A WINTER ROAD TRIP GUIDE TO THE LOFTEN ISLANDS, NORWAY
INTRODUCING THE LOFOTEN ISLANDS
The main reason I traveled to the Lofoten Islands, Norway was to catch the Northern Lights. Located in the Arctic Circle, the Lofoten Islands is ideal for chasing aurora. However, I was just as excited to explore beautiful islands nestled between the enormous mountain peaks. I had a wonderful time here. I personally love to get a hybrid of nature, design, and adventure on my trips. This checked off all three of my pillars! If you like road trips, this is the adventure for you. I hope this post will help you get inspired to do the same!
TROMSO - STARTING THE ROAD TRIP
There are a variety of permutations to getting into the Lofoten Islands. We started our journey in Tromso. Tromso is 6 hours north of the Lofoten Islands. It is a larger city in comparison to those in Lofoten islands. We saw this as the best option, as there were more flights, and car rental options. Alternatively, you can fly into Lekenes, Svolvaer or Evenes. These airports will get you closer to the Lofoten Islands.
Tromso has a very beautiful overlook over the city. You can take a gondola to the top where it has an extended lookout with clear floors. One of the big highlights for me was seeing a public sauna in the heart of the city. You can book out Pust Suana all to yourself for an hour. It sits right next to the harbor, so if you get too hot you can jump into the ocean and cool off. If this one is booked, you can find these seaside saunas scattered across the Lofoten Islands.
SKARUNGEN BASECAMP - STOP AND ENJOY THE SCENERY
We took our time driving down to the Lofoten Islands. We decided to stop near the town of Svolvær and enjoy a cabin and amenities at Skårungen AS. The cabins are situated next to the water and nestled by the mountainside. We were pleasantly surprised to see another sauna on the water, this time there was a hot tub. It was the perfect break after a long drive down from Tromso. We were also hoping to luck out and see the aurora that night. Skarungen AS is also a basecamp for skiing, kayaking and local activities. You can rent skis at the company next to their lodge.
REINE - A PHOTOGRAPHY WONDERLAND
Reine was my favorite destination on the trip. It is also the main destination for most people visiting the Lofoten Islands. The islands of Reine are rather close to the high peaks surrounding it. A lot of the old fishing houses are converted into lodging. This is perfect to enjoy the beauty of Reine from right outside the balconies. There are a variety of short hikes in the winter, and longer hikes you can do in the summer. It was easy to spend a whole day just wandering around Reine.
HIGHLIGHTS AROUND REINE
Reine is a great homebase for exploring other towns and landscpapes. You will see a variety of landscapes just driving 30 miniutes north or south. I particularly like flying my drone, many of the areas around Reine were perfect for it.
Skagsanden Beach
This wide beach was located right off the road E10 on the way into Reine. It is absolutely worth a stop. It was stunning to see the snow covering the beach. The beach is also very popular for surfing. You can check out the Lofoten Beach Camp Surf. They have a very pretty station next to the beach.
Nusfjord
Nusfjord is a small village. It is a very cute area perched against the seaside. There are a number of small shops, vintage cafes, and galleries. The village is superb for photos. A snow storm rolled in when we visited, but we were able to make the best of our time there! This is a great place to stop for lunch on your drive to Reine.
Fredvang Bridge
If you like drone photography, this is the perfect spot to let your creativity fly. This bridge has a huge span, connecting several islands. We spent a few hours here filming boats and vehicles cross the bridge. Going here at sunset was beautiful!
A (Å)
This town is located on the most southern tip of the Lofoten Islands. The road literally ends here! There is a small hike past the parking that takes you to an open area with cliffs. From here you can see the open ocean to the south. Knee deep snow, it was fun to walk around and take in the views.
BALLSTAD
The town of Ballstad is relatively smaller than other areas in the Lofoten Islands. But it was one of the best places to catch the northern lights. We saw the aurora right from our airBNB. If you are looking to see the northern lights, I would highly recommend this area for a night's stay!
Hattvika Lodge
The Hattvika Lodge has a beautiful series of modern design cabins in the heart of Ballstad. The cabins are perched on hills, and have large windows optimal for catching the northern lights right from your room. We treated ourselves to a meal in their restaurant, Fangst, which I could not recommend more. It was a true Norwegian culinary experience. We spoke to the chef, and they were passionate about local sourcing. They also gave us the tip on the optimal location to catch the northern lights!
EXPLORE THE AREA
These locations below were optimal for viewing the aurora. They are also just as beautiful in the morning! Hauklandstranda Beach, Vik Beach and Uttakleiv Beach. You can check out my full post for chasing the northern lights here.
HENNINGSVAER - DESIGN AND NATURE
Henningsvaer was the most unique village on the road trip. Henningsvaer blends design and nature into one mighty town! I particularly liked exploring town and going into any shop, hotel and museum that caught my eye. The town also has a big football (soccer) field that is constructed on a tiny island on the south most part of town. Here are some things to do in Henningsvaer.
DESIGN AND CULTURE
If you are in the mood for culture, you can check out some of these spots. The KaviarFactory is a small modern art museum close to the center of town. After your visit, you can walk over to Engelskmannsbrygga, which is a series of galleries situated along the canal. You can round out the day at Trevarefabrikken is a wonderful hotel, with great coffee, nightlife, and a seaside sauna. A good tip is, that you don’t have to be a guest to book the sauna or visit the lobby!
PHOTOGRAPHY VIEWPOINTS
Similarly to Reine, Henningsvaer is a series of islands connected by bridges. But what makes this more unique is that the scale of the islands are a bit smaller than Reine. You can get really beautiful photography without wide angle lenses. Some spots that I loved photographing was Henningsvaer Stadium, Phare, and Henningsvaer Port.
WHERE TO STAY
The town also has a lot of options for nicely designed homestays. We found one right on the water, and we did not regret booking it. One other thing I appreciated during our homestay was the abundance of beds. The homestay provided a bunkbed room for 4, and another room for 2. It packed a lot of housing into one comfortable house!
LEAVING THE LOFOTEN ISLANDS
Eight days was perfect for exploring this area in Norway. Our trip was specifically tailored to a winter trip, but there are many hikes and viewpoints that open up in the summer months. I will absolutely be coming back for a different experience. I hope this helps you in your winter journey in the Lofoten Islands!
