We arrived in the Lofoten Islands after driving down from the Vesterålen Islands, and on our very first day, we climbed Svolvaergeita and hiked Svolvaer Fløya. It was a long, exhausting, unforgettable day, and somehow, it set exactly the right tone for everything that followed. By the time we left four days later, we were […]
It is no secret that Europe is home to some of the world’s most beautiful destinations. From grand historic cities and charming fairytale towns to soaring mountain ranges and sun-soaked beaches, there is a seemingly endless list of gorgeous places to explore. Whether you are planning your next trip to Europe, or just trying to […]
With one week in Europe, you have an infinite number of possibilities for coming up with your “perfect” itinerary. Do you dream of visiting world-class cities like Paris, Barcelona, or Venice? Or would you rather hike the Alps, go on a scenic train ride, explore the beautiful beaches and coastal towns in southern Europe, visit […]
There are places that stop you in your tracks the moment you arrive. The Lofoten Islands are one of them. We pulled over constantly, not because we planned to, but because we couldn’t drive past another mountain plunging straight into the fjord, another stretch of white sand beach backed by jagged cliffs, or another cluster […]
Norway is the land of fjords, quaint fishing villages, Vikings, trolls, the northern lights, the midnight sun, scenic drives, and some of the best hikes in the world. If you are planning a visit to this amazing country, here are 20 of the best things to do in Norway. So far, we have visited Norway […]
After two trips to Norway, one through the fjord region, one through the far north, we started getting the same question over and over in our comments: Can we combine both into one trip? How do we do the fjords AND the Lofoten Islands in 10 days? That’s exactly what this post is for. We’ve […]
We’ve done a lot of road trips in Europe, through the Italian Dolomites, across the Scottish Highlands, and down into the fjord region of southern Norway. This Northern Norway itinerary is one of our all-time favorites. We drove this route in early July, starting in Tromsø and working our way south through Senja and the […]
For hikers, few places in Europe can match Norway. The hikes in Norway are endlessly varied and genuinely world-class, from the fjords of southern Norway, the jagged peaks of the Lofoten Islands, and the remote coastline of Vesterålen and Senja. Alongside the Dolomites and the Swiss Alps, this is one of our absolute favorite places […]
If you’re trying to figure out where to stay in the Lofoten Islands, the first thing you need to know is this: the islands have their own iconic accommodation type, and it’s unlike anything else in the world. Rorbuer, traditional Norwegian fishermen’s cabins, typically perched on stilts over the water, are the reason so many […]
The hike to Ryten has all of the ingredients of a perfect Lofoten Islands hike: sweeping vistas across the mountains and fjords, a fun but slightly strenuous hike to a mountain peak, and a breathtaking view of a white, sandy beach. The icing on the cake is a “mini Trolltunga,” an outcropping of rock where […]
From the top of Festvågtind, the views over the fishing village of Henningsvaer are breathtaking. This hike is very similar to Svolvaer Fløya and Reinebringen, in that it’s a steep, somewhat unexciting climb to an awesome viewpoint. It’s absolutely worth it on a clear day but consider skipping this hike on a cloudy, rainy day. […]
Reinebringen, with its dazzling view over the fishing villages of Reine, Sakrisøy, and Hamnøy, is the most popular hike in the Lofoten Islands, and one look at the panorama from the top tells you exactly why. We hiked Reinebringen in 2018 with our kids, who were 13 and 15 at the time, before most of […]
Svolvaergeita, also called “The Goat,” is a pinnacle of rock that is a popular rock climbing spot in the Lofoten Islands. It is named The Goat because of the two horns of rock that sit atop the rock. Those with a sense of adventure can climb to the top of Svolvaergeita and those who are […]