Visiting the Lofoten Islands in Norway: A Complete 2023 Travel Guide

Have you ever considered visiting the Lofoten Islands in Norway? Maybe they weren't on your radar, or perhaps you haven't even heard of them at all. Well, that's all going to change now, because these are some of the most underrated islands on the planet!

We had seen pictures before, but never really had anyone we knew visiting the Lofoten Islands ever. But as we love experiencing places off-the-beaten-path, we knew that we had to add this unique archipelago to our bucket list.

We spent 5 incredible days visiting the Lofoten Islands, and can say it was even better than we had ever imagined! How do you get to the Lofoten Islands? What is there is to there? And how many days do you need in the Lofoten Islands? Well, don't worry- we've got you covered. Here is everything you need to know about visiting the Lofoten Islands.

📍 Where are the Lofoten Islands Located?

The Lofoten Islands are an island archipelago that are located in the north of Norway near the Arctic Circle. The seven main islands are all linked together by bridges, making a large land mass of 474 square miles (1,227 square km).

Entry Requirements for Visiting the Lofoten Islands in Norway

When traveling anywhere new, it's important to know if there are any special documents or vaccines necessary in order to enter. Here are the entry requirements for visiting the Lofoten Islands in Norway.

🛂 Visa Entry Requirements for Norway

The Lofoten Islands have the same entry requirements as the rest of Norway. As Norway is part of the EU and the Schengen Zone, they have the same rules and regulations as the other countries in this area.

Even if you are coming from another EU country though, Norway does require everyone to go through customs, unlike most other European countries within the EU.

The 90/180 Rule

All countries that belong to the Schengen Zone have free travel amongst one another. That means that tourists can have 90 days to travel in the Schengen Zone. This is important to know, because if you spend time in another country in the Schengen Zone before Norway, you will have to subtract those days of allowance.

For example, you plan on spending 1 month (30 days) in Spain, you will then have a limit of 60 days to spend in Norway. After leaving Norway, if you have used all 90 days, you will have to spend 90 days outside of any Schengen country before being able to re-enter. The 90/180 rule states that you can spend 90 days within a 180-day period.

We spend a lot of time in Europe, so we always use the Schengen Visa Calculator to make sure that we don't overstay. (It is a serious offense if you even spend 91 days in 180 day period, so it is crucial you make sure to stay in compliance).

💉 Vaccine Requirements for Norway

There are no vaccination requirements for Norway.

Things to Do While Visiting the Lofoten Islands in Norway

Now that you know almost everything you need to know about visiting the Lofoten Islands in Norway, here are the best things to do in the area.

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🥾 Things to Do in the Lofoten Islands #1: Experience the Epic Hikes

The Lofoten Islands seriously has to have some of the most stunning hikes in the entire world! Being that there are so many islands and the area is so mountainous, the views from above usually feature a lot of tiny islands, turquoise waters, and breathtaking peaks in the background. 

In the south of Norway, all of the hikes are very long. However, the ones in the Lofoten Islands are always shorter, and steeper. So while they can be a little intense, the good thing is that most of them don't take more than an hour or two each way.

There are an endless amount of hikes in this area, so we actually just narrowed it down to some of our favorites for you to check out. Make sure to check out our full Lofoten Islands hiking guide to see some of the top hikes in the area!

🏖 Things to Do in the Lofoten Islands #2: Visit the Gorgeous Beaches

You wouldn't think that the beaches would be a highlight while visiting the Arctic Circle, but the Lofoten Islands has some seriously stunning beaches!

Imagine Caribbean-style beaches with white sand and turquoise waters, but with mountains surrounding them. It is seriously what dreams are made of! Here are a few of our favorites to add to your list:

• Hauklandstranda: next to the popular Mannen hike overlooking the beach, but can be accessed via car

• Uttakleiv Strand: on the other side of the mountain from Hauklandstranda, which can be accessed via a parking lot, or walking along the seaside trail from Hauklandstranda

• Kvalvika: can be accessed via hike on a couple of different paths, typically paired with hiking Ryten

• Bunes: secluded beach accessed via hike from Vindstad
• Horseid: a more demanding hike than Bunes, but one of the most beautiful beaches
• Rambergstranda: has an iconic red shed in front of it

Rambergstranda

• Rorvikstranda: tiny beach between mountains with crystal clear waters
• Folvika: a beautiful beach we found along the side of the road

🏘 Things to Do in the Lofoten Islands #3: Roam the Adorable Towns

As if the hikes and the beaches aren't enough to make you fall in love the Lofoten Islands in Norway, the adorable towns will take the cake here.

