Lofoten Island
Lofoten Island
5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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383 reviews
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dan j
Port Coquitlam, Canada806 contributions
Jun 2023
We visited the Lofoten Islands by cruise ship and tendered ashore in Gravdal, we rented a car from Rent a Wreck in Leknes and they actually have the cars waiting at the cruise dock where the tender drops you off. The Island is amazing, such a rugged beautiful landscape, everywhere you look a postcard picture. We were very fortunate that most of our day was sunny and we got lots of great pics. I would definitely like to come back for a longer visit.
Written June 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kobus L
Le Havre, France84 contributions
Mar 2020
Lofoten is a dream destination for photographers that are willing to deal with a bit of adverse weather. Black rocks, white snow and azure water makes for excellent landscape photos. Expensive, but worth it!
Written March 26, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Barbara R
Turin, Italy1,796 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
Fifteen years ago we spent three days in Lofoten arriving with the Hurtigruten, staying in Svolvaer and renting a car. They remained in our hearts having been lucky enough to visit in good weather. We returned this year with a group tour.
Lofoten are wonderful, the landscapes are fantastic and always worth a visit. Sleeping in the rorbu is a wonderful experience.
The colors of Lofoten are truly unique
Lofoten are wonderful, the landscapes are fantastic and always worth a visit. Sleeping in the rorbu is a wonderful experience.
The colors of Lofoten are truly unique
Written October 8, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gone Walkabout
Tonsberg, Norway549 contributions
Jun 2020
Lofoten is my dream destination. After 3 visits over the last 18 years, I still want to go back. Hiking, fishing, biking, kayak, restaurants and great location to stay the night either in a rorbu or a tent. Very diverse and great nature experiences all around. We had 8 days this time, that was not enough. You must account for some bad weather here so you need a few more days to do all you want.
Written July 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Primus1
Villach, Austria248 contributions
Jul 2024 • Couples
We drove from Harstad to A and partly stayed in Rorbus. These seaside fishing huts are traditionally simple. Unfortunately, Lofoten is overloaded and even cruise ships lurk in the ports, the beautiful nature is unique but the overtourism destroys the dream of a lonely break.
Automatically translated
Written July 30, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bruce S
2 contributions
Aug 2024 • Couples
My wife and I, both late 60s and in good health, had an absolutely fantastic 10 days, traveling south to A Lofoten and as far north as Stokmarknes. We did the top touristic attractions -- Trollfjord cruise, Viking Museum, Acquarium, Norwegian Fishing village museum in A; galleries in Henningsvaer, museum with actual coastal ship inside the building in Stokmarknes; ferry to Vinstad and walk uphill to beach overlook -- all worthwhile and we missed a few other attractions no doubt worth doing. We also did a half dozen hikes into the mountains with their fantastic views (there is something for every level of difficulty, even the easier hikes offer panoramic views). Most of all, just enjoyed the great beauty of a place where mountains, water, land and sky combine in always-different ways. And we were blessed with little rainfall and temps in 60s and 70s F.!
Written August 15, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Russ855
Palm Springs, CA471 contributions
Jul 2023
These islands are the most stunning stop on a Norway fjord cruise. Make sure it is on your cruise ship's itinerary. We were able to take a boat between Henningsvaer and Leknes which gave a full display of the "wall" that this chain of islands is known for. Henningsvaer was the sweetest small town we visited in Norway.
Written July 24, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
king
Östersund, Sweden13 contributions
Sep 2021 • Friends
Visited 3 times to Norway but this time trip of lofoten was heavenly🥰 One of the bestest beach that I have visited. A must must must visit place. Heaven on earth 🌍 definitely going to be visit there again
Written September 17, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HuntleyNewYork
New York404 contributions
Oct 2016 • Couples
We travelled in October, when weather is still pretty good, Northern Lights are very possible, and tourists are significantly fewer. All pros in our opinion!
Flying to Leknes via Bodo was a good option.
Leknes is not very pretty, but is very centrally located and has shops off all kinds to stock up on anything you might need for your travel through the islands.
There is also a rental car desk at the Leknes Airport.
Definitely book your car in advance as the desk will not be staffed unless there is a prearranged booking.
I cannot say good things about Avis there, however, and the same may be true about the other car services.
When I booked the car online months before, there was no information on the website or in our confirmation email regarding the transmission.
In America, rental cars are almost always automatic. That is apparently not the case in Norway.
Of course, had we known that, we would have listed a special preference for an automatic, as it has been many years since we drove a manual.
But we did not know that, and were presented with a manual SUV.
We immediately attempted to exchange the car for an automatic.
