Lofoten Road Trip: Best 7-Day Itinerary (2024)

Lofoten Road Trip (Including Vesterålen)

On this wonderful 7-day road trip itinerary, you get to experience the magic of both Lofoten’s untouched beauty and the remote vistas of the nearby Vesterålen islands.

Lofoten’s postcard-perfect landscapes, northern lights, charming fishing villages, and awe-inspiring nature make it the perfect holiday destination. Whilst the often forgotten Vesterålen archipelago, Lofoten’s northerly neighbour, is a place of diverse and beautiful, remote landscapes that re-engage you with nature.

Having spent over 12 months living and travelling through Norway, through its various seasons, we had the opportunity to discover much in this land of the Vikings. No wonder a trip to Norway continually ranks in the top 10 on the majority of bucket lists.

Overview of This 7-Day Lofoten Road Trip

Main Attractions on this 7-Day Lofoten Road Trip

This article is No.4 of 4, of our series of Norwegian road trips starting in Stavanger and concluding in Lofoten islands. We drove these road trips from south to north, however, they can be driven in either direction.

All our Norway road trip articles include both iconic and super interesting off-the-beaten-path attractions like stave churches, hiking Preikestolen and seeing Kjerag’s bolt in the rock, traditional villages like Skudeneshavn and Norway’s very own mountain with a hole.

Oh yes, you’ll be seeing more than the usual visitor does when you visit Norway on this Lofoten islands itinerary. And, we drive many of Norway’s Scenic Routes to include the best panoramas.

You can check out our other three road trip articles below:

Lofoten Road Trip Route Overview (incl. Vesterålen Archipelagos)

Route Overview

Finishing our Trondheim to Bodø road trip in the town of Bodø, set us up perfectly to catch the Moskenes Car Ferry. The roughly 3hr 15min ferry ride over to Moskenes in western Lofoten went smoothly.

With the ferry docking at Moskenes, we could then drive Lofoten from west to east as planned. The image below shows the ferry route and also indicates the only two airports that service Lofoten: Leknes and Svolvær. Both are domestic airports.

Where is Lofoten and Vesterålen?

Lofoten, a group of islands, is found in northwestern Norway, north of the Arctic Circle in the county of Nordland, and west of Vesterålen. Both Lofoten and Vesterålen are adjacent archipelagos.

What is Lofoten known for?

This Arctic Norway archipelago is known for its glacial, rugged mountains that literally fall into the fjords and form a stunning foreground for the dancing northern lights. The shoreline is dotted with iconic red-painted Rorbu or fishing cabins.

How to Get to Lofoten

When in Nordland, download the Reis app to plan journeys and keep up to speed on departure times for public transport. The app is available for iOS and Android phone users.

Ferry + Drive Lofoten

Our preference, as we were already on the mainland, was to take the Moskenes car ferry from Bodø. The ferry has 2 routes: Bodø – Moskenes (a direct route taking 3.5 hours) or Bodø – Værøy – Røst – Moskenes (an indirect route taking about 7 hours).

You can book a ferry on the Torghatten Nord ferry site.

Arriving at the western end of Lofoten, we drove to the east as Sweden was our next destination and this made sense. However, you may choose first to drive east along the Lofoten Scenic Route and then turn around and drive the same route back to the west.

This way you get to double-dip on Lofoten’s magic.

Ferry + Walk Lofoten

Don’t have a car then no problem. Join the Bodø-Svolvær ferry on this scenic coastal trip as it voyages north, stopping briefly at a few mainland ports, before arriving at Svolvær, Lofoten. The whole trip takes about 3.5 hours and you can even bring your bicycle on the ferry.

Take the ferry for the round trip.

Fly into Lofoten

The two airports of Svolvær Aiport (SVJ) and Leknes Airport (LKN), located in Lofoten, are domestic airports. Leknes Airport is the most western airport of Lofoten. Both Svolvær and Leknes airports are perfect places to rent a car.

The closest mainland airports to Lofoten are Bodø Airport (at Bodø) and Evenes Airport (EVE) at Narvik.

To give an idea of drive times, it takes 2.5-hours from Evenes Airport to the city of Svolvær (Lofoten) and then another 2.5 hours from Svolvær to Å (the westernmost point driving on Lofoten).

Train + Ferry

If you fancy a train ride then Bodø will be the closest stop to Lofoten. From Bodø, jump on a ferry to either Moskenes or Svolvær. More information is included in the ‘Ferry + Drive’ section above.

Choosing our Accommodation

We chose our Lofoten accommodation based on it being more or less central to the areas that we wanted to explore. We allocated a two-night stay at each overnight location which worked well for us.

