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Best locations in Lofoten

Best-preserved fishing villages

Henningsvær

Henningsvær, the Venice of the North is located 25 km from Svolvær. It consists of several small islands that are connected by bridges.

From Svolvær, direction Å, approximately after 20 minutes driving from Svolvær, turn left and start heading along one of the most scenic roads, the one which drives you to Henningsvær.

Stop at Rørvik. Rørvik is a pearl. Its crystal water is simply stunning, its white sand beach makes it difficult to believe you are in the Arctic. A stop, a break, a short walk on the beach when the tide is low, are always worth. In summer, despite the low water temperature, dare a short swim! Your body will benefit from it.

Therefore, once you have planned to visit Henningsvær, do not forget to bring your swimming clothing!

While visiting Henningsvær, don’t miss a walk to the lighthouse, don’t miss a shoot to the very popular football field located in the middle of a small island, don’t miss a lunch break in one of the many cafeterias serving local food and traditional cakes.

Nusfjord

Located on the island of Flakstadøy, Nusfjord is the prettiest and best-preserved fishing hamlet.

Nusfjord is not just a pretty, culturally interesting, old fishing villages, Nusfjord is also the one where its buildings, its architecture has been preserved along the centuries. And although now it has been converted in a Arctic resort (to preserve the village itself and its beauty from the massive tourism), Nusfjord keeps on being the village where you can breathe the most the Lofoten history.

Nusfjord indeed has been one of Lofoten most important fishing harbours for centuries. The fishermen came for the seasonal cod fishery and stayed in the traditional ‘rorbu’ (fishermen’s cabins). The wooden cabins and industrial buildings date back to the 19th and early 20th century, Nusfjord was one of three nominated locations in Norway for UNESCOs 1975 traditional architecture preservation projects.

The old “Rorbuer” fishermen’s cabins were painted red because red paint was the cheapest. Now they’ve been totally renovated inside, but from the outside, they have still the original architecture and remind us its glorious past.

Historical facts:
Did you know that in 1905, about 1500 Lofoten fishermen operated out of Nusfjord? Some of them slept into rorbuers with other fishermen, while others didn’t have the money for such privilege and had to turn their boats and sleep under.. The fishermen came from all along the coast. Indeed, not many fishermen were local inhabitants. Most of the fishermen gathering up there were from other places.

At that time, the most important family (the only one indeed) was the Dahl one who owned the village from 1847. Nusfjord remained under Dahl’s s family control until 2005. Nusfjord had its most glorious and busiest period from the mid-19th century until the first few decades of the 20th century. After it continued to operate as a fishing village until the end of the century.

Don’t miss a visit to Nusfjord and please keep in mind that in summer you have to pay the ticket to visit the village.

Å i Lofoten

Å (Norwegian pronunciation “o”) is a village in Moskenes Municipality in Nordland county, is the southernmost village of the Lofoten archipelago.

Until the 1990s, Å was mainly a small fishing village specializing in stockfish, but since then tourism has taken over, it represents today the most important economic resource, The town has a very interesting Stockfish Museum which is worth an accurate visit. The “Tørrfisk Museet” (Stockfish museum) which, together with the Norwegian Fishing Village Museum, as two big tourist attractions.

Å i Lofoten is where every year the Lofoten Fishery starts
Å has played an essential role in the Lofoten Fishery. The Lofoten Fishery starts in January, when the cod is migrating from the Barents Sea down to the warmer waters of Lofoten to spawn. First, the cod reaches the outermost islands of Røst and Værøy and around Å, one can fish already in January. At this time, the cod is still round and fat. Later, the cod restarts its migration towards the northern part of the islands. During this migration, it doesn’t eat. The fat cod from Å is actually different from the one from around Svolvær.

The Italian market, which is the most important one, prefers the quality coming from Svolvær.

Did you know...?

Italy buys 95% of the Lofoten stockfish? Interesting to read about Querini’s adventure and why Italy has been and still is the most important client for Lofoten economy, We suggest you by hearth to read the “Querini’s diary”. Trough its reading, you will discover how locals lived during the 15th century, their habits and many other aspects of fishermen’s everyday life.

Apart from Italy, today the remaining 5% goes to Croatia, while the heads are exported to Nigeria, where they are pulverized for obtaining a tasty fish soup.

Best hiking trails

Tjeldbergtind

This is the hike with spectacular views of Svolvær, Vestfjord, and surrounding mountains. Easy, suitable for everyone, young children to active seniors. 

Festvågtind

This hike is one of Lofoten’s most popular trails for views of Henningsvær

Festvågtind is a stunning hike that rises directly from the sea near Henningsvær on Austvågøy Island. From the top you will enjoy great views over the village and the surrounding cliffs.

Hoven

The Hoven hike at Gimsøy in Lofoten is an accessible hike and suits most people. It’s a good hike to enjoy the midnight sun.

It is also important to bring proper clothing as facing the Atlantic Ocean, it can be colder, especially at night while admiring the splendour of the midnight sun.

Important! If you are not a hiker and you don’t feel confortable, you don’t have to reach the top to enjoy the beauty of the sun which never sets. There are many intermediate stops which will make your hike more affordable, but worth anyway!

Kvalvika

The beach faces the open sea on the north side of the island Moskenesøya, the southernmost one, and is surrounded by steep mountains which rise more than 600 meters.

The starting point is at Fredvang. Once you have reached Fredvang continue for approx. 3 km until you reach a parking place on the left side of the road. The trail starts on the side of the road and is marked with a wood sign that says “Kvalvika”.

The hike takes 1 hour each way, and the highest point is 170 meters. The first half of the hike is the easiest part, but once you have started your descent towards the beach, the terrain gets more challenging (steeper). In these last years Kvalvika has become a must do hike. The view is stunning and the mountains towering directly from the sea, breathless. We suggest you to hike when the terrain is dry.

Avoid rainy days.

Reinebringen

At a modest 448 meters high, Reinebringen is not the highest peak, but for sure the most famous one.

In 2016 construction on a stone stairway on the mountain was started due to the increased erosion and danger of rockfall from the high amount of visitation. The Sherpa stairway was finished in late summer 2021, now ascending fully to the summit edge.

Note, the steps are actually quite physically demanding than many other hiking trails, even steeper ones. So if you are not used to hike, you are not trained or active in your daily life, we suggest you to try more affordable paths before hiking to Reinebringen.

We also suggest you do not try it when it’s wet, after a rainy period. It can be muddy and slippery. Find the right day and enjoy.

Reinebringen is located immediately west of the village or Reine, with the stairway beginning on the western side of Ramsvik tunnel, along the old road.

Parking as become a serious issue since the opening of the stairway in July 2019.  Moskenes Kommune wants hikers to park in certain areas such as:
Free: Djupfjord view point.
Paid: Reine Kultursenter. Located just before the center of Reine.

For more updated information, we suggest you to contact https://visitlofoten.com/