Lofoten Handbook

Where to stay in Lofoten

Lofoten is a chain of islands about 200 km long, linked by the E10. The choice of base decides how far each day's travel will be: the north-east has the largest town and most services, while the south-west has the Moskenesøya fishing villages at the end of the road.

Last verified 16 September 2026

The north-east: Svolvær, Kabelvåg and Henningsvær

Svolvær is Lofoten's largest town and the trade, service and transport centre for the eastern islands. It has an airport at Helle, a Hurtigruten call, an express boat to Bodø and regional buses, and Visit Lofoten describes it as having the largest selection of accommodation in Lofoten. Kabelvåg, 5–6 km along the E10, is smaller and has several museums. Henningsvær, on a side road, is a fishing village with hotels, rorbuer and galleries.

The middle: Leknes and Vestvågøya

Leknes is the trade and service centre for west Lofoten and has a second short-runway airport just north of the town. Hurtigruten also calls at Stamsund on Vestvågøya. Ballstad, reached from the E10 near Leknes, is one of Lofoten's largest fishing villages. Further west, Flakstad has Ramberg, Nusfjord and Fredvang.

The south-west: Moskenesøya

Hamnøy, Sakrisøy, Reine, Moskenes, Sørvågen and Å are on Moskenesøya, where the E10 ends. Leknes is the nearest airport and Stamsund the nearest Hurtigruten call, while the car ferry from Bodø lands at Moskenes. Lofotodden National Park, the Reinebringen trail and the boat to Bunes beach are on the same island.

Side-road villages

Henningsvær, Ballstad, Nusfjord, Fredvang and Reine sit off the E10. Nusfjord is 6.2 km from the main road, and Visit Lofoten describes the road to Henningsvær as narrow and busy in summer. A base in one of them adds a drive on and off the main road to each outing.

With or without a car

Lofotekspressen (bus route 300) runs between Å, Leknes, Svolvær, Evenes Airport and Narvik. Local routes link Svolvær with Kabelvåg and Henningsvær, Leknes with Ballstad, and Å with Reine and Hamnøy, and timetables change between summer and winter. Svolvær and Leknes are on the main bus route and close to the airports; places away from the bus routes are harder to reach without a car. Drivers should expect paid parking, which Visit Lofoten says is most common in Vågan, Flakstad and Moskenes, and winter driving conditions, which typically begin in November and can last until late April.

Along the chain

  1. Svolvær

    Lofoten's largest town, on Austvågøya in Vågan. Svolvær has an airport nearby, a Hurtigruten call, an express boat to Bodø and the largest choice of accommodation in the islands, with shops and restaurants close at hand. A practical base for the north-east.

    5 places to stay

  2. Kabelvåg

    Lofoten's oldest fishing village, on the E10 a few kilometres south-west of Svolvær. Kabelvåg has the Lofoten Museum, the Lofoten Aquarium and Vågan Church, with rorbuer, camping and a hostel, and keeps Svolvær's airport and services close.

    3 places to stay

  3. Henningsvær

    A fishing village on small islands off the south-west tip of Austvågøya, reached by a side road from the E10. Henningsvær has hotels, rorbuer, galleries and restaurants, and is one of Lofoten's main bases for climbing around Vågakallen.

    4 places to stay

  4. Leknes

    The administrative centre of Vestvågøy and the trade and service centre for west Lofoten. Leknes has an airport just north of town, hotels, shops and restaurants, and is a practical base between Svolvær and the villages of Flakstad and Moskenesøya.

    5 places to stay

  5. Ballstad

    One of Lofoten's largest fishing villages, split between Vestvågøya and Ballstadøya on either side of its harbour. Ballstad has rorbuer and a fishing lodge, boat trips and the Skottinden hike, and is reached on the Fv818 from the E10 near Leknes.

    4 places to stay

  6. Nusfjord

    One of the oldest and best-preserved fishing villages in Lofoten, at the end of a side road on Flakstadøya. Most buildings date from the 1800s, and restored rorbuer are let to visitors, with places to eat and activities in the village.

    1 place to stay

  7. Ramberg

    The municipal centre of Flakstad, on the E10 on the north-west side of Flakstadøya. Ramberg has a sandy beach, a petrol station, shops and places to stay, and is a base between Vestvågøya and Moskenesøya close to the Kvalvika and Ryten trails.

    2 places to stay

  8. Fredvang

    A small fishing village at the northern end of Moskenesøya, reached over the Fredvang bridges. Fredvang is the usual starting point for the walk to Kvalvika beach and Ryten in Lofotodden National Park, and suits hikers who want a base off the E10.

    1 place to stay

  9. Hamnøy

    A small fishing village on an island at the mouth of Reinefjorden, where the E10 crosses a chain of bridges towards Reine. Hamnøy has red rorbuer beside the water and suits travellers who want to stay close to Reine and Reinefjorden.

    2 places to stay

  10. Sakrisøy

    A small island on the E10 between Hamnøy and Reine, at the foot of the mountain Olstind. Sakrisøy has rorbuer, a guest house and a seafood shop and bar, and lies within reach of Reine and Reinefjorden.

    2 places to stay

  11. Reine

    The administrative centre of Moskenes and a working fishing village at the mouth of Reinefjorden. Reine has rorbuer, restaurants, the Lofotodden National Park visitor centre, the Reinebringen trail and boats to Vindstad for Bunes beach.

    2 places to stay

  12. Moskenes

    The Lofoten landing for the car ferry to Bodø, Værøy and Røst, on the E10 between Reine and Sørvågen. Staying at Moskenes suits travellers arriving or leaving by ferry who want to be near the quay and within reach of Reine, Sørvågen and Å.

  13. Sørvågen

    A fishing village on the E10 between Reine and Å, close to the open sea. Sørvågen has a telecom museum, several restaurants and accommodation from rorbuer to hotels, and suits travellers who want a base at the south-west end of Lofoten.

    3 places to stay

  14. Å

    The fishing village at the end of the E10, at the south-west tip of Moskenesøya. Much of Å is preserved as the Norwegian Fishing Village Museum, alongside a stockfish museum and modernised rorbuer, making it a base for travellers interested in fishing history.

    2 places to stay

Sources

Details last verified 16 September 2026.