The Lofoten Islands in Norway are home to some of the most beautiful sights in the world. Think of colorful houses on poles, rocky islands, bridges and a rough sea.
Raw nature. That’s the best way to describe the Lofoten Islands in the northwest of Norway. To me, this is one of the most beautiful places on earth, together with the nearby Vesterålen, Senja, and the road to the North Cape.
Places to visit in the Lofoten
1) Reine and Hamnøy
Reine and Hamnøy are probably the most photographed towns of the Lofoten Islands, both from the ground and the air. These towns consist of many tiny islands connected by bridges. There is no protection from the storm because you’re pretty much at sea. The storm batters the strong wooden houses and the bridges become quite a challenge for motorcyclists as the wind tries to take them down before they can set off at a green light.
Reine and Hamnøy are beautiful and picturesque towns that you want to observe from all sides. Do rent a traditional Norwegian Rorbuer in this area and spend a few days in an extraordinary place. I stayed at the Toppøy Rorbuer for three nights and it was a unique experience as it felt like I was living in the eye of the storm.
The hike to the top of Reinebringen from where you can view the towns from above is one of the most beautiful hikes in the Lofoten.
2) Å
Å is a small fishing village southwest of Reine. This is literally where the road ends! After the last tunnel, you find yourself at a relatively big parking lot where you can park your car. From here you can go hiking or head to the cozy and picturesque village.
In the village, you can visit the Lofoten Stockfish Museum and the Norwegian Fishing Village Museum. But before you can do that you’ll probably automatically head over to the viewpoint to take another beautiful picture of houses on poles. From there you can wander the streets and visit the shops selling handicrafts and have a drink in a cafe with a view. Another must-visit is Bakeriet på Å, a bakery that sells delicious cinnamon rolls baked in an old stone oven from 1878.
3) Henningsvær
Henningsvær lies at another dead-end road. On your way there you will find yourself surrounded by rocks and ocean as you cross the bridges that connect the small islands. This village also has some picturesque houses on poles, nothing new there, but for Henningsvær the road there counts. It’s a beautiful road (albeit a bit slow because it is one lane) that you would drive over and over if you could.
4) Sund
Visit the Blacksmith of Sund and observe the crafts of a real smith. You can explore the small museum and see inside the messy smithy where the magic happens. If you arrive at the right time you can see how a cormorant is made.
5) Svolvær
Compared to the other towns on this list, Svolvær is pretty big. Svolvær is the administrative center of the municipality. The shops and cafes in this place are much bigger. While they are less ‘authentic’ and charming than the cafes in the other towns, the chance is higher that you can use the outdoor terraces if the weather is nice. The terrace of the bakery Kringla As, near the Lofoten Tourist Information, is perfectly situated for the early afternoon sun, also offering some shelter from the wind. You might even find a small market at the square in front of the bakery.
Where to stay in the Lofoten?
The best way to experience the Lofoten is by staying at a Rorbuer In Reine or one of the other small island towns. This will put you right in the middle of everything you want to explore. Every day that you wake up to the sight of the houses on poles and the rough sea marks the start of a good day.
I stayed at the Toppøy Rorbuer for three nights and it was a unique experience as it felt like I was living in the eye of the storm. When opening the door to my cabin, I had to hold it with two hands, but out I went to take pictures of the approaching storm.
How to get to the Lofoten?
The Lofoten Islands are a bit out of the way. While it is relatively easy to get to the town Svolvær, it takes at least two hours and perfect traffic conditions to drive to Reine from Svolvær.
What is best for you all depends on where you’re coming from. As I came from the direction of the Vesterålen in the north, for me the best option was to drive south via Sortland.
If you are coming to Norway by air, then you could fly to one of the airports nearby, that is Leknes, Svolvær and Narvik Evenes. You’ll most likely have to make a stop in Norway’s capital Oslo first to catch a flight to these airports.
