Lofoten: how do you get there, how do you get around, and where do you stay?

Updated 27.09.2026. Facts checked against Store norske leksikon (the Norwegian encyclopedia) and Visit Lofoten.

Short answer: You can fly to Lofoten (Widerøe flies several times a day from Bodø to Svolvær and Leknes), take the car ferry Bodø–Moskenes (about 3.5 hours) or drive the E10 via Lofast without a ferry. On the islands you get around by rental car, bus, bike or taxi – book a rental car well in advance. You can stay in a rorbu, a hotel or at a campsite. The midnight sun lasts from 28 May to 14 July, and the northern lights season runs from late August to mid-April.

Key facts

What applies to you?

• You are planning the trip: see how to get to Lofoten.
• You need a car, bike or bus: see how to get around.
• You are looking for accommodation: see rorbu, hotels and camping.
• You want the midnight sun or the northern lights: see when to go.

What and where is Lofoten?

Lofoten is an island chain about 200 km long on the north side of Vestfjorden in Nordland, from Røst in the southwest to the southern tip of Hinnøya in the northeast. Lofoten has six municipalities – Vågan, Vestvågøy, Flakstad, Moskenes, Værøy and Røst – and 24,849 inhabitants (2026). The largest islands are Austvågøya, Vestvågøya, Moskenesøya, Flakstadøya and Gimsøya, and Svolvær is the largest town (Store norske leksikon, checked 27.09.2026).

How do you get to Lofoten?

• By air: Lofoten has three airports – Svolvær, Leknes and Røst. Widerøe flies several times a day from Bodø to Svolvær and Leknes. There is also a helicopter from Bodø to Værøy. You can also fly to Harstad/Narvik Airport Evenes, 170 km from Svolvær, and continue by bus (Visit Lofoten).
• Ferry from Bodø: the car ferry Bodø–Moskenes is the quickest and takes about 3.5 hours. You can bring a car or travel as a foot passenger. If you travel without a vehicle and do not book a reserved spot, the crossing is free; a reserved spot for an adult foot passenger costs NOK 65 (Torghatten, checked 27.09.2026). The Bodø–Røst–Værøy–Moskenes route takes about 7 hours, and Skutvik–Skrova–Svolvær runs only in summer, 1 June–31 August (Visit Lofoten).
• Express boat and coastal route: the express boat Bodø–Svolvær stops at Skutvik and Skrova. Hurtigruten and Havila call at ports in Lofoten, including Stamsund and Svolvær (Visit Lofoten).
• By car: since 2007 you can drive to Lofoten without a ferry, via Lofast and the E10 (Visit Lofoten).

See also: Bodø as the gateway to Lofoten. The whole trip: plan your trip in Northern Norway.

How do you get around Lofoten?

• Rental car: several rental companies operate in Lofoten. You must be at least 19 and have held a driving licence for at least one year. Winter tyres are required in winter. Book well in advance (Visit Lofoten). Tolls and AutoPASS: see toll roads in Norway.
• Bus: local bus routes run from Narvik to Å, with different summer and winter timetables. You find the timetables in the Reis app (Visit Lofoten).
• Bikes and gear: rental shops are in the table further down.
• Taxi: book in advance (Visit Lofoten).
• Motorhome: use campsites and do not park along the road, partly because of the fire risk (Visit Lofoten).

Where do you stay in Lofoten?

The classic choice is a rorbu. A rorbu is a house in a fishing village that was used by visiting fishermen during the big seasonal fisheries; today many are rented out to tourists (Store norske leksikon, updated 27.11.2024). You can also stay in a hotel, a cabin or at a campsite.

• The best rorbu and cabins in Lofoten
• Accommodation in Lofoten
• Camping and tents in Lofoten
• Prices and types of accommodation across Norway: where to stay in Norway

When should you go to Lofoten?

• Midnight sun: from 28 May to 14 July (Visit Lofoten).
• Northern lights: from late August to mid-April. The aurora often appears around 20:00–21:00 and fades a little after midnight. September has the same average temperature as June (Visit Lofoten). More: northern lights in Norway.
• In winter: winter tyres on the rental car, and check the winter timetables (Visit Lofoten).

What can you buy in Lofoten?

• Stockfish: "Tørrfisk fra Lofoten" is a protected geographical designation (Store norske leksikon, updated 25.11.2024). More: Norwegian food: stockfish.
• Crafts and souvenirs: crafts and festivals in Lofoten and Sámi souvenirs in Lofoten.
• Vinmonopolet: Vinmonopolet in Svolvær – address and opening hours.

What can you do in Lofoten?

• Kayaking in Lofoten for beginners
• Fishing villages and fishing trips in Lofoten
• Whale safaris and wildlife
• Nightlife in Lofoten and Northern Norway

Tours, hotels, rentals and Vinmonopolet

See also Leknes and Moskenes in our directory.

Photos: Lofoten

People also ask

• How do you get to the Lofoten Islands?
• How long does the ferry from Bodø to Moskenes take?
• Which airports are there in Lofoten?
• Can you drive to Lofoten?
• How do I rent a car in Lofoten?
• Can you rent a bike in Lofoten?
• Are there buses in Lofoten?
• What is a rorbu?
• Where should I stay in Lofoten?
• When is the midnight sun in Lofoten?
• When can you see the northern lights in Lofoten?
• What to buy in Lofoten?
• Where is Vinmonopolet in Svolvær?
• How many people live in Lofoten?

Sources

All links checked 27.09.2026.

• Store norske leksikon: Lofoten
• Store norske leksikon: rorbu (updated 27.11.2024)
• Store norske leksikon: tørrfisk (updated 25.11.2024)
• Visit Lofoten: how to get to Lofoten
• Visit Lofoten: fly to Lofoten
• Visit Lofoten: ferries and boats to Lofoten
• Visit Lofoten: travel within Lofoten
• Visit Lofoten: midnight sun
• Visit Lofoten: northern lights
• Torghatten: Bodø–Værøy–Røst–Moskenes, prices and reservations

Readers' experiences

How did you travel to Lofoten, and where did you stay? Write in the comments at the bottom of the page. We use your experiences when we update the guide.