The Lofoten Islands are one of the most stunning areas of Norway. This is where majestic mountains meet brilliantly white sandy beaches, fishing villages dot the coastlines, and hiking trails criss-cross their way through some of the most breathtaking landscapes in Europe. If you are planning your Lofoten Islands itinerary, we have a lot of great ideas for you.
Where are the Lofoten Islands?
The Lofoten Islands are located in northern Norway, within the Arctic Circle.
The Lofoten Islands are an archipelago, a collection of mountainous islands and surprisingly white sandy beaches. These islands are connected by bridges and in some places, you will take a ferry to get to the more remote locations.
How to Get to the Lofoten Islands
In theory, getting to the Lofoten Islands looks rather straightforward. There are two airports in the Lofoten Islands and there is a ferry that connects the Lofoten Islands to the mainland (in Bodø). However, flight delays and ferry delays are common, and this can easily disrupt even the most perfectly laid plans. We found this out on our trip to the Lofoten Islands, which I will talk about a little later.
This is a rather remote location, so it takes some time to get here. But that is the appeal, right? To get here, you might need to take multiple flights or long car rides with a combination of ferries. To make it worth the travel time, ideally, you need to plan to spend at least several days in the Lofoten Islands.
Here are your options for getting to and from the Lofoten Islands.
By Plane
Flying into the Lofoten Islands is the most time effective way to get to and from the Lofoten Islands.
Airports in and around the Lofoten Islands | Lofoten Islands Itinerary
Airports in the Lofoten Islands
There are two airports in the Lofoten Islands: Leknes and Svolvaer. Leknes is centrally located within the Lofoten Islands, so you will have less of a drive to get to and from this airport. Svolvaer is the capital city of the Lofoten Islands, and this small town has the largest collection of hotels and restaurants.
Airports Outside of the Lofoten Islands
Bodø. Bodø is located on the mainland. To get to the Lofoten Islands, you will take a 3.25-hour ferry. At times, the ferry crossing can be very rough, so if you are prone to seasickness, take this into consideration. It might be worth flying directly to the Lofoten Islands, or flying into one of the airports listed below, instead of flying to Bodø.
There are several ferries per day. Click here to see the ferry schedule and get prices.
Harstad/Narvik Airport. This airport is located in Evenes. From here, it is a 2.5-hour drive to get to Svolvaer.
Tromsø. To drive from Svolvaer from Tromsø, it takes just over 6 hours, so it is not a realistic option for most visitors. However, if you want to turn your Lofoten Islands itinerary into a road trip through northern Norway and have roughly 10 days, this is a great option (and it is spectacular road trip!!).
Airlines that Fly to Leknes and Svolvaer
To fly to the Lofoten Islands, it will most likely take several flights to get here. All of the airlines fly from Oslo. To get to Svolvaer or Leknes, you might also have to transfer in Bodø or Tromsø.
Widerøe, SAS, and Norwegian are the three airlines that operate flights to and from the Lofoten Islands. We have flown all of these airlines and had good experiences with all of them.
Widerøe is the only airline that offers a direct flight from Oslo to Svolvaer (total flight time 2 hours 25 minutes).
With a transfer in Bodø, most likely you will fly a combination of two of these airlines, with a 30 to 60-minute transfer. It will take longer to fly through Tromsø.
Average flight costs from Oslo to the Lofoten Islands range from $200 to $450 USD per person during the summer months.
To search flights, you can use Skyscanner. I also like the Widerøe website. The Widerøe website will give you flight options with Norwegian Airlines and SAS.
Flight Delays in the Lofoten Islands
Flights to and from the Lofoten Islands can be delayed or cancelled in cases of bad weather. We experienced this on our trip.
From the Lofoten Islands, we traveled to Gdansk, Poland. Rainy weather cancelled our flight from Leknes. We were bussed to Svolvaer, rerouted on a short hop to Bodø, and took a second flight to Oslo. From Oslo, we continued our journey to Poland.
Flight delays are not an unusual occurrence on the Lofoten Islands, and we got lucky that we still made it to Gdansk on our planned day (although a lot later at night and with four flights in one day…yes, it took four flights to get us from Svolvaer to Gdansk).
