WHY YOU SHOULD VISIT LOFOTEN IN WINTER
The Lofoten islands are an archipelago in Norway famous for its stunning mountain ranges, hikes, and fishing villages. While most tourists tend to visit during the summer, there is still a lot that can be done in winter too. Below is my complete guide on everything you need to know to have a lovely trip to Lofoten, Norway.
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Before you start
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good to know
Entry Regulations - Norway is part of Schengen, so travelers from Schengen countries do not need a visa for short stays. Travelers coming from outside of Schengen should check the regulations for their respective countries.
Currency and Payment - Norway's currency is called Norwegian Krone (NOK). Cards are widely accepted. Many places don't take cash, so it is rarely used.
Language - The official language is Norwegian, but English is widely spoken.
Prices - Norway is expensive, so eating out might be very pricey. Same for alcohol. Consider taking the lunch offers at restaurants.
Alcohol - Alcohol is state-controlled and any form of it above 4,7% cannot be bought in a regular store. For that, a visit to Vinmonopolet is needed. In addition, beer in supermarkets cannot be bought at all times the supermarket is open. Make sure to check the opening hours for your closest ones.
Weather - The weather can be unpredictable. Always dress appropriately and keep warm. Dress in layers.
Wind - It might be windy, so make sure to hold the car doors when you exit.
Polar Night - The polar night on Lofoten is from December 7th to January 5th. Which means that during that time frame the sun never exceeds the horizon. Before and after the days will be short. We went in January and the day light was max 3 hours.
Northern Lights - There is no guarantee that aurora can be seen. There are a lot of factors at play, but with a bit of luck and planning, it is possible.
Parking - Parking spots are limited, but there are not that many tourists during winter so it should be okay.
How to get to Lofoten
There are multiple ways on how to get to Lofoten. To experience most of the islands, you will need to have a car. You can rent one in various cities or airports.
Are you coming from Sweden? There are two ways:
- Drive your car to Lofoten, easy! Joking, it is not very easy on the icy roads and the distance can be quite long depending on where your starting point is. Mine is Gothenburg, which is a 20-hour non-stop drive.
- Take the direct train to Narvik, NT94, and rent a car in Narvik.
cOMING FROM ANYWHERE ELSE?
Most probably you will be flying into Norway to one of these airports:
- Tromsø – Tromsø is the Arctic capital of Norway, and many airlines operate flights to its airport. The drive from Tromsø to Lofoten is around 500 km and can include a ferry via Harstad if you need some driving rest.
- Fly to Bodø and take the ferry to Moskenes. The ferry doesn’t go very often during winter so make sure to check the timetable.
- Fly to Leknes – this option would be more expensive as there are not so many flights to choose from.
Where to stay
We stayed in our campervan, which allows the flexibility of a home on wheels. You can also rent a camper from places such as Arctic Campers.
If you prefer to stay in a hotel, here is a list of various types of accommodation that are also open during the winter months:
| Hattvika Lodge | Book a stay here |
| Eliassen Rorbuer | Book a stay here |
| Lofoten Basecamp | Book a stay here |
| Andøy Vest Rorbuer Reine | Book a stay here |
| Henningsvær Guesthouse | Book a stay here |
| Lydersen Rorbuer | Book a stay here |
must visit beaches
I bet you don’t associate Norway with white sandy beaches and crystal-clear blue waters! Here are 3 beaches to add to your itinerary:
Skagsanden
Usually empty during the day but wait until the night and aurora comes! This beach is perfect for northern lights watching. It also comes with free toilets and a little glass cabin-like room for aurora observation.
Haukland
Voted for one of the most beautiful beaches in Norway and I can see why! The parking is free, but the toilets are not.
Ramberg
It is next to Skagsanden beach, and it is home to the famous red cottage. Pretty, isn’t it?
Hikes
We didn’t do any hikes mainly because of the weather. Hiking in the mountains can be extremely dangerous and some hiking trails such as the famous Reinebringen was closed by the local government. Always listen to the local instructions and do not attempt to hike in stormy weather.
A hike that is with not so high elevation and is possible to do on a clear day is Mannen. It is a short walk with a few exposed parts. The walk to Mannen starts from the parking at Haukland beach. It takes around 2 hours round trip, and the elevation gain is 400m. Don’t forget to wear shoe spikes!
Cafes and restaurants
Keep in mind that winter is low season, and a lot of the cafes and restaurants are seasonally closed. Many update their Google maps pins so you should be able to see which ones are open. The general rule of thumb is that at least one establishment is open in the larger towns to accommodate for tourists and locals. In Henningsvær, for example, I learnt that the establishments rotate – one month is open, next month – the next. Here is a list of places that we tried and were open:
Knusarn – they have very tasty fish soup and amazing cinnamon rolls!
Anita's Sjømat – try their fish burger. And they are also at a stunning location, it is a win-win.
Tapperiets Bistro – we tried their fish soup and bacalao with bread. The ambience is very cozy.
Most picturesque towns
Henningsvær
Have you seen the drone photo of a football field on an island? It’s here! We weren’t luck with the weather, so the photo didn’t look like the ones we see on Instagram but oh well, one more reason to return!
Reine
Reine must be the most popular town in Lofoten and for good reason. There are great views everywhere we look. We spent 2 nights here and I didn’t want to leave.
Sakrisøya
Home to Anita's Sjømat and the famous yellow cabin, which can be rented out!
Hamnøy
The most scenic view of Lofoten must be here. The viewpoint is from the bridge connecting the island, but make sure to wander around and explore too. It’s beautiful on every corner.
Nusfjord
That one is not a must-visit due to its entry price of 100 NOK per person. The town is pretty, but so are the other towns too, so we didn’t feel the need to go there.
Photos courtesy of Joakim Karlsson @oakimk
northern lights
You can see the aurora borealis in Lofoten, but you need to steer away from light pollution and to check the relevant prediction apps. Good places to see the aurora are the beaches as usually there is less light pollution there. You also need a bit of luck and to stay a bit longer for higher chances. The aurora is strongest between 11 pm and 3 am so don’t go to bed too early.
Photos courtesy of Joakim Karlsson @oakimk
additional photo spots
Road to Nusfjord, Sakrisøya fishing, Uttakleiv beach, wooden bridge viewpoint Reine, Rørvikstranda
Drone photos spots – Henningsvær football field, Fredvang Bridges, Hamnøy
The map below contains the photo spots and all places mentioned in this blog post.
Photos courtesy of Joakim Karlsson @oakimk
Map with best places to visit in lofoten during winter
The map is divided by sections with hikes, beaches, accommodation, cafes and restaurants, towns and photo spots. Each pin is clickable and links to the location in Google Maps. Happy and safe travels!
