15 Best Things to Do in Lofoten
The Lofoten Islands have some of the most stunning scenery in the world. I was first inspired to visit Lofoten by photos of its green peaks washed in a midnight sun glow. But as I started to plan our trip, I wondered: what are the best things to do in Lofoten, beyond just looking at pretty scenery?
Turns out, there’s quite a lot to do in Lofoten! Which is lucky, because these remote islands have a tricky weather pattern, with many rainy days intermixing with those Instagrammable sunsets or northern lights photos you’ve probably seen.
That’s where this guide comes in handy! Below, I’ve written about all the best things to do in the Lofoten Islands, including both summer and winter activities, and outdoor and indoor activities. Let’s get to it!
In a Rush? Here are My Favorite Hotels in Lofoten
Skarungen ($-$$)
Eliassen Rorbuer ($$)
Nusfjord Arctic Resort ($$$)
15 Best Things to Do in Lofoten
1. Go Hiking
Without a doubt, hiking is one of the best things to do in Lofoten in summer. I’d go as far as to say that this is the #1 activity you’ll find on the Lofoten Islands.
Some of the best hikes on the Lofoten Islands include:
- Reinebringen — #1 most popular (but not my personal favorite)
- Ryten
- Mannen and Haukland Beach
- Hoven
- Festvågtind
- Offersøykammen
- Stornappstinden
- Delfsheia — my personal favorite (comparatively easy and epic views)
Be warned that nearly all hikes on Lofoten involve a steep climb. However, hikes are generally short (1.5 to 5 miles). I recommend packing proper hiking shoes to navigate the steep and sometimes muddy terrain.
2. See the Midnight Sun
It’s worth traveling to the Lofoten Islands just to witness the midnight sun phenomenon. From late May to mid July every year, the sun doesn’t fully set. Instead, you get a long-lasting golden hour.
I visited in late July, and although the sun did technically set, it still never got completely dark, and we were able to hike under a sunset sky until 1am or later. It’s truly a bucket list experience!
If you’d prefer to join a midnight sun tour over trying a hike, then these are my recommendations:
- Midnight Sun Tour From Svolvaer: A 4-hour tour of midnight sun photo spots without requiring any intense hiking. Snacks and drinks included!
- Midnight Sun Horseback Riding Tour: 1.5 hours of easy coastline horseback riding under the midnight sun, on Gimsoya.
3. Experience the Northern Lights
On the other end of the spectrum, you’ve got the northern lights, which draw visitors to Lofoten every winter.
It’s worth joining an expert-guided tour, so you can make the most of finding (and photographing) the northern lights:
- Northern Lights Tour With Photographer: A 4-hour, small group tour that departs from Svolvaer.
- Magic of the Northern Lights Tour: A 5-hour tour that offers a bonfire and hot drinks, departing from Svolvaer.
- Northern Lights on Horseback: A unique northern lights horseback riding tour on Gimsoya island, following the coastline.
4. Sauna and Arctic Swim
Lofoten is one of the best places in the world to try a sauna! And bonus points if you’re brave enough to run into the Norwegian Sea to cool off. This was one of my personal favorite activities from my time in Lofoten.
I cover the 15 best saunas in Lofoten in another article, so check that out to plan your trip!
5. Stay in a Traditional Fishermen Cabin
You’ve probably seen photos of the iconic red fishermen cabins in Lofoten — these are called rorbuer. Well, did you know that you can actually stay overnight in one?
Many rorbuer have now been transformed into waterfront boutique hotels, often coming with luxurious amenities like saunas and jacuzzis, too.
Some of the best rorbuer in Lofoten include:
6. Experience Van Life in Lofoten
The Lofoten Islands are one of the best places in the world to try out van life, ie traveling by campervan!
I wrote a full review of Lofoten Van Life, the company we rented our vintage VW campervan from. Check it out if you’re interested in traveling Lofoten by van!
7. Go on a Horse Back Ride
Lofoten offers one of the most breathtaking horseback riding routes ever. I discovered this when we were staying at a beachfront campsite on Gimsoya. As I settled down in our campervan, I looked out the window to see a line of beautiful Icelandic horses walking along the beach. It was so magical!
You can book the horseback riding tour here. It’s 1.5 hours, and goes at a relaxed pace along the coastline and past Viking ruins. It can also be adjusted for beginners or expert riders.
8. Explore Cute Towns
There are so many adorable towns and fishing villages throughout the Lofoten Islands, perfect for exploring on a drizzly day. This list of things to do in Lofoten would be VERY long if I wrote about each town separately, so I’ll list a quick breakdown here:
- Å: The southernmost town on the Lofoten Islands, at the end of the road quite literally! It’s tiny and adorable. Visit the Bakery at Å.
- Reine: The most popular southern town in Lofoten (and therefore somewhat commercialized, in my opinion). Get some great photos from the northern viewpoint, and hike Reinebringen while you’re here.
- Sakrisøy: A small islet near Reine. A must-stop for seafood at Anita’s Sjomat!
- Hamnøy: Another small islet near Reine, one of the most picturesque spots and popular among professional photographers.
- Nusfjord: A historical fishing village that’s now a designated open-air museum (and costs 100 to 150 NOK to enter). Still very much worth it—just go early to get parking. Landhandleriet Café is a must-stop for its beautiful window views. As is Hansines Bakeri. Also worth walking to the whale museum and exploring the scenery.