Reinebringen | Lofoten Islands Itinerary
By Ferry
If your visit to the Lofoten Islands is part of a bigger road trip or train trip through Norway, you can get to the Lofoten Islands by taking the ferry from Bodø.
The ferry can cancel in cases of bad weather. Even with good weather, ferry crossings can be very rough. If you suffer from seasickness, consider flying directly to the Lofoten Islands instead. You can take a quick flight from Bodø to Leknes or Svolvaer.
PRO TRAVEL TIP: If you will be taking a car on the ferry, reserve your ferry tickets in advance. If you are traveling without a car, there is no need to reserve your tickets in advance.
Click here for the ferry schedule and current prices.
By Car
The Lofoten Islands makes a great addition to a road trip through northern Norway. In fact, this is exactly what we did, and it was an amazing 10-day trip. Start in Tromsø and work your way down through Senja and the Vesteralan Islands, ending with several days in the Lofoten Islands.
READ THE FULL ITINERARY HERE: 10 Day Lofoten Islands & Northern Norway Itinerary
Do You Need to Rent a Car?
Yes, you need to rent a car to visit the Lofoten Islands. There is a public transportation network, but having a car gives you the freedom and flexibility to travel on your own schedule, without being at the mercy of the public bus system.
When designing your Lofoten Islands itinerary, take into account your starting and ending point. If you pick up and drop off the rental car at two different locations, most likely you will pay an additional drop fee. To avoid this drop fee, start and end your trip at the same airport.
However, you could save some driving time by flying through two different airports (for example, if you start in Tromsø and end in Leknes). This might cost more money for the drop fee, but it will save you a day of travel time by not backtracking to your starting point.
Best Things to Do in the Lofoten Islands
The Lofoten Islands is the perfect destination if you like scenic drives, hiking, photography, and the great outdoors. Here are 10 great things to add to your Lofoten Islands itinerary.
Scenic Drives. It seems that every road in the Lofoten Islands is a scenic drive. Enjoy the spectacular views as you drive through these islands.
Go Hiking. The Lofoten Islands are laced with epic hiking trails. Most are short trails and many feature a hefty climb up to a viewpoint, since these islands are mountainous. You can also go for short, easy strolls on the beaches.
Ryten | Lofoten Islands Itinerary
See the Midnight Sun or the Northern Lights. Between the end of May and early July, the Lofoten Islands experience almost 24 hours of daylight. The Northern Lights can make an appearance at the end of September and dance across the sky through spring.
Stay in a Rorbu. A rorbu is a small fisherman’s cabin that has been renovated and turned into an apartment. They are unique to the Lofoten Islands. Supported on stilts, these small cabins are perched out over the water, offering beautiful views of the area.
Explore the Fishing Towns and Villages. Svolvaer, Henningsvaer, Reine, Sakrisøy, Hamnøy, and Å i Lofoten are the most charming towns to visit in the Lofoten Islands.
Visit Historic Nusfjord. Nusfjord is one of the best-preserved fishing villages in the Lofoten Islands. Now, it’s an open-air museum where you can tour a sawmill, an old-fashioned store, and a factory that makes cod-liver oil.
Go to the Beach. Surprise! The Lofoten Islands are home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, long stretches of white sand and crystal-clear aquamarine water, all with the backdrop of towering, jagged mountains.
Uttakleiv Beach | Lofoten Islands Itinerary
Go Surfing. Yes, you read that right. The Lofoten Islands are an up and coming surfing destination. Unstad Beach has world-class waves that attract surfers from all around the world.
Try the Local Cuisine. With its thriving fishing culture, you’ll no doubt come across fish and seafood on the menus of nearly every restaurant in the Lofoten Islands.
Climb Svolvaergeita. Svolvaergeita, also called The Goat, is a pinnacle of rock that is very popular with rock climbers. Those with a good sense of adventure can rock climb to the top of Svolvaergeita. And yes, you can do this if you are a beginner.
Svolvaergeita | Lofoten Islands Itinerary
For a detailed list, read our article Top Ten Things to do in the Lofoten Islands
How to Use This Map: Click the icons on the map to get more information about each point of interest. Click the star next to the title of the map to add this map to your Google Maps account. To view it on your phone or computer, open Google Maps, click the menu button, go to “Your Places,” click Maps, and you will see this map on your list.
How Many Days Do You Need on the Lofoten Islands?
