The Lofoten Islands in Norway has been on our bucket list for YEARS, and we finally got to check it off in March 2024. While Lofoten is most popular during the summer season (& for a good reason!), visiting the Lofoten Islands in winter is absolutely magical!
During the winter in Lofoten, you can enjoy stunning snow-covered mountains, the northern lights, cozy fishing villages, and so much more! If you’re looking for a dreamy winter destination filled with endless things to do, then Lofoten Islands in Norway may be the perfect place for you!
Keep reading our blog to learn the must-know visiting tips and the best things to do in the Lofoten Islands in the winter!
Ultimate Guide to Visiting the Lofoten Islands in Winter Table of Contents:
- Best Things to do in Lofoten Islands in the Winter
- Tips for Visiting Lofoten Islands in Winter
- How to See the Northern Lights
- What to Pack for a trip to Lofoten Islands in Winter
- Photography Gear
Best Things to do in Lofoten Islands in Winter
One thing we wanted to mention is that you’ll notice a lack of snow in our photos. During the week we visited, they had abnormally warm weather, so most of the snow melted. In the winter in Lofoten, the weather can be very unpredictable as it is an island. But you should prepare for lots of snow and cold temperatures!
#1. Wander the Picturesque Fishing Villages
There are a lot of charming and beautiful fishing villages to visit in Lofoten. Most of them are quite small, with only a few streets to wander through and a handful of local shops and restaurants. You could easily visit a few on the same day, and in fact, we would recommend that for the ones that are so close together!
Henningsvær
Henningsvær is a thriving fishing village and is known for its “hipster vibe.” While it’s still a small village, there are a few local shops you definitely need to check out! You may have seen pictures of its famous football field, it’s incredibly scenic!
Grab lunch at Klatrekaféen (pictured above in the middle) or a cinnamon bun from Lysstøperiet Cafe & Bakery while visiting!
Hamnøy
The Hamnøy Bridge Viewpoint overlooking Hamnøy is probably the most iconic and photographed places in all of Lofoten. There’s not much to do if you’re not staying in one of the fishing cabins. So take some photos, soak in the views, and walk around a little before heading to the next village just a few minutes down the road.
Sakrisøya
Sakrisøya is just 3 minutes down the road from Hamnøy, so we’d recommend visiting them at the same time. Like Hamnøy, it’s more of a beautiful photo spot than a town filled with “things to do.” But it’s still worth a visit! It has the most charming yellow-colored fishermen’s cottages.
Be sure to grab lunch at Anita’s Seafood (Anita’s Sjømat), pictured above on the far right! Also, you will probably notice LOTS of cod fish on drying racks all over Lofoten. Their cod fish drying season typically runs from about January to April!
Reine
Reine is a very picturesque village with incredible 360° mountain views! It’s home to the famous Reinebringen hike (more on that later) and a great home base for many outdoor adventures.
It’s one of the most iconic Lofoten fishing villages and definitely needs to be on your list!
Nusfjord
Nusfjord is a historical fishing village, one of the best preserved in Norway, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Since many of the buildings are more like museums with information about the history of the village, you do need to pay an entrance fee to visit (75–100 NOK per person). And its hours are 9:00am to 5:00pm daily.
Some people don’t like that you have to pay when all the other villages are free to, but we’re happy to support local villages that deal with thousands of tourists yearly! Especially since the money goes to preserving the sites.
#2. Go for a Winter Hike
Disclaimer: Please use your own judgment and check current winter conditions before attempting any Lofoten hike in the winter. The conditions can change daily, making it safe one day and dangerous the next!
That being said, hiking in Lofoten during the winter is absolutely incredible! We recommend hiking to Kvalvika Beach or Ryten overlooking Kvalvika Beach. You can combine this into one hike, but give yourself LOTS of time because hiking in winter conditions takes a lot longer and can be more strenuous. Always know your limits and if you need to turn around! We’d definitely recommend bringing crampons, like these ones, if the snow isn’t deep enough to keep snowshoes.
One thing we wanted to mention is that the famous Reinebringen hike is NOT a winter hike! It can be extremely dangerous and even deadly during the winter. Please do not attempt this hike in the winter! Even during our trip, when we had very little snow, it was still very dangerous and was not recommended by locals. We have friends who attempted this hike (since the conditions seemed pretty good for winter) and turned around before the top since it was a solid sheet of ice.
There are SO MANY amazing hikes in Lofoten, but winter is not the best time to explore them all. So we’ve taken this as a sign that we just need to come back to Lofoten in the summer!
#3. See the Northern Lights
Seeing the northern nights is probably on everyone’s bucket list when coming to the Lofoten Islands in the winter. And for a good reason, it’s absolutely surreal to experience! Seeing the colors dance in the sky with our own eyes is something you’ll never forget.
Some of the best places to see the northern lights in Lofoten are the beaches we mention below. They provide the best chance of seeing them with limited light pollution from towns and lodges.
One thing we wanted to mention (because we didn’t have a clue until we visited), photos of the northern lights will be much more vibrant than what you see with the naked eye. Even if the photos are unedited! That’s because the camera uses a slow shutter speed, so it can take in more light than the naked eye. It’s still SO BEAUTIFUL in person but just know it won’t look exactly like the photos you’ve seen online!
