gamvik is the Standhaftige Folk, or Steadfast People. This is an outdoor exhibition created by Reijo Kelo at Elvegård, which is on the way from Gamvik to Slettnes (it’ll be on your right-hand side). The exhibit is a little eerie but unique and a must-see.

There are 130+ people standing on a farm trying to withstand the harsh winters of Gamvik. If they don’t ‘make it’ through the winter, they are again placed upright in spring. Each person represents someone in the community (even though there are more residents than what is depicted here). This opened in 2023.

Flinta (a Sauna by the Sea)

If you’re a sauna-goer, you can check out the village’s sauna by the sea, Flinta. It is located close to the harbor just past Gamvik Seafood.

I don’t have pricing for this, but if you’re interested, you can call +47 48161499 to book a session.

Kystbatteri Gamvik

Another place you can visit in Gamvik is the Coastal Fort (kystfort or batteri). The battery was built in 1942 in collaboration with the one in Berlevåg to defend the entrance to Tanafjord.

Most of it is in ruins now, but I did see it as I was driving, although I didn’t spend too much time there. You can learn more here.

How to Get to Gamvik and Slettnes

I am going to break this next section into spring/summer/autumn and winter. Mostly because the road to Gamvik closes during the winter months, so there is additional information for reaching the village then.

Getting to Gamvik in Spring, Summer, and Autumn

Reaching Gamvik is pretty easy, but it is definitely a lot of driving. To get there, you will need to enter the Nordkyn Peninsula at Ifjord.

You’ll go through Lebesby, where there is an old school cafe at a gas station and grocery store (stop for a coffee and waffle!) before making your way up to the top of Nordkyn on the Nordkynvegen (name of the road that takes you up north).

This area is high elevation and you will drive through never-ending fields of boulders. It is really hard to explain it. It is kind of hard to wrap your head around. Anyway, you’ll come down from that and go up to another pass before reaching Mehamn. This area is teeming with reindeer so be alert. I have never seen reindeer in such large numbers.

Once in Mehamn, you will need to turn right on the Fv263 at the sign that says ‘Gamvik’. You will take this the rest of the way there. It is pretty easy driving, but it will take you through some higher passes. The road was in good condition.

I can’t tell you exactly how long this will take since I stop every 5 minutes and I imagine you’ll probably do the same! From Mehamn to Gamvik, however, it is around 20 km (about 12.5 miles). It will take about 30 minutes.

Getting to Gamvik in Winter (Kolonnekjøring Info for 888)

Getting to Gamvik in winter presents more challenges. You will need to drive from Ifjord all the way up the Peninsula and during this time, you may end up driving on some closed roads with convoys (kolonnekjøring in Norwegian). This will take a better part of the day. Keep in mind that convoys only happen if the road is closed to weather (it is not always closed). You can check at Vegvesen.

There is a convoy on the Fv98 from Suorsjohka to Ifjord, but I assume most people will not be coming this way unless coming from Børselv or North Cape. So I will start in Ifjord and walk you through the convoys to get to Gamvik.

Convoy 1: Bekkarfjord to Mehamn

Once in Ifjord, you will drive north until you reach the first convoy in Bekkarfjord. If you’re heading straight north to Mehamn, you will stay with this convoy for the entire duration of the trip, but it will stop in Hopseidet if you’re getting off to go to Skjånes.

At a point on the second pass, there is a place where you’ll need to turn right to go to Mehamn and left to go to Kjøllefjord. Just follow the convoy to Mehamn if you’re heading to Gamvik. The convoy times are:

• 6:30am (except on Sundays)
• 10am
• 1:45pm
• 4pm
• 7pm
• 9pm (this one does not also go to Kjøllefjord and will only go to Mehamn which is what you want anyway).

The convoy will take 1 hour from Bekkarfjord to Hopseidet and another 30 minutes to the junction that takes you to Mehamn or Kjøllefjord. This is called Mehamnelv Bru. Follow Mehamn from there and it is another 15 minutes with the convoy down into Mehamn.

Convoy 2: Mehamn to Gamvik

The next convoy you may need to join is going from Mehamn to Gamvik. This one operates at the following times:

• 6:45am (except on Sundays)
• 9:45am
• 1:30pm
• 4pm
• 7pm
• 11pm

This is a 30-minute convoy. You can see all the information I posted above here. I listed it in this post because the PDF file doesn’t always load easily and you may be unable to download it on your mobile.

