The Lofoten Islands are by far one of the most beautiful places in Norway. North of the arctic circle, this mountainous paradise is dotted with small villages, white sandy beaches, and an unbeatable archipelago. In the summer months, this region is bustling with tourists, but as the winter hits, the Lofoten islands are much more of a quiet, cosy paradise.
Although you might expect winter north of the Arctic circle to be harsh, with short days and landscapes covered in snow, a trip to the Lofoten islands in winter brings with it so much more! Spending evenings in the sauna after days spent hiking, enjoying the darkness while the northern lights dance overhead, and seeing the magic of the sun rise and set over the islands every day. It truly is a once-in-a-lifetime experience to spend a week in the Lofoten islands during the winter months.
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Lofoten Winter: 4 to 5 Day Itinerary
This 4 to 5-day Lofoten island itinerary for visiting during winter includes everything we did during our trip. The days can be short in this part of Norway so don’t expect to be able to fit too many things into one day. It is best to take it day by day, plan your time according to the weather and make the most of the light you have!
We visited the Lofoten islands at the beginning of November – so the very start of the winter season. While most days were sunny, we had a few days with unpredictable snow storms and rain which meant we had to change our plans a little bit! These were the days we chose to do mini road trips rather than hiking.
Where to stay in Lofoten during winter
Unlike the summer months when camping is a very popular option, it can be a little colder in the winter. Many accommodations may be closed during this time of year so it can seem difficult to find something nice. We stayed in Bøstad. This was great as it is centrally located on the Lofoten islands which meant we had possibilities for day trips north and south. We rented an Airbnb that is unfortunately no longer for rent, but there are many options for accommodation in the area.
Getting to the Lofoten islands in winter
We began our winter trip to the Lofoten islands in Sweden. We took a FlixBus to Oslo which was a 6-hour ride from Gothenburg. This is a really cheap way of travelling around Europe and the buses go quite regularly!
From Oslo, we took a flight with Norwegian Air to Narvik. The flight takes 1 hour 45 minutes and runs all year round! If you are a youth (under 26 years old), you can use the code UNDER26 for cheaper flights with Norwegian Air! It’s a really good tip for cheaper travel around Europe and Norway!
Lofoten Winter Itinerary
Day 1: Travel Day
The best way to travel around the Lofoten Islands in winter is unfortunately by car. Although there are buses on the islands, they don’t run very regularly in the winter months so it can be hard to take day trips and explore different spots. We hired our car from Narvik Airport which made it much easier to pick up and drop off, especially as fewer rental places tend to be open during the winter. I tend to always use them when hiring cars in Europe as they have great rates and are reliable!
Day 2: Kvalvika Beach and Ryten Hiking Trail
On the second day of this 5-day, Lofoten island winter itinerary is a hike to the stunning, arctic Kvalvika Beach. This was one of my favourite hikes of the trip – the view over Kvalvika beach was definitely underestimated. This hike is a 4-hour round trip – if you feel up to it and are lucky with the weather you can extend the hike down to the beach itself.
How to hike to Kvalvika Beach / Ryten
The hike to Kvalvika Beach and Ryten begins just inland from Ytresand. There is parking at the end of the Fv806 which can be found by searching Parkering Innersand or Parking for Ryten/Kvalvika.
From here, follow the trail up towards the hills behind the car park. At the top of the hill on the right, you will see Fredvanghytta. This is a mountain hut (available for hire) with an amazing view out over Ytresand Strand.
Next, the path heads slightly downhill and past a big lake. If you continue following this path you will end up at Ryten with an incredible view over Kvalvika beach. This viewpoint is 543m above sea level so it gives amazing views over the rocky cliffs!
Alternatively, you can turn left just after the lake. This will lead you directly down to Kvalvika beach.
If you want to extend the day a little bit you can head to the village of Fredvang. This is on the same peninsula and is a very cosy little area with a little harbour and picturesque boat houses.
Day 3: Road Trip
With the weather on the Lofoten islands being so unpredictable in the winter, it is best to be prepared for days when hiking isn’t possible! Luckily, there is a lot to see and explore around the islands to keep you busy on a rainy day.
This is a rough itinerary for a day spent driving around the islands, exploring small villages and some views that don’t require much walking.
Å
Å is the southernmost village in the Lofoten islands – a picturesque fishing village almost preserved in time. The village traditionally focused on stock fish as well as having Europe’s oldest fish oil factory. Walking around the harbour you will see racks and racks of fish drying out in the cold air.
You can also visit the Norwegian Fishing Village Museum, which shows off the Lofoten islands’ rich history in the fishing industry. The museum is open all year round!
If you walk to the edge of the town, to Viewpoint at Å, there is an amazing view over the southern mountains in the archipelago. In winter, the water in the inlet can be really harsh with big waves which is quite a spectacle!
Reine
Reine is probably the most well-known village on the Lofoten Islands. A little harbour populated with red houses across the water from Reinebringen. This is the classic view you probably associate with the Lofoten Islands. In the winter, the view over Reine is as beautiful as ever. The mountain was topped with snow and fog descended down over the village.
You may also recognise Reine Stadion in the centre of the village. This is the famous goofball field in the middle of the archipelago that you can see from the hike up Reinebringen.
We chose not to do this hike as the weather conditions were not perfect and we did not want to risk anything on this difficult path.
