The Lofoten Islands are an unimaginable a part of Norway to discover. Identified for dramatic mountains that plunge into the ocean and colourful fishing villages coated in fish-drying racks, it is not stunning that this archipelago is on many peoples’ bucket lists.
The Lofoten Islands are positioned far up north, above the Arctic Circle within the Norwegian area of Nordland. They’re sparsely populated, and principally include plenty of epic surroundings. However that does not imply there aren’t issues to do within the Lofoten Islands!
My husband Elliot and I spent nearly per week touring across the Lofoten Islands. We needed to be versatile with our plans due to some poor late-spring climate, however we nonetheless managed to maintain busy more often than not, checking all of these items off our to-do listing!
ALSO READ: 15 Things to Know Before Visiting the Lofoten Islands
The place to go to within the Lofoten Islands
The Lofoten Islands are an archipelago of seven principal islands that stretch for about 100 miles into the Norwegian Sea, characterised by towering, wall-like mountains and fjords. The principle websites on this a part of the world focus on small fishing villages. A few of them that you simply may go to (or base your self out of) embody:
- Svolvaer (the principle metropolis within the Lofotens, and the place the islands actually “start”)
- Henningsvaer (with its well-known soccer pitch)
- Leknes
- Nusfjord
- Fredvang
- Hamnøy
- Reine
- Å (positioned on the literal “finish of the street”)
Attending to the Lofoten Islands
One of the vital widespread methods to achieve the islands in the summertime months is by ferry (from Bodø to Moskenes), however you do not have to reach by water.
The Lofoten Islands themselves are linked to at least one one other by a sequence of bridges and tunnels, and the archipelago is linked to the mainland of Norway through bridges – so you’ll be able to really drive there!
There are a number of completely different choices for attending to the Lofoten Islands. Most embody flying from Oslo to a smaller northern airport, although in case you’re spending an prolonged period of time in Norway you would drive or get to a northern metropolis like Bodø or Narvik by prepare after which drive from there.
If you happen to’re flying to the Lofotens, among the hottest methods to get there embody:
- Flying into Bodø, selecting up a automobile, and taking the automobile ferry to Moskenes. Draw back? The ferry takes about 3.5 hours and the crossing will be tough.
- Flying into the Harstad/Narvik Airport in Evenes, selecting up a automobile, and driving to the Lofotens. Draw back? It is a bit of a drive – 2.5 hours to Svolvær, which is form of the “begin” of the islands.
- Flying into Svolvær or Leknes, that are proper within the Lofoten Islands. Draw back? Direct flights to those small airports from Oslo solely function through the summer season, and never daily of the week.
Elliot and I did possibility quantity 2, getting direct flights between Oslo and the Harstad/Narvik Airport in Evenes on SAS. The flights had been brief (just a bit over an hour), and there are a number of rental automobile firms proper within the Evenes airport close to the singular baggage belt.
And when you’re within the islands, plenty of the principle sights are proper alongside the E10 freeway (although “freeway” is a free time period; it is only a 2-lane street!).
Prime issues to do within the Lofoten Islands
This can be a vacation spot that lends itself to easily wandering. You do not have to plan an entire lot prematurely within the Lofoten Islands, and might principally do no matter your whims (and perhaps the climate) dictate.
(I imply, you *ought to* plan issues like attending to the islands, your rental automobile, and positively your lodging prematurely. However the way you fill your days could be a little extra fluid!)
Listed below are all of the issues I positively suppose you MUST do within the Lofoten Islands (roughly organized from north to south):
1. Keep in a rorbu
If you happen to’ve seen images from the Lofoten Islands, chances are high you’ve got seen images of rorbuer, or renovated fishing cottages, that are often painted an attention grabbing shade like purple or yellow. Rorbuer (rorbu when it is singular) are highly regarded lodging choices within the Lofoten Islands – and they’re 100% price it.
These brightly coloured cabins are often positioned in scenic, waterfront spots with implausible views in small fishing villages. They’re renovated to incorporate every little thing you want, and often include a bed room, seating space, and infrequently a kitchenette. Positively bucket-list-worthy!
