Experience Northern Norway in a nutshell

Travel itineraries: Bodø - Lofoten - Tromsø - Oslo

Even as many beautiful places you can visit in Norway, little beats Northern Norway in the summer. With steep mountains that dip into the sea and bathe in the midnight sun, Lofoten is one of the country’s most popular destinations. But nature is also magnificent on the way there! 

If you’re lucky enough to head north, the easiest way is to drive a car. Then you are flexible and can stop at just the point of view you want to look beyond the majestic landscape. But it is also possible to travel by public transport. The train goes all the way to Bodø and from here there are both ferry and bus options further north. There are also flights from Oslo and other major Norwegian cities to Bodø, Lofoten and Tromsø.

If you want to take a breather and stay a couple of nights on the road, Thon Hotels has several great accommodation options along the way. 

Here we guide you to a trip to Northern Norway’s biggest destinations:

From Bodø to Lofoten

Once you reach Bodø, you are already a good distance north of the Arctic Circle. Bodø is a city with more than 55,000 inhabitants. Bodø was badly bombed during World War II, but rebuilt and is now a vibrant centre in the heart of the northern Norwegian landscape.

No road south of Bodø was laid until the late 1930s, and the road was also closed in winter for many decades. The ferry route has therefore had a special status in the city, and the sea route is still a popular way of travelling to and from Bodø. 

If you want to spend the night in the city before you continue, Thon Hotel Nordlys is located down by the quayside. The hotel offers beautiful views of the harbour. A stone’s throw away, you’ll find Thon Partner Hotel Skagen in a central but quiet street.

When you’re heading to Lofoten, it’s worth taking a ferry. From the harbour in Bodø, there are daily routes both to Moskenesøya, the outermost island of Lofoten with a mainland connection, and to Svolvær, Lofoten’s largest fishing village. Both ferries take around three and a half hours. You can also take a ferry to both Røst and Værøy, Lofoten’s outermost islands, but from here you will have to continue your ferry journey, as the islands have no mainland connection.

If you prefer to drive, take the E6 to Skutvik where the ferry crosses to Svolvær. It takes longer, but there’s a lot to see and experience on the road. Make your first stop at Keiservarden outside Bodø, where you get a beautiful view all the way to the Lofoten Wall. 

If you are not only fascinated by nature, but also Norwegian culture, you should make a few stops just before Skutvik. Here you will find the Hamsun Centre, the museum of the controversial but still genius author Knut Hamsun. And a little further down towards the ferry lake is the author’s childhood home, which is now a museum.

From Bodø to Tromsø

When you arrive in Lofoten, you can simply let yourself be captivated by the dramatic nature. Wherever you are in the archipelago, you’ll see steep mountains raging over chalky white sandy beaches. This is extremely exotic and most likely unlike anything you’ve seen before. 

There are many ways to experience the fabulous nature, whether you want to climb the mountains or surf the waves, tour operators line up to take you on unforgettable experiences.

Thon Hotels has a centrally located hotel in Alta. Check out Thon Hotel Svolvær and Thon Hotel Lofoten, both of which have taken the location seriously, with a good view of the beautiful landscape that surrounds them.

If you’re heading northwards to Tromsø, there are several ways to get there. Depending on how much time you have, you can either take the shortest route on the E6 via the E10, or take the daily bus from Lødingen, the trip takes around six and a half hours. 

If you want to take as much nature as possible with you on the road, we recommend taking the highway. Drive to Andenes and take the ferry over to Gryllefjord. This stretch is known for being particularly beautiful. 

If you want to travel all the way to Tromsø by sea, you can take a ferry from Svolvær to Harstad and from Harstad to Tromsø. You can find the ferry times here. You can also hop on Hurtigruta, the famous cruise boat that goes all the way from Bergen to Kirkenes. 

Another idea is to drive to Harstad and take the ferry from here. If you’re not tired of hiking after a few days in Lofoten, there are new opportunities here. In Harstad, for example, you can climb the mountain top Elgen and enjoy a fantastic view. Walk late in the evening and experience the midnight sun over the sea cleft. If you want to stay overnight in the city, Thon Hotel Harstad is centrally located by the quay.

From Tromsø to Oslo

There is no shortage of things to do in Tromsø. Among other things, you can visit the Arctic Cathedral, the Polar Museum and Mack, the world’s northernmost brewery. To experience nature, you can go on a whale watching or take the cable car up to Storsteinen. If you want to go for a real mountain hike, you can walk up the Tromsdalstinden’s 1,238 metres.

If you stay in the city overnight, there are several hotels to choose from. Thon Hotel Polar and Thon Hotel Tromsø are both in the heart of the city centre, just a short distance from eateries and attractions.

If you are going back to Oslo, the easiest way is to take a flight from Tromsø airport. The airport bus leaves from right by the hotels and takes fifteen minutes, while the flight itself takes two hours. If you are going to drive, the fastest route goes through Sweden. Here, the speed limits are higher and if you stay on the motorway, the journey will take around 22 hours. But if the journey is the goal, and you have time for a more adventurous trip, you should instead take the national and county roads back along the Norwegian coast.

If you choose to stay in Norway, you can take the opportunity to visit Trondheim, one of the country’s largest cities. To get to Trondheim from Tromsø, take the E8 to Nordkjosbotn where the road meets the E6. From here, follow the E6 to Skarberget and take the ferry over to Bognes. On the way, you can stop in Narvik, Nordland County’s third largest city, and take the gondola railway up to Fagernesfjellet. From here, you can look out over the Ofotfjord and the mountains that surround it.

From Bognes you can follow the E6 southwards to the small fjord town of Fauske. From here you have two options, you can either continue on the E6 to Trondheim or take the coastal road. If you stay on the motorway, the road crosses Saltfjellet. Here you can stop at the Arctic Circle Centre, take a stretch and learn a bit about latitude before continuing to Mo i Rana. 

Mo i Rana is an old mining town located in the middle of stunning nature in the heart of the Ranafjord. From here, you can just continue on the E6 to Trondheim, but you are welcome to plan an overnight stay on the road, the trip takes just over 13 hours. Thon Hotels has three hotels in Trondheim.

If you have plenty of time and want to make the most of your trip to Oslo, you should take a detour on the national tourist route along the Helgeland coast. In Fauske, take Highway 80 towards Bodø instead of the E6. Take off before arriving at Lødingen and drive to Godøystraumen, where the national tourist route begins that takes you between mountains and over fjords, but please note that there are several ferry trips along the way. When you arrive at Holm, you can continue to the E6 to Trondheim and follow the road all the way to Oslo.

If you travel by public transport from Tromsø, you can take a bus from the city centre to Narvik. The tour takes just under four hours. Narvik is a hub, and there are many options from here, including trains to Sweden. If you’re going to Oslo, the easiest (and best) way to get to Bodø is by bus. From here you can jump on the famous Nordlandsbanen railway line to Trondheim. The train ride takes you through magnificent landscapes and is considered one of the most beautiful train rides in the Nordic region. Switch trains in Trondheim to Oslo.

Another option is to take Hurtigruten. It goes all the way from Tromsø to Bergen. A spectacular train ride from Bergensbanen to Oslo awaits from here. 

No matter which route you choose, whether you take the car, bus or train, you’ll have an unforgettable experience in a landscape that’s unlike anything else. Enjoy!