Home › Lofoten › How many days
How many days in Lofoten? 5 days from Svolvær to Reine and Å
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Lofoten is a chain of mountain islands off northern Norway, linked by bridges and tunnels along a single road, the E10, which runs about 170 km from Svolvær in the east to the village of Å at the tip. Granite peaks rise straight out of the sea, with white-sand beaches and red fishing cabins (rorbuer) on stilts. Give it five days and drive slowly west, sleeping in two bases: one around Svolvær or Henningsvær, one around Reine. Weather changes by the hour; keep each day flexible.
Short answer
Four days covers the main villages and one good hike. Five days gives a buffer for rain and wind, which in Lofoten is not optional.
The 5-day plan, day by day
Day 1: Svolvær, Kabelvåg and Henningsvær
Morning. Start in Svolvær, the main town, with its harbour and the Svolværgeita, a twin-horned rock pinnacle above the town that climbers jump between. Drive 10 minutes to Kabelvåg for the large wooden Vågan Church, often called the Lofoten Cathedral, and the Lofoten Museum on the site of an old fishing settlement (about NOK 100-150; check current price).
Afternoon. Continue about 30 minutes to Henningsvær, a fishing village spread over small islands, known for its football pitch on a rocky islet. Walk the harbour, the galleries and the stockfish racks. Fit hikers can climb the Festvågtind (about 541 metres, 3-4 hours return) for the view over the village.
Evening. Eat fish soup or cod in Henningsvær (mains NOK 300-450), then sleep in a rorbu around Svolvær or Henningsvær.
In summer, a Trollfjord boat trip from Svolvær (about 3 hours, roughly NOK 900-1,200) goes into a narrow fjord between steep walls, often with sea eagles. Book it for a calm day.
Day 2: Vikings and the northern beaches
Morning. Drive about 1 hour west to the Lofotr Viking Museum at Borg, built around the excavated remains of a Viking chieftain's longhouse, with a reconstructed 83-metre longhouse, a boathouse and costumed guides (about NOK 250-300; summer is the main season).
Afternoon. Drive 20-30 minutes north to Haukland and Uttakleiv, two white-sand beaches linked by a coastal road and a tunnel. A flat walk of about 1-1.5 hours each way around the headland connects them. Further west, Unstad is the islands' surf beach, with boards and wetsuits for rent.
Evening. Stop at Leknes, the main shopping town on Vestvågøy, for supplies, or eat at the Viking Museum's restaurant when open. In June and July, the beaches face the midnight sun in the north-west.
Supermarkets are your best friend in Lofoten. Buy breakfast and lunch at the Coop and Rema stores in Leknes or Svolvær, where prices are a third of café prices.
Day 3: Nusfjord, Ramberg and the Ryten hike
Morning. Drive about 30 minutes south-west to Nusfjord, one of the best-preserved fishing villages in Norway, wedged into a narrow inlet. There is an entrance fee for the village area in summer (roughly NOK 100-150).
Afternoon. Continue to Ramberg, a long white beach by the road, then cross the bridges to Fredvang and hike to Ryten (about 543 metres, 2.5-4 hours return), the cliff above Kvalvika beach, with a drop to the sea that you see in many Lofoten photos. You can descend to Kvalvika if you have time.
Evening. Move your base to the Reine area, about 30 minutes further. Dinner in Reine or Hamnøy; book in summer.
The Ryten path is muddy and exposed after rain. Wear proper hiking boots, and stay well back from the cliff edge, especially in wind.
Day 4: Reinebringen, Hamnøy and Sakrisøy
Morning. Climb Reinebringen early: about 2,000 stone steps built by Nepalese sherpas lead to a ridge at about 450 metres, with the view of Reine's fjord and peaks. Allow 2-3 hours return. The upper part is steep; do not go in fog or ice.
Afternoon. Photograph Hamnøy, with its red rorbuer and the bridge, and the yellow cabins of Sakrisøy, a few minutes away. Buy fish cakes or a shrimp sandwich at the small seafood shop in Sakrisøy (about NOK 100-200).
Evening. Take a kayak tour on the Reinefjord in the long summer light, or simply watch the light change on the peaks from the bridge at Hamnøy.
Parking at Reinebringen and in Reine is limited and paid. Arrive before 8:00, or park in Reine and walk 15 minutes to the trailhead.
Day 5: Å, the Reinefjord boat and the ferry
Morning. Drive 10-15 minutes to Å at the end of the E10. The Norwegian Fishing Village Museum and the Stockfish Museum (each about NOK 100-150; check seasons) explain how cod drying sustained the islands for centuries.
Afternoon. In summer, a small boat from Reine crosses the Reinefjord to Vindstad (about 25-40 minutes; check timetables), from where a flat walk of about 1 hour leads to Bunes beach, enclosed by sheer cliffs.
