Lofoten Adventure Guide: The Best Things to Do in the Jewel of the North

Lofoten has become a popular travel destination thanks to its beautiful nature, majestic mountains, pristine surfing beaches, and accommodations in traditional fishermen’s cabins. During summer, you can live close to nature under the midnight sun while dipping your toes in turquoise waters, and in winter, you can witness the dancing northern lights in the sky and embark on snow-filled adventures. Lofoten offers something for everyone, regardless of the season you visit.

Lofoten Fishing and Fishing Villages

With fishing villages strung like pearls on a string and some of the world’s oldest fish oil factories, Lofoten boasts dramatic mountain formations, pristine beaches, and plenty of good seafood. That’s why Lofoten is also home to the World Cod Fishing Championship every year. The competition takes place in March in Svolvær, where around 600 fishermen set out with over 80 boats. The first World Cod Fishing Championship was held in 1991, and the competition has become increasingly popular each year. Both amateurs and professionals can try their luck – and the best part is the lively atmosphere and the fantastic food served!

If you are not in Svolvær during the Cod Fishing Championship, don’t worry. You will still have the opportunity to join a cod fishing trip anytime during the season. The cod season lasts from January to April each year, and many operators offer exciting excursions with fishing boats to try your fishing luck. If you travel to Lofoten in the summer or autumn, you can also join a fishing trip, as there is always fish in the sea. In summer, the sun never sets, making it possible to go fishing at any time of the day.

Seafood for Everyone

Anita Gylseth is the fifth generation behind the family business in the quaint fishing village of Sakrisøy, idyllically located in Reinefjord. In addition to selling smoked salmon, smoked whale, dried fish, and other delicacies from the sea, she also offers a restaurant experience available to all visitors. Inside the modern restaurant, the interior is a spectacle in itself. The chandeliers are actually made of dried fish! Here, you can enjoy fresh seafood right from the dock, and even vegans will find delicious treasures from the sea: namely the popular seaweed burger.

The Beautiful Nature

In Lofotodden National Park, you can experience some of Lofoten’s best natural experiences. Norway’s youngest national park is also Norway’s fourth smallest national park, and it is located along the outer side of Moskenesøya. With sharp mountain peaks around and narrow fjords, it has become a popular tourist destination. You can take the popular hike up to Helvetestinden, where you get a panoramic view of the iconic Bunesstranda and Lofoten’s dramatic landscape. After you come down, it’s possible to set up a tent to camp on Bunesstranda under the midnight sun. Note that Helvetestinden and Bunesstranda are located in a national park, so you must protect both nature and wildlife.

Bunesstranda is a beautiful beach, but if you want to try surfing, Lofoten offers even better surfing beaches. The most popular are Skagsanden in Flakstad and Unstad on Vestvågøy. Both places offer equipment rental and surf schools, and at Unstad, you can also rent SUP boards. You will have an extraordinary experience whether you are a beginner or more experienced as you navigate through the beautiful landscape. Many professional surfers swear that Lofoten has some of the world’s best surfing beaches: just be sure to wear a wetsuit or drysuit, as the sea temperature in summer ranges from about 13-18 degrees Celsius.

For the Extra Tough: The Arctic Triple

The Arctic Triple, also known as Lofoten Ultra-Trail®, is a fantastic way to get your heart racing, and at the same time, see some of the best nature in Lofoten. The event takes place in week 22 every year. During the race, you will pass mountain formations, beaches, green plains, and narrow fjords. If you haven’t participated in a long-distance race before, it’s also possible to sign up for the short course, which is only 12 km long. The toughest runners complete the entire 162 km, from Kirkefjorden to Svolvær.

Back to Viking Times

At Lofotr Viking Museum, you can travel more than 1000 years back in time. Throughout the year, you can experience great exhibitions and the world’s longest reconstructed longhouse. It’s a deep dive into the Vikings’ history and way of life, and it’s also possible to sail or row the Viking ship Vargfotr, which is moored at the harbor. In the summer, children can ride the friendly Nordlands horses, and the spectacular Viking Festival takes place. The Viking Festival is an annual festival where everything revolves around Vikings. There will be markets, performances, combat shows, competitions, games, and concerts, all in authentic Viking style.

Golf under the Midnight Sun: Hov Golf Course

While many are satisfied with nature and mountains when they visit Lofoten, there is a hidden gem beautifully located on Gimsøya. We are talking about one of the world’s most beautiful golf courses, namely Hov Golf Course. On a flat grassland with the sea as its nearest neighbor, Hov Golf Course has gained significant international attention. Note that hole 12 is ranked as one of the world’s three toughest holes, and hole 2 is among the world’s most spectacular. Here, both beginners and experts can try their luck at golf.

Avoid the Tourist Hordes

Although Lofoten experiences high tourism pressure, the archipelago is large enough that you can feel alone even during the high season. Lofoten consists of seven main islands and many small islands, and thanks to a large network of bridges, most islands are well connected. The main road E10 stretches almost 200 kilometers through the landscape, and often you will need a car to get from A to B. Lofoten is made up of many small fishing villages, hamlets, and a few small towns, and often the distances can feel large. Since the area is so large, you will be able to find small breathing spaces even in the summer, allowing you to feel one with nature.

If you want to have a true Lofoten experience with semi-warm temperatures and lots of daylight, late summer and autumn are ideal times to travel there. By then, mass tourism has turned homeward, and the next high season does not kick in until the northern lights are at their best. As autumn sets in, you will be able to see the beautiful landscapes change colors and still take advantage of long bright days while enjoying yourself on the mountain or out on a fishing boat.