If you factor in travel time and the cost to get to and from the Lofoten Islands, you should plan to spend at least several days here.
At a minimum, you should plan to spend at least two full days on the Lofoten Islands. That gives you just enough time to drive the length of the Lofoten Islands, hike a trail, and visit a few of the towns.
Each additional day that you add gives you the opportunity to explore more of this beautiful place, whether it is off-the-beaten-path beaches, more hiking trails, or exploring the fishing villages. Plus, having an extra day or two gives you some contingency time, just in case you get bad weather (which is a major possibility).
Ideally, plan to spend at least four days on the Lofoten Islands.
About Our Experience: We spent four full days on the Lofoten Islands. One of those days was a total wash out, where rainy weather kept us indoors an entire day. The Lofoten Islands becomes a rather gloomy place with rainy weather, and clouds cover the mountaintops, making most hikes either impossible or just not worth the effort (plus, it is best to stay off of the trails in rainy, wet weather, to avoid damaging the trail for future hikers).
Lofoten Islands Itinerary: Ideas for 2 Days to One Week
Here are suggestions for your Lofoten Islands itinerary, starting with two days, adding on from there.
One Day in the Lofoten Islands? In my opinion, it is just not worth it to visit the Lofoten Islands with one day. The travel time and the expense are too great to make it worth it for such a short period of time. You can do it, but plan to spend at least one night here, to give yourself enough time to drive the length of the Lofoten Islands.
Two Days in the Lofoten Islands
Day 1: Road trip from Svolvaer to Å i Lofoten, visiting the beaches, fishing villages, and small towns along the way. In the morning, visit Svolvaer. Go to the Lofoten Krigsminne Museum (the War Memorial Museum), explore the town, and if you like hiking, hike up to Svolvaer Fløya for a spectacular view. In the afternoon, drive to Hamnøy. Along the way, visit Haukland and Uttakleiv Beaches and Nusfjord. Spend the evening in Reine and have dinner.
Day 2: In the morning, hike one of the trails in the Lofoten Islands. Reinebringen is a popular pick but we also really like the hike to Ryten. The hike up Festvågtind is also very nice and works well today, since you will spend the afternoon in Henningsvaer. In the afternoon, explore the fishing village of Henninsgvaer and have dinner.
View over Svolvaer from Svolvaer Fløya | Lofoten Islands Itinerary
Three Days in the Lofoten Islands
Day 1: Road trip from Svolvaer to A i Lofoten, visiting the beaches, fishing villages, and small towns along the way. In the morning, visit Svolvaer. Go to the Lofoten Krigsminne Museum (the War Memorial Museum), explore the town, and if you like hiking, hike up to Svolvaer Fløya for a spectacular view. In the afternoon, drive to Hamnøy. Along the way, visit Haukland and Uttakleiv Beaches and Nusfjord. Spend the evening in Reine and have dinner. Sleep in Reine or Hamnøy.
Day 2: In the morning, hike one of the trails near Reine (Reinebringen or Munken). In the afternoon, visit A i Lofoten and spend some more time in Reine. Sleep in Reine or Hamnøy.
Day 3: In the morning, consider hiking another trail in the Lofoten Islands. In the afternoon, see the gorgeous Ramberg Beach and drive over the scenic Fredvang Bridges. A great hike to do today is either Ryten (for an amazing view over Kvalvika Beach) or do the easier hike right to Kvalvika Beach. Sleep in Reine, Hamnøy, Leknes, or Svolvaer.
Fredvang Bridges (drone photo) | Lofoten Islands Itinerary
Four Days in the Lofoten Islands
Day 1: Svolvaer. Spend the day in Svolvaer. Visit the War Memorial Museum and explore the town. Even if you aren’t a big fan of hiking, it’s still worth it to hike up to Fløya for one of the prettiest views in the Lofoten Islands. Thrill seekers can climb Svolvaergeita today. Sleep in Svolvaer or Kabelvag.
Day 2: In the morning, you have the option to hike Festvågtind or Tjeldbergtind. Spend the middle part of the day in Henningsvaer. In the afternoon, drive to Reine and visit Uttakleiv, Haukland, and Unstad Beaches on the way. Sleep in Reine or Hamnøy.
