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The Lofoten Islands are one of the most stunning places I’ve ever visited in my life. I cannot recommend a trip there enough. Lofoten is an archipelago in northern Norway. The area is fairly remote but there are a series of towns and fishing villages. I spent 4 days exploring Lofoten & it’s postcard-esque towns. Keep reading below for my recommendations on where to stay in Lofoten based on the type of accommodation and area you’re looking for!
Below I’ve highlighted the 7 main towns in Lofoten, they all offer a variety of accomodations depending on what you’re looking for! I highly recommend renting a car for visiting Lofoten, and visiting all of them no matter where you stay! Renting a car is really the only way to get around and see the highlights of Lofoten. You can view options for rentals and compare prices here!
7 Best Towns Lofoten Islands
- Leknes – best overall
- Svolvær – best for restaurants, convenience to guided tours & Lofoten airports
- Hamnøy – best for a picturesque, remote stay
- Reine – best for proximity to hikes
- Henningsvær – best for boutique hotels, trendy restaurants & cafes + art galleries
- Nusfjord – best for authentic fishing village vibes
- Å -best for avoiding the crowds
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!
Lofoten Islands Map
Planning a Lofoten adventure? Check out my Lofoten Islands Travel Guide with details on best things to do, getting around, how to get there & more
Leknes
Leknes would be my top recommendation on where to stay in Lofoten. It’s centrally located within the Lofoten Islands, has some of the most epic views in Lofoten, offers a variety of accommodations, and the small downtown area has a good selection of restaurants, cafes & grocery stores.
I spent 3 night in Leknes and loved the convenience of driving 5 minutes to restaurants, but still staying in a traditional fisherman’s cabin, seeing the Northern Lights & enjoying Lofoten’s remoteness and natural beauty!
Where to Stay in Leknes
Lofoten Basecamp
I absolutely loved my stay at Lofoten Basecamp, these converted fishing cabins were so cozy, had ocean & mountain views, were a great place to see the Northern Lights, but also were only 5 minutes from Leknes center where the shops and restaurants were. It really was the best of both worlds!
The cabins were simple (as expected) but they were comfortable, and exactly what I was looking for. They also had a stunning oceanside sauna.
This was also so not expensive! I paid $335 for 3 nights in March. I would absolutely stay here again if I was going back to Lofoten.
Best Restaurants Leknes
- Digg Lofoten
- Lille Milano Pizza
- Lofoten Bakeri
- Makalaus
Svolvær
The unofficial “capital” of Lofoten, Svolvær is the largest city in Lofoten. I had read on many websites that it is the least picturesque, but I couldn’t disagree more. I found the harbor to be stunnign, and golden/blue hour in Svolvær were some of the most stunning views of my trip.
Staying in Svolvær is convenient if you’re looking for the most restaurant optoins, proximity to the airport (if you’re flying into Svolvær), it’s also closest to many activities and tours. Plus, it offers the most accommodation options as the biggest town in Lofoten! It’s not as quiet or remote as the other towns on this list!
Where to Stay in Svolvær
Anker Brygge
Want to stay in a traditonal fisherman’s hut but still be in a convenient location with restaurants and other ameniities? Anker Brygge has the best of both worlds. These traditional cottages are refurbished and upscale on the inside, while retaining their traditional look on the outside. You’ll be on an archipelago in Svolvær’s harbor that feels quiet and secluded, but you’re only a 500 foot walk from the main harbor and a variety of restaurants and bars!
Thon Hotel Lofoten
If you’re looking for a more modern hotel and are all set on sleeping in a fishing cabin. Thon Hotel Lofoten is modern, upscale, and located right on the harbor right near all the popular bars and restaurants! This hotel features an on-site bar and upscale seafood restaurant.
Best Restaurants Svolvær
- Paleo Arctic
- Fellni
- Bacalao
- Restaurant the Kitchen
Hamnøy
I thoght Hamnøy was the most picturesque of the villages in Lofoten! I could not stop taking photos here. Hamnøy is a tiny fishing village, and if you’re looking for an authentic Lofoten experience, and are ok with there not being many things close by in terms of restaurants, etc. Hamnøy is the perfect place to stay!
Where to Stay in Hamnøy
If you’re ok with staying in one of the more remote, but insanely picturesque areas of Lofoten, I’d opt for Eliassen Rorbuer in Hamnøy. This town was so incredibly stunning. This hotel offers renovated fishing cottages with private kitchens, but also conveniently offers an on-site restaurant (there’s not a ton of other options in Hamnøy for restaurants)
Reine
One of the most popular (and instagrammable) towns in Lofoten, Reine, is another picturesque fishing village with tons of refurbished rorbuer (traditional fishing cabins.) Reine is also the starting point for many popular Lofoten hikes, making this area a great option if you’re planning to do some of the nearby hikes.
Henningsvær
Henningsvær is Lofoten’s trendiest village. It’s a traditional fishing village that in recent years has become scattered with chic cafes, trendy art galleries, boutique hotels and some of Lofoten’s best restaurants.
Henningsvær is a bit off the beaten path, so staying there can be slightly inconvenient for visitng other areas of Lofoten, but they do have some cute boutique stays if that’s what you’re looking for and you don’t mind a little extra driving.
Best Restaurants in Henningsvær
- Vind Brasserie
- Klatrekaféen
- Fiskekrogen
Nusfjord
Historic Nusfjord is another popular village in Lofoten. This well preserved fishing village is now a sort of open-aired museum. You’ll need to pay a few dollars to explore the tiny village. You also have the opportunity to stay here in a traditional fishing cabin if you want! I personally wouldn’t choose to stay here as it’s so small and a bit out of the way for visting other areas of Lofoten. I highly recommend visiting though, it can easily be explored in a few hours or less!
If you’re interested in staying check out the Nusfjord Village & Resort here for prices and availability!
Å
One of the southernmost points of Lofoten is the fishing village of Å, pronounced aw, after this point Lofoten is not accessible by car. This tiny town has a Norwegian Fishing Village Museum and a great bakery! I don’t recommend staying here personally as it’s far from many of the other main attractions of Lofoten, but it is worth a visit!
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!
