The Ultimate Lofoten Islands Road Trip Itinerary: 10 Days

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Sitting high in the Arctic Circle is a string of islands called “The Lofoten Islands”. These stunning islands are apart of Northern Norway and are a playground for those who love the outdoors. 

You could spend months road-tripping around these gorgeous landscapes, hiking and exploring your heart out and taking in the most gorgeous mountain views you have ever seen.

I spent two weeks road tripping through this part of the world in the beginning of July- right during the peak of the midnight sun! Every turn of the road revealed another gorgeous overlook, adorable fishing town and new adventure. 

In this blog post I go over what a 10 day Lofoten Islands Road Trip would look like- you will find all the best places to hike, which towns to explore and how to get there. 

 Table of Contents:

1. Lofoten Islands FAQ

2. Lofoten Islands Road Trip FAQ

3. How To Get To The Lofoten Islands

4. What To Pack For The Lofoten Islands

5. Lofoten Islands Road Trip Map

6. Lofoten Islands 10 Day Itinerary

Disclaimer: This blog post features affiliate links. This means I get a small commission if you make a purchase (at no extra cost to you :))!

Lofoten Islands – FAQ

Quick Facts

Language: Norwegian

Currency: Krone- 1 Krone equals roughly .093 cents USD

Continent: Europe

Are The Lofoten Islands Worth Visiting?

Absolutely 100% YES

The Lofoten Islands in Norway is the most breathtaking place I have ever visited. The raw beauty of the nature here is absolutely surreal. If you are a mountain lover like me, this may just be your form of paradise. In addition to insane views you also get wonderfully kind (and polite!) people, quaint fishing towns and yummy seafood. 

Who Is This Lofoten Islands Road Trip Itinerary For?

Adventurers and Photographers will adore this trip!

This trip was specifically planned to take in as much amazing scenery and embark on as many exciting hikes as possible! 

In this itinerary you will find tons of gorgeous hikes, some of the most photogenic landscapes in the world and the top adventures in each town.

Travel Insurance

Whenever I travel internationally, I make sure to purchase travel insurance. Its covers your trip as well as stolen items and any medical bills you end up needing.

Travel insurance is essential when visiting Norway due to its unpredictable weather and numerous outdoor activities. It provides financial protection against unexpected events like trip cancellations, medical emergencies, or accidents while hiking, skiing, or exploring remote areas.

With travel insurance, you can also secure coverage for lost luggage and travel delays, ensuring peace of mind during your trip! 

I personally love using SafetyWing Insurance is ideal for visiting Norway’s Lofoten Islands, offering coverage for medical emergencies, accidents during outdoor activities, and travel disruptions like lost luggage or delays. It ensures peace of mind in a remote and adventurous destination.

Lofoten Islands Road Trip: FAQ

What Month Should You Road Trip The Lofoten Islands?

July & August

Lofoten Islands Weather

Since the Lofoten Islands are situated high up in the Arctic Circle, it tends to be a land of extremes. Winter is harsh and has almost no sun, while the Summers have light all day (called the midnight sun!) and have a nice mix of beautiful sunny and overcast days.

In July and August you can expect a lovely mix of weather with an average temperature of 60 degrees F. It is by no means a hot location and you will want to bring a variety of layers to keep yourself comfortable.

How Many Days Do You Need In Lofoten Islands? 

5 Days to 2 Weeks! 

The Lofoten Islands have a huge amount of things to do. If you are short on time you can hit the top spots in as little as 3-4 days but I would highly recommend at least 5 days to explore this area. 

If you are able to spend more, you could easily fill up 2 weeks+ exploring these gorgeous islands. There is always another breathtaking hike or beautiful village to fill your time with.

This Itinerary sits right in the middle at 10 days. I think 10 days gives you enough time to fully experience the majority of the islands while not feeling rushed. 

How Long Does It Take To Drive The Lofoten Islands?

The Lofoten Islands are actually quite small- from the very Northern are to the Southern tip it takes around 4 hours to drive. In saying that, this is one of the most beautiful drives in the world and you will most definitely want to spend time exploring it.