This way we wouldn’t have to feel as if we were continually ‘on the move’ and it’s good to have a temporary base. Here were our overnight stops:

• Day 1, 2 – Reine (Lofoten)
• Day 3, 4 – Henningsvær (Lofoten)
• Day 5, 6 – Nyksund (Vesterålen).

Lofoten Map: Scenic Routes and Attractions

To use this map, expand it using the square symbol on the top right-hand side and then look to the key on the left-hand side. By clicking each location you will find the corresponding position on the map. 

• Blue Line marks the Norway Scenic Route Lofoten;
• Blue circles with a star denote an attraction;
• Home logo marks where we stayed overnight
• Yellow circles denote alternative options.

Day 1: Å, Reine, Sund, Reine

Å

Å, yes that’s really the name of this well-preserved fishing village and is the westernmost village in Lofoten. Å also happens to be the last letter of the Norwegian alphabet, and coincidentally, our first stop on this epic Lofoten road trip.

Å is also the starting point for the Scenic Route Lofoten running between Å and Raftsundet. If you don’t already know, Norway has a total of 18 panoramic drives that showcase some of the most beautiful scenery in Norway.

The Lofoten Scenic Route is one of those 18 routes.

With our two nights of accommodation booked in Reine, it was a short 9-kilometre drive to Å to begin our adventure. You’ll want to factor in plenty of stops on this drive to Å to wonder at the majestic landscapes that Lofoten is so well known for.

For over 1000 years, cod fishing has been the main economic resource of Å but a relatively recent and major boost to revenue has come from the tourism sector. Would you believe Lofoten hosts more than one million visitors every year?

Part of this popularity has followed the launch of the children’s movie, Frozen, with Norway providing much inspiration for the movie.

Lofoten Fishing Village Museum and Norwegian Stockfish Museum

The main attractions in Å are the Lofoten Fishing Village Museum and the Norwegian Stockfish Museum. The museums are open all except on January 01; April 06 – 10, May 01, 17, 18, 29; December 16 – 31.

The hours of opening are 11:00 to 18:00 (from June to September) and 11:00 to 15:00 in all other months.

As this is a cultural fishing village, there are many interesting late 18th-century buildings to admire. Many of the buildings have information boards (in both Norwegian and English) explaining the purpose and any prominent details.

Hike to Agvatnet

We took a rather slushy walk to Ågvatnet, a lake close by Å, to hunt for some geocaches.

It was on this hike that we encountered our first whiff of dried cod. Tracking down the source, we discovered heaps of cod heads stacked in a shed behind wooden cod-drying trellises.

Why these dried heads are kept, remains a mystery to us. The smell was quite punchy and managed to cling to the nostrils for quite some time.

To get a real feel for the village’s surroundings, walk towards the town’s small harbour. Captivating yellow and red coloured Robru (fishing huts) hug the shoreline opposite rugged mountain slopes; just fabulous scenery.

While you’re in Å, pop into the village ‘corner store’ which is worth a wander if only to see the local souvenirs and cod displays. The owner is a pretty friendly chap too.

Sund – Historic Blacksmith Workshop  

Leaving Å and driving 26 kilometres, past Reine, to arrive at Sund. Here, a renowned blacksmith, Tor Vegard Mørkved, owns and operates the blacksmith’s workshop and the Sund Fisheries Museum.

What you see, and the techniques used at the smithy are unchanged since 1947 when Tor Vegard’s mentor, Hans Gjertsen, started the business. A museum was also launched in 1947 with the actual official opening in 1964.

Tor Vegard is a fantastic host giving us a detailed talk on his past and the history of the workshop. He then brought his furnace to life to fashion a steel cormorant, swearing by his old but reliable machinery that dated back to the start of the 20th century.

We asked him why he makes cormorants and not some other bird. He said it was because the cormorants roost on the rocky outcrops here and to him, they represent the spirit of Lofoten … plus he really likes their look.  

In the museum grounds old fishing boats tell their own story of a hard life along with the motors that used to power them.

Tor Vegard told us that he wants to retire and would like to train an apprentice to take his place but as yet, no one has stepped forward. Have a look below at this master craftsman in his element.

Video of Tor Vegard at work in Lofoten’s historic blacksmith premises:

Reine – Capturing the Northern Lights

Following the departure from Sund back to Reine, we were looking for suitable locations to photograph the Northern Lights. With favourable predictions for the Northern Lights to appear, we wanted just the right spot with a great backdrop.

We found such a place and it turned out that it was just outside of Reine. The location offered elevation above possible bright light sources and mountainous surroundings.