- Henningsvær: A bigger fishing village but still extremely quaint, and worth visiting. A great spot to pick up handmade souvenirs.
There are also some larger towns in the Lofoten Islands, most notably Svolvaer and Leknes (both have small airports). Svolvaer, in particular, is a popular entry point for getting to Lofoten, and lots of tours depart from here, so it could be worth staying a night or two.
9. Eat All the Cinnamon Buns
Lofoten is famous for its cinnamon buns. There’s a friendly rivalry between bakeries on which one has the best cinnamon bun, and you best believe Dan made it his personal mission to try them all for himself!
Ultimately, Dan’s favorite cinnamon bun was from Unstad Arctic Surf. Hansines Bakeri (in Nusfjord) and The Bakery at Å (in Å, obviously lol) are other popular bakeries that compete for that top spot.
Why not try them for yourself and make up your own mind?!
(By the way, if you’re gluten free like me, then sadly cinnamon buns are off the menu. Check out my gluten free Lofoten guide for other yummy eats, though!).
10. Try Norwegian Seafood (Fish Burgers + Shrimp!)
Norway is known for its seafood and there’s no better place to try it than the Lofoten Islands. My top recommendations are:
- Fish burgers — I recommend the one with smoked salmon at Anita’s Sjomat.
- Coldwater prawns — I recommend the prawn bowl at Klatrekafeen in Henningsvaer.
- Norwegian fish soup — I recommend the soup, and everything else, at Låven. Perfect for a post horseback riding meal (this is the departure site!).
11. Go Fishing
The fishing in and around the Lofoten Islands is spectacular. The best way to go fishing in Lofoten as a tourist is to join a guided fishing trip. These are my recommendations:
- Small Group Arctic Fishing Experience: A 4-hour fishing tour for just 5 people, departing from Nyvågar Rorbuhotel.
- Svolvaer Fishing Trip : A 4-hour fishing trip departing from Svolvaer.
- Traditional Fishing Trip: A 3-hour fishing trip in a traditional fishing vessel, departing from Svolvaer.
- Crab Fishing and Dinner: A 2-hour experience pulling up crabs from traps in the arctic sea, before eating them for dinner at Restaurant Nyvågar.
12. RIB Boat Tour and Sea Eagle Spotting
A RIB boat tour is one of the most popular things to do in Lofoten, and you’ll find lots of tour groups offering this activity. Personally I didn’t do this and I regretted not booking it when I saw the boats jetting off into the fjord!
My recommendation is this RIB boat tour and sea eagle safari, which departs from Svolvaer and by far has the most positive reviews.
13. Take a Glass Blowing Workshop
Ever wanted to make your own glass jewelry? Then book this unique glass making workshop in Lofoten.
I saw so many beautiful glass sculptures and jewelry throughout my time in the Lofoten Islands. This is truly part of the culture, and a great activity if you’re crafty (especially on a cold or rainy day — which Lofoten has plenty of!).
14. Go Surfing
Yes, you can actually surf in Lofoten! (You will just need a thick wetsuit).
Surfing is a really popular activity in Lofoten. If you’re interested in trying it, then I would recommend the all-inclusive surf and stay package at Unstad Arctic Surf (home of the best cinnamon buns).
If you’d prefer a one-time lesson or taster session, then Lofoten Beach Camp is a great affordable choice. Surf lessons are offered year-round, but you’d have to be very brave (and insulated) to go in winter, in my opinion!
15. Go Golfing
Lofoten is actually known for one of the best golf courses in Europe: Lofoten Links. People travel from all around the world just to play here, especially under the midnight sun.
I’m not a golfer myself, but my husband Dan is (IYKYK). He didn’t make a reservation or bring his clubs, and I think he was regretting that when we did the nearby Hoven hike and saw the golfers playing under a pink midnight sky in July!
Getting to the Lofoten Islands
Hopefully I’ve just given you plenty of inspiration on things to do on the Lofoten Islands! Your next problem? How to get there!
This was the main pain-point for me when we planned our trip to Lofoten. So, I wrote a whole guide on how to get to Lofoten, which covers the four main ways and three less-common ways.
Read the guide for all the details, but the short version is:
- Fly into Svolvaer (on Lofoten)
- Fly into Leknes (on Lofoten)
- Fly into Bodø, then take a 4-hour ferry to Moskenes
- Fly into Harstad/Narvik airport in Evenes, then drive 3 hours to Lofoten
Personally, Dan and I flew into Svolvaer (after stopping in Oslo and connecting in Bodø). We then rented our van in Svolvaer.
So many of the best tours and activities I recommend above depart from Svolvaer, so personally this would be my recommendation. I think it’s worth the slightly more expensive flights. Lofoten is so much more than its picturesque southern towns (think: Reine and Å), and really worth exploring to Svolvaer and beyond!
Final Thoughts on Planning Your Trip to Lofoten
Happy trip planning! Whether you are visiting Lofoten in summer or winter, staying in luxurious hotels or traveling by campervan (or a combo of both!), you are sure to love it.
It can be difficult to plan a trip to such a remote destination, so I hope my guides are helpful to you. As always, just leave me a comment below or on my Instagram if you have any comments or questions.
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