Among the hottest rorbuer you’ll be able to keep in right here embody:
- Lofoten Basecamp in Leknes – A well-liked possibility between Svolvaer and Reine, with cabins set proper on the sting of a reasonably fjord.
- Nusfjord Arctic Resort in Nusfjord – These restored rorbuer are in a historic village tucked right into a fjord. They’re tremendous excessive finish and delightful.
- Eliassen Rorbuer in Hamnøy – The well-known purple fishing cabins you’ve got positively seen in images of the Lofoten Islands. There are a bunch of various cabin configurations with completely different views, together with an on-site restaurant known as Gadus that is superb.
- Reinefjorden Sjohus in Hamnøy – One other nice possibility with unimaginable views of mountains.
- Reine Rorbuer in Reine – These are tremendous cozy, having been restored to look as conventional as attainable. The cabins are proper within the heart of Reine, and have nice views.
Elliot and I stayed in rorbuer at Eliassen Rorbuer and Nusfjord Arctic Resort, and cherished them each. Our cabin at Eliassen Rorbuer had essentially the most unimaginable view – excellent for watching storms and glimpses of Midnight Solar. And our cabin at Nusfjord Arctic Resort was so cozy that we barely minded that it rained the entire time we had been there.
2. Sail to Trollfjord
The Lofoten Islands aren’t recognized for fjords the best way other parts of Norway are, however that does not imply there are no! The most well-liked fjord you’ll be able to go to might be Trollfjord, which you will get to through a ship tour from Svolvaer.
These boat excursions take you out from Svolvaer (previous the well-known Fisherman’s Spouse sculpture), by means of some little rocky islands the place you’ll be able to look out for sea eagles, alongside gorgeous mountains, after which into Trollfjord itself.
Our preliminary tour reserving was canceled and rescheduled due to harmful seas, and I am SO glad we had been in a position to make it work ultimately. This was a terrific tour!
I like to recommend an precise boat tour (like this one with Brim Explorer) with the intention to get pleasure from it even when the climate is not the very best. That particular tour is the one Elliot and I did, and lasts 3.5 hours complete. Brim Explorer makes use of a hybrid boat that switches over to an electrical motor when you enter Trollfjord, so you’ll be able to have a magical, silent expertise within the fjord.
There are different tour choices (like this shorter one on a RIB boat), however I actually advocate this one for the general greatest expertise. (There’s even a bar onboard the Brim Explorer boat!)
This is among the solely actions I do advocate reserving prematurely within the Lofoten Islands.
A brief drive from Svolvaer is the small fishing village of Henningsvaer, unfold out over a number of small rocky islands.
Right here you will note (and maybe scent) a whole bunch of picket fish-drying racks, the place they make stockfish (air-dried cod) within the conventional manner. Stockfish remains to be a serious export necessary to the native financial system within the Lofoten Islands. The principle “season” for drying stockfish is February-Might, however in case you go to in early June, you should still see loads of drying fish on picket racks.
The village of Henningsvaer is quaint, and has a pair cafes and eating places you’ll be able to go to (we cherished Cafe Knusarn and the comfortable Henningsvær Lysstøperi and Cafe). However the principle cause folks come right here is to see one of the scenic soccer (soccer) pitches on the planet.
The Henningsvaer Stadium is located on the finish of a small peninsula on the southern finish of the village. You’ll be able to stroll by means of fish drying racks to see numerous views of the stadium and surrounding landscapes – although for the very best views you will want a drone.
And sure, this spot is widespread for drone pilots – ours was one in all 4 drones within the air after we visited. Simply be certain you are following all local drone regulations, which incorporates top limits and maintaining a tally of your drone always to keep away from mid-air crashes. In Elliot’s case, he is additionally received a industrial license and his drone is registered in a number of nations!
4. Step again in time on the Lofotr Viking Museum
Positioned close to the small city of Borg on the island of Vestvågøya, the Lofotr Viking Museum is price a go to if you wish to be taught a bit extra in regards to the Vikings and the way they lived on this a part of Norway. The principle a part of the museum is constructed proper subsequent to the ruins of the most important Viking constructing ever present in Norway – a chieftain’s longhouse that was found by archaeologists in 1983.
