I know beauty is subjective, but I don’t think there’s a single person on earth who would deny the beauty of the Lofoten Islands.
In terms of nature, few places can compare to the snow-capped peaks, crystal clear waters, and picturesque fishing huts that captivate visitors from around the world.
This place has captured my heart, and I know that if you visit, you’ll feel the same way.
Midnight Sun or Northern Lights season?
During the summer, the islands are home to the Midnight Sun, 24-hours of eternal sunshine. However, the climate this far North can be harsh, dark and unpredictable in the winter during the season of the Polar Nights.
If you suffer from SAD then you might want to avoid visiting the Lofoten Islands during winter. However, darker days mean better chances of seeing the Northern Lights. So maybe the reason you shouldn’t go in winter is the very reason why you should go.
About the Northern Lights
The Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, have become very popular due to high-profile documentaries and incredible images that showcase the night sky in a myriad of different colours and shapes that simply like they are from another planet.
It’s important to know that there is absolutely no guarantee that you’re going to see the Northern Lights. It’s not like going to the US to see the Gran Canyon or Yosemite National Park.
This is a celestial display, and seeing them depends on a myriad of factors. Sometimes not even a clear weather forecast will guarantee seeing the Northern Lights. Even if you travel thousands of miles to reach a destination within the Auroral belt, it might not work out. Sometimes you just need a little luck.
Displays vary in intensity, duration, colours, and form. Each display is completely unique. Saying this, I can reveal that the display I saw was comparatively ‘weak’ against other sightings (such as the one I experienced in Alta).
Nonetheless, I still felt a sense of wonder, awe, and privilege witnessing a blanket of green stretched across the sky above me.
Photographing the Northern Lights
Firstly, the photo above is what a clear display of the Northern Lights can look like with clear weather (Photo credit: Visit Norway).
However, the weather was a bit overcast on the evening of my Northern Lights tour so the strength of the display wasn’t too strong. Furthermore, and this is important, if you want to take good photos of the Northern Lights, you need to know how to use your camera settings.
Obviously I didn’t! I had trouble trying to set a long exposure and switch to a higher ISO setting to ensure that the camera would allow as much light as necessary. Plus, I didn’t have a tripod. You need to have all of these things sorted if you want your photos to come out successfully.
However, even through I had trouble photographing the Northern Lights, I still managed to capture them a little bit.
Capturing the beauty of the Lofoten Islands
Even if I hadn’t seen the Northern Lights I wouldn’t have been disappointed because the Lofoten Islands are beyond beautiful. Even though I didn’t fair well photographing the Northern Lights, everything else was a dream to photograph.
It’s a place National Geographic declared the 3rd most appealing islands in the world.
Chilly, high-latitude islands form a 'masterpiece' of spectacular outcrops steeped in cherished tradition.
The time when day-light manages to break through the polar nights between 10am and 2pm the sky captivates with its own unique show.
Clouds of deep red, orange, and violet slung low to the ground and over the mountain peaks. As the day drew closer to 2pm, the colours shifted to shades of soft pink and blue. I’d never seen a more dramatic sky.
How to get to the Lofoten Islands
There are no direct flights from England unless you go on a chartered flight. Instead, fly from Gatwick to Tromso and get another small flight using the local airline Wideroe to Leknes or Svolvær on the Lofoten Islands.
Alternatively you can get a flight to Evenes Airport which is a 2.5 hour drive away from Svolvær. You’d still likely need to change in Oslo or Tromso.
There’s also an option to catch a ferry from Bodo too.
I stayed in Svolvær which translates to ‘chilly fishing village’ and is the capital town of Lofoten with approximately 4500 people.
Accommodation & where to stay on the Lofoten Islands
I have had the good fortune to stay in three different places on the Lofoten Islands: Svolvær, Nusfjord and Reine, and staying in these different locations provide perfect bases from which to explore the whole of the Lofoten Islands. If you are planning on staying a week or more in Lofoten, I recommend using these bases to get the most out of exploring all the natural wonders that these islands have to offer.
