A piece of paradise on earth, where you can admire the Northern Lights. Located above the Arctic Circle, more than 900 km north of Oslo, this gateway to the fjords is the dream place for nature and fishing lovers.
Land of the Vikings, the Lofoten Islands will offer you mineral landscapes made of stone and water, which will have forged men who are both harsh and generous.
Like an imposing wall, Lofoten rises from the sea to create an impressive landscape of variety as well as an exceptional play of contrasts which make this archipelago a real jewel off the Norwegian continent. The islands that make up Lofoten are located north of the North Polar Circle and extend over 200 km between the 67th and 68° parallel north from the Vesterålen Islands. The Atlantic Ocean creates an impressive coastline of islands separated from the mainland by the famous Vestfjord, a fish-filled arm of the sea nearly 155 km long. The five largest islands are connected by tunnels and bridges. Otherwise, there are ferries for pedestrians or cars that will take you from island to island, or fast boat services.
Covering an area of almost 1,227 square kilometers, Lofoten has around 24,000 inhabitants, with the eastern part of the archipelago being the most populated. Despite sometimes unstable weather conditions, the archipelago presents itself in spring with a fairly mild climate thanks to the influence of the Gulf Stream. In summer, the average temperature is around 15° Celsius but can rise to almost 30°. During the winter it is cold as is the case everywhere in Norway although the temperature never drops below minus 15°, thanks again to the Gulf Stream.
It is their impressive landscapes that make Lofoten a tourist destination not to be missed. Even today, visitors encounter nature with an original and unique character. On each of the islands there are several idyllic towns and fishing villages with colorful wooden houses. On the garden side, they are surrounded by imposing mountains and equally magnificent fjords.
“The Lofoten archipelago is famous for the Northern Lights, the midnight sun and its small fishing villages”
PLACES TO SEE
It is mainly in photos that we present to you these few jewels which are the coast of Vareid, the wild and rocky beaches of Unstad, Haukland and Lodingen, Mount Hoven and the small typical fishing villages of Reine and Nustfjord. The latter looks like a history book on Lofoten, it has remained so authentic. Another special destination is the village of Leknes and mainly its museum dedicated to the life of fishermen over the years. The small town of Andenes (Vesterålen Islands) is the perfect starting point for marine safari enthusiasts wishing to discover marine mammals such as whales, orcas and dolphins. The island of Vaeroy, in the far south of Lofoten, is the ideal place to discover the brightly colored puffins or sea parrots. In Trollfjord, it will be the sea eagles that we will discover aboard zodiacs.
Kabelvag is one of the most important fishing villages in the Lofoten Islands. There you will find a historic half-timbered church that locals affectionately call Lofoten Cathedral. In summer, West Flakstadoya is worth a detour, as this region offers the most beautiful sandy beaches in Lofoten. We will not forget the passage through the 'capital' Svolvaer, the most important crossroads of the archipelago and the only village with Norwegian town rights since 1996. Of course, these will mainly be the small fishing villages, faithful to their tradition, which gives Lofoten its charm.
LIFE IN THE ISLANDS
Despite the significant growth in tourism, daily life remained characterized by a certain simplicity, with fishing remaining the main source of income for the islands.
For the tourist, two travel periods in particular can be recommended: either the period of the midnight sun (from the end of May to mid-July) when the nights are as clear as the day, or from September to April when you will discover the fascinating spectacle of the Northern Lights.
USEFUL INFORMATION
You can reach the Lofoten archipelago by air via Oslo or Bodo, then by domestic flight to the local airports of Svolvaer, Leknes or Evenes. If you are traveling with your own vehicle (preferably a campervan) or rental car, you can reach Lofoten using the ferry lines, departing from Bodo or Skutvik. There are of course several train lines from Oslo or other Norwegian cities. Moreover, certain lines are among the most beautiful in the world, such as the Flamsbana, Nordlandsbanen and Bergensbanen routes. Just the eight main Norwegian railway lines are worth the detour alone.
Finally, we will not recommend Lofoten to lovers of good wines or refreshing tapas because the alcohol there is overpriced, nor to heavy-footed motorists because speeding (from 60 to 90 km/h max.) will cost you a small fortune.