The desk person was not at all cooperative. He insisted that we KNEW what we'd rented and showed us the CURRENT website as proof.
Even after I showed HIM our confirmation, which had no info at all about the transmission, he objected.
Ultimately we got a MUCH lesser car, but with an automatic, at the higher price we had previously booked for the SUV.
We were ripped off for sure, but frankly we were quite tired of fighting and sucked it up.
But be warned, and book carefully!
We travelled south to Reine and beyond to A. Then we travelled north to Henningsvaer and Unstad.
The scenery everywhere was spectacular, and surprisingly diverse. More on that later.
The driving was easy in several respects: there are few roads so it's hard to get lost, and few cars in the off season so not much traffic to contend with.
In other respects it was demanding: there are only winding narrow roads everywhere, requiring full time attentive driving and often times requiring pulling very close to ditches & cliffs to allow cars traveling in the opposite direction to pass.
Most drivers are considerate, but some drivers pass even on curves. Just be a mindful driver and you'll be fine.
We didn't encounter much bad weather, just one rainy day, but roads could be treacherous in snow or freezing conditions so also keep that in mind.
In terms of accommodations and restaurants, many -- MANY-- are closed in the off season. While it may be preferable to arrive with no hotel bookings and see where you wind up, that can not be recommended in the off season. Book ahead, and re confirm your booking yourself right before heading there.
Case in point: We spent an entire day driving in the rain from Reine to Henningsvaer (gorgeous drive, even in the rain) only to discover that our hotel, which had been booked via hotels.com AND reconfirmed by them via email only days before, had actually been CLOSED for a full month already -- and would not re open until weeks after our intended stay.
We were tired and angry and disappointed, to say the least.
And then had to find another hotel, more than an hours drive away, on the fly.
Don't let that happen to you!
Unfortunately, we weren't lucky enough to encounter the Northern Lights during our stay.
But if you want to try to time your visit with some level of (quasi) precision, triangulate a few sources.
Weather, of course. You need a cloudless sky.
Norway Lights, the app, can be suggestive, but even their GO recommendation proved wrong.
Then there are sites like aurora eu (google to find them as I can't remember the exact names) that can give you info on the other atmospheric factors and your chances of seeing the show.
Taken together you can get a pretty good assessment.
Reine Rorbuer was definitely our favorite place to stay. It's location is gorgeous and everything about the cabins exude charm. It's also very very comfortable. But you can't count on many restaurants near by during the off season so hit up the Coop (grocery store) just outside of town.
Also, the only liquor stores will be in the big towns -- Leknes or Svolvaer. They are state run. You can only buy beer, not spirits, at the grocery stores.
The Best Western in Leknes isn't fancy, but it's solid. And the restaurant there is also quite good.
We found some other good places along the way - cafes, restaurants, but they really are few and far between. Take advantage of breakfast if offered where you stay. It will carry you through the day, and you'll be glad when you keep driving past one closed place after another.
We found very little shopping in terms of local items or art or crafts.
It's our travel habit to come home with something artistic and truly local, so that was disappointing.
Perhaps there are more options in the tourist season, but with so many things closed in the off season ...
Now on to scenery.
Even in mid to late October, there is a lot of color amidst the foliage. It makes for stark contrast with the mountains, valleys and waters.
The architecture is just what you would expect. Red or ochre paint for the most part. Lace curtains and lights in the windows. Charming indeed.
The south landscape is wonderfully craggy. Steep mountains and water and fishing villages. Dramatic.
The midlands have lush valleys. Lots of sheep farming, plus cows and horses.
North leading into to Henningsvaer is by far the most spectacular. It's truly other worldly, with rocks and water and cliffs. I've never seen anything like it.
And if you can get to the surfing beach in the north, in Unstad, it's well worth seeing the scene: the enthusiastic surfers, the surrounding area, the beach, and of course the waves.
But the bottom line: it's ALL beautiful!!!
We loved our time there -- challenges and all. Don't hesitate, just go prepared, especially in the off season!
Written October 23, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Soleil_Gal
Solihull, UK219 contributions
Aug 2011 • Friends
After travelling to many places around the world, I came to the conclusion that, this is the real paradise I am looking for!
Everything is so pure, water, sky, air, reflections in the water..it is an ideal place to retrospect one's life, enjoy the company of family and have fun with friends
When we were there, we climbed up the mountain to see the breathtaking view over fjords, went fishing (quite an adventure for us on a windy day! Unforgettable) also enjoyed the whale watching much in Andenes.
Simply driving around and getting surprised by various sceneries around the corner can sweep us away!