We’ve written a separate comprehensive article on Unveiling the Northern Lights in Lofoten but know that the gods did favour us and we witnessed the dancing and shimmering lights that we so longed to see.

What a start to this Lofoten road trip.

Video: Taster of this Lofoten Road Trip

A 3 ½ minute video showcasing the magic of the Lofoten Islands.

Day 2: Ryten

Ryten Hike With Views over Kvalvika Beach

The 2-hour hike to the top of Ryten is really a must-do hike when you visit Lofoten. It is rated as easy difficulty.

What makes it special is that when you’re close to the top of Ryten, it’s possible to gaze down at the white, sandy Kvalvika beach 500 metres below. But that’s not all.

It even has a natural rocky ledge to perch on for a selfie and to capture those beautiful panoramic views.

We’ve written a separate article on this hike; Ryten Lofoten – Incredible Hike Above Kvalvika Beach, which includes photos, the hike, parking… basically, all you need to know.

Day 3: Nusfjord, Ramberg, Eggum, Henningsvær

Nusfjord

This beautiful, picturesque little village lies on the southern shore of Flakstadøya island, 40 kilometres east of Reine. It claims the title of one of the oldest traditional fishing villages in Norway.

In fact, signs of human existence have been traced way back to 425 BC. Say what?

This secluded harbour is home to but a handful of renovated buildings including rorbu or old cabins used by fishermen that are often transformed into cosy accommodation spaces.

The first road to Nusfjord was only built in the 1960s. Here in Nusfjord, there are no new buildings so you really do get to step back in time and experience the Lofoten of old. 

Nusfjord is not big by any means so an easy and quick walk to see a bit more of Lofoten’s history.

Ramberg Beach

A Caribbean island beach you might think? … nope, it’s Ramberg Beach found 15 kilometres north of Nusfjord. This long, stretch of pristine white sand gently curves around a bay of bright blue-green water.

There is parking close by the beach so a short, easy walk to feel that white sand under your feet. It could easily be a place for much contemplation.

You know it’s hard to believe that you’re actually inside the Arctic Circle when you look at the image below. 

Eggum

Now for a change of pace and something different. Heard of art by Skulpturlandskap Nordland?

These are works of art found in northern Norway, constructed by international artists, who produce their art based on how the natural environment inspires them. Lofoten has 6 works of art.

The first is found just outside of the village of Eggum, on the island of Vestvågøy. Follow the road Eggumsveien until it ends at a car park. From here you take to foot and walk a path that divides a pristine lake bounded by mountains and a wild, rocky shoreline.

Any clues about the name of this sculpture?

Meet Head. This granite and iron construction is cleverly thought out. Viewing the sculpture from a different angle shifts the perspective from an upward-facing face to down.

You have to see it for yourself.

Head is representative of the varying colours and surfaces of the water and landscape in the area. It is definitely a thought-provoking piece of work in a serene location.

Leaving Vestågøy for Austvågøya island on the way to today’s final destination, Henningsvær is another sculpture, ‘Uten Tittel’.

Consisting of two huge concave mirrors (2.5m x 3.0m), it reflects the surrounding water and mountains beautifully. Another example of great creativity.

Henningsvær

Tonight’s stop is the picturesque, traditional village of Henningsvær. At this point, 126 kilometres of the western part of Lofoten’s Scenic Drive are completed with 86 kilometres still to enjoy.

Day 4: Henningsvær

Henningsvær

Henningsvær itself is spread over several islets with easy access via quaint bridges that connect them. We used the time to wander around the town, surroundings and enjoy its vibe.

The shops and cafes are beautifully presented, the people are friendly and there is lots to see during your wanderings. If you get a chance, then drop by Kafé Lysstøperiet, the pastries are exquisite.

Trust me, we have personal experience 🙂

We fired up our Geocache app which also led to us some amazing locations within easy walking distance in and around Henninsvær.

Henningsvær ©Lifejourney4two

Henningsvaer Accommodation

We booked our 2-night stay at the beautifully kept BnB Lysvoldbrygga, right in the heart of Henninsvær.

This BnB was excellent value, with a wonderfully warm local host and just a wonderful place to stay. Why was it the best place to stay? The verandah has a northerly aspect and an uninterrupted view of the nearby mountains. Not only that but provides a panoramic viewpoint to see the Northern Lights.

With the setting of the sun, the Norsk Gods proved again to be in fine spirits by allowing the Northern Lights to dance and play across the skies for us.

It was mesmerising.

