Lofoten is one of those rare places that lives up to every photo you’ve seen of it. Expect dramatic peaks rising straight out of the fjords, fishing villages that feel frozen in time, and long summer days where the sun barely dips below the horizon. Whether you’re riding Icelandic ponies past the world’s most northerly golf course or hiking down to a beach only reachable on foot, this is a destination built for exploring at your own pace, ideally from behind the wheel of a campervan.
Community Tips For Lofoten Islands
Rent a campervan if you can as the flexibility to move on daily or stay longer somewhere you love makes the trip feel like proper travel.
Fly London to Oslo to Bodø, then a small propeller plane to Svolvær which is stunning.
Rent a car if you’re staying in fixed accommodation and you can cover the whole archipelago top to bottom in about 4 hours.
Visit in summer if you can as the midnight sun changes what’s possible in a day, especially for the Haukland Beach sunset hike.
Don’t skip Nusfjord which is easy to overlook but was one of the highlights.
Explore Lofoten Islands
Hov Gård
Book the half day Icelandic pony ride, it’s a genuinely unique way to see the island.
The route passes through the world’s most northerly golf course.
Includes a picnic lunch in a beautiful spot right by the beach.
Great option if you want something more active and less hike heavy(Millie.)
Nusfjord
Wander the old fishing village and learn how Norwegians historically lived on the islands.
Stop at the bakery, simply called Bakeri, don’t skip it.
Hike up Ryten and down to Kvalvika Beach, only reachable on foot.
Finish at the family run café at the start and end of the Ryten trail for pizza.
Svolvær
Main gateway to the islands, via a small propeller plane from Bodø and the views on descent are stunning.
Good base for picking up a rental campervan.
Take the eagle boat trip from here, you may not see orcas but the fjords and sea eagles made it worthwhile.
Nearby, Haukland Beach is a must if you’re visiting in summer. Since the sun never sets, you can climb the mountain for “sunset,” watch it kiss the horizon and rise again, take in the 360 degree views, then run straight into the sea once you’re back down
Reine
Widely known as one of the most photographed villages in Lofoten.
The popular viewpoint walk above the village is steep stone steps the whole way with no flat sections. It is very busy with tourists though!
The view at the top is genuinely epic, but there are other viewpoints on the islands worth prioritising instead (Millie.)
Worth a stop for the village itself even if you skip the climb.
Check out the map and recent trip notes from our community by Millie here.