Day 3: In the morning, hike one of the trails near Reine (Reinebringen or Munken). In the afternoon, visit Å i Lofoten and spend some more time in Reine. Sleep in Reine or Hamnøy.
Day 4: Visit Nusfjord in the morning. In the afternoon, visit Ramberg Beach, drive over the Fredvang Bridges, and consider hiking to Ryten or Kvalvika Beach. Sleep in Reine, Hamnøy, Svolvaer, or Leknes.
Ramberg Beach | Lofoten Islands Itinerary
Five, Six and Seven Days in the Lofoten Islands
Follow days one through four of the above Lofoten Islands itinerary. Here are ideas of what to do with your extra time:
Keep Hiking! For a full list of hikes, visit the 68 North website.
Visit Vaeroy. This island is located south of Å. You can only get here by car ferry or helicopter. This is a great place to go to see puffins and other birds which is best done on a birdwatching boat tour.
Lofotr Viking Museum. Learn all about Vikings in this highly-rated museum.
Explore the Side Roads. Have fun exploring the nooks and crannies in the Lofoten Islands. Photograph the cod fish drying racks, the fishing villages, and stunning scenery. Who knows what else you will find? 🙂
Most likely, you will get a rainy day or two in the Lofoten Islands, so you can spend these rainy days in your hotel, or at a cozy restaurant, and save your hikes and scenic drives for clearer weather.
When to Go to the Lofoten Islands
The Lofoten Islands are located in the Arctic Circle, but it may be warmer here than what you would expect. The warm Gulf Stream current keeps temperatures moderate, even during the winter months.
SPRING: The days are getting longer and warmer. Into May, snow can still sit on hiking trails, making hiking difficult or impossible. If hiking is not on your to-do list, this can be a great time to visit the Lofoten Islands, with spectacular sunsets and low crowds. The midnight sun arrives on May 26.
SUMMER: During the summer months, daytime temperatures range from 13 to 24°C (60 to 75°F). Also, from late May to mid-July you will get to experience the midnight sun. Summer is peak season on the Lofoten Islands, so expect bigger crowds (but compared to other parts of Europe, it still feels delightfully empty here). Make your hotel reservations at least six months in advance. We visited the Lofoten Islands in early July and loved it.
AUTUMN: The days are getting shorter and cold temperatures return to the Lofoten Islands. The rainiest months of the year are September and October, and when the temperatures are cold enough, or up on the mountain peaks, this will fall as snow. The Northern Lights also make a reappearance at the end of September into early October.
WINTER: Brief days, the Northern Lights, and snow-covered landscapes are what you can expect during the winter months. December is the darkest month of the year, so don’t expect to see the sun during this month.
If you like the idea of hiking or visiting the Lofoten Islands during relatively warm, stable weather, your best bet is June into July.
Where to Stay on the Lofoten Islands
Rorbuer, apartments, hotels, and hostels are scattered throughout the Lofoten Islands. Where to stay depends on the length of time you will be visiting and your budget.
If you are here for a short period of time (2 or 3 days), consider staying in a centrally located accommodation, to minimize driving time. Nusfjord or near staying Leknes are nice options.
With four or more days, you have a lot of time, so spending extra time on the road is not a big deal. You can stay down in lovely Hamnøy or picturesque Reine, in one of the amazing rorbuer here.
You also have the option to split your stay into two different accommodations. Spend part of your time in or near Svolvaer and the remainder of your time in or near Reine. This is what we did and it worked very well for us.
For a full list of places to stay and advice on how to pick out your accommodations, read our article Where to Stay in the Lofoten Islands.
Ryten | Lofoten Islands Itinerary
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Best Time to Visit the Lofoten Islands?
The best time to visit the Lofoten Islands is spring, summer, and fall. It’s best to avoid winter, since it is dark for most of the day (the Lofoten Islands are located in the Arctic Circle).
Summer has the warmest weather and longer days. Midsummer you can see the midnight sun. In the spring and fall, even though the temperatures are cooler, you have the advantage of seeing the northern lights.
How Long Does it Take to Drive through the Lofoten Islands?
Without stops, it takes about 4 hours to drive through the Lofoten Islands, from north to south. However, this drive is one of the most beautiful in Norway, with stunning landscapes, rugged mountain peaks, white sandy beaches, and picturesque towns to visit along the way. For this drive, it’s best to give yourself one full day or break it up into multiple days, staying at the northern and southern areas of the Lofoten Islands.
