Overview
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1. Visit the charming Nusfjord
68° 02′ N, 13° 20′ E
Nusfjord is known as one of the best preserved fishing villages in Lofoten. It is a charming little and picturesque village that now also functions as an open-air museum.
In the village, you can visit some old fisherman’s cabins, called ‘rorbu’ cabins with exhibitions about the local fishing industry. You also find a little traditional bakery in Nusfjord. We highly recommend trying one of the pastries here, because they are delicious! There are also kayak tours and boat trips available, so there’s plenty to do here.
If you want to experience Nusfjord to the fullest, it is also possible to stay there for a night in one of the rorbu cabins. This way ,you can experience the village in the evening and in the morning without other tourists and feel as a real fishermen back in time.
Practical
Hotels in Lofoten
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Reine
Ramberg
Unstad
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2. Visit the Iconic Reine
67° 55′ N, 13° 05′ E
Reine is one of the most picturesque, famous and probably most photographed village in Lofoten. In the town itself, there’s not so much to see but it is all about the location and the surroundings. One of the best things to do here, is hiking up the iconic Reinebringen. It is a very accessible hike because a large staircase of 1978 steps is constructed all the way to the top.
Despite the stairs, it is still known to be a steep and demanding hike due to the high elevation over a short distance. At the summit, you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains, fjords and Reine. Besides this hike, you can also go kayaking in the Reine Fjord.
Tip!
In Hamnoy, next to reine at the entrance of Reine Fjord, you find the most famous photo spot in Lofoten. From the bridge on the main road, you see the most photographed red fishermen's cabins of Eliassen Rorbuer with the mountain peaks of Reinefjord in the background. You can find the exact location of this famous photo spot below.
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3. Hike Lofoten's dramatic mountains
68° 07′ N, 13° 02′ E
In Lofoten you have many impressive mountains and hikes to reach their peaks. From almost every mountain top, you get an impressive view of the islands, the fjords and the villages. You find almost every type of hike: from short to long, from easy to more challenging. Every type of hiker can enjoy themselves here and experience the beauty that Lofoten has to offer. It was by far one of our favorite things to do on Lofoten.we did several hikes of different difficulty levels. Curious about which hikes are definitely worth it?
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4. Visit the picturesque Henningsvaer
68° 09′ N, 14° 12′ E
Henningsvaer is a small cozy fishing village, mostly known for its famous soccer field. In this town, you find several shops, art galleries, restaurants and cafes. You can experience the cozy atmosphere, stroll through the small streets in the typical Norwegian style or join one of the kayak tours. You can also hike up Festvågtind, from where you have a beautiful view of Hennigsvaer and the surrounding area.
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5. Go fjord kayaking
67° 55′ N, 13° 05′ E
As you may have already read above, you can go kayaking in many places. It is one of the best things to do in Lofoten and can be done in every season. We really recommend that you join one of these kayak tours somewhere. It is a unique experience and amazing to see the Lofoten from a different perspective. From the water, the surrounding mountains seems even bigger! If you’re lucky, a dolphin might kayak with you here and there! We recommend that you book a kayak tour well in advance. These sell out quickly because it is such a incredible experience.
Activities
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6. Visit the islands of Værøy and Røst
67° 35′ N, 12° 52′ E
In the most southern part of Lofoten, you find two little islands Værøy and Røst. All places in Lofoten that we talk about in this blogpost are connected by roads, bridges and tunnels, while these two islands can only be reached by ferry.
Røst is a very remote islands, where you can completely unwind. The island is mostly known for its large puffin colony. To see these puffins and some other rare birdlife, you have to take a sightseeing tour to the bird cliffs. Furthermore, you can enjoy some easy walks on this island and soak up the atmosphere of this super small, traditional island.
Værøy is a bit bigger than Røst and has an incredible rugged landscape with dramatic cliffs and stunning coastlines. The main reason people visit this island is the hike up Håen. From this mountain peak you have a spectacular view of the rugged lanscapes and cliffs of the island.
Camper Tip!
If you are traveling with a camper, you can stay the night on the old airstrip of the island. From here, you have some incredible views over the ocean!
About the HÅEN hike
Getting to Vaeroy and Rost is free!
The ferries between Moskenes, Røst, Værøy and Bodø are free, because the government of Norway decided that relatively small ferries are free to increase mobility for local residents and attracting tourists. The direct ferry between Moskenes and Bodø is quite expensive, but if you make a stop on Røst and/or Værøy, it is completely free!
Lofoten Hikes
7. Stay a night on Kvalvika beach
68° 04′ N, 13° 05′ E
Kvalvika beach is a beautiful remote beach in Lofoten and you can only reach it by foot or by boat. From this beach, you have a beautiful view of the Ryten mountain and you can experience the magical midnight sun or a spectacular sunset over the ocean. It is therefore the perfect place to spend a night on a beach. If you are lucky, you can even witness the Northern Lights from the end of August on a clear night. Can it get even more magical?
And we have more good news: hiking to the beach is quite easy and not too demanding at all. There are different hiking trails to get to Kvalvika Beach.
