Places to stay and activities in Skien

Food and drinks

Visit Henningsvær – Norway’s oldest fishing village

Henningsvær is about 30 minutes’ drive from Svolvær and is one of Norway’s oldest fishing villages. The beautiful fishing village is located by the open sea and is surrounded by high mountains and beautiful nature. Here you’ll find charming narrow streets, small local shops, intimate eateries and a harbour full of fishing boats. Henningsvær is also known for its excellent fish soup and delicious cinnamon rolls.

Anitas Sjømat on Sakrisøy

If you want to taste the world’s best fish burger, you have to visit Anitas Sjømat on Sakrisøy. Topped with prawns and salmon, the burger can be enjoyed in warm and cosy surroundings in the seafood bar, which has a fantastic view. Anitas Sjømat also offers a large selection of locally produced seafood – everything from stockfish, clipfish, smoked salmon and caviar – that you can buy to take home.

Outdoor activities

Kayaking

A few minutes’ walk from our hotels along the quay promenade in the centre of Svolvær, you can go on an unforgettable paddling tour. You are guaranteed to appreciate the beautiful landscape of Lofoten even more from the water. Enjoy the fresh air as you paddle to wherever you want to go.

RIB boat trip

If you love speed and excitement, you can go on a RIB boat trip. See the majestic Trollfjord, whaling island of Skrova and numerous bright white sandy beaches in the area around Svolvær. If you’re lucky, you can even see a white-tailed eagle up close. 

Surfing

The beaches in Lofoten have long been a favourite among professional surfers, as well as beginners. The most popular beaches can be found at Unstad and Flakstad, surrounded by stunning mountain peaks. If you’re a beginner, you might want to visit the beaches during the summer months, when the midnight sun makes the days long and bright. Here you can rent equipment and get all the instructions you need. For more experienced surfers, August to November is the best time to surf. 

Skrei fishing

Fishing is an important part of the history in Lofoten and an absolute must when in Svolvær. The city offers a number of organised fishing trips and at Thon Hotel Svolvær, you have the opportunity to catch your own fish, as well as learn how to gut and fillet the day’s catch at the hotel’s own fish farm. As if that weren't enough, you can choose whether the fish should be vacuum-packed, frozen and taken home with you or cooked right there and then. The hotel offers cooking courses where you can prepare your own separate food.

See Lofoten on horseback

Ride along chalky white beaches and enjoy the beautiful scenery on horseback. Hov Gård on Grimsøy, which is around a 45-minute drive from Svolvær, offers horseback riding in Lofoten all year round – whether you want to ride under the midnight sun in the summer or northern lights in the winter. Prefer to experience Lofoten on an Icelandic horse or perhaps spend the day in Vinjedalen? At Hov Gård, they adapt both the horses and rides to your skills.

Play golf in the midnight sun

Want to play golf with unobstructed views to the north and under the midnight sun? At Lofoten Links on Grimsøy you can do just that. The course has been reported by the New York Times and named one of the world’s best golf courses. Here, the sea is used as a water barrier, while the sandy beaches serve as natural sand bunkers. Because of the midnight sun, the course is open 24 hours a day from mid-May to the end of July. As an added bonus, the golf course is one of the best places to experience the northern lights at the end of August.

Northern Lights Tour

Lofoten is located directly below the northern lights oval, so you have a good chance to see the northern lights here even with very low activity. The northern lights season in Lofoten is from the end of August to the middle of April. During this time, you can see the Northern Lights in Lofoten on clear evenings and nights. When staying at one of our hotels in Svolvær, you can see the northern lights from your room, although it is easier to see them in places with less light pollution than in the centre of Svolvær.

Gimsøya and Laukvika are close to Svolvær, where there is little light pollution and no mountains blocking the view. These are good starting points for watching the magical lights dance across the sky.

Experience the midnight sun

Lofoten has midnight sun from the end of May to the end of July. If you want to experience the midnight sun, you need be on the outer edges of Lofoten. Here you can see the sphere of the sun approach close to the surface of the sea – without disappearing – and then rise again. There are lots of great places on the outer edges of Lofoten where you can experience this, as well as beaches and mountain peaks. Gimsøya, Brenna, Laukvika and Delp are the closest places to drive from Svolvær.