The present museum has just a few completely different components, together with a contemporary customer heart with some historic shows and movies (and a really good cafe), two duplicate Viking ships in a close-by lake, and a full duplicate of the 272 foot lengthy (83 meter lengthy) chieftain’s home.
Contained in the longhouse are period-specific shows and costumed interpreters (in the summertime months). You’ll be able to study weaving and leather-working, and even get a bowl of Viking soup cooked over the hearth.
The museum makes for a straightforward cease (it is proper off the E10, the principle street by means of the Lofoten Islands), and could be very attention-grabbing!
Different (smaller) museums you may wish to cease at in different components of the islands embody:
- Lofotmuseet, the place you’ll be able to study fishing and farming within the Lofotens.
- Norsk Fiskeværsmuseum in Å, the place you’ll be able to be taught in regards to the fishing custom on this a part of Norway.
5. See a glassblower at work
On Flakstadøya Island you’ll be able to go to a singular (and indoor!) spot: Glasshytta Vikten, the oldest glassblowing studio in Northern Norway. It is within the picturesque village of Vikten, and there is each a retail store and studio area you’ll be able to go to. If you happen to’re fortunate, you will even be capable to see some glassblowing up shut.
Glasshytta Vikten additionally has a small cafe serving up espresso and do-it-yourself desserts with unimaginable sea views. It is nicely well worth the brief detour!
6. Go to historic Nusfjord
If you wish to get a really feel for a extra historic fishing village within the Lofoten Islands, then I like to recommend making the drive to Nusfjord. The drive to get there alone is gorgeous, following a slender fjord with towering, sheer-faced mountains on both aspect.
Nusfjord is among the oldest and best-preserved fishing villages in Norway. Immediately it consists of a handful of brightly-colored rorbu and work buildings, however within the 1900s Nusfjord was residence to greater than 1,500 fishermen making a residing off cod fishing.
Immediately, the village is extra of a residing museum. Some fishing remains to be executed right here, however a lot of the work buildings now are preserved similar to the had been a long time in the past. The outdated fishermen’s cabins have been restored and become lodging utilized by the Nusfjord Arctic Resort.
You’ll be able to go to Nusfjord for the day to see the historic buildings and maybe have a meal at one of many resort’s eating places, however I might extremely advocate staying in a single day! It is one of many costlier locations to remain within the Lofoten Islands, sure, however these rorbuer are among the greatest. They’re extraordinarily cozy and comfortable with fashionable facilities, but additionally loads of historic touches.
If you happen to keep multiple evening, you too can ebook fishing excursions, take a hike, or go kayaking within the fjord.
7. Go to an Arctic seashore
Contemplating that is an archipelago, it stands the rationale there are some seashores round! These are Arctic seashores, after all, because the Lofoten Islands sit above the Arctic Circle. However there are nonetheless a lot price visiting.
Some must-visit seashores that you would be able to drive proper as much as embody:
- Unstad Seaside – A well-liked spot for browsing (sure, browsing!). There is a native spot that provides leases and classes known as Unstad Arctic Surf.
- Uttakleiv Seaside – Identified for its dramatic surroundings and white sand. You’ll be able to go strolling alongside the coast right here, too.
- Haukland Seaside – Not removed from Uttakleiv, this massive seashore has nice mountain views, and in summer season there’s just a little cafe right here.
- Vik Seaside – Virtually proper subsequent to Haukland, this can be a smaller, quieter seashore.
- Ramberg Seaside – A picket boardwalk leads all the way down to a surprising white sand seashore simply north of the city of Ramberg.
(Simply observe that just a few of the seashores listed above do cost for parking!)
The opposite hottest (and well-known) seashore within the Lofotens is Kvalvika Seaside, however reaching it requires a hike (which I am going to speak about subsequent!).
8. Hike to an epic viewpoint
The Lofoten Islands are an outdoor-lover’s paradise, and severe hikers will discover some wonderful choices right here.