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8. Relax and surf at Lofoten Beach Camp
68° 06′ N, 13° 17′ E
Lofoten Beach Camp is a camping with an awesome beach bar and surf camp. You can have a drink in the beach bar or join one of the activities they offer, even without staying on the campsite. You can take surf lessons, join a morning yoga session or just enjoy an incredible sunset from the beach. You find everything to to on Lofoten Beach Camp on their website.
9. Surf and Eat the best Cinnamon bun in the world in Unstad
68° 15′ N, 13° 36′ E
Lofoten is quite a famous destination for surfers, because of its perfect surfing conditions. One of the most famous places for surfing is Unstad, located on the west coast of Lofoten. You can just rent a surf board or take a surf class at Unstad Surf Camp.
Even if you are not a surfer, this place is worth a visit. The Unstad Surf Camp also offers ‘the best cinnamon buns in the world’, and we have to admit: they are gooood!
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10. Relax on one of the many beautiful beaches
Due to the presence of hundreds of mountains on Lofoten, it may sound strange that Lofoten is also known for its beautiful beaches. It’s the contrast between these dramatic surrounding mountains and the white sand that makes these beaches so beautiful. The water is super clear and certainly invites you to take a dip. But remember that the water may be too cold for swimming. This certainly does not alter the fact that you can enjoy a beautiful, sunny day of relaxing on the beach with a spectacular view. Some of the best known and most beautiful beaches are Haukland Beach, Uttakleiv Beach, Ramberg Beach, Unstad Beach and Kvalvika Beach.
Tip!
The hike on the Mannen mountain is a fairly easy hike and from the top you get a beautiful view of Haukland Beach.
Hotels in Lofoten
Discover the best places to sleep through our partners. Book your stay and enjoy their great deals!
Reine
Ramberg
Unstad
via Booking.com
11. See the northern lights
Lofoten is a fantastic destination for seeing the northern lights. The northern lights season runs from the end of August to April. We heard that the best time to see the northern light is at the beginning and the end of northern light season, because that is when the solar winds, that causes the lights, are strongest. Basically, you need darkness, high aurora activity and a clear sky. Seeing the northern lights is such a unique experience. So, don’t forget to look outside on a clear night when you are in the right season!
Tip!
There are various applications that predict Northern Lights activity. Many of these apps also give a notification when there is a good chance of seeing the northern lights. Be sure to put one of these on your phone and enable notifications. However, these applications are not always correct, so also check the sky when they predict little activity.
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12. Enjoy the midnight sun
If you are visiting Lofoten in summer, you can experience the midnight sun. Between the end of May and mid-July, the sun does not set so it is light 24/7. On a clear day, the entire night looks like sunset, making the light truly magical for hours on end. We have already heard from several people that they reverse their daily rhythm: they live at night and sleep during the day. This way you can enjoy the most beautiful places with beautiful light and you will be completely alone everywhere, even in the most touristy places.
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Things to do close to Lofoten
Whale watching in Andenes
Andenes is a small town, located on the northern tip of the island of Andøya, right above Lofoten. This town is known as one of the best places in Europe to see some majestic marine mammals, specifically sperm whales. It was one of the most unique experiences we have ever had. We didn’t see any sperm whales, but we did see several orcas. We recommend that you go with a small RIB boat instead of a large boat. The experience is way more intimate, because you get so much closer to the animals.
Go Hiking on Senja
Senja is another picturesque island, located north of Lofoten. With its dramatic landscapes, rugged mountains and deep fjords, it is a true paradise for hiking. You will find many different hiking trails of varying difficulty. Segla is the most famous mountain, but the most famous hike is Hesten. During this hike, you will see the most famous view of the impressive Segla mountain.
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When is the best time to visit Lofoten
You can visit Lofoten any time of the year, so the best time to visit depends mostly on the things you plan to do on the islands. In general, the best and most popular time to visit Lofoten is from late spring to early fall, as this is when you can do the most. However, every season has its specific properties and unique possibilities. During the summer months, the weather is at its best and the days are the longest, making it the perfect period for hiking. In winter, most people visit Lofoten mainly for the northern lights.
Spring
During spring, the days are getting longer and warmer. At the beginning of spring, there might still be snow on the hiking trails, making it difficult to impossible to hike. During this period it is not yet busy in Lofoten, so you can discover the islands without the crowds. At the end of spring, you can already enjoy the beautiful midnight sun.
Summer
During summer, you have the best chance for pleasant weather and the beautiful midnight sun. It is the perfect time for hiking and to enjoy Lofoten to the fullest. It is also peak tourist season, so expect bigger crowds.
Autumn
In autumn, the days get shorter and the temperatures colder. It is also the wettest season of the year. You have good chance of seeing the northern lights and the biggest crowds have left. On dry days, it is still possible to go hiking if the paths are not yet too muddy. At the end of autumn, it can already start to snow.
Winter
During winter, the days are very short, but you have a good chance of seeing the Northern Lights. The entire landscape has changed into a magical winter wonderland. During this season you cannot go hiking, but there are other unique activities typical for winter, such as snorkeling with orcas.
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