Be sure to read our tips for seeing the Northern Lights, too!
Haukland Beach
Location: 68.19878885959821, 13.528237104279974
Parking: 2 small lots unnamed lots next to the beach, exact location linked here
Fee: Parking fee
Skagsanden Beach
Location: 68.10449880448526, 13.289835515096165
Parking: There is a small paved parking lot next to the beach called Rasteplass Flakstad.
Fee: Free
Uttakleiv Beach
Location: 68.21098878906047, 13.504765192477167
Parking: Roadside parking & a very small unpaved lot next to the beach
Fee: Parking fee (NOK 60 for up to 3 hours for standard vehicles weighing less than 3.5 tons)
*you can hike to Uttakleiv Beach from Haukland Beach (about 2.5 miles/4 km) and it takes around 1 hour one way. Personally, we wouldn’t recommend it for northern lights viewing, but it could be fun during the day!
Ramberg Beach
Location: 68.09800387907973, 13.243467028689917
Parking: Small paved lot called Utsiktspunkt Rambergstranden with additional parking at a larger lot on the opposite of the beach here
Fee: Free
We actually visited this beach for sunset and it was beautiful! There were even a few people doing cold plunges into the ocean while we were there. This beach is home to the iconic “red hut” so it’s a great place to take photos during the day too!
While we’d recommend visiting at least one of these beaches (if not all of them!) during your visit, you can theoretically see the northern lights anywhere in Lofoten. So, if they look active while you’re driving somewhere (or even to one of these beaches), pull over, get out your camera, and look up!
#4. Relax in a Sauna & Go for a Cold Plunge
One of the best things to do in Lofoten in the winter is relax in a sauna. And if you’re feeling adventurous (or like a local Norwegian!), go for a cold plunge too! It’s recommended that you spend time in the sauna, then cold plunge, then back to the sauna again, repeating it as many times as you want!
Thankfully, we had a sauna and cold plunge area (aka the ocean lol) on-site at the lodge, where we stayed for the week. So, we were able to rent the sauna directly through the Hattvika Lodge and walk there from our fishing cabin!
But don’t worry, if you don’t have a sauna where you’re staying, there are public saunas you can visit! Here are some of the best saunas in Lofoten: Hov Sauna in Hov Gård, Skårungen, Lofoten Sauna – Svinøya Rorbuer, LYST Lofoten Sauna in Svolvær, and Lofotspa at Nyvågar in Kabelvåg.
#5. Go Sea Kayaking
Lofoten is one of the most beautiful places in all of Norway to go kayaking! And the best part is you can go kayaking year round.
It’s one of the best ways to see the jaw-dropping mountain views throughout Lofoten. The water is the most beautiful crystal blue color. Depending on where you go kayaking, you may even get lucky and see sea-life!
Sea kayaking is much more challenging than calm bays or river water, so we’d recommend going with a guide unless you are an expert kayaker! We booked our tour through our lodge, Hattvika Lodge, but there are tour companies that offer kayaking tours in Lofoten.
#6. Look for Sea Eagles on a RIB Boat Tour in Svolvær
Lofoten, Norway, is home to a large population of sea eagles, so it’s a great place to see them up close in the wild! We added this experience to our trip at the last minute, and I’m so glad we did because it was one of our favorite things we did the entire trip!
Sea eagles are beautiful!! We were blown away by how close they’d come to our boat, catching fish out of the water and flying all around us. Plus, being out on the water gave us stunning views of the mountains surrounding us! You can watch more about our experience here.
We started off meeting our tour company in Svolvær before heading out on a RIB boat into Trollfjord, stopping at different points along the way to see sea eagles. Thankfully, they provide winter suits, gloves, goggles, and boots for you to wear during the tour. You will wear this over your own layers and jackets because it is FREEZING once the boat starts moving! We looked like Teletubbies haha, but it kept us warm, so we were thankful!
Tips for Visiting Lofoten Islands in Winter
Rent a car to get around Lofoten Islands in Winter
The Lofoten Islands are in a somewhat remote part of Norway, and public transportation is very limited. The best way to get around during your winter trip to Lofoten is by renting a car!
Of course, if you have never driven in winter conditions or don’t feel comfortable doing so, please use your own judgment about whether or not you should rent a car. There are tour companies that can pick you up from your lodge and take you to different areas, but that can get expensive, and you are limited to their timeline! Many of the lodges in Lofoten, like Hattvika Lodge, where we stayed, offer tours directly with their guides, which makes it super accessible.
Watch our Youtube Video to see our full itinerary for our Lofoten Islands in winter bucket list trip!
Prepare for Unpredictable Weather of Lofoten Islands in Winter
We were thankful that during our trip, we had pretty incredible weather! It was mostly clear skies, without any rain, snow, or strong winds. But we’ve heard you can go days without seeing the sun and white-out snow storms blocking all views.