I wrote a travelblog in my language about Lofoten and it received many applause, and that made many of my friends or someone in that forum to experience Lofoten in person, no one comes back with regrets!
This is the place I wanna go again, maybe in winter to chase the northern light!
stay: Eliassen Rorbuer 5 star recommended
http://www.rorbuer.no/rorbuer/78
must drive: Stamsund to Eggum road 817&816 amazing!
Svolvaer to Sortland..breathtaking view over various big lakes with sunset (I went in August)
Must do: Reinebringen top (a difficult trekking route) but worth all the sweats!
a walk along Ramberg beach
Catch some coalfish and cook some yummy meals;)
Everything is so pure, water, sky, air, reflections in the water..it is an ideal place to retrospect one's life, enjoy the company of family and have fun with friends
When we were there, we climbed up the mountain to see the breathtaking view over fjords, went fishing (quite an adventure for us on a windy day! Unforgettable) also enjoyed the whale watching much in Andenes.
Simply driving around and getting surprised by various sceneries around the corner can sweep us away!
I wrote a travelblog in my language about Lofoten and it received many applause, and that made many of my friends or someone in that forum to experience Lofoten in person, no one comes back with regrets!
This is the place I wanna go again, maybe in winter to chase the northern light!
stay: Eliassen Rorbuer 5 star recommended
http://www.rorbuer.no/rorbuer/78
must drive: Stamsund to Eggum road 817&816 amazing!
Svolvaer to Sortland..breathtaking view over various big lakes with sunset (I went in August)
Must do: Reinebringen top (a difficult trekking route) but worth all the sweats!
a walk along Ramberg beach
Catch some coalfish and cook some yummy meals;)
Written October 18, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello, we are traveling to Lofoten later this month. We will be staying in svolvær then taking the bus to Narvik. But four hours on the bus is a challenge for my children avoiding sickness. Any recommendations for a good stopping point on the journey, ideally with food but can take a picnic, would be much appreciated.
Written July 19, 2023
Lofoten visit suggestions,
I am planning for a 5 night visit to Lofoten, I will be flying in to Evenes Harstad Narvik Airport. I want to see northern lights and Lofoten landscape photography.
this will be winter so I don't feel safe to rent car.
I plan to stay one night near airport, next day talk bus to Svolvaer. Base at Svolvaer for 4 nights and take guided tours for northern lights and guided photography tours.
please suggest if I should divide my stay between Svolvaer and some other major town of Lofoten?
also if I can do move around Lofoten with Public transport for landscape photography in winter?
appreciate your help with this itinerary
Written December 19, 2019
We'll be on the Hurtigruten cruise--can we get ashore without doing their excursion? How do we book a local bus tour? Thanks, any help appreciated
Written April 19, 2019
Hi, is it safe to walk along the E10 road from Moskenes to Å?
Written January 27, 2019
It's a narrow road, but if you watch out for traffic you should be ok. The speed limit is low here, it's just a small local road.
Written June 7, 2019
Hello,
I want to travel to Lofoten this Christmas. I found some organized travels but I would like to know if it is doable to plan the trip by yourself? Can you do hikes by yourself this time of year? What are good tourism companies to book excursions? What is a good rental car company?
Kind regards, Bart
Written October 2, 2018
Bonjour, je suis très tentée par les iles Lofoten, aussi j'aimerais savoir quelle agence de voyage est la plus adaptée, disons la plus spécialisée pour faire ce type de voyage. D'avance je vous remercie pour votre attention et votre réponse...Bien cordialement Ana
Written September 28, 2018
Bonjour,
Nous aurons une escale en aout à Leknes avec notre croisiériste, pour la journée. Pouvez-vous conseiller notre petite famille sur comment s'organiser au mieux pour profiter de ces îles merveilleuses? Merci pour vos réponses
Written March 31, 2018
I would recommend renting a car. It is more expensive than in most countries but the road across the isles is one of the most scenic I have seen. There is just one road with bridged and tunnels with a few short roads from there.
Written April 1, 2018
I World like to know the cheapest way to get to Lofoten! Plane, bus or train?
Written October 17, 2017
There are no trains and only a very small airport, mostly for private plains. The choices are to rent a car from Tromso or Norvik or a bus. The tusism office in Tromso will have bus schedule.
Written October 18, 2017
We are planning a trip to Vesteralen and Lofoten in Feb/March. Flying into Harstad/Narvik and renting a car for 2 weeks. I know you can rent cars at the airport but I have heard that it is much cheaper to rent from a local garage. Does anyone have any info on this please?
Written September 5, 2017
Sorry cannot help you we were on a cruise when we visited
Written September 5, 2017
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