Day 5: Henningsvær, Vågan Church, Svolvær, Bø, Nyksund

Henningsvær

Still brimming with joy from our Northern Lights experience, we depart the serenity of this beautiful fishing village and continue east to explore Lofoten. And not far, just 20 kilometres to the first stop of the day.

Vågan Church

Vågan Church, also known as the Lofoten Cathedral, is a late 19th-century church and the largest in northern Norway. It is able to seat 1200 people and is found in Lofoten’s ancient capital, Købelvag.

Going all the way back to the 12th century, a church of some kind has always claimed this position. It was often sought out by visiting fishermen for blessings prior to undertaking the winter’s fishing in the turbulent seas.

Svolvær

A few kilometres drive away and the metropolis of Svolvær appears. This large, well-serviced modern town forms the administrative centre for the region.

Entering the town definitely feels like a case of leaving the traditional behind and stepping right back into the mainstream 21st-century.

You might even call Svolvær, the Oslo of the North, with all its different shops selling all types of products. It’s definitely the best-serviced town in Lofoten. We used Svolvær to stock up on food and other travel items.

Svolvær is the closest town to the famous Svolværgeita or Svolvær Goat, where you can jump from one granite mountain top to another. Resembling goat horns, they are hard to miss even when viewed from the town itself.

This wasn’t something that particularly interested us but if you are thinking it might be for you, then have a look at this footage first.

Departing Svolvær, follow the E10 Lofoten Scenic Route until it reaches the junction with the FV 868.

You can either drive the final 11 kilometres south to complete the scenic route drive on the FV868 or continue to Bø crossing into Vesterålen by continuing on the E10 then 85 then 820.

Bø (Vesterålen)

Vesterålen is much less frequented than the popular Lofoten islands. Here you’ll enjoy wide open spaces and relatively flat land – quite the contrast to Lofoten.

The far west coast of Vesterålen on the island of Langøya is Bø is where you can find one of Skulpturalandskap Nordland’s famous works of art – The Man from the Sea. 

If you’re pressed for time then you might consider driving directly to Nyksund from Henningsvær as the drive to Bø is a bit of a detour.

The Man from the Sea sculpture is definitely impressive and so it should be at 4.3m in height. This thought-provoking piece is wrought from cast iron and depicts a man cradling a crystal who has left the sea to now walk on land.

It certainly commands a view of the immediate countryside.

Nyksund (Vesterålen)

Departing Bø, a 1.5-hour drive north placed us at our base for the next two nights, Nyksund, the once-abandoned fishing village. A painted wooden boat filled with pretty flowers marked the entrance to the village.

Day 6: Nyksund, Dronningruta Hike

Nyksund

Nyksund was a thriving fishing community at the turn of the 20th century but slowly declined until the village was finally abandoned in 1970.

During the 1980s, the village was revived and continues to come back to life, however, this time is reinvigorated with artists, cafes, sounds of festivals, laughter and now full-time residents.

Tourism is contributing to its revival with many interesting activities on offer.

Dronningruta Hike

Nyksund also marks the start point for the gruelling Dronningruta hike otherwise known as The Queen’s Route. 

This is a demanding 15-kilometre hike over all types of mountainous terrain with the typical majestic panoramas you can expect from a famous Norwegian hike. You’ll want to give yourself a good part of the day to complete this hike and enjoy all there is to see.

Our comprehensive step-by-step article on this challenging hike is here for you to sweat over: Dronningruta Hike – The Queen’s Route.

Day 7: Nyksund, Narvik

Before departing Nyksund, have a final walk past the town’s colourful buildings. A final sculpture from Skulpturalandskap Nordland’s awaits you.

You’ll need to look hard. I’ll not say anymore on the ‘where’ but here’s a spoiler photo below – there’s a face pattern on that lamp cover. 

The final drive from Nyksund to Narvik was a steady 3.5 hours. Narvik would be a convenient location to end your Lofoten road trip or, as we did, continue and enter Sweden. Our next stay at the Icehotel at Jukkasjärvi also included a visit to the reindeers of Nutti Sami Siida. 

Planning Your Lofoten Road Trip

When is the Best Time to Visit Lofoten?

There is no best time, but different times of the year offer different opportunities and it will depend on what you want to see and do.

Our Lofoten Visit

Our mid-September Lofoten road trip was well-timed to fall within the off-shoulder months of August and September. The weather was not rainy and there was enough daylight to enjoy the outdoors.

Our visit also fell in the period where the Northern Lights could be visible and we actually had our first sighting. The only surprise we had was that some attractions were only open during the summer months so our recommendation is to check the opening times ahead of your arrival.

Lofoten in Summer

June to August is Norway’s summer period which offers the best opportunity for good weather, long daylight hours, and the midnight sun.