Sakrisøya
Sakrisøya is a very picturesque small island and fishing village, connected to the other islands through two small bridges. The village is on the E10, but I recommend stopping and taking a short walk around rather than just driving through.
The village in particular is known for its yellow fishing huts and vast mountain views. If you want to explore a little bit more, you can drive up to the Hamnøy Scenic Viewpoint or up to Olenilsøya Kystfort to see views over to Reine Lighthouse.
Leknes
We ended the day in the town of Leknes. This is one of the bigger towns in the Lofoten Islands, with several bigger grocery stores and a small airport. Most shops, cafes and businesses stay open all year round here, unlike the rest of the Lofoten islands in the winter.
We spent a few hours in Huset Kafé. It is a lovely little cafe in the middle of town with great pastries, coffee and a very cosy atmosphere.
Day 4: Haukland Beach / Mannen Hike
The third day of our Lofoten winter itinerary took us on another popular hike. This is to a viewpoint that looks over Haukland beach – another arctic, white sand beach with crystal blue waters. It was one of my personal favourite hikes as we hiked it in fog and we were met with some incredibly dramatic views over the mountains and beach. This hike is a little different to day one’s hike to Kvalvika Beach in that it is much shorter and the landscape less rugged.
How to get to the Haukland Beach / Mannen hiking trail
The Mannen hiking trail begins at Hauklandstanda where there are multiple car parks as well as toilets and a cafe in the high season. In the winter, the cafe is closed but the car park is still very much accessible.
To get to Hauklandstanda, follow the E10 towards Vian and Farstadvatnet. Turn off on Leiteveien and follow the road towards beautiful Leitebakken. From here, head down Vikveien. At the end of the road, turn right and you will reach Hauklandstranda.
Hiking Mannen (400)
The hike begins at Hauklandstanda and is a round-trip hike. You can hike in either direction but we found starting by walking up the mountain and coming back through the tunnel was the best option.
Begin by heading up the hill parallel to Hauklandstranda. You should see a marker pointing to the route along the way. Follow the track up and around the hill until you reach the top. It is a fairly simple route and quite hard to go off track.
On the way down, follow the hiking trail to the other side of the mountain. When you reach the road, you will need to walk back through the tunnel. Beside the tunnel, you will find a box with yellow safety jackets! Make sure to wear these when walking through the tunnel, it can be quite dangerous otherwise.
The traffic through the tunnel at the end of the Mannen 400 hiking trail is not highly trafficked so you don’t need to be too worried about this part! It can be really cold in there with the low Lofoten winter temperatures so make sure to bring good quality gloves and warm clothes if you are doing the hike on a cold day!
Day 5: Hiking Festvåntind
The Festvåntind hike was my favourite of our Lofoten islands winter trip. The views are absolutely incredible the whole way to the top, looking out over the archipelago interconnected with bridges.
We did this hike later in the morning and were on the way down to the car when the sun began setting. I cannot recommend this more! It was magical as the cloud cleared and the water turned a bright shade of pink. One of those moments where you feel so grateful for life!
Hiking Festvåntind in winter
The Festvåntind hike is only 1.5km and takes around 2 hours to complete. To get there, drive down to E10 towards Henningsvær. 5 km off the E10, towards Henningsvær, you will find a small car park on the left side of the road. You can either park here or in the layby a little further down on the right side.
The hike begins between the two parking options on the right side of the road. From here, follow the path to the top of Festvåntind. At the top, you will find a summit book. Here you can write the date, your name and a small message!
It can be really harsh weather at the top of Festvåntind due to its altitude so be prepared, even if the weather is warmer at sea level! The hike is a popular one so even in the winter you will likely be walking alongside other hikers!
Seeing the northern lights in Lofoten in winter
While the northern lights are common in the arctic in the winter, the possibility always depends on the weather and how strong the sun’s activity is.
When can you see the Northern lights in Lofoten?
To be able to see the northern lights you need clear skies and strong solar activity. This is measured in Kp – a zone system which depicts how far south the lights are.
What Kp zone is Lofoten in?
Lofoten is in kp 2 which means it is quite likely you will see them in the right conditions. However, sometimes they can come for 30 minutes and sometimes they can stay all night so you need to check constantly
How to know when there will be the Northern Lights
If you have clear skies, it’s always worth checking a forecast to see what times they think the aurora will be at its strongest. I recommend either using this website or downloading the app Aurora. What I personally love about the app is it sends notifications when you might be able to see the Northern Lights!
It’s also a good idea to go outside every 30 minutes to an hour and check the sky yourself. You may find the skies have cleared and the aurora is dancing above without you noticing!
Other things to do on the Lofoten Islands in winter
- Hike Reinebringen
- Take a snowshoe tour in the mountains around Svolvaer
- Take a winter kayaking trip from Svolvaer
- Take a photography tour and see all of Lofoten’s most beautiful winter spots
- Visit the Magic Ice art gallery with exhibitions made from ice
Lots of good info! Super curious when in winter you went – were these images all taken from your trip, or at different times of year?
Thanks! All images were taken on our trip which was in the end of November!
Hi , we are two people planing to spend 5-6 days at the lofoten islands and we wanna make some trips . We plan to come the first week of February.. what do you recommend and if you can quote a price
Thank you