Lofoten Handbook

How to get to Lofoten

Lofoten can be reached by plane, by car ferry from Bodø, by express boat, on the coastal ships or by road on the E10. The right choice depends on which end of the islands you are staying at.

Last verified 16 September 2026

Flying in

Visit Lofoten counts three airports in Lofoten. Two are on the main islands along the E10, Svolvær (SVJ) and Leknes (LKN), and the third is Røst (RET); Værøy has a heliport. Avinor lists Widerøe as the only airline at Svolvær and Leknes, and flights connect mainly through Bodø (BOO); Avinor's flight data for mid-September 2026 also showed departures to Tromsø.

Harstad/Narvik Airport, Evenes (EVE) is larger and sits on the mainland side, outside Lofoten. Avinor lists Norwegian, SAS, Widerøe, Danish Air Transport and Edelweiss Air there. By road it is about 166 km to Svolvær (approximate, OSRM on OpenStreetMap data, 2026-09-16). From the terminal, Flybussen Lofoten runs to Svolvær town centre (the operator gives about three hours), and county bus route 300 continues through Svolvær and Leknes towards Å.

Car ferry from Bodø

Torghatten Nord runs Bodø–Moskenes, with some sailings calling at Værøy and Røst. The direct crossing took 3 h 15 min on the scheduled sailings sampled in September 2026 (Entur); Visit Lofoten says about 3.5 hours, and about 7 hours via the outer islands. Moskenes quay is about 5 km by road from Reine, so this route suits stays in the south-west. Only part of each sailing can be reserved; the rest is loaded from the queue. See Lofoten ferries for the booking rules.

Other ferries

Visit Lofoten notes that drivers from southern Norway most often take Bognes–Lødingen and continue on the E10. In summer, Skutvik–Skrova–Svolvær is an alternative; Torghatten lists it as free for passengers and vehicles, with no advance booking. Melbu–Fiskebøl links Vesterålen to Lofoten.

By road

The E10 reaches Lofoten from the mainland without a ferry over the Lofast connection, completed in 2007. Visit Lofoten puts the drive from Evenes to Svolvær at around two and a half hours, longer in winter.

Express boat and coastal ships

The NEX 2 express boat links Bodø and Svolvær, calling at Skutvik and Skrova among other stops. It takes foot passengers only. Hurtigruten and Havila both call at Stamsund and Svolvær, northbound and southbound.

No railway

There is no train to Lofoten. Visit Lofoten points to rail services to Bodø and Narvik, and lists bus and ferry connections onward to Lofoten.

Routes and timetables change with the season. Check Avinor, Torghatten and Reis Nordland before fixing accommodation dates around a flight or crossing.

Questions

What is the nearest airport to Lofoten?
Svolvær (SVJ) and Leknes (LKN) are the airports on the main Lofoten islands, and Avinor lists Widerøe at both; Røst (RET) is the third airport in Lofoten. Harstad/Narvik Airport, Evenes (EVE), on the mainland, has five airlines listed by Avinor and is about 166 km by road from Svolvær (approximate, OSRM on OpenStreetMap data, 2026-09-16).
Can you take a car on the ferry from Bodø to Lofoten?
Yes. Torghatten Nord's Bodø–Moskenes route carries vehicles and foot passengers. Only part of each departure can be reserved in advance; other vehicles queue at the dock, and the operator's route page sets out the reservation cut-off and check-in time.
Is there a bus from Evenes airport to Lofoten?
Yes. Flybussen Lofoten runs from the terminal to Svolvær town centre, and the operator gives about three hours. County bus route 300 (Lofotekspressen) also stops at the airport and runs through Svolvær and Leknes towards Å.
Can you get to Lofoten by train?
No. Visit Lofoten notes that trains reach Bodø and Narvik, and lists bus and ferry connections from there to Lofoten.
Which is quicker, the Bodø ferry or driving from Evenes?
The direct Bodø–Moskenes crossing took 3 h 15 min on the scheduled sailings sampled in September 2026 (Entur); Visit Lofoten says about 3.5 hours. The drive from Evenes to Svolvær is about 166 km (OSRM), which Visit Lofoten says takes around two and a half hours. They arrive at opposite ends of Lofoten: Moskenes is about 124 km by road from Svolvær (approximate, OSRM on OpenStreetMap data, 2026-09-16).
How do you get to Lofoten?
The main routes are: fly to Svolvær or Leknes, usually via Bodø; fly to Harstad/Narvik Airport at Evenes, about 166 km by road from Svolvær (OSRM), then drive or take a bus; take the Bodø–Moskenes car ferry or the express boat to Svolvær; sail with the Hurtigruten; or drive the E10 over the Lofast mainland link.
Which airport should I fly into for Lofoten?
Lofoten has three airports: Svolvær (SVJ) and Leknes (LKN), served mainly by Widerøe from Bodø, and Røst (RET); Værøy has a heliport. Harstad/Narvik Airport at Evenes (EVE), about 166 km by road from Svolvær (OSRM), has more routes, including direct flights from several European airports. For Reine and the west, Leknes and the Bodø–Moskenes ferry are closer gateways.
How do you get from Evenes airport to Lofoten?
Drive or take a bus. Cars can be hired at the airport, and the drive to Svolvær is about 166 km (OSRM), which Visit Lofoten says takes around two and a half hours, longer in winter. Public bus route 300, Lofotekspressen, runs from Evenes to Svolvær, Leknes and Å, and Boreal Travel runs a year-round airport shuttle to Svolvær.
How do you get from Tromsø to Lofoten?
Visit Lofoten describes three options from Tromsø: fly to Leknes, take the Arctic Route bus to Svolvær or Kabelvåg and change for buses further west, or drive and enter Lofoten on the E10 over the Lofast mainland link. It lists no direct Tromsø–Lofoten car ferry. The Hurtigruten coastal route also calls at Svolvær.
How do you get to Lofoten from Oslo?
Most people fly: Oslo Gardermoen to Bodø with a Widerøe connection to Svolvær or Leknes, or direct to Harstad/Narvik at Evenes and on by car or bus. Widerøe also flies Oslo to Lofoten direct in summer. Overland, the train runs Oslo–Trondheim–Bodø, then a ferry or express boat crosses to Lofoten.
How do you get to Lofoten from the UK?
Lofoten's own airports are served mainly by Widerøe from Bodø, so travellers from abroad usually connect via Oslo, or fly to Harstad/Narvik at Evenes when a direct route runs. Visit Lofoten has listed Norwegian direct flights from London to Evenes. Seasonal routes change, so check current airline schedules.
Can you drive to Lofoten?
Yes. Since 2007 the E10 has linked Lofoten to the mainland without a ferry via the Lofast connection, reached from Narvik or Harstad. Drivers from the south can instead use the Bognes–Lødingen ferry or the Bodø–Moskenes car ferry. Within Lofoten, the main islands are joined by bridges and tunnels.
Can you take a train to Lofoten?
No. Visit Lofoten says you cannot reach Lofoten by train, but you can take the train to Bodø, via Trondheim from Oslo, or to Narvik on the Ofoten Line from Kiruna in Sweden. From Bodø continue by ferry, express boat or plane; from Narvik, bus route 300 runs to Svolvær, Leknes and Å.
Where does the Hurtigruten stop in Lofoten?
The Hurtigruten coastal route between Bergen and Kirkenes calls at Stamsund and Svolvær. Visit Lofoten notes the northbound evening sailing from Stamsund to Svolvær, which takes about 1.4 hours, can be booked port to port with Hurtigruten or Havila as a short trip within the islands.

Sources

Details last verified 16 September 2026.