How Many Days Do You Need in the Lofoten Islands?
Plan on spending four or more days in the Lofoten Islands. This gives you enough time to drive the full length of the Lofoten Islands, visit a few towns, and hike a few trails. If you like hiking or if you want to fully immerse yourself here, one week would be perfect.
Are the Lofoten Islands Worth It?
Absolutely. The Lofoten Islands are one of the most beautiful places to visit in Europe. With rugged coastlines, small harbors filled with red fishing cabins, winding roads through the mountains, thrilling hiking trails, and beaches that look like they belong in the Caribbean, the Lofoten Islands are a delight to explore.
If you have any questions about how to plan your Lofoten Islands itinerary, let us know in the comment section below. We look forward to hearing from you!
More Information to Help You Plan Your Trip
BEST OF THE LOFOTEN ISLANDS: For an overview of the best things to do, read our Lofoten Islands Top Ten List. Great hikes in the Lofoten Islands include Ryten, Reinebringen, Festvagtind, and Svolvaer Floya. For a big adventure, climb Svolvaergeita for one of the most unique experiences in the Lofoten Islands.
WHERE TO STAY IN THE LOFOTEN ISLANDS: For recommendations on the best places to stay in the Lofoten Islands, read our Lofoten Islands Hotel Guide.
NORTHERN NORWAY ITINERARY: On this 10 day Norway itinerary, road trip through Senja and the Vesteralen Islands, two beautiful off the beaten path destinations, and visit the Lofoten Islands.
ADVENTURES IN NORWAY: Trolltunga and Kjeragbolten are two of the best hikes to do in Norway. Traveling to Svalbard in the arctic circle is an adventure in itself, but you can also go glacier kayaking or hike to one of the tallest peaks on Spitsbergen.
NORWAY TRAVEL INSPIRATION: Norway is one of the most beautiful countries we have visited. Don’t miss our article Northern Norway in Photos to see some gorgeous shots of Norway. For a list of the best places to visit in Norway, check out our Norway Bucket List.
EUROPE TRAVEL INSPIRATION: For more great ideas on where to go in Europe, check out our article 30 Beautiful Places to Visit in Europe and the 20 Best Hikes in Europe. You can also get more travel ideas in our 10 Days in Europe itinerary guide, which has 10 great itineraries for your next trip to Europe.
The Visit Norway website has lots of great information about what to do and when to visit the Lofoten Islands.
Read all of our articles about Norway in our Norway Travel Guide.
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Comments 18
The shortest, cheapest, and best flight to grab time in Bergen is Bergen to LKN – arriving at 11pm.
Car rentals are closed by then.
Before I book the flight, I want to be sure that there is transportation to our hotel.
How do we arrange a taxi / car service for that time of night?
FYI, after a week at the islands, we’ll head to Svalbard!
Thank you. We love your website and use it for all our adventures.
Author
Hello Jen. That’s a great question. I recommend reaching out to your hotel for their recommendation on how to get there. I don’t know if taxis are running that late in the day but I imagine there has to be some way to get you from the airport to your hotel. If that is a regular flight, then I would think there is some sort of transportation running for those who need to their accommodations. I hope you have a great trip to Norway! Cheers, Julie
Great practical info. Planning a road trip through Lofoten in May and can’t wait. Hoping for a warm spring so the snow melts off those hiking trails, but if not I’ve got my big boots for trekking through some snow!
Author
I hope you have a great visit! And you have a beautiful website. Cheers, Julie
Hi
As I’m a single traveller but dont want to drive…have u any idea of tours available in November 2022 for Lofoton islands to see northern lights and tromso.?
Author
Unfortunately, I don’t know of any tours. You could check GetYourGuide (they mostly do single day tours but might have some options) or Viator. Cheers, Julie
Thanks so much for your blog. We are visiting Norway in December 2022. We would like to visit the Lofoten Island however considering it’s winter is it worth it? Can we still drive? Are there any road closure? Please advise us, thank you.