The downside is that summer will be busy and touristy with the roads quite busy. The Northern Lights will not be visible at this time of year.

Lofoten in Winter

November is generally notorious for wet weather. December offers little improvement. If you want to visit Lofoten with the best chance of snow, then January to March is your best bet, but there is no crystal ball when it comes to weather predictions.

Winter is the main fishing season in Lofoten and also a fantastic season for photographers with soft, arctic light and postcard-perfect scenery.

The Polar Nights (where the night lasts longer than 24 hours) in Lofoten start from the beginning of December until early January.

If the Northern Lights are on your agenda, then your visit needs to fall between September and April. Interestingly, the months of September, October, March and April are known to deliver great light displays.

Many places in winter will be closed so bear this in mind if you want to plan your road trip to Lofoten in winter.

Lofoten Event Calendar

• Lofoten International Chamber Music Festival and Lofoten Piano Festival are both classical music festivals held bi-yearly in Lofoten. Find out more here. 
• Lofoten Food Festival – normally held in the autumn, September or October. More details are here.
• Viking Festival – held at Lofotr Viking Museum for 4 days, usually at the beginning of August. 
• What’s on in Vesterålen
• The Norwegian National or Constitution Day is held in nearly every Norwegian village, town and city on the 17th of May and is a big celebration.

Popular Lofoten Activities

Transport for Your Lofoten Road Trip

Self-drive is definitely the way to go for your Lofoten road trip. You have the freedom to go where you want when you want. We motorhomed around Europe for a year; it was great fun and the best way to travel.

Public transport does service some of these places, but honestly, a rental car or campervan hire will get you mobile and allow you to pick the perfect travel routes for you that suit your plans.

Car and Motorhome Rental

Discovercars.com gave us the best car rental deals in Europe.

Motorhome Republic found us the best hire deals for campervan hire for our year-long road trip around Europe. They found better pricing than we could find going direct ourselves, making the process so much easier.

Driving in Lofoten

• Most of Norway has a maximum 80km/hr speed limit on open roads. Speed and trip (average speed between locations) cameras are in abundance, so drivers beware.
• Norway’s traffic rules can be found on the Norwegian Public Roads Administration site vegvesen.no or you can make direct contact with Traffic and Road Information at +47 815 48 991.
• To check to see if any of the Lofoten Scenic Route is impacted in winter, follow this link to the Norwegian Scenic Routes site.

Handy Phone Apps and Emergency Phone Numbers in Norway

• yr app (as in the 2 letters y and r) This is an accurate Norway weather app for both IOS and Android devices
• outtt app provides detailed trail maps for Norway for both IOS and Android devices
• maps.me app is an off-line map for both IOS and Android devices
• Smart Parking app is available for both IOS and Android phones and allows you to pay for parking online and not have to worry about carrying around coins or credit cards
• Emergency Phone Numbers – Fire: 110; Police: 112; Ambulance: 113

What to Pack for Your Lofoten Road Trip

• Even in Summer, there is a fair bit of variability in temperatures and the weather can change quickly. It can be quite cold and wet in the morning but turn into a blistering hot day. Layering your clothing is the best option and having a waterproof top and bottom means you won’t have to hike in wet clothes.
• We strongly recommend waterproof hiking shoes/boots
• If you have weak or sore knees then consider using walking poles to prevent shock loading on your joints. Some of these hiking downhill descents are quite steep and can cause jarring which is not pleasant
• A backpack with a waterproof cover is super handy to carry water, food and any camera accessories

We’ve been on the road since 2017 now and have added some useful travel items to our Lifejourney4two page on UK Amazon, or our USA Amazon store here

Where to Stay on Your Lofoten Road Trip

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FAQs

Lofoten Road Trip … That’s a Wrap

No doubt about it, the Lofoten Islands have certainly earned their reputation as one of the most beautiful locations in Norway. Stunning landscapes of ragged mountains, deep green-coloured crystalline fjords with a backdrop of the mesmerising Northern Lights.

The Vesterälen islands are quite alluring in their own right with a variety of changing landscapes. Rolling fields, beautiful coastlines and steep mountain hikes.

This Lofoten itinerary is sure to leave anyone with wonderful memories. The only thing now is to decide when you’ll embark on an unforgettable trip to visit the Lofoten islands.

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Note: When booking accommodation, some of the cheaper places do not include sheets and pillowcases as part of the standard booking and need to be added at an extra charge. Make sure to check the booking details carefully.

We use Booking.com as we can find a variety of cheap and budget accommodations such as local guesthouses and cheap hotels.

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