Museums and attractions

Art in Lofoten

With galleries, art exhibitions and craft shops around every corner, Lofoten is a treasure trove for art lovers. The magnificent nature has long been a great source of inspiration for artists and craftspeople from around the world. It is said that Lofoten is one of Norway’s most artistic places per capita, which is reflected in the many galleries, art workshops and retail outlets. Many of these are open to the public and it is not unusual for you to get to meet the artist. Choose a gallery to visit or use the day to visit several different galleries, art exhibitions and workshops. How about visiting the Kaviar Factory in Henningsvær or perhaps Galleri Lofoten, the North Norwegian Art Centre or Galleri Dagfinn Bakke?

Viking Museum

At Borg in Lofoten, you can experience the Viking Age in a living environment. Here you'll find the world’s largest longhouse from the Viking Age. The longhouse was hidden and forgotten for more than 1,000 years until a farmer happen to find beautiful shards of glass and rare ceramics in the plow furrows behind his tractor in 1981. Since then, the longhouse has been reconstructed in its full size and is open today to all those who want to see craftsmanship, decorations and architecture from the Viking Age.

Farm visit

Cheese production in Lofoten is world-famous and several of the cheeses have won prizes in the World Championship Cheese Contest. If you'd like to experience cheese production up close, Aalan Gård and Lofoten Gårdsysteri are great options. At Aalan Gård you will find a farm with cheese production, a herb garden and various animals. You can also buy the products at the farm café, as well as eat here in the summer. Lofoten Gårdsysteri is organic farm that is beautifully located at the foot of a Lofoten mountain. The farm welcomes guests who want to buy cheese, sausages and goat meat.

Mountain hikes

Skiing highlights

The Lofoten mountains are popular destinations for ski enthusiasts - and with good reason. The views from the mountain peaks and downhill slopes are fantastic, and you can ski almost all the way down to the water’s edge in many places. The Lofoten mountains are also not the highest, which makes them perfect for both beginners and more experienced skiers. However, we recommend using guides who know the conditions and know where it is safe to ski.

Mountain hikes in the summer

Lofoten is a paradise for those who like to hike in the mountains. The views are fantastic and the mountain peaks numerous – the one more impressive than the other. A mountain hike in Lofoten usually goes from sea level and 'straight up'. Many hikes are not long in terms of kilometres, but they make up for it in steepness. Close to Svolvær, there are several hikes within walking distance of Thon Hotel Svolvær and Thon Hotel Lofoten.

Sherpa steps in Svolvær

The Sherpa steps were completed in the autumn of 2019 and have become very popular with both the city’s population and tourists. The steps are built into the mountainside just behind the churchyard in Svolvær. At the top of the stairs you have a fantastic view of Svolvær.

Djevelporten and Fløya (590 m above sea level)

If you want to take a longer hike than to the top of the sherpa streps, you can continue on the path over the heath towards the Djevelporten (Devil's Gate) and mountain Fløya. The Devil's Gate is a large boulder wedged between mountains on either side. From the Devil's Gate you can continue up to 'Fløya'. At the top of this mountain ridge, you have 365-degree views as far as the eye can see.

Skrovafjellet (258 m above sea level)

From Svolvær, there is a ferry to the island of Skrova. Located in the middle of Vestfjord, Skrova is a charming little community and well worth a visit. Here you'll find some of the finest white beaches and from Skrovafjellet, the only mountain top on the island, the views are fantastic. The ferry ride from Svolvær takes around 30 minutes.

By car, you have easy access to fantastic hikes in the entire archipelago. Here are some Lofoten classics:

Festvagtind (541 m above sea level)

The hike up to Festvågtind starts a short distance before crossing the first bridge to Henningsvær. A steep hike with great views of Henningsvær and westward.

The Man (499 m above sea level)

Mannen is right by Hauklandstranda and was voted Europe’s most beautiful beach by Lonely Planet. The hike is at times steep and slightly exposed, but it is one of Lofoten’s most popular hikes, so there is a clearly marked trail all the way up. The views are as stunning as a postcard, with green water, white beaches and mountains.

Ryten (543 m above sea level)

Ryten is one of the most popular peaks in Lofoten and can be reached from several starting points – such as by walking to Kvalvika and then from the beach in Kvalvika to the top. You can also start in Indresand near Fredvangsbroen. The view from the top of Ryten is spectacular, with views of Kvalvika, the open sea and pointed peaks.

Reinebringen (448 m above sea level)

Reinebringen has the most iconic and photographed views of Lofoten and the peak everyone dreams about standing on when they visit. Along the path to Reinebringen, beautiful Sherpa stairs with around 1,600 steps have been built. From the top, the views are magical across the Reinefjord, Reine and further out over the mountains and sea as far as you can see. The steps go up the 'back' of the mountain, but you park in Reine.