We’d recommend at least 5 days to explore Lofoten, so you have extra time to be flexible with your plans depending on the weather. If it’s cloudy, you won’t be able to see the northern lights, even if the aurora is active. And, of course, some of the winter activities may be canceled or ill-advised depending on weather conditions. But be patient because the weather can change quickly so who knows what may change even during the same day!
If you are wondering what you should pack, check out our recommended packing list for visiting Lofoten Islands in the winter.
How to see the Northern Lights
Seeing the Northern Lights was one of the most incredible experiences we’ve ever had! It’s one of those bucket list items we’ve always wanted to experience but weren’t sure if we ever would. And we’re so thankful we saw them 4 nights during our trip to Lofoten!!
But in case you don’t know, you aren’t guaranteed to see the northern lights every night. It requires a clear sky and an active aurora to see them! And it’s best to be in an area of total darkness, away from any light pollution, which is why the beaches we mentioned above are so great to see!
We used this Northern Lights Forecaster to see when they would be the most active. It only shows about a few hours out, so we started checking constantly once it got dark. Then, when it looked like it was going to be super strong, we could drive to our destination! The lights can be different in different areas so if they aren’t strong where you are, try driving to another part of the island.
If you missed it, be sure to read about the best places to see the northern lights in Lofoten!
Best Time to Visit Lofoten Islands in the Winter
The best time of winter to visit is January to March since it has the longest winter daylight hours. So there’s more time to explore! In addition, the weather tends to be slightly more reliable.
The daylight hours during the winter in Lofoten can be very short. During December, there’s usually around 2 hours of daylight!
What to Pack for a trip to Lofoten Islands in Winter
As we mentioned above, the weather during the winter in Lofoten can be unpredictable, but plan for snow and cold temperatures! Pack lots of warm layers. The daylight hours are short, but when the sun is out, it can warm up a bit, so it’s nice to have layers to take off.
We HIGHLY recommend bringing a pair of solid snow boots or waterproof hiking boots, thermal base layers, puffer coats, gloves, hats, and sweaters. And extra layers for watching the Northern Lights at night!
Here is our favorite winter travel gear broken up by category (many of which you can see pictured in this blog):
WINTER CLOTHING TO PACK FOR LOFOTEN ISLANDS IN WINTER
- Aritiza Powder Parka (Women’s)
- LL. Bean Mountain Parka (Men’s)
- Arc’teryx Beta LT Jacket (Men’s)
- Arc’teryx Atom Insulated Jacket (Men’s)
- Sorel Caribou Winter Boots (Women’s)
- Merrell Moab 3 Hiking Boots (Men’s)
- Danner Hiking Boots (Women’s)
- Darn Tough Hiking Socks (Men’s)
- Darn Tough Hiking Socks (Women’s)
- Merino Base Layer Pants (Men’s)
- Smartwool Merino Base Layer Crewneck Top (Men’s)
- Smartwool Merino Base Layer Leggings (Women’s)
- Smartwool Merino Base Layer Crewneck Top (Women’s)
- Rayban Sunglasses
- Men’s Winter Mittens
- Men’s Winter Gloves
- Men’s Winter Beanies
- Women’s Winter Gloves & Mittens
- Women’s Winter Beanies
GEAR FOR NORTHERN LIGHTS
- Black Diamond Head Lamps
- Hand warmers
- Peak Design Camera Travel Tripod *You cannot take any photos (not blurry) without a tripod as you’ll need it to be exposed for a long time, so a tripod is key!
- Phone Tripod *same thing above applies even to phones!
GEAR FOR WINTER HIKING
*please be sure to always check current conditions as it can change daily! Safety is our top priority and many of the famous Lofoten hikes are NOT safe to hike during the winter
- Merrell Moab 3 Hiking Boots (Men’s)
- Danner Hiking Boots (Women’s)
- Osprey Hiking Backpack (Men’s)
- Osprey Hiking Backpack (Women’s)
- Merino Base Layer Pants (Men’s)
- Smartwool Merino Base Layer Crewneck Top (Men’s)
- Smartwool Merino Base Layer Leggings (Women’s)
- Smartwool Merino Base Layer Crewneck Top (Women’s)
- Men’s Winter Mittens
- Men’s Winter Gloves
- Men’s Winter Beanies
- Women’s Winter Gloves & Mittens
- Women’s Winter Beanies
- Microspikes/Crampons
- Rayban Sunglasses *help with the sun reflecting on the snow!
- Sunscreen
- First Aid Kit
- Garmin GPS
- Emergency Blanket
PHOTOGRAPHY GEAR
- Peak Design Camera Travel Tripod
- Phone Tripod
- Sony Compact Vlog Camera
- Fujifilm X100V Film Simulation Digital Camera
- Beginner Travel Camera
- Best Travel Camera
- Best Travel Camera Lens
- SD Cards
- GoPro Adventure Travel Camera
- Insta360 Adventure Camera
TRAVEL GEAR FOR LOFOTEN ISLANDS IN WINTER
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Save this Guide to the Lofoten Islands in Winter for later planning!
If you’re looking for another one of our favorite winter destinations, read our blog about the 7 Best Things to do in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, in the Winter!
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