Plan a trip to Lofoten

Questions

Where are the Lofoten Islands?

Lofoten is a chain of islands about 200 km long in Nordland county, northern Norway, on the north side of the Vestfjord and north of the Arctic Circle. The largest islands, from south-west to north-east, are Moskenesøya, Flakstadøya, Vestvågøya, Gimsøya and Austvågøya, with Værøy and Røst further south-west.

Is Lofoten in the Arctic Circle?

Lofoten lies north of the Arctic Circle, at about 67 to 68 degrees north. That position brings the midnight sun in early summer, a period around midwinter when the sun does not rise, and a place under the auroral oval, where the northern lights are often visible on dark, clear nights.

What is Lofoten known for?

Lofoten is known for mountains rising straight from the sea, fishing villages with red rorbuer, and the seasonal skrei cod fishery, whose stockfish has been traded for about a thousand years. Visitors also come for beaches, hiking and surfing, the midnight sun in early summer and the northern lights from late August to mid-April.

What does the name Lofoten mean?

According to Store norske leksikon, the name comes from Old Swedish 'ló', meaning lynx, and Old Norse 'fótr', meaning foot. It was first used for the island of Vestvågøya and is thought to be a comparison name, probably inspired by the sharply indented coastline.

How many islands are there in Lofoten?

Store norske leksikon does not give a single total. It names five large islands, Moskenesøya, Flakstadøya, Vestvågøya, Gimsøya and Austvågøya, plus many smaller islands, mostly on the inner side of the chain, including Skrova and Henningsvær, and further south-west Værøya and Røstlandet.

What should you know before visiting Lofoten?

A few basics: payment cards are widely used and many shops refuse euros; parking is often paid by app in Vågan, Flakstad and Moskenes; weather changes quickly at any time of year; camping follows the right to roam with local restrictions; and the emergency numbers are 110 for fire, 112 for police and 113 for medical help.

What should I pack for Lofoten?

Pack layers for changeable weather at any time of year. Summer calls for lightweight and warm clothes, windproof and waterproof outer layers and good walking boots. In winter add wool or thermal base layers, an insulated jacket, a waterproof shell, hat, gloves, insulated waterproof boots and pull-on spikes for icy paths.

Do you need cash in Lofoten?

Rarely. Payment cards are widely used and most shops accept major credit cards, though Visit Lofoten notes foreign debit cards are less widely accepted. Many shops do not take euros, and banks in Lofoten do not exchange currency, so change money before arriving or withdraw kroner from an ATM.

Are shops open on Sundays in Lofoten?

Most shops close on Sundays, though some grocery shops open. Visit Lofoten gives typical shop hours of 10:00–17:00 Monday to Saturday, until 18:00 on Thursdays, with longer hours at shopping centres and supermarkets in bigger towns open 07:00–23:00. Petrol stations and some kiosks also sell food.

Where can you buy alcohol in Lofoten?

Wine and spirits are sold only in the state-owned Vinmonopolet shops, found in most towns. Most grocery shops sell beer, but legal sale hours end in the evening on weekdays, earlier on Saturdays, and there are no beer sales on Sundays. The minimum age is 20 for spirits and 18 for beer.

What are the emergency numbers in Lofoten?

Call 110 for fire, 112 for police and 113 for emergency medical help. For non-urgent medical help in Vågan, including Svolvær, Kabelvåg and Henningsvær, the out-of-hours service is reachable from foreign phones on +47 760 666 40; the national 116117 number cannot be called from a foreign phone.

Where is the tourist information in Lofoten?

Visit Lofoten lists tourist information offices at Torget in Svolvær, Storgata in Leknes, Ramberg in Flakstad and Kirkeveien in Reine, plus offices on Værøy and Røst. Opening hours differ between the summer high season and the rest of the year, so check current times before visiting.

Do dogs have to be kept on a lead in Lofoten?

Visit Lofoten's code of conduct asks that dogs are kept on a lead at all times. Norway's general lead period runs from 1 April to 20 August, and around Kvalvika and Ryten, Flakstad municipality extends it to 15 November to protect grazing sheep. Reinebringen is not recommended for dogs.

Are there public toilets in Lofoten?

Yes. Visit Lofoten publishes a map of public toilets, waste containers and caravan emptying stations, and there are toilets at car parks such as the Reinebringen and Innersand (Kvalvika) car parks. Where none exist, the Lofoten code of conduct asks you to dig a hole and cover it, bring paper and avoid wet wipes.

What is the Lofoten code of conduct?

Visit Lofoten's code of conduct asks visitors to camp in designated areas, leave no trace, stay on paths, bin or carry out rubbish, use public toilets, camp at least 150 metres from occupied houses, give cyclists room, respect the summer fire ban, keep dogs on a lead and avoid disturbing wildlife.