Evening. Leave Lofoten from Moskenes by the car ferry to Bodø (about 3-3.5 hours), or drive back to Leknes or Svolvær for a flight.
Book the Moskenes-Bodø ferry ahead for a car in July and August. Queues can be several hours, and the crossing is rough in strong wind.
Only have 4 days?
With 4 days, combine Svolvær and Henningsvær on Day 1, the Viking Museum and Haukland on Day 2, and spend Days 3-4 around Reine. You lose Nusfjord or the Ryten hike, and your rain buffer.
Got extra days?
Extra days go to Vesterålen to the north for whale safaris from Andenes, to more hikes such as Hermannsdalstinden, or to winter photography from January to March, when snow, skrei fishing and the northern lights fill the islands.
Where to stay in Lofoten
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Hostels and campsites around Svolvær, Ramberg and Å | Dorms, cabins and tent pitches with kitchens. | NOK 600-1,200 |
| Mid-range | Rorbuer around Svolvær and Henningsvær | Fishermen's cabins on the water, with kitchens. | NOK 1,600-2,800 |
| Mid-range | Reine, Hamnøy and Sakrisøy | Next to Reinebringen and the boat to Bunes. | NOK 1,800-3,200 |
| Comfort | Upscale rorbuer and design hotels in Henningsvær or Nusfjord | Restored cabins with saunas, sea views and restaurants. | NOK 3,000-6,000 |
Getting around
You need a car: buses run along the E10 but rarely, especially outside summer. Hire one in Svolvær, Leknes or at Evenes airport (about 2.5-3 hours from Svolvær); expect NOK 900-1,600 a day in summer. Driving: Svolvær to Leknes about 1 hour, Leknes to Reine about 1 hour. Flights from Bodø land at Svolvær and Leknes. The Bodø-Moskenes car ferry takes about 3-3.5 hours, and the Hurtigruten coastal ship stops at Stamsund and Svolvær. Do not stop on the road for photos; use the pull-outs.
What to eat in Lofoten
Lofoten lives on cod. From about January to April, the migrating skrei is served fresh, and the dried stockfish (tørrfisk) hangs on wooden racks all over the islands. Try fish soup, bacalao stew, fish cakes and cod tongues, a local delicacy. Mains cost NOK 300-500; a beer about NOK 110-140. Seafood shops sell smoked salmon and shrimp sandwiches for picnics. Wine and spirits are sold only in Vinmonopolet shops in Svolvær and Leknes, with short hours.
Best time to visit
June to August for hiking, the midnight sun (about late May to mid-July) and the most services, with highs of 12-18°C. Late August to September is calmer and sees the first northern lights. February to March brings snow, skrei fishing and auroras, with mild coastal temperatures around 0°C. Rain is possible in every month; pack waterproofs.
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | NOK 450 | NOK 1,100 | NOK 2,200 |
| Food & drink | NOK 400 | NOK 750 | NOK 1,400 |
| Sights & tickets | NOK 100 | NOK 350 | NOK 900 |
| Local transport | NOK 400 | NOK 650 | NOK 900 |
| Total per person, per day | about NOK 1,350 | about NOK 2,850 | about NOK 5,400 |
Approximate 2026 summer prices in Norwegian kroner; the transport row is half of a hire car plus fuel and parking, with ferries extra. Norway plans local tourist taxes in some popular areas; ask your host whether one applies in Lofoten.
Before you go
Common questions
Is five days too much for Lofoten?
No. Distances are short, but the road is slow, the best things are hikes and beaches that depend on weather, and you may lose a day to rain or wind. Five days lets you sleep in two bases and still have a spare day. With fewer days, focus on the western islands around Reine and Hamnøy.
Can I see Lofoten without a car?
Partly. Buses run along the E10, and boats link Reine with Vindstad in summer, but services are few and you lose flexibility for hikes and beaches. Cycling is popular in summer, with tunnels and traffic in places. A guided tour from Svolvær or Leknes is an option for one or two days.
When can I see the northern lights in Lofoten?
From about late August to early April, on dark, clear nights. Lofoten's weather is changeable, so plan several nights. Beaches such as Haukland, Uttakleiv and Ramberg face north and have little light pollution. In June and July there is no darkness at all because of the midnight sun.
Is Lofoten expensive?
Yes, as in all of Norway. Rorbuer cost NOK 1,600-3,000 a night in summer, restaurant mains NOK 300-500 and a beer about NOK 120. Save by self-catering in your cabin, buying lunches at the supermarket, and filling your water bottle from the tap, which is safe and excellent.
How this guide was made
Compiled by TonyPlan from official tourism, transport and attraction sources and on-the-ground travel knowledge. Prices are approximate for 2026 and change with season; anything we could not confirm is marked as approximate.
Some links on this page are partner links. If you book through them TonyPlan may earn a commission; the price you pay is the same. How we make money.