Home Europe Adventures on Norway’s Lofoten Islands

Adventures on Norway’s Lofoten Islands

2.2K views
Reading Time: 3 minutes
Reine, Lofoten Islands, Norway
Reine, Lofoten Islands, Norway

Dreaming of visiting the most northern spot in continental Europe? Nordkapp? I highly recommend Norway’s Lofoten Islands.

Do take the trek up to northern Norway but before you get close to Nordkapp, which is commonly promoted as “the most northern settlement in continental Europe”, stay over for a night or two in the small town of Bodø, and then rather take the ferry to the Lofoten Islands. You won’t regret it!

Get to Bodø via plane, or via the coastal voyage, the Hurtigruta boat, which should be a great trip. I took the plane from Bergen on the southwest coast to Bodø and then the ferry over to Moskenes.

Ferry from Moskenes to Bodo, Lofoten Islands, Norway
Ferry from Moskenes to Bodø, Lofoten Islands, Norway

From Bodø the ferry takes about 4 hours to Moskenes in the southern part of the Lofoten Islands. Once you get to Moskenes, take the 30-minutes walk down the scenic and winding road to the small fishing village simply called Å (pronounced “O”, with a population of about 150 people). Alternatively, hitch a ride which should take 10 minutes by car.

Å lies comfortably at the southern end of Moskenes Island of the Lofoten Islands, about 150km north of the Arctic Circle.

Moskenes, Southern Lofoten Islands, Norway
Moskenes, Southern Lofoten Islands, Norway

There are a few small fishing villages around the islands, some of which have been abandoned since the 1950s. Inhabitants are mainly fishermen (and increasingly tourism) living off their exports of dried codfish (“stockfish”) which are exported to Italy and Portugal. Stockfish is unsalted fish dried by the sun and wind on wooden racks on the foreshore called flakes, or in special drying houses. Apparently, the heads are sent down to Africa where they are regarded as a high priced delicacy. 

Stockfish, Reine, Lofoten Islands, Norway
Stockfish, Reine, Lofoten Islands, Norway

Much of the land area of the Lofoten Islands is uninhabited due to the high snow-covered mountains. Literally thousands of waterfalls across the magnificent fjords cascade down into the turquoise streams and rivers.  Spring-time is probably the best time to visit as the snow on the high mountains is melting under the warming sun. However, glaciers abound as lots of ice on the mountains never melt.

Lake Agvatnet near Village of Å on Lofoten Islands, Norway
Lake Agvatnet near Village of Å on Lofoten Islands, Norway

Most people on the islands live in small red-painted Rorbu (fisherman’s cabins) at the foot of the mountains. However, during the warmer months of summer, the population swells with adventure-seeking tourists from around Norway and Europe. Accommodation is limited so to avoid the rush, visit early or late in the season.

Fishermen cleaning their daily catch on Lofoten Islands, Norway
Fishermen cleaning their daily catch on Lofoten Islands, Norway
Reinefjorden near Reine, Lofoten Islands, Norway
Reinefjorden near Reine, Lofoten Islands, Norway

No less than 2.5 million nesting birds make Lofoten Islands a bird watcher’s and photographer’s paradise. These include nesting colonies of cormorants, grey herons, Atlantic puffins, and white-tailed eagles. I spent one rainy afternoon for about 3 hours just waiting to photograph a nesting American oystercatcher. It sure was worth the wait in the drizzling rain.

Oyster catcher near the village of Å, Lofoten Islands, Norway
Oystercatcher near the village of Å, Lofoten Islands, Norway
Kittiwakes at the village of Å, Lofoten Islands, Norway
Kittiwakes at the village of Å, Lofoten Islands, Norway

Hire a bicycle and cycle all over the islands. Roads are excellent and where it ends, take a boat, or pitch your tent. Lovely small-boat day trips leave from the village of Reine, just north of Moskenes, around the nearby lakes which offer spectacular views of the lakes, mountains, and tiny communities along the turquoise waters.

Reine, Lofoten Islands, Norway
Reine, Lofoten Islands, Norway

Go in summer, and you will see the midnight sun (or midnight fog). Go in winter, and its a very dark place – of hours on end! Lofoten Islands is an amazing place and a true gem! You will never regret your decision to visit. 

Near Reinefjorden, Lofoten Islands, Norway
Near Reinefjorden, Lofoten Islands, Norway
Along the rugged coast of the Lofoten Islands, Norway
Along the rugged coast of the Lofoten Islands, Norway


Please Pin me on Pinterest
Pinterest-Norway-Lofoten-Islands

Hey, check out these posts too

Leave a Comment

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Accept Read More

Privacy & Cookies Policy