Choose wisely. Connect locally.Add your business 
The Lofoten Islands form a jagged chain off the coast of northern Norway, well above the Arctic Circle. Granite peaks rise directly from the sea, sheltering fishing villages with red and yellow rorbuer, the traditional fishermen's cabins. For centuries the islands have been the center of a major winter cod fishery, and drying racks hung with stockfish remain a common sight.
Svolvær is the main town and a base for boat trips into the narrow Trollfjord, and the peak known as the Goat, with its two horns, rises above it. Nearby Kabelvåg has the large wooden Vågan Church, sometimes called the Lofoten Cathedral, and Henningsvær sits on a cluster of small islands linked by bridges. At Borg, the Lofotr Viking Museum reconstructs a chieftain's longhouse. Beaches such as Haukland, Uttakleiv and Eggum offer white sand and turquoise water, with Kvalvika beach reached by a hiking trail. In the west, Nusfjord is a well-preserved fishing village, Hamnøy is a favorite for photographers, and Reine sits beneath the steep climb to Reinebringen.
Lofoten suits hikers, photographers and those after Arctic scenery. Summer brings the midnight sun, and winter offers chances to see the northern lights. A car makes exploring easier, though some villages fill in peak season.
WiserMap travel guideLofoten Islands Norway Fishing Villages and Arctic BeachesPlan a Lofoten Islands trip: Reine, Hamnøy, Henningsvær, Nusfjord, Viking history at Borg, Arctic beaches, hikes, seasons, ferries and where to stay.Read the guide
Henningsvær is a fishing village spread across small islands linked by bridges, south of Svolvær. It has galleries, cafes, drying racks for stockfish and a famous football field on a rocky islet. The KaviarFactory gallery shows contemporary art in an old fish factory. Park outside and walk through the village.
Nusfjord is one of Norway's best preserved fishing villages, with red rorbuer cabins, a general store and an old cod liver oil factory around a small, sheltered harbor. A small entry fee helps preserve the buildings. You can stay overnight in the restored cabins. It lies at the end of a narrow road on Flakstadøya.
Hamnøy is a tiny fishing village near Reine, known for the classic view of red and yellow rorbuer cabins below steep mountains, seen from the bridge as you arrive. It is one of the most photographed spots in Lofoten, especially in winter light. Park only in marked spaces, as the roadside is narrow.
Å sits at the very end of the E10 road on the southern tip of Lofoten. The village is largely a museum, with the Norwegian Fishing Village Museum and the Lofoten Stockfish Museum explaining how cod were caught, dried and sold. The bakery is famous for cinnamon buns. A short walk leads to views of the Moskstraumen.
Svolvær is the largest town in Lofoten and its main transport hub, with hotels, restaurants and the Lofoten War Memorial Museum. Above the town stands Svolværgeita, the Goat, a rock pinnacle with two horns that climbers jump between. Hikers can climb partway to see it, but the top is only for roped climbers.
Kabelvåg is a small town near Svolvær and the oldest fishing village in the north. Vågan Church, called the Lofoten Cathedral, is a large wooden church from 1898 built for the many fishermen who came for the winter season. Nearby is the Lofoten Museum and a small square with cafes.
Reine is a fishing village on a peninsula surrounded by sharp peaks, often called one of the most beautiful villages in Norway. Reinebringen is the mountain above it, climbed by a stone staircase of about 1,970 steps built by Sherpas, with a world-famous view from the top. Allow two to three hours and avoid wet days.
Kvalvika is a wild sandy beach between steep mountains on the north side of Moskenesøya, reached only on foot. The trail takes about an hour each way over a rocky pass from the road. Many hikers combine it with the climb to Ryten for a view down on the beach. Wear hiking boots, as parts are boggy and steep.
Haukland and Uttakleiv are white-sand beaches with turquoise water on Vestvågøya, linked by a road tunnel and a scenic walking path around the Veggen mountain. Eggum, farther north, is a rocky shore with a ruined radar station and views of the midnight sun. All have parking areas, some with small fees.
The Trollfjord is a narrow side fjord about two kilometers long between steep mountain walls, just 100 meters wide at its entrance. Boat trips from Svolvær sail into it, and in summer sea eagles often swoop down near the boats. The Hurtigruten coastal ship also enters it in season when conditions allow.
The Lofotr Viking Museum at Borg is built around the site of a chieftain's house, at 83 meters one of the largest Viking buildings ever found. A full-size reconstruction of the longhouse lets you see how they lived, and in summer you can row a Viking ship replica and watch crafts. Allow two to three hours.
The Lofoten Aquarium, Lofotakvariet, in Kabelvåg shows fish and sea life from the waters around Lofoten, with outdoor pools of seals and otters fed at set times. It has exhibits about fishing and salmon farming and a film about the islands. It is a good rainy day stop for families near Svolvær.
No reviews yet. Been to Lofoten Islands? Be the first to share your experience.
Share what you loved, what to skip and tips for other travelers.
Log in to write a reviewBeen to Lofoten Islands? Add your best shots to the gallery.
Log in to add photosPhoto: Svein-Magne Tunli - tunliweb.no, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Cyril Doussin from Brisbane, Australia, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Lars Engerengen, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Giladtop, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Gerd Eichmann, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: User:Sveter (Please credit as "Petr Šmerkl, Wikipedia" in case you use this outside WMF…, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Michele Agostini, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Ximonic (Simo Räsänen), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Ximonic (Simo Räsänen), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Jules Henze, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Hopfenpflücker, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Svein-Magne Tunli - tunliweb.no, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Ximonic (Simo Räsänen), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Lukas Beck, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: 3opreisfan, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Smtunli, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Nancyporcino, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Rig33, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Obivan Kenobi, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Darcy Parks from Linköping, Sweden, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Darcy Parks from Linköping, Sweden, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: 3s, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: The original uploader was Vberger at French Wikipedia., Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Demilune, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5
Photo: Demilune, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5
Photo: Demilune, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5
Photo: Christoph Strässler from Oberdorf BL, Schweiz, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Photographer: Mg-k., Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Jamie MacPherson jmacpherson, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Svein-Magne Tunli - tunliweb.no, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: aoiaio, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: aoiaio, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Steve Cadman, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Sonia Marotta, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Hans Olav Lien, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Christoph Strässler from Oberdorf BL, Schweiz, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Carlos Delgado, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Pietro Valocchi, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Jörg Hempel, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 de
Photo: rheins, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Lukas Beck, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Lukas Beck, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Lukas Beck, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: www.Pixel.la Free Stock Photos, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Raf24~commonswiki, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Svein-Magne Tunli - tunliweb.no, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: -tacitos-, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Lars-bh, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Martin de Lusenet from Heemskerk, Netherlands, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Martin de Lusenet from Heemskerk, Netherlands, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Brage.aronsen, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Justin Hall from Culver City, USA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Gerd Eichmann, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Toxophilus, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Ximonic (Simo Räsänen), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Ximonic (Simo Räsänen), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