While there are several large hotels, I recommend staying in a rorbu which are fishermen huts. However, these have been renovated to a high standard with all the modern comforts you need. Staying in cabins will definitely enhance your trip and they provide a slice of authenticity to staying in the high Arctic landscape.
Accommodation in Svolvær
The ‘capital’ of the Lofotens, Svolvær, is a great place to start and soak up the local atmosphere. You’ll find bars, restaurants, a few small museums, excursion companies and plenty of hiking trials.
I stayed at Svinøya Rorbuer which is located a bit further away from town but overlooks the most beautiful fjord and mountain peaks. It’s full of character and you can chose from modern cabin suites or traditional converted fisherman huts (shown in the photo above).
Accommodation in Nusjord
Located almost equidistance between Svolvær and Reine, Nusfjord Arctic Resort, is ideal for your next base to explore the archipelago.
Nusfjord is a protected area which means that you won’t find any modern hotels, all the cabins have been carefully renovated to protect the history of the area. So much so, it feels like you have stepped back in time. For more information about my stay in Nusfjord read: Nusfjord In The Lofoten Islands – A Fishing Village You Should Not Miss!
Accommodation in Reine
Reine is probably the most photographed place across the whole of Lofoten due to its jagged peaks an stunning panoramas. Finally, it’s time to head right down to the bottom of the South for the final park of your trip and there’s no other place to stay but Reine Rorbuer. The views are simply spectacular.
Sightseeing activities on the Lofoten Islands
RIB Boat Safari
Thrill-seekers should explore mountains and fjord landscape by RIB boat. It’s not every day you get to feed Sea Eagles and take a ride down the narrow gorge-like scenery of the Trollfjord. During the trip a white mist engulfed the fjord to create an otherworldly landscape.
These excursions are quite expensive (approx £85 for 2 hours) but some things are worth spending the money on and this is one of them.
Walking & Hiking
Exploring by foot is great particularly during the summer. Whether you’re looking for something easy, or something challenging, there are lots of options for shorter and longer hikes across flat or rocky terrain.
If you’re looking for something easy/moderate from Svolvær, I recommend the Tjeldbergtind hike which leads to a gorgeous view point. You could also do the coastal walk from Haukland beach to Uttakliev beach.
For something more challenging, head to south to Reine for the Reinebringen hike. It’s one of the most popular hikes in Lofoten due to the spectacular views across Reine which is famous for its jagged peaks.
I also recommend hiring a car – in fact, if you’re not on a tour, that’s the only way to really do it. Check out my other post here which gives you a detailed itinerary of the places to see by car on the Lofoten Islands.
It’s have to believe the last picture was taken at 11:30am.
The pros & cons of travelling to the Lofoten Islands during winter
Pros
- Seeing the Northern Lights (though not guaranteed)
- Less crowded
- During the short hours of daylight the sky radiates beautiful colours of pink, red, orange and gold.
- Surrounded by a winter-wonderland landscape of snowy peaks.
Cons
- I can’t emphasise enough how quickly it gets dark. Plus, if the weather is foggy, it hardly gets light even during the day. It’s therefore really important that you plan your itinerary beforehand. If you leave it until the morning, it might already be dark by the time you’ve come round to a decision!
- Due to the lack of light you may feel more tired easily.
- You miss out on the phenomena of the Midnight Sun, and extra light means more time to explore the islands.
- There might be black ice so be careful and wear footwear with a strong grip.
Verdict
Lofoten is going to be stunning in every season, but if you’re a huge fan of the great outdoors then I think you’d have more fun during the summer as those peaks are begging to be climbed.
But if you’re chasing the Northern Lights then Lofoten is one of the best places for it during winter. Furthermore, if you don’t see them, the stunning landscape will ensure you don’t go home disappointed.