The Lofoten Islands doesn't have big cities, but is comprised by a ton of different villages.

One is seriously more charming than the next. You won't find big malls, fast food chains, or commercial brands here. You will only find handmade crafts, high quality eateries, and the most beautiful buildings. Here are some our favorite towns to visiting in the Lofoten Islands:

Å

This town doesn't only have the shortest name in the world, but it may just be one of the smallest and cutest places you'll witness. Located all the way at the southern tip of the Lofoten Islands, it is characterized by its typical red cabins along the coast.

Hamnoy

If the Lofoten Islands could be summed up into one photo, it would be the perfectly picturesque fishing village of Hamnoy. 

The tiny island connected by a bridge has red buildings perched along the coast of it, with gorgeous mountain views around it. The village is best appreciated from the bridge leading up to it, which is pretty much where you'll get the view from the photo below (we flew our drone to get this shot though).

Nusfjord

While Å and Hamnoy have those seemingly picturesque red cabins, Nusfjord has a stunning contrast of both bright yellow and red cabins around it. The fishing village is around one big boardwalk, where you'll feel as if you've just walked into a movie scene.

As a bonus, there is a viewpoint you can hike up to to get beautiful views of the fishing village! We unfortunately couldn't find it, and visited at 3 am, so we suggest asking a local to find it.

Reine

This is the town where you can experience the incredible Reinebringen hike, with some of the best views in the Lofoten Islands!

Make sure to check out the view from the parking lot entering the town, and pay a visit to the small cafe they have there.

Hennisvaer

This is hands-down our favorite village in the Lofoten Islands, and is where you can find the famous soccer field!

We visited an adorable cafe, had an incredible lunch, took epic drone shots, went hiking, and finished off our perfect day at a karaoke bar in town. Hennisvaer may be tiny, but it has a ton to offer, and shouldn't be missed if you are visiting the Lofoten Islands in Norway!

Svolvaer

This is the northern-most town in the Lofoten Islands in Norway, and is a super cute seaside town. It is the perfect place to grab a bite along the water, and base yourself for a day or two. It is also where you can find the most hotels, transportation options, and tours to experience the northern part of the Lofoten Islands.

🛳 Things to Do in the Lofoten Islands #4: Cruise the Islands

There are so many islands in this archipelago, and what better way to experience the island chain than by boat! There are several cruises to choose from sunset cruises to luxury yachts with hot tubs and kayaks for rent.

Here are a few different cruises you can choose from:

🚣🏻‍♀️ Things to Do in the Lofoten Islands #5: Go on a Kayaking Tour

Want to explore the Lofoten Islands in Norway by sea but want something more adventurous than a boat tour? There are epic kayak tours that allow you to stay active while having a unique perspective of the islands from the water, while learning all about the area.

Here area few kayak tours that we've found:

🐟 Things to Do in the Lofoten Islands #6: Learn About the Fishing Culture

Being located in the Arctic Circle, you can imagine that the weather doesn't permit a lot of agriculture. However, the Lofoten Islands are blessed with a ton of marine life! The fishing culture in the Lofoten Islands is very prevalent, and has been a living for many since 6,000 years ago!

One of the most popular snacks in Scandinavia is Lutefisk, which is fish that is salted a dried outside. You'll actually find large racks of fish drying all over the Lofoten Islands! While we weren't a huge fan of the snack, we definitely thought this was something super unique, and definitely worth learning about.

Visit the Lofoten Stockfish Museum and you can get an insight to the history behind the fishing culture in the Lofoten Islands.

🎣 Things to Do in the Lofoten Islands #7: Try a Fishing Tour

As fishing is such a big part of life in the Lofoten Islands, it's no surprise that experiencing it yourself should be aded to the list! These are no ordinary fishing trips though- they are luxury fishing trips that tour you around the Lofoten Islands, and whatever you catch is cooked and served for dinner.

📸 Things to Do in the Lofoten Islands #8: Go on a Photo Tour

The Lofoten Islands just may be one of the most photogenic places in the entire world. Striking mountain formations, turquoise waters, and bright red and yellow sheds dotting the road will make you feel like you've jumped into a fairytale.