However be warned that climbing within the Lofotens is not any joke. You will not discover security obstacles or fences out within the wild right here, and plenty of the hikes contain climbing literal mountains, so you’ll be able to anticipate robust terrain. AND the climate can change immediately – even in the summertime months. So in case you’re planning on doing an extended hike right here, you actually need to return ready with good climbing sneakers and heat, waterproof layers.
Having mentioned that, among the extra widespread hikes within the Lofoten Islands embody:
- Floya – Fløya Mountain is the backdrop to the city of Svolvaer, and a well-liked climbing path will take you to the highest. The path is 2.8 miles (4.5 km) out-and-back, with an elevation acquire of 1900 ft (580 meters). You will traverse the “Satan’s Staircase” and cross the “Satan’s Gate” on the best way to the highest, the place you will have gorgeous views over Svolvaer and the encompassing mountains.
- Kvalvika Seaside / Ryten – Ryten is an unimaginable viewpoint atop a mountain in Lofotenodden Nationwide Park that overlooks Kvalvika Seaside. If you happen to hike to Kvalvika after which as much as Ryten, the entire hike is just below 5 miles spherical journey (just below 8 km), with the very best elevation at 1781 ft (543 meters).
- Reinebringen – This is among the most iconic hikes within the Lofoten Islands, supplying you with unimaginable views over the Reine area. And whereas this hike appears simple on paper (it is lower than 1.5 miles/2 km spherical journey), observe that it is mainly straight up about 1600 stairs. You will acquire 1470 ft (448 meters) of elevation in lower than a mile, typically at at 45 diploma angle. This one is hard on the legs!
- Hoven – This can be a little bit of a better hike on Gimsøya that begins at a golf course. The path is 2.4 miles (3.8 km) spherical journey, with an elevation acquire of about 1200 ft (368 meters). On the high, you get views of the coast and extra islands to the north.
Yow will discover much more hikes listed in this Lofoten hiking post.
Many of those hikes are rated “average” and even “simple,” however in case you’re not a lot of a hiker at residence, positively observe the quantity of elevation you will must deal with on a few of these trails!
Elliot and I skilled terrible climate on our journey to the Lofoten Islands (like, snow squalls and fog/clouds that fully obstructed views terrible), so we did not deal with any of those longer hikes. The one “hike” we did was the muddy scramble to the highest of Olenilsøya kystfort, which nonetheless nonetheless supplied up some very good views of Reine.
9. See THE Hamnoy view
If you happen to’ve seen any images from the Lofoten Islands, chances are high you’ve got seen photos of lined up purple cabins with a towering mountain within the background. It is iconic.
This can be a highly regarded spot for images, and it’s totally simple to search out! These images are literally of the cabins at Eliassen Rorbuer, a rorbu lodge, and are all taken from the Hamnøy Bridge, which connects two of the small islands right here. The photograph is greatest taken from the japanese finish of the bridge, closest to the purple cabins.
There’s not likely a superb place to park wherever close to this bridge, so simply concentrate on the place you are pulling over. (Do not block the doorway to Eliassen Rorbuer.)
Elliot and I really stayed at Eliassen Rorbuer so we merely walked as much as the bridge and did not have to fret about parking. They’ve a superb restaurant (Gadus), too, in case you need an excuse to go to and park there.
10. See all of the well-known websites round Reine
Reine (and surrounding islands and villages) is well essentially the most well-known spot within the Lofoten Islands.
Reine, like most different villages on this space, is a fishing village. It is positioned primarily on the island of island of Moskenesøya, however you will discover issues labeled as “Reine” on different close by islands like Sakrisøya and Olenilsøya, too.
The entire space is characterised by colourful cottages and towering mountains, and several other well-known photograph spots you’ve got perhaps saved on Instagram or Pinterest. A number of of these embody:
- Views from the picnic tables exterior of Anita’s Sjømat (a neighborhood seafood restaurant)
- Views of The Horn mountain, together with one from a picket bridge. (However simply observe that the homes and driveways listed below are non-public, so you will not be capable to park close by.)