26 Responses
Hideously beautiful… C’est belle, ca
Bonjour Havard,
Merci beaucoup! 😀
I’ll be in FInland next month. Maybe this time I will see northern lights, after I’ve missed Southern lights!
Thank you for sharing such marvelous pictures.
That’s exciting, I hope to read all about your trip to Finland on your blog! That’s funny – I had never heard of the Southern Lights! So thanks for teaching me something new today!
Just the same as Northern Lights. Only, there are some research bases just around the south magnetic pole, where people can experience this phenomenon at its peak
Now that Jordan has been ticked off the bucket list, The Northern Lights has moved to the top of it! I’m quickly realising that you have to chose a fabulous destination to see them so if it doesn’t happen, you won’t be as disappointed. The Islands look like a great place to go. How exciting that you did see the lights as well.
Correct! You definitely have to choose somewhere that is either rich in entertainment or somewhere scenically beautiful or different (like Iceland) then you won’t be disappointed. The islands are a good place to see them because there is less light pollution, but I think I would still suggest a city holiday like Tromso or Reykjavik that enables you to easily venture to more remote places – that way you get the best of both! However, if you usually hire a car during your travels, then I would definitely suggest the islands because they are so beautiful!
Congrats on seeing those green strips of Northern Lights. I would love to give that a try. Excellent photos. That 11:30 am one would be 11:30 pm in the summer.
Hi! Yes, the sky was amazing – if I said it was the Midnight Sun, I don’t think anyone would think any different! 🙂
Your photos are amazing! I must admit, I would always choose a warm destination over a cold one, but I can’t deny the obvious incredible beauty of the Lofoten Islands – especially in winter! Norway is definitely on the list. As are the Northern Lights!
If only everywhere was warm! I love good weather, but sometimes I have to let that requirement forego if it means the chance of seeing something I wouldn’t be able to see otherwise. I wish Scandinavia had long summers alas! Hope you make it to Norway soon Julika!
Fantastic those photos of polar nicht and polar light!
I’ll soon be in Northern Norway to hunt the lights myself – so loooking forward. Found your Pro & Con therefore very helpful! 🙂
Hello Claudi! Ooou sounds exciting! I hope the Northern Lights rears her mystical head for you! Oh just in case you haven’t got any already; it might be a good idea to buy some snow chains for your footwear – I wish I had bought some beforehand!
I hoped to see the northern lights in november when I was in Iceland for a week or so but unfortunately no luck. Pretty much the only thing I regretted about the whole trip. I imagine Norway is a bit similar 😉 BTW. have you been to Faroe Islands? I saw some photos from that country and fell in love with it and I want to go in the future but I don’t know any person that was there and could give me any advice.
It’s a shame you didn’t see them, but I’m sure the rest of Iceland washed away any disappointment! I’m going to Iceland next month and really looking forward to seeing Gullfoss, the geysirs and soaking in the Blue Lagoon… and if I see the Northern Lights it will be a bonus, but it’s not as high on the list as the others! Your right, parts of Iceland are supposedly similar to Norway, but Iceland has a reputation for being weirder and sexier which I like!
No I haven’t been to the Faroe Islands, but they do look incredible. I hope you manage to get there – 2013 maybe??
i hope i’ll manage to go in 2013, but probably 2014 is more likely. I loved the Blue Lagoon 🙂 it was awfully cold outside but we just didn’t want to get out of the water 😉 Just one thing, you might have some trouble driving around the country if you’re going there in winter. We were there in November and we got stuck on a farm in south-eastern Iceland because all the roads, including the ring road (supposedly the most important road in the country) were closed because of the snow and strong wind. And I can tell you, when the wind blows in Iceland, it BLOWS. so much that some guys who rented a car in the same company we did in Reykjavik, got back to the city without all of their side windows O..o
just two things about Iceland. one good, one probably not so much 😉
the good thing is you’ll be able to communicate in English with pretty much everyone there, from the shop guards to some old ladies earning extra money on gas station shops to small farm owners somewhere in the country. Haven’t met a single person who was not speaking English.
