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The Lofoten Islands are a stunning area of Northern Norway and were one of my favorite trips ever. I cannot recommend a visit there enough. It’s a dream trip for nature lovers, hikers, Northern Lights chases & more.
I’ve put together my ultimate Lofoten Islands Itinerary below. I recommend spending at least 2 days in Lofoten to see the highlights, but given the level of effort to get there, 3 days would be my recommendation. This itinerary breaks it out by day, if you have 2 days prioritize days 1 & 2, and if you have a 3rd use that itinerary!
If you want to experience many of the hikes Lofoten has to offer you’ll need to add probably an extra day per hike you want to do, so your trip could easily spread to a week or more.
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
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!
How to Get to the Lofoten Islands
Lofoten is a bit of a hike to get to, but it’s so worth the trip! Lofoten is far north in Norway, and requires a flight from most other major cities in Norway. There are three different airports you can fly to to get to Lofoten, and a fourth you can fly to then take a ferry to Lofoten.
Once you land at any of these airports you’ll definitely need to recommend a car to get around. I use Discover Cars to compare prices across different providers to find the best deal!
Leknes Lufthavn (LVN) or Svolvær Lufthavn (SVJ)
If you can I highly recommend flying into Leknes or Svolvær, these two airports are smaller, so they tend to have less flights and can be more expensive, but they are by far the most convenient. Leknes and Svolvær are two of the main towns of Lofoten, so this will save you a lot of travel from landing to whichever part of Lofoten you choose to stay in.
Harstad/Narvik Airport, Evenes (EVE)
Harstard/Narvik is where I flew into, it had way more flight options than Leknes or Svolvær, but it’s a FAR drive from Harstad to the most popular towns in Lofoten, particularly in the winter. I was staying in Leknes and the drive is meant to be 3 hours and 45 minutes, it probably took closer to 5 hours in the winter. If you opt to stay in Svolvær it’s about an hour shorter.
Bodø Airport (BOO)
Another option is to fly to Bodø and then take the car ferry to Moskenes (one of the farthest southern towns of the Lofoten Islands) The ferry is about 3-4 hours long, so this is a longer option, and is more convenient if you’re going to be spending time in Bodø and then want to get to Lofoten.
Driving in Lofoten
To explore Lofoten you really need a rental car. The region is fairly remote, and the main sites and towns are not easily accessed via public transport. Driving was fairly straighforward in Lofoten, and the roads were well maintained even in the winter. You can rent a car at any of the four airports noted above.
A few things to note about 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
Lofoten Islands Map
Where to Stay in Lofoten
My top recommendation is to stay in Leknes! Leknes is very centrally located in Lofoten and allows you to explore the rest of Lofoten fairly conveniently. Leknes is also one of the bigger towns in Lofoten, meaning there are more accommodations, restaurants, stores, etc.
I loved Leknes because there were so many amenities, but also if you drive about 5 minutes from the small downtown area, you’re back in one of the most stunning areas of Lofoten, so it still feels really remote.
It’s also an AMAZING place to see the nothern lights! I saw them all 3 nights I was in Lofoten and they were absolutely unreal.
I have a full article on other options of where to stay in Lofoten here!
Lofoten Basecamp
I stayed at Lofoten Basecamp and cannot recommend it enough hese 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!
This was also so not expensive! I paid $335 for 3 nights in March.
Day 1: Explore Lofoten’s Fishing Villages & Beaches
For your first day I recommend getting an early start and heading south from Leknes to see the highlights in that direction!
Stop 1: Nusfjord
First stop is the charming preserved fishing village of Nusfjord. This spot is tiny, but worth the stop. The views on the drive in alone are absolutely breathtaking.
Once you arrive there is free parking, you will need to pay to explore the small village, which is sort of like an open-air museum. It doesn’t take long to explore the small harbor, so you likely won’t need more than an hour or so here!
Stop 2: Skagsanden Beach
Next stop is one of Lofoten’s most popular beaches. Skagsanden Beach is one of the most well-known surfing beaches in Lofoten.It’s a stunning place to stop.
Parking is free at Skagsanden!
Stop 3: Ramberg Beach
This was one of my favorite stops on my Lofoten road trip! Ramberg Beach is not far from Skagsanden . The mountain views from Ramberg were absolutely incredible, and I couldn’t believe how blue the water looked, if it wsan’t for the snow I would have though I was in the caribbean!
Parking is free at Ramberg!
Stop 4: Hamnøy
Hamnøy is Lofoten’s most picturesque fishing village in my opinion (and there are a lot of cute ones to choose from!) The best viewpoint from Hamnøy is actually the bridge leaving Hamnøy, you can’t stop or park on the bridge, so you need to park in the town and walk up to the bridge.
Hamnøy is another small town, so you don’t need long to explore!
Stop 5: Sakrisøya
This tiny stop between Hamnøy & Reine is so picturesque, the water is so blue, and the views of Reine with the moutnains in the backdrop are the best from here!
Stop 6: Reine
Reine is one of the most popular villages in Lofoten (and the starting point for many of Lofoten’s epic hikes) It’s another picturesque fishing village that’s fun to explore. There are also some good places to grab lunch here, I’d try Tapperiet Bistro!
Stop 7: Å
If you have time (and daylight) for one last stop you can drive all the way down to Å, but if you’re short on time I’d recommend skippig this stop, as it’s very similar to many of the other fishing villages.
If you do have time it’s a cute little village that’s the last area of Lofoten you can drive to!
Head Back to Leknes for Dinner
Head back to Leknes for dinner, and if you’re visiting from October-March spend the night looking for the Northern Lights. Leknes is remote enough that you can see the Northern Lights from pretty much anywhere!
Best Restaurants in Leknes
- Digg Lofoten
- Lille Milano Pizza
- Lofoten Bakeri
- Makalaus
Day 2: Henningsvær, Svolvær & Trollfjord
For your second day in Lofoten head North from Leknes to Svolvær, the unofficial capital of Lofoten. On your way stop in trendy Henningsvær. Spend your afternoon taking a cruise to the epic Trollfjord from Svolvær.
Morning: Explore Lofoten’s Trendiest Village – 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. This is a great place to spend a morning!
Lunch: Svolvær
After exploring Henningsvær drive to Svolvær. I had heard this area was the least picturesque of Lofoten, but I couldn’t disagree more. I found the harbor area so charming. There were also a bunch of restaurants with patios overlooking the harbor that were a great spot to have lunch!
I recommend grabbing lunch or drinks at Bacalao or Paleo Arctic
Afternoon: 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!
Day 3: Discover Lofoten’s Epic Hiking
If you have a 3rd (or 4th or 5th) day in Lofoten, I recommend exploring one of Lofoten’s many amazing hikes. The mountain views are unreal from everywhere in Lofoten, but the views from above are breathtaking.
Lofoten BucketList Hikes:
- Reinebringen
- Hermannsdalstinden
- Helvetestinden
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!