As professional photographers ourselves, the best souvenirs that we got from this trip were the memories we got to capture on our camera.

Not everyone visiting the Lofoten Islands will have professional photography equipment, but you definitely won't want to miss out on the great opportunities here! Well, there are actually tours that will take you around some of the most stunning spots and get pictures for you!

Here are some of the photography tours that we found in the Lofoten Islands:

☀️ Things to Do in the Lofoten Islands #9: Enjoy the Midnight Sun

Did you know that in the Lofoten Islands in the summertime experience 24 hours of sunlight? This crazy phenomenon is called the Midnight Sun, and it is a true photographer's dream. The sun starts to set around 10 pm, but it never truly sets. It actually just sits at the horizon for hours, making it look like the sun is setting for hours! Then before you know it, (around 2 or 3 am) the sun starts to rise again.

Pretty much, it never gets dark, and the sky is full of colors for several hours throughout the night. It's for this reason that we decided to actually flop our sleep schedule, and do all of our hikes in the middle of the night. We were able to escape the crowds, and get pretty epic pictures for all 4 nights that we spent there.

While switching your sleep schedule isn't easy, and definitely not for everyone, we really do suggest at least spending one night stay up through the whole phenomenon, as it's extremely unique and beautiful.

🌌 Things to Do in the Lofoten Islands #10: Experience the Northern Lights

The Northern Lights are another incredible phenomenon that only this area of the world gets to experience. Watch the night sky dance with incredible hues of greens, yellows, and blues, contrasting the bright stars in the sky. This is truly something to add to your bucket list, and one of the top reasons for visiting the Lofoten Islands.

When Can You See Northern Lights in Lofoten?

If you plan on visiting the Lofoten Islands in the summer, you won't be able to experience the Northern Lights. However, if you plan on visiting from September to April, you will have a great chance of seeing them!

We got to experience the Midnight Sun, but now have another reason for visiting the Lofoten Islands again in the future, which will surely have to be during the winter months.

Here are some Lofoten Islands tours to see the Northern Lights:

Visiting the Lofoten Islands in Norway: Local Food & Drink

Being located in the Arctic circle, you can imagine that there isn't a ton of agriculture going on. The cuisine of the Lofoten Islands relies heavy on its marine life, and is light, tasty, and sophisticated.

🍤 Local Foods to Try in the Lofoten Islands

• Fiskesuppe: fish soup is perfect to warm you up from the cold, and is creamy to keep you full for those hiking adventures
• Lutefisk: dried and salted fish snack
• Whale: a pretty controversial one, but is definitely a must-try! It tastes like a hybrid between steak and tuna
• Reindeer: it actually doesn't taste anything like regular deer, and it must more tender and tasty!
• Cinnamon buns: our go-to for breakfast, Norway just does them better. (Rather tan rolling them, they actually braid the dough.)
• Havrebolle: a flax seed and chocolate ball covered in shredded coconut

🍴 Favorite Restaurants in the Lofoten Islands, Norway

We're going to be honest- we didn't experience a ton of restaurants while in the Lofoten Islands, as it really is so expensive to eat out there! We did have a few meals out though, and have a few recommendations to check out around the Lofoten Islands:

• Eliassen Rorbuer: part of a hotel, it's right on the water, and is stunning inside and out
• Bringen: a cozy coffee spot in the town of Reine
• Henningsvaer Lysstoperi og Cafe: our favorite breakfast spot with great pastries, plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, and adorable decor
• Restaurant Den Bla Fisk: the restaurant where we tried whale - outstanding quality and a super cozy spot
• Anita's Seafood: a local favorite for seafood

Where to Stay While Visiting the Lofoten Islands in Norway

When we were visiting the Lofoten Islands, we actually stayed in our car, so we slept in a different spot every night. Wild camping in Norway is completely normal, and is also a great way to save on accommodation.

We would say the number one option is the rent a camper van, so that you can wake up right in nature, and move around each day. As there were no camper vans left, we opted to rent a car and camp, which we also loved.

📍 The Best Areas to Stay in the Lofoten Islands

If you are looking for a more comfortable stay, some of the best areas to base yourselves are Svolvaer, Reine, Ballstadand, Hennisvaer.