bad thing – it’s really hard to buy alcohol anywhere (including Reykjavik), at in bars it’s quite expensive. So if you like a glass (or a bottle…) of wine or whisky for the long dark winter evenings, bring it with you or buy it at the airport’s duty-free shop. We only got one whisky for 3 people and it ended after 3 days, and we had an all-night shop in Reykjavik just on the other side of the street and there was no alcohol in it. Not even beer O..o Consider yourself warned 😉
Oh dear, I hope those boys weren’t left accountable for the damage to the car!! I’m still debating whether or not to hire a car…. I guess I’ll have to check the weather closer to the date!
I’m mentally (but not yet financially) prepared for the prices! I’ve been to Norway several times which will help ease the shock as Norway’s supposed to be the most expensive Scandic country. Luckily I’m not a big drinker but will definitely be taking my maximum duty free limit 😀
I think they were insured but nevertheless, they must’ve been pretty scared 😉 I’d advise you hire a car, but definitely a 4×4. It just doesn’t make any sense to hire a normal small one. Like I said, you probably won’t be able to drive very far anyway at this time of year (we first wanted do drive round the country on the ring road but only managed to get halway up the east coast and that’s the biggest road in the country…) but the roads to Gulfoss, geysirs and Vik (a small village with a beautiful black beach) should be open even now and it’s not that long of a journey. You’ll be able to see Gulfoss and the geysirs and go back to Reykjavik in one day easily, the same with Blue Lagoon. Going to Vik will probably mean you’ll have to stay there overnight. No problem really, ’cause there’s a hotel and a hostel almost right next to the beach. Not the cheapest I’ve ever seen but still an option 🙂 There are some great things to see in the south-eastern part of the country but you probably won’t be able to reach it in winter. I was really amazed by the beauty of Iceland and I’m sure you’ll love it. Can’t wait to see your report and photos here 🙂
What a beautiful place and love the photos you captured of this out of the way place. Seeing the Northern Lights is still a big travel wish list for me. Considering I’m not a fan of cold weather, I’m not sure when I’ll brave it to make a trip. Such a scenic place and I can just imagine how picturesque it looks in Spring or summer. Looks like another wonderful adventure for you.
Thanks Mary! I’m not a fan of cold weather, but the Lofoten Islands are relatively mild because it’s warmed by the Gulf Stream, however when I say mild, I still mean 0 degrees! Also, with the right clothing you wont feel a thing 😉 I was weary of the ice though, as the out of reach places don’t get gritted.
Yes I’d love to go in the summer, or spring! Spring would be good, because you’ll get more light, and there’s still the chance to see the Northern Lights!
So beautiful. How could I miss it when being in Norway? I was probably too busy exploring Oslo at that time. Seen a beautifully red sky when going to the airport though. Will get to this Island next time!
I’m glad you noticed the sky in Norway too Agness – I’ve never been to a country with such a remarkable sky! (It’s not something you usually comment on when talking about a country, but with Norway it’s one of the first things I mention if someone asks what the country is like!).
Thanks for the pros and cons list — I’m trying to plan a honeymoon in Iceland, partly to see the Northern Lights, and have been reading up as much as I can about the phenomena!
Iceland is a fabulous, and rather unconventional place to have your honeymoon – congrats! When is your honeymoon? As the best time to see the Northern Lights is usually between October and March, but depending on how dark it is, it can be a little earlier and later. Iceland is a great place to see the Northern Lights because it’s within the auroral belt, the company I work for has many clients that go to Iceland especially for the Northern Lights and the success rate is good when it’s not cloudy. Hopefully the sky will be nice and clear for you both!
Northern Lights: Get Amazed with the Natural Northern Lights One of the beautiful creation of Mother Nature,where different colors dance across the dark winter sky.
I really like your blog. Well written article about the northern lights and Lofoten. Love your pictures 🙂 I also think Lofoten is best at summertime..