Author
I don’t have any experience visiting the Lofoten Islands in the winter time, but since you will be in Arctic Circle, you won’t have any daylight in December (it will be 24 hours of darkness). Depending on the weather, there might be road closures due to snow. In December, I think that southern Norway is a better option since you will have more daylight hours (In Oslo, sunrise is at 9 am and sunset is at 3 pm). Cheers, Julie
Hi!
First of all thanks a ton for putting up this incredible website. I have now spent hours going through the many useful itineraries and tips that you have shared with such in-depth details. You guys are such an inspiration!
We are planning to travel to Lofoten Islands and a bit confused as to where we should stay (or divide our stay).
We arrive Moskenes on 26th June at night and have a flight from Evenes on 1st July in the afternoon. So effectively we have 4 full days from 27 to 30th June. You guys suggest that anything more than 4 days can be split up at two accomodations – Reine, and Svolvaer. We are thinking of spending 27 and 28 June completely in Reine and the next two days in Svolavaer. Does this look good to you? Or would you suggest a different split?
Another query I had was regarding car rentals. Is it east to get rental car in Reine that can be dropped at Svolvaer at the end of our duration here. Additionally how difficult would it be to drive here given that I am from a country where we drive on the left lane.
Thanks.
Author
Yes, I think that’s a great plan to divide your time between Reine and Svolvaer. The Lofoten Islands look small on a map, and they are, but it takes awhile to drive from place to place, so staying in the north and the south will cut down on driving time. As far as rental cars are concerned, it will be easiest to pick up and drop off the rental car from one location. As far as dropping it at a different location, that will depend on the company. They may not allow it or they could charge a drop fee. I recommend contacting multiple companies with your ideal pick up and drop off locations and comparing prices. That’s what we do so we tend to use a lot of different rental companies and they are really all about the same. If it’s your first time driving on the right, it’s probably going to feel stressful/nerve-wracking (our first few times driving on the left were like this). It takes more concentration to process the road rules and to make sure you stay on the right. In our experience, within a few days, we adjust and it begins to feel second nature. But the roads are wide, well-marked, and easy to drive, so driving through the Lofoten Islands is easy, in our experience. Have a great time in Norway! Cheers, Julie
We are flying in and out of Leknes June 18 -22. We have effectively, 3.5 days to explore. We will pick up and drop off our car at the Leknes airport. We will be staying in Reines all 4 nights.
I need help with the following:
– Do you have an itinerary for visiting the small villages or sites while driving I thought we would tour in the car to the small villages the first day and settle in – maybe also take a hike since the sun doesn’t go down.
– Depending on the weather we were going to hike, kayak or bike the rest of the days.
– Do you have a fun biking itinerary to take near Reines ?
– is it worth going on a kayak trip in Reines fjord? We will already have completed some kayaking near Solvorn and also Voss .
– is it a good experience to go deep sea fishing?
Author
Hello Maryanne. When we were here, we explored the towns in groups, based on their location. On the day you arrive, this is the best time to visit Svolvaer and go hiking here, since it’s the farthest town from Reine. On your other days, you can group the towns in one area with a hike you want to do. For example, if you like the idea of hiking Ryten, you can also visit Ramberg and Nusfjord, since those are nearby. As far as hiking and kayaking, your schedule could be weather dependent. During our visit, we had one very rainy day that kept us inside for most of it (hopefully you won’t have that same experience). We used this time to visit some towns and have a nice lunch and dinner. We did not go biking, kayaking, or deep sea fishing while in the Lofoten Islands, but kayaking in Reinefjord sounds wonderful, if you can find a tour operator that offers this. We spent most of our time hiking and only got to a small number of the hikes on our to-do list. Cheers, Julie
Thank you for all the informations and tips… starting planning our trip… one question is left to be answered… April or June? we are first timers!
Author
My vote goes to June. The weather will be warmer and if you like to hike, there will be less (or no) snow on the trails. Have fun planning your trip…it’s one of our favorite places to visit in Europe. Cheers, Julie
Julie, this is fantastic information! I appreciate all of the work that went into this. I am bookmarking this post for when it is safe for my family to travel again!!!
Author
Great! I hope you get there soon! Cheers, Julie
I am so excited to start planning my trip after reading this. I appreciate the travel tips and all of the details that you thought of. I’ve been wanting to visit the Lofoten Islands since my first visit to Norway a few years ago. Thanks for sharing!
Author
You’re welcome!