Is It Hard To Drive In Lofoten? 

No! I found the driving to be quite easy here, the roads are well maintained and marked and there was never much traffic (or any at all!) The only issue you may run into is that the roads are quite narrow.

How To Get To The Lofoten Islands

If you are coming from outside the country the best place to fly into is Oslo, Bergen or Bodo from there you can find a variety of way’s to travel North to the Lofoten Islands.

Fly To Lofoten Islands

Once you arrive in Oslo you have a variety of options of where to fly into for the Lofoten Islands.

The cheapest option would be to fly North of the Lofoten Islands to Harstad where you would rent a car and begin your road-trip South.

If you want to fly directly into Lofoten there are two smaller airports (super small!) Leknes and Svolvær.

For this itinerary I recommend flying into Leknes and starting your trip in the middle of the Lofoten Islands! You can also begin a bit farther North in Svolvaer and that would work just as well. 

Ferry to the Lofoten Islands

If you want to take a more interesting route to Lofoten you can fly, train or drive North of Olso to the town of Bergen or Bodo.

From Bergen you can take a beautiful cruise ride to see the stunning West Fjords of Norway. This boat takes 4 Days and you can find that option here.

Bodo is the largest city in the North of Norway and the perfect jumping off point for your trip to the Lofoten Islands. In Bodo you can rent a car at the airport and then take a car ferry North to the Lofoten Islands. Depending on where you want to get off the ferry boat takes 4-7 hours. Check out this helpful article here.

Can You Drive To Lofoten Islands?

Yes, you can drive to the Lofoten Islands via the E10 motorway from Sweden. 

Best Way To Road Trip The Lofoten Islands

By Camper Van

One of the most freeing ways to experience the Lofoten Islands is by renting a camper van!

There law in Norway called “Allemannsretten” which allows everyone’s rights to roam free on uncultivated land (land that is not privately owned). This \means you can park/ camp anywhere for free on “uncultivated land”

This means you can park a van in the most beautiful spots and locations! Just respect any no camping signs. To find nice spots you can also use an app called “Park for Night”

Having a camper van allows you to be a bit more free in terms of your exploration as you won’t have to return to a hotel at the end of the day.

You can find a super cute rental camper van with Lofoten Vans!

Rent A Car With Discover Cars

If you still want the comforts of home, then renting a compact car and staying in hotels is your best bet! In this itinerary I will go over the best places to stay and when. 

You can find great rental deals on Discover Cars! 

What To Pack For Lofoten Islands Road Trip

Warm Outdoorsy Clothes

When it comes to traveling to the Lofoten Islands you will want to be prepared for cool mornings and nights and warm afternoons. I like to bring different layers so I can remove or add them as I see needed!

Top Things To Bring:

A Warm Puffy Jacket: This is an essential. A puffy jacket- whether made from down or synthetic material can keep you extra warm during those cold mornings and nights. I personally believe this is a must have when traveling to any wilderness destination.

Hat, Gloves & Socks: To keep yourself warm it is important to focus on your extremities. Your head lets out a lot of heat, as do your hands and feet. Invest in a warm beanie, quality gloves and merino wool socks and you will be much better suited for the outdoors.

Merino Wool Shirts: One of my very favorite pieces of clothing I wear is my mid layer merino wool quarter zip and my short sleeves from Smartwool. Wearing merino wool lets you regulate your temperature better, it stays warm even when wet and its nice and cozy- perfect for the outdoors!

A Fleece: It is important to have multiple layers so you can choose your level of warmth. I always like to bring a fleece to keep me warm- Patagonia and North Face both have wonderful options to choose from.

Rain Jacket: Since weather in the mountains can change in an instant I highly recommend investing in and bringing a nice rain jacket. I personally have the Arcteryx Beta and it never lets me get wet!

Sunglasses: A good pair of polarized sunglasses can make those bright sunny days a little easier on the eyes. Always a good idea to have a pair to grab when you need it!

Hiking Gear

If you are planning on hiking (you definitely should!) you will want to be prepared with gear that will keep you safe and comfortable.

