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Lofoten Islands

Travel Guide Europe Norway Lofoten Islands

Introduction

Lofoten islands

The Lofoten Islands are a chain of islands along the northwest coast of Norway and are one of the highlights of the country. In fact of all of Scandinavia. It's a region of fantastic landscapes, small villages hugging the mountains and the sea and some great outdoor adventures, like whalewatching. After leaving Bodø on their northern voyage, the Norwegian Coastal Voyage ships do their one major passage through open ocean. About four hours later they reach Stamsund in the Lofoten islands. These lie technically within the province of Norland. The first sight of them is what has been described as the Lofoten Wall, rising up from the sea. In fact it is a long range of mountains stretching right through all the biggest islands.

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Geography

Apart from the small islands of Vaeroy and Rust, all are connected by causeways or bridges and it is possible to get a bus from Svolvaer, near the north to Å at the south. The rock is predominantly Pre-Cambrian.

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Cities

Svolvaer - the island capital.
Henningsvaer - a beautiful fishing village reacehed on an idyllic bus journey from Svolvaer.
Stamsund
Leknes
Reine - administrative centre of the southern islands.
Å (this is the name of a village.)
Moskenes
Kabelvåg - between Svolvaer and Henningsvaer

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Sights and Activities

Bjørntinden (802 m) and Stjerntinden (934 m) above Storvatnet

It seems almost preposterous to pick out sights in such a fabulously beautiful area but the inhabitants plug the Trollsfjord. This is very steep sided and is so narrow that the [Hurtigruten (Coastal Voyage) boats mostly have to do a three point turn to get out! Apparently their very newest boats can turn normally. Navigation is banned in the spring because of rock falls. See home.online.no for an interesting historical anecdote about it and a picture. Boat trips go from Svolvaer.

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Events and Festivals

1st May (Labour day) is treated very seriously here. Importantly the buses only provide a Sunday service - which in the Lofotens means no service.

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Weather

Summers are surprisingly good regarding the fact that is up north along the coast. There can however be huge differences between the western and eastern coastline of the islands, the latter often being milder and drier.

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Getting There

Check the Lofoten website for more information.

By Plane

There is an airport at Leknes and at Svolvaer. The latter has flights to Bodø.

By Train

The nearest station is at Bodø, where you can connect with the Hurtigruten or the ferry for Moskvenes. From the station of Fauske (on the same line) a bus connects with Skutvik, where there is a ferry to Svolvaer.

By Car

By Bus

By Boat

Hurtigruten from Bodø to Stamsund and Svolvaer.
Skutvik to Svolvaer car ferry. Check Fotobrygga Website for details on schedules and prices.
Bodø - ferry to Moskenes, Vaeroy and Rust.

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Getting Around

By Plane

By Train

By Car

By Bus

The Lofoten will enable you to download time-tables.

By Boat

Hurtigruten between Stamsund and Svolvaer.

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Eat

Borsen Spiseri - this is the restaurant at Svinoya Rorbuer (below) but it is open to non-residents. Very atmospheric and delicious food.

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Drink

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Sleep

On the Lofoten Islands it is a good idea to rent a rorbu (plural - rorbuer). The rorbuer proper were huts used by fisherfolk during the season and ahve been converted for tourist use. Of course some have been erected simply for tourists. Sizes vary. One place for true rorbuers, where you can see photos in reception of their former use is at Svinoya, an island in Svolvaer.