- Views from the car parking zone main into Reine correct that is marked on Google Maps as “Reine Picture Postcard.”
- And naturally the well-known Reinebringen hike climbs up above this village, too.
However truthfully, ALL the views on this a part of the Lofotens are unimaginable! You’ll be able to’t actually go fallacious. Simply remember that these are all working fishing villages, and there aren’t a *ton* of providers for vacationers (like parking and eating places). Be respectful as you discover.
11. Drive to the top of the street in Å
The E10 freeway actually ends in just a little village known as Å (pronounced like “oau,” or the way you’d pronounce the primary letter in “already”). The street travels by means of a tunnel, after which terminates in a big car parking zone appropriate for campervans and RVs.
It is price it to drive out to Å, the place there are some viewpoints and climbing trails, in addition to among the finest bakeries within the islands, Bakeriet på Å. You may as well seize lunch on the Brygga Restaurant, which has out of doors seating with views when the climate is good.
12. Strive native meals
Talking of eating places and bakeries, there are a pair issues you must strive while you’re within the Lofoten Islands! Together with:
- Stockfish – Being the most important export from native Lofoten villages, you clearly have to strive stockfish! You do not essentially must strive the laborious, dried model, although; many eating places cook dinner stockfish like a daily fish fillet – however it tastes rather a lot completely different!
- Fish sandwich from Anitas sjømat – Talking of fish, nearly each weblog put up in regards to the Lofoten Islands will inform you to cease at Anitas sjømat (Anita’s Seafood) on Sakrisøya for a fish sandwich. And I am going to echo that: the little restaurant serves up nice meals inside an eclectic area (I cherished the stockfish chandeliers).
- Cinnamon buns – Norway (and Scandinavia on the whole) is thought for its tasty cinnamon buns, so you will positively wish to strive some. Those we purchased contemporary from Bakeriet på Å had been my favourite.
Bonus: See the Northern Lights or Midnight Solar
As a result of they’re above the Arctic Circle, because of this the Lofoten Islands expertise Polar Night time within the winter and the Midnight Solar in the summertime.
Annually, roughly from the top of Might by means of mid-July, the solar is not going to set under the horizon in any respect within the Lofoten Islands. The Midnight Solar can be shining shiny 24 hours a day – so I positively advocate packing a watch masks for lodge rooms or cottages which may not have full black-out curtains. (I like this eye mask personally.)
And, conversely, within the winter the islands expertise Polar Night time, which means the solar doesn’t rise above the horizon throughout this time (which stretches from early December by means of early January). It isn’t essentially pitch black for twenty-four hours a day throughout this time, however you additionally do not get any true daylight.
Northern Lights season within the Arctic is from September-March (give or take), and on darkish and cloudless nights you’ll be able to positively look out for the aurora borealis.
I’ll say from expertise, although, that is it is a lot simpler to expertise the Midnight Solar than to see the Northern Lights! Due to how rapidly the climate modifications within the Lofoten Islands, glimpses of the Northern Lights will be fleeting within the winter. You’ll be able to positively see them, however it may take some work and a few “chasing” in your half!
RELATED: 10 Reasons Why Northern Norway in Winter is Awesome
When to go to the Lofoten Islands
You’ll be able to technically go to this a part of Norway year-round, however the expertise could be very completely different relying on while you go. Winter within the Lofotens will be magical with snowy landscapes and dancing Northern Lights, whereas summer season is characterised by turquoise waters and the Midnight Solar.
Visiting in winter is difficult, nevertheless. Roads get snowy and icy, and you will not discover as many sights and eating places open, as this is part of Norway that is fairly seasonal by way of tourism.
I due to this fact advocate visiting in late spring into summer season, when you’ve a significantly better likelihood of nicer climate and issues being open. Might-September might be the “greatest” time to go to – although observe that the tourism “season” right here is usually June-August.
However even in case you’re visiting in the summertime, pack heat and waterproof layers, as a result of the climate can (and does) change regularly.
The Lofoten Islands will be harsh, but stunningly lovely on the identical time. Visiting is completely bucket-list worthy for the adventurous traveler. Who needs to go?
