Leknes

Leknes lies on the south-west side of Vestvågøya, on low ground between the head of Buksnesfjorden and Offersøystraumen, surrounded by farmland and mountains. It is the administrative centre of Vestvågøy, the most populous municipality in Lofoten, and the trade and service centre for Vestvågøy and west Lofoten. The municipal council agreed in 2002 that Leknes may call itself a town.

Getting here Leknes Airport is a short-runway airport about two kilometres north of the town. It opened in 1972 and is served by Widerøe. Store norske leksikon names it as the nearest airport to Moskenes municipality. Leknes harbour, on the southern edge of town, receives around 70 cruise ship calls a year. The Hurtigruten coastal route calls at Stamsund, also on Vestvågøya, and Lofotekspressen (bus route 300) passes through Leknes between Narvik and Å.

What is there and nearby Visit Lofoten lists hotels, restaurants, shopping centres, pharmacies and bakeries. The hospital for Lofoten is at neighbouring Gravdal. The Lofotr Viking Museum is at Borg, and Ballstad is reached on the Fv818 from Storeid, just south-west of Leknes. The surrounding area is used for hiking, surfing and paragliding.

Who it suits Travellers flying into Leknes, those who want supermarkets and services close by, and anyone planning to cover both Vestvågøya and the islands further west from one base.

Things to consider Leknes is a service town rather than a fishing village. Travellers looking for a rorbu at the water's edge can find them nearby in Ballstad and Stamsund.