All three of these towns are adorable, walkable, and have plenty of restaurants and shops. Our personal favorite is Hennisvaer, as it had our favorite restaurants, an iconic soccer field, and a really fun bar for going out at night.

Look for a place to stay in the Lofoten Islands: 

Other Things to Know About Visiting the Lofoten Islands in Norway

Now you know almost everything you need to know for visiting the Lofoten Islands in Norway! Here are a few other important things to keep in mind.

☀️ Weather in Lofoten

Being located in the Arctic Circle, the Lofoten Islands are one of the coldest places on the planet! They also have extreme hours of sunlight and darkness, as they have 24 hours of sunlight in the summer, and 24 of darkness in the winter.

The Lofoten Islands experience a lot of snow in the winter, and can even get winter as late as May or June, and as early as September or October.

How Hot is Lofoten in Summer?

In the height of summer the Lofoten Islands in Norway can reach relatively warmer temperatures if it is sunny out, averaging around the high fifties Fahrenheit (15 degrees Celsius) during the day. The nights are always pretty cool, and can dip down to 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius).

📆 The Best Time to Visit the Lofoten Islands in Norway

The best time to visit to Lofoten Islands really depends on what kind of experience you are looking for. The best time to go skiing is from mid February/March to May, and the best time to visit for optimal sunshine is in July. July is definitely the busiest though, so if you want to escape the crowds but still be able to experience all of the great hikes, then we would suggest visiting in either June or September. 

Being located near the North Pole, the Lofoten Islands are also one of the most magical places to experience Christmas, as well as the Northern Lights. Starting in mid-late November and going through December is a great time for visiting the Lofoten Islands to experience the holiday festivities.

The worst month to visit the Lofoten Islands is in January, as it is dark 24 hours, it is extremely cold, and even the locals try to escape, leaving the area sad and empty. Other than that, there is always a great reason to visit this magical area of Norway!

🎒 How to Pack For a Trip to the Lofoten Islands in Norway

Here are some of the things we suggest to pack for visiting the Lofoten Islands:

• Sunscreen (even if it isn't too hot)
• Sunglasses
• Hat (to keep you warm)
• Reusable Water Bottle (we use this water bottle from Cafago because it holds the temperature well)
• Flip Flops for the beaches (we personally always get Havaiana flip flops, as they are comfy and long lasting) 
• Hiking boots or sneakers (for all of the hikes)
• Layers! It gets very cold even in the summer at night
• Small backpack (to take on the hikes) - take a look at these backpacks for travelers!
• Power Bank (we use Anker power banks, as they are super long lasting and sturdy)
• Drone - it's a must for epic photography! (We use the Mavic Mini 4 Pro, but you may want to consider the DJI Mavic 3 Pro as the winds are intense)
• Action Camera (we use the Insta 360 X3 because it's small & can be used with the extra long selfie stick to substitute a drone where it's not welcome)
• Case Mate waterproof Phone Pouch (we use the Cafago Waterproof Phone Pouch)
• Travel Adapter (we use Insignia travel adapters as they are affordable and reliable)
• Protein bars to power through hikes (also two save on a ton of expensive meals)
• Eye mask (to wear to sleep in the summer)
• Towel or blanket to put down at the top of hikes

🤔 Is it Worth Visiting the Lofoten Islands in Norway?

We can't stress enough how incredible it was visiting the Lofoten Islands. They are a nature and hiker-lover's dream destination, and everywhere you turn you will be in awe.

They are certainly expensive, and can be pretty cold, but don't let that stop you from experiencing this incredible spot on Earth! The Lofoten Islands are truly one of the most pristine and stunning location locations on the planet, and definitely one to add to the bucket list.

⏳ How Long Should You Spend in Lofoten Islands?

Many people say you can spend 2 days in the Lofoten Islands, and that it's enough. We spent a full 4 days there, and didn't get to do everything that we had planned! If you'd like to just see the highlights and do a hike or two, then you can see a lot in just a few days.

However, if you plan on doing a variety of hikes, and visiting the nearby islands like Vaeroy, we would definitely suggest between 5-7 days visiting the Lofoten Islands.

So are you ready to discover the incredible Lofoten Islands in Norway? This is one of the most stunning areas of the planet and we know you'll love them just as much as we did!

Want to know what else to do while you’re in Norway? Make sure to check out our other Norway travel guides, and make sure to subscribe to our newsletter to stay in the know about other upcoming related articles. 

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