Harbour
First-timersThe centre of Svolvær.
Svolvær town guide
Things To Do In Svolvær
The main town of Lofoten, where granite peaks rise straight out of the sea, red fishing cabins stand on stilts and cod dries on wooden racks. The midnight sun in summer, the northern lights in winter.
1,000 years
Of the Lofoten cod fishery
Midnight sun
Late May to mid-July
2 h
To Reine
The gateway to Lofoten
Lofoten is a chain of islands off Norway's northern coast, with jagged mountains rising straight out of the sea, white beaches and fishing villages of red rorbu cabins. For a thousand years, the islands have lived from the winter cod, the skrei, which is still dried on wooden racks all over the islands.
Svolvær is the largest town and the main gateway, with the most services, boats and buses. It is small, but it is the natural base for the eastern islands, and the famous villages of Reine and Hamnøy are a couple of hours west.
Lofoten is best with a car and several days. Three or four days is the minimum.
Where to stay
Svolvær is small. Stay near the harbour, or in a rorbu cabin.
Kabelvåg
AtmosphereAn old fishing village just west of town.
Map © MapTiler © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Svolvær
Hike up Fløya above Svolvær for the view over the islands; the rock pinnacle of Svolværgeita, the Goat, is a famous climb.
Take a boat into the Trollfjord, a narrow fjord between steep walls, with sea eagles overhead.
Henningsvær, a fishing village spread across small islands, with a football pitch on the rocks, is half an hour away. Further west, Reine and Hamnøy are the classic Lofoten views, and Haukland and Uttakleiv are white beaches under the mountains.
The Lofotr Viking Museum at Borg has a reconstructed Viking chieftain's longhouse.
Free things
Free things to do in Svolvær
The hiking, the beaches and the views are free.
Watching the midnight sun or the northern lights costs nothing.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Svolvær
Cod is the thing: fresh skrei in winter, and dried stockfish all year. Restaurants on the harbour serve fish soup and seafood.
Supermarkets are the budget answer, and many rorbu cabins have kitchens.
A restaurant main is €30 to €45.
Nightlife
Going out in Svolvær
Svolvær has a few bars on the harbour, busier in summer and during the winter fishing season.
A beer is €10 to €13.
Getting around
Getting around Svolvær
Svolvær has a small airport with flights from Bodø. Express boats and the coastal ship run from Bodø, and a car ferry runs from Bodø to Moskenes in the west.
Buses link the islands but are infrequent. A car is the best way to see Lofoten.
Roads are narrow and busy in summer; park only in designated places.
Costs
What Svolvær costs
Lofoten is expensive, and accommodation is limited in summer. Book early. A careful day is €70 to €90.
The costs that add up are car hire, boat trips and rorbu cabins.
The currency is the Norwegian krone, and Norway is close to cashless: cards work everywhere. Prices here are euro equivalents.
Safety
Staying safe in Svolvær
Svolvær is very safe.
The mountains are steep and the weather changes fast. Many trails are exposed; wear proper boots and check the forecast.
The sea is cold all year.
Emergency numbers are 112 for police, 113 for ambulance and 110 for fire.
Day trips from Svolvær
The islands of Lofoten.
Henningsvær
A fishing village on small islands.
Reine and Hamnøy
Red cabins under the mountains.
Haukland and Uttakleiv
White beaches under the peaks.
Lofotr Viking Museum
A reconstructed chieftain's longhouse.
What's on
What is on while you are there
The cod fishing season, from February to April, is the islands' oldest event.
February to April
Skrei season
Across Lofoten
The winter cod fishery, and the drying racks fill.
March
Cod fishing world championship
Svolvær
A cod-fishing competition in the harbour.
Late May to mid-July
Midnight sun
Across Lofoten
The sun does not set.
When to go
June to August for the midnight sun and hiking; September to March for the northern lights.
Jan
Aurora
Feb
Skrei season
Mar
Cod championship
Apr
Skrei
May
Midnight sun begins
Jun
Midnight sun
Jul
Peak
Aug
Busy
Sep
Aurora returns
Oct
Autumn
Nov
Aurora
Dec
Polar night
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs. The midnight sun runs from late May to mid-July.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.
Prices are in kroner locally; these are euro equivalents. Excludes car hire and boat trips.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Svolvær travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
How do I get to Lofoten?
Fly to Svolvær from Bodø, or take a boat or the car ferry from Bodø.
Do I need a car in Lofoten?
It is the best way to get around; buses are infrequent.
When is the midnight sun in Lofoten?
From late May to mid-July.
Can I see the northern lights?
Yes, from September to March on clear nights.
What is a rorbu?
A traditional fishing cabin on stilts, now often rented to visitors.
How many days do you need?
Three or four at least.
When is the best time to visit?
June to August for hiking, winter for the lights.
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