Top Things To Bring:

Hiking Boots: I believe hiking boots are one of the most important items in your gear closet- having a comfortable fit, good grip and ankle support can help you exponentially while you are hiking.

My personal favorites include the Renegade GTX Mid Boots, Bridger Mid Waterproof Boots and X Ultra Mid Gore boots. Be sure to try them on for yourself though as they fit different people differently.

Hiking Backpack: Having a good day pack is essential to hiking. My personal favorites are the Osprey Daylite Pack and Mira 23 Hydration Pack.

Trekking Poles: If you are planning on doing hikes with a lot of elevation, trekking poles can help your balance on the way up and knees on the way down. I personally use trekking poles on almost every hike. My favs are the Distance Carbon FLZ poles for a super lightweight option and the Trail Trekking poles.

Water Bladder & Bottle: My two favorite ways to bring water with me are with a water bladder and a nalgene. If you are going on a longer hike you can also bring a light weight water filter with you.

Safety Devices: A Satellite Phone, Bear Spray, Medical Kit and Emergency Bivy are all very important to keep you safe if you are heading into the back country.

Headlamp: Being able to see at night is essential. I have a headlamp in my hiking bag at all times, even if I am heading out on a morning hike- you never know what can happen.

Helpful Extras: Hand warmers, blister bandages, and microspikes can all make your hike more comfortable and safe.

Lofoten Islands Map

Lofoten Islands Road Trip Itinerary

Day 1: Fly Into Leknes, Norway

On day one of this 10 day trip you will fly into the middle of the Lofoten Islands, Leknes, Norway. 

I decided to start the trip in Leknes vs Svolvaer as it puts you directly into the middle of where you will want to be, rather than having to start your trip with a longer drive. You can also start in Svolvaer and explore that area too if you have time! 

Here in Leknes you will rent a car and begin your beautiful trip! Your first task will be to drive the 13 minutes from the Leknes airport to the fishing village of Ballstad. 

For the next 2 nights Ballstad will be your home base! 

Where To Stay In Ballstad

Day 2: Surfing At Unstad Beach & Hike Offersoykman

Your first full day in the Lofoten Islands will be an exciting one- hop in the car, you are off on a road trip!

Today you are headed North to the gorgeous Unstad Beach! Unstad Beach is cradled by two mountains and is a great place to try out surfing, even if you are a beginner. If you don’t want to surf, it is still a gorgeous area to explore and you can hike up Nonstind to get a view over the beach!

We rented our surfboards from Arctic Surf.

After a fun afternoon surfing you can head back to your hotel to regroup before heading out on a sunset hike up Offersoykman! 

Offersoykman is a relatively easy hike of 2.2 miles with 1,500 ft of elevation gain. It takes you up to a beautiful viewpoint of beautiful bays and mountain peaks. 

READ MORE: The Best Things To Do In Lofoten Islands Norway

Where To Stay In Nusfjord

Day 4-8: Explore Reine & Hamnoy + Go Hiking

When you think of the Lofoten Islands, chances are an image from Reine or Hamnoy pops into your head. These two little towns at the Southern part of the islands hold some of the most iconic views! 

Here in Reine you will base yourself for 4 days to give yourself a chance to explore some of the most gorgeous areas of the Lofoten Islands.

Instead of giving you a detailed itinerary here, I am going to instead share some of the top things to do and let you decide how you want to structure your own trip!

I sadly did not get to experience all of these on my own trip so I will be linking articles and photos for the ones I did not.

Where To Stay In Reine

READ MORE: My Full Guide On Where To Stay Lofoten Islands!

 Adventures In Reine, Norway

Hiking Near Reine

Hike Reinebringen: Pictured above, this is one of the most iconic views in all of the Lofoten Islands! Sadly, we got moody weather but it was still gorgeous. This hike gains quite a bit of elevation in a short amount of time, but is totally worth it! 

Hike Helvestinden: This hike looks absolutely gorgeous, and it involves a fun scenic boat ride! This day trip involves a ferry ride to the island of Moskenesoy. On this trip you can also enjoy a trip to Bunes Beach and walk around the village of Vindstad. 

