Visually arresting and an Arctic paradise for the active traveler, the Lofoten Islands has just about everything you could ever want on vacation: a charmingly quaint harbor town for a capital, Arctic fjords warmed to unusual temperatures by the Gulf Stream, activities that range from hiking to biking to whale watching and golf, and a perpetually lit horizon between May and July. What’s not to love?
You won't want to go home after seeing it all. Let's take a look at some of the most intriguing and unusual things you can see and do in this gorgeous corner of northern Europe!
If you’re looking for somewhere close to civilization with a wide variety of activities, you'll want to check out the capital of the Lofoten Islands, Svolvær. There are some pretty amazing options for accommodations, too: the Svinøya Rorbuer-designed suites—located in Svolvær harbor, right on the water—can hold up to 6 people in a suite (some hold 8). The luxurious fjordside cabins have a front row seat to some of the most jaw-dropping views the scenic archipelago has to offer.
Svolvær is also about 40 minutes by car from one of the coolest up-and-coming golf courses in the world: Lofoten Links.
Tee time: midnight! Lofoten Links is well above the Arctic Circle line, as is all of the Lofoten Island area, and you can play a full 18-hole round (or more, if you can handle the sleep deprivation) 24 hours a day in the Midnight Sun.
If you think that’s cool, the 18-hole island course also offers another unique feature: Northern Lights golf from August through October. You can combine multiple rounds on the putting green over the course of a few days with Northern Lights hunting nearby!
Looking for an easy way to reach Lofoten and still see some of Norway's most famous western fjord regions? We recommend giving our partner, Hurtigruten, a chance to make your cruise dreams reality. Available as a Northern Lights cruise or during the summer's Midnight Sun, Hurtigruten's cruises travel up and down the coast of Norway from Bergen to Kirkenes and make regular stops in Svolvær.
Work with us to craft an itinerary that includes Bergen and the fjords, a Hurtigruten cruise from Bergen to Svolvær, and a round of golf under the Midnight Sun—or whatever combination of experiences floats your boat!