The Lofoten Islands

Discover Norway’s untamed islands

Lofoten is known for excellent fishing, nature attractions such as the northern lights and the midnight sun, and small villages off the beaten track. Kayak between the islands, go fishing for the catch of your life, or look for sea eagles soaring in the sky.

The Lofoten Islands are draped across the turbulent waters of the Norwegian Sea, far above the Arctic Circle. This rare wilderness outpost offers an untrammelled landscape of majestic mountains, deep fjords, squawking seabird colonies and long, surf-swept beaches.

“The beauty of this place is simply staggering.”
Lonely Planet

Lofoten has been certified as a Sustainable Destination, a seal of approval given to destinations that work systematically to reduce the negative impact of tourism. In addition to providing visitors with enjoyable experiences, Lofoten wishes to preserve the local nature, culture and environment, strengthen social values, and be economically viable. The municipality and the travel industry cooperate closely to assure that the destination is a great place both to live in and to visit.

If you are seeking unforgettable nature experiences, Lofoten will definitely not let you down. Due to the area’s diverse landscape, you can go hiking, skiing, fishing, ocean rafting or scuba diving. Lofoten is also one of the world’s northernmost sites for surfing and one of the best spots in Norway.

Lofoten has a strong connection to the Viking Age, and at Lofotr Viking Museum you can experience the Viking Age as it really was. At Borg, archaeologists have discovered the largest Viking longhouse ever found from this era. The building is 83 metres long and has been reconstructed as a living museum.

Due to the warm Gulf Stream, Lofoten has a much milder climate than other parts of the world at the same latitude. Between late May and mid July you can experience the midnight sun, whilst the northern lights can be viewed from September to mid April.

Fishing has been, and still is, to a degree, the reason why people have lived here and the region is known for its many small fishing villages. Here, you can stay in a Rorbu – an old fishermen’s cabin – and eat stockfish, made from spawning cod. The stockfish is often the base product in many of the food dishes served in local restaurants. Today, there are several options for getting to Lofoten and around.

The rapidly changing weather and magnificent light conditions have inspired artists and drawn them to this area for several decades, which is evident in the many art galleries and photo exhibitions.

Find more inspiration on Lofoten’s official website.

lofoten.info

A person on top of Mount Mannen in Lofoten, Northern Norway

Hiking at Mount Mannen in Lofoten.
Photo: Andreas.wolden / Foap / Visitnorway.com

A Viking couple at Lofotr in the Lofoten Islands, Northern Norway

Lofotr Viking Museum in Borg.
Photo: Kjell Ove Storvik / Lofotr Vikingmuseum

A rack for drying stockfish in the Lofoten Islands in Northern Norway

Stockfish in Lofoten.
Photo: Espen Mortensen / esmofoto.no / www.nordnorge.com

Northern lights over mountains in the Lofoten Islands in Northern Norway

Northern lights in Lofoten.
Photo: Vidar Moløkken / www.nordnorge.com

Towards sustainability

The certification Sustainable Destination is a seal of approval given to destinations that work systematically to reduce the negative impact of tourism. In addition to providing visitors with enjoyable experiences, the destination must preserve the local nature, culture and environment, strengthen social values, and be economically viable. The municipality and the travel industry must cooperate closely to assure that the destination is a great place both to live in and to visit.

Find out more about sustainable destinations in Norway

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Getting here and around

Get in-depth travel information on Lofoten’s official website.

Statens Kartverk, Geovekst og kommuner - Geodata AS

By train

There are daily trains all year between Stockholm, Kiruna, and Narvik. From there, you can catch buses to the Lofoten Islands.

There are also trains from Oslo via Trondheim and Fauske to Bodø. From Trondheim, the train takes around 10 hours to Bodø. From Bodø, you can take a ferry or speedboat to Lofoten.
By bus

There are public buses every day from Narvik, Bodø, and Harstad to Svolvær.
By boat

There are daily scheduled express passenger boats operating all year between Bodø, Svolvær, and Værøy.

There are car ferries from Bodø to several places in Lofoten and between some of the islands in the archipelago.

The Norwegian Coastal Voyage Hurtigruten calls at daily Stamsund and Svolvær in Lofoten.

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By car

If you choose to go by car, there are several options of getting to and from Lofoten.

A boat-free connection in the north of the archipelago takes you between the mainland and Lofoten.

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Local travel

The E10 (King Olav V’s road) is the main road connecting the Lofoten archipelago from west to east. Travelling by public transport requires some planning, especially if you want to go anywhere off the E10, so check the timetables carefully.
By plane

There are frequent and regular flights to Bodø Airport, Harstad/Narvik Airport, Svolvær Airport, Leknes Airport, and Røst Airport.

Flight time from Oslo to Bodø is approximately 1,5 hours and an additional 20–30 minutes from there to Lofoten.

There is also a helicopter service between Bodø and Værøy.

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Seasons and climate

Due to the temperate waters of the Gulf Stream, Lofoten has a much milder climate than other parts of the world at the same latitude, such as Alaska and Greenland.

The coastal climate in Lofoten makes the winters mild and the summers relatively cool.

January and February are the coldest months, with an average temperature of -1°C. July and August are warmest with an average temperature of 12°C.

May and June are the driest months, with an average 40 milimetre of rainfall. October is the wettest month. Strong winds can occur in late autumn and winter.

Get the latest weather forecast on yr.no.

Find more information about northern lights in the Lofoten Islands.

In the interest of the environment

Please be considerate of your surroundings by following these simple guidelines. This way, you can be sure that your visit doesn’t diminish other people’s experience.

Only camp in designated areas.
Leave no traces.
Do not create new paths.
Use the waste bins.
Use public toilets.
Respect private property.
Be considerate in traffic.
Respect the ban on fires.
Respect the wildlife.
Use tour operators.

Read the complete Lofoten code of conduct.

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