To get here you will need to take the Reine to Vindstad Ferry boat! If your feeling really adventurous you can even camp on the beach.

Hike Hermannsdalstinden: Looking for a challenge? This gorgeous hike is considered a truly difficult hike and would be best done as a backpacking trip. Take a look at this blog post to get a good idea of what this hike is like! 

Hike Haen: Another hike that requires a ferry ride! This hike is STUNNING and is super high on my bucket list the next time I make it to the Lofoten Islands. This hike takes place on Vaeroy Island- take a look at this article to find images and a guide! 

Horseid Beach: The final hike that requires a ferry ride from Reine to Kjerkfjorden. This hike is a stunning white sand beach! This would be another beautiful place to camp at. You can find more information here. 

If you are planning on doing any of these hikes make sure to download an offline map- I personally use All Trails and it has never failed me.

READ MORE: The Best Northern Norway Hikes

Day Trips From Reine

Explore Vaeroy Island: Vaeroy Island is a remote island that you can access by ferry. You can book a stay on the island or just do it as a day trip (which I would recommend!) This island looks wild, remote and gorgeous! The hike Haen (listed above) is also located here! 

If you do not want to hike, you can also book a RIB- Safari boat ride to spend 4 hours exploring around the island. 

The town of A: At the southernmost tip of Norway, sits a small fishing village called A. This tiny village is home to only 123 people and has only one restaurant. It is only a 13 minute drive from Reine so it is easily worth the trip! 

Activities In Reine

Sauna & Dip in the Arctic: Take part in a great tradition of Sauna! There are a few sauna’s in Reine where you can enjoy this. One of which ishere. 

Kayaking: Get out on the water! There are a few guided kayaking tours that get you out on the water surrounded by stunning fjords. Learn about edible seaweed, take gorgeous photos and experience a totally new way of being in Lofoten. Take a look at tours here. 

Photography: You could easily spend a few days just walking around Reine and Hamnoy with your camera capturing everything! It really is all stunningly beautiful.

There are a few photo spots you should definitely check out- including the Hamnoy Bridge and Hamnoy East! Otherwise, simply wandering the streets with your camera will easily give you enough subjects. 

Check Out My Norway Wall Art!

Day 8: Drive North and Hike Ryten Trail OR Stornappstiden Trail

After a lovely few days in Reine, it is time to make your way North!

On the way stop at the gorgeous trail of Ryten (pictured above!) where you can hike to a stunning peak that overlooks Kvalvika Beach. You can even add on a trip to the beach if you have enough time. 

Another option is to hike the Stornappstiden Trail which is another gorgeous trail that has fantastic views. Take a look at this blog post to see photos! 

After your beautiful hike you can either choose to stay in the area or road trip up to Svolvaer. I personally recommend heading up to Svolvaer so you can make the most of your last day! 

Where To Stay In Svolvaer

Day 9: Explore Svolvaer & Henningsvaer

Your final day! Today you have a few options:

Stay on land and explore the lovely towns of Svolvaer and Henningsvaer- check out art museums, eat at yummy cafes and explore local boutiques. You can also check out the most amazing soccer field in the world (best captured by a drone!) 

Your second option is to take a boat cruise up the Trollfjord. This cruise leaves from Svolvaer daily and gives you gorgeous views of the fjord and wildlife! 

Third option- if your not fed up with hiking yet, is to hike the Festvågtind Trail. This trail looks beautiful and is only 10 minutes from Hennigsvaer. 

Final Option: Get in (or on) the water! Decide to be daring and go Arctic scuba diving! There are a few dive shops in Svolvaer that will take you out on the water. Another option, if you didn’t get to go kayaking in Reine is to go kayaking from Svolvaer to Skrova Island.

Day 10: Fly Out Of Svolvaer

After a full 9 days of travel, it is time to board your plane and jet off to your next adventure (or home!) 

I hope this Lofoten Islands Road Trip Itinerary helped you decide on the perfect trip for you! 

 Check Out These Other Norway Destinations!