Please let me know if you have any questions about this and I’ll do my best to answer. You can keep up with all Finnmark’s kolonnekjøring timetables here.

Convoys Leaving Gamvik

The convoy times leaving Gamvik are as follows:

• 4:50am (except on Sundays)
• 7:30am
• 10:30am
• 2:15pm
• 4:30pm
• 7:45pm
• 11:30pm

Once you get to Mehamn, there are a lot of convoy options back because some of them will take you to Kjøllefjord, others to Skjånes, and the rest toward Bekkarfjord. I would grab a photo or information from the sign as you arrive to determine what is best for leaving and the remainder of your Nordkyn journey.

Arriving by Hurtigruten

You can also reach Gamvik from the Hurtigruten boat as it docks in Kjøllefjord and Mehamn. Figuring out the best way to reach the village from the boat is probably something you need to chat with Hurtigruten about as they can schedule a transfer if needed.

Closest Airport to Gamvik

The closest airports to Gamvik are Mehamn (MEH) and Kjøllefjord (QJL). Mehamn is closer. Widerøe serves both airports with daily flights. These are part of the Milk Run so it will likely be expensive and part of a lot of stops. Driving is the best way to reach Gamvik if you’re visiting in summer.

Tips for Visiting Gamvik

✅ The best time to visit Gamvik is during the summer. While I can imagine it is spectacular during the winters, the winters are harsh. They are dark and the weather can be pretty unruly. The road to Mehamn is also often closed, so you may need a convoy to get out of there.

With that being said, the summers are also when Slettnes Fyr is open, so it makes sense to visit when you can take advantage of the area’s most popular attraction.

✅ There is a Nærbutikken in town. This is a small grocery store that has everything you’ll need for your time in Gamvik! It is open from 7am until 11pm every day except Sunday and most of the time, it is a self-service shop.

You will need to insert your card before entering as a way to get the door to open. You will also need to be confident using a self-service machine. There are instructions inside and it is really easy. Just something to keep in mind! The Nærbutikken is located in the center of the village.

✅ No gas stations exist in Gamvik, so be sure to fill up in Mehamn if you need some. There was a Bunker Oil there. Be prepared to pay an arm and a leg. All of the gas stations on Nordkyn are pricey, and there are only a few (I marked them on the map).

✅ Kulturdugnad Gamvik is a festival in Gamvik and Slettnes at the end of July and beginning of August. There are a lot of crafts, music, and art. It is a good way to interact with the community and enjoy everything Gamvik has to offer. I think I’ll have to go up there for my birthday (July 28) one of these years!

✅ This is not one of Norway’s wealthier communities, so staying there for a night and visiting the museum, lighthouse, and shop is really a great way to leave a positive footprint in the village.

Where to Stay in Gamvik and Slettnes

There are limited places to stay in Gamvik and Slettnes. Here are the two most popular places to stay:

🛌🏽 Slettnes Fyr: This is a unique stay on the grounds around the lighthouse. They have a few rooms available and they are very, very nice. But they fill up fast, so be sure to book as soon as you can if you’re coming up this way. Slettnes Fyr is only open from May until the end of October. Click here to check rates and availability for Slettnes Fyr.

🛌🏽 Gamvik Brakkebo (where I stayed): I actually loved this stay. The accommodation looked very makeshift at first, so I was a bit scared about what I was getting myself into. But as soon as I went inside it was warm, quiet, and pretty cozy. The woman working was incredibly welcoming and helped me get checked in.

My room had a private bathroom, a twin-size bed, a desk, and a view of the sea. I was worried about noise levels as a family checked in next door to my room and I could hear the child in the hallway. But inside my room, I heard nothing. I am a very light sleeper and was super surprised.

There are two common areas where you can cook and put things in a fridge. They also have some cheaper rooms with a shared bathroom option if you’re traveling on a budget. I highly recommend Gamvik Brakkebo! Click here to check rates and availability for Gamvik Brakkebo.

🛌🏽 Caravans: You can park your caravan in the parking areas around Slettnes Nature Reserve. There are a few lots. Please be respectful to the birds in the area as this is their breeding ground. There is a large trash area there, but no toilets.

Do you have any questions about visiting Slettnes or Gamvik on the Nordkyn Peninsula? Let me know in the comments. Thanks!

More Nordkyn & Sværholt Travel Guides

• Mehamn travel guide
• Skjånes travel guide
• Børselv and Sværholt travel guide
• Pirate Husky in Børselv
• Silfar Canyon in Børselv

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