10 Best Things to do in Lofoten Islands: Fjords, Fishing Villages & Arctic Adventures

The Lofoten Islands was one of my favorite trips from last year. This outdoorsy lovers haven in Northern Norway is an amazing trip for anyone who loves hiking, adventure, mountains, sunsets, skiiing, kayaaking, northern lights chasing & more. There are so many amazing things to do in the Lofoten Islands it can be hard to narrow down, but I’ve compiled my top 12 recommendations for you below!

For most of the 12 best things to do in Lofoten listed below you’ll need a car (it’s pretty essential for exploring all Lofoten has ot offer)

Disclaimer: This article contains some links where I earn commission through booking. There is no extra cost to you, and I only recommend things I’ve used and love or places I’ve stayed and enjoyed!

Need more help planning your Lofoten Adventure? Check out my fullLofoten Islands travel guide here for tips on getting to Lofoten, where to stay, best restaurants, getting around & more!

Renting a Car in Lofoten

As I mentioned above, for much of this list you’ll need a car. I rented one from the Harstad airport when I landed! I like to compare prices on Discover Cars to make sure I”m geting the best deal. Check prices and availability here!

Some tips for driving in Norway:

• headlights must always be on, it’s the law
• speeding fines are some of the highest in Europe and there are speed traps everywhere
• the legal limit for drinking and driving is .02% – this is super low and even one drink at dinner can put you over the limit
• use of phones while driving is also subject to high fines
• gas stations are really sparse on the stretch between Harstad until you get deep into the Lofoten islands, make sure you fill up before you leave Lofoten or before you leave Harstad. I almost ran out of gas on my way back from Leknes –> Lofoten

1. Roadtrip & Enjoy the Views

Lofoten is absolutely breathtaking, and one of the very best ways to experience that is exploring via car. You’ll want to pull over constantly. You can drive from Svolvær all the way down to Å to experience some of the best views.

2. Visit the Charming Fishing Villages of Reine, Hamnøy & Sakrisøya

These three fishing villages are the most scenic and Lofoten and are all located in a row on the more southern tip of Lofoten. Spend some time exploring each and taking in the views! There are some good restaurants in Reine to grab lunch if you’re roadtripping!

• Underhuset
• Tapperiet Bistro
• Anita’s Sjømat

3. Cruise to the Trollfjord

Exploring Lofoten by water was one of my favorite experiences! Taking the cruise from Svolvær to the Trollfjord was one of the best parts of my trip. The views of the mountains and the fjords from the water were unreal, and the remote trollfjord feels like something out of a Lord of the Rings movie.

I did an afternoon ride that ended with sunset and it was some of the best views I had on my Lofoten trip. The sunset was incredible. The cruise is about 3 and a half hours and cost $120 per person. I cannot recommend this tour enough!

4. Wander Historic Nusfjord

Nusfjord is a preserved fishing village that’s been turned into an open-air museum for visitors to explore. It’s small and can be explored in an hour or so, but it’s worth the trip. The drive into the village is stunning and the harbor nestled in the mountains is so picturesque! It’s only a few dollars to visit!

5. Explore the Stunning Beaches of Lofoten

I was not expecting Lofoten to have so many gorgeous beaches! Lofoten is super popular for surfing (summer and winter) and in the summer the beaches almost look tropical, although the water is still freezing! Some of the best beaches to visit in Lofoten:

• Ramberg Beach
• Skagsanden Beach
• Haukland Beach
• Eggum Beach
• Unstad Beach
• Kvalvika Beach – requries a 90 minute hike in!

6. Visit Trendy Henningsvær

Henningsvær is filled with amazing cafes, trendy art galleries, a few great restaurants, and boutique hotels all while managing to retain it’s old-school fishing village town feel. This is a great place to spend a morning and exploring and grab lunch.

Best Restaurants:

• Vind Brasserie
• Klatrekaféen
• Fiskekrogen

7. Discover Lofoten’s Scenic Hikes

Lofoten is a hikers dream! I visited solo and in the winter, so I didn’t do too much hiking. I’m not comfortable enough hiking solo to do any long winter hikes! I did tons of reasearch in advance in case I ever go back for a summer trip!

Lofoten BucketList Hikes:

• Reinebringen
• Hermannsdalstinden
• Helvetestinden

8. Chase the Northern Lights

(Oct-April)

If you’re visiting Lofoten between October and April you have a good chance of seeing the Northern Lights. Lofoten sits above the arctic circle, giving you a really good chance of seeing the Northern Lights. I saw them all 3 nights I was in Lofoten, it was absolutely unreal!

Lofoten is super remote, so you generally don’t have to go far to see them, even in the towns in Lofoten it was dark enough to see the Northern Lights vs having to drive out into the country side.

Tips for Chasing the Northern Lights

To see the Northern Lights you need two things 1. active solar activity & 2. a clear sky. There are 2 apps that were super helpful for Northern Lights Chasing:

• Hello Aurora – this will give you a % chance of seeing the aurora, cloud covet details, aurora strength (you want low clouds, high strength!) plus more technical details. BUT the best part is others nearby can share photos of the aurora with their general location on a map! You may be able to drive only a few miles and see the lights!
• Aurora – this app is similar it will give you a chance of seeing the lights by time frame (I found this app easier to understand than Hello Aurora) but recommend having both for the others sharing photos in the Hello Aurora app!

9. Explore Lofoten by Kayak

Getting out on the water is one of the best things to do in Lofoten. There are tons of kayaking tours for all seasons. In the summer you can enjoy a midnight sun kayak tour and in the winter you can do a winter kayaking tour.

10. Experience Nordic Cafe Culture

Cafe culture was one of my favorite parts of Norway. Lofoten is dotted with tons of coffee shops that are cozy, relaxing, have amazing coffee, and unreal cinammon rolls. Some of my favorites were

• Leknes – Lofoten Bakeri
• Leknes
• Å – Museumskafè
• Svolvær – Duus Matverk
  

Planning a Lofoten Adventure?

Need help planning the rest of your Lofoten trip? I got you covered with tons of Lofoten guides and reccs below!

• Getting to Lofoten
• Where to Stay – Best 7 Towns in Lofoten
• Ultimate Lofoten Islands Itinerary
• Best Restaurants in Lofoten