Lofoten (pronounced “Loofoten”) is an island archipelago within the Arctic Circle of Norway and despite the northern location (68.5° N), the climate and waters in the area are much warmer than expected due to the influence of the Gulf Stream. Some of the major cities of the Lofoten Islands include Svolvaer, Henningsvaer, Stamsund, Leknes, Ramberg, Reine, Village of Å, and Kabelvåg. I recommend travelers visit the city of Reine, which is the most photographed destination in Norway.
How I Booked the Flights to Norway?
I used 88K ANA mileage club miles to book the SAS business class roundtrip from Chicago to Copenhagen in 2019. It is hard to find SAS Business Class Saver Award space for partner bookings during this post-COVID time. After spending a few days in Copenhagen, we took a short flight to Oslo.
What are the options to reach the Lofoten Islands?
Direct flights are available from Oslo to some of the cities in the Lofoten Islands (e.g., Leknes and Svolvaer) with more availability in the summer months. Once you arrive at either airport, you can rent a car and drive to Reine (~2 hours from Svolvaer and 1 hour from Leknes.
Flight from Oslo to Leknes
Flight from Oslo to Svolvaer
Flight from Oslo to Bodo and take a Ferry to Moskenes
Nonstop flights from Oslo to Bodo are reasonably priced and the ferry prices are cheap as long as you don’t bring a car with you.
Moskenes is the nearest port to Reine and you can take a car ferry from Bodo (https://visitlofoten.com/en/topic/ferry-and-express-boat-timetables-to-lofoten/) and I highly recommend purchasing the tickets before the travel date (https://www.torghatten-nord.no).
It takes ~3 hours to reach Moskenes (look for the shortest time) and the one-way ferry costs ~$20 USD per person ($100 with a vehicle). I used this method of transportation when I visited Lofoten Islands, but we found much cheaper flight prices on Norwegian.
Can I use Points to Book Flights?
Your only option to use points to book is to fly SAS from Oslo to Harstad/Narvik Airport (EVE). It takes ~4 hours to drive from EVE airport to Reine and only 2 hours, if you make a stop in Svolaver on the way back. It is one of the most scenic drives in the world and I am planning to take it on my next trip to the Lofoten islands.
What is the best travel option to reach Reine?
It depends on your roundtrip flight prices from Oslo to Leknes/Svolvaer vs comparing the prices of Oslo to Bodo flight + ferry roundtrip cost to Moskenes, along with the cost of car rentals in all the places. One has to do the math and decide what budget suits your needs.
Reine Accommodations & Dining
You can easily find several reasonably priced Reine accommodations on booking.com or Hotels.com. We stayed at Eliassen Rorbuer, which featured waterfront cabins with a full kitchen and high-speed internet. The hotel had its own restaurant, but overall dining options were limited in Reine (the main town has some coffee shops and restaurants).
Best Hikes in the Lofoten Islands
I recommend trying the top Nordland hikes listed in alltrails.com (https://www.alltrails.com/norway/nordland). All these hikes (except Reinebringen) require ferry transfers to the other Lofoten Islands from Reine/Moskenes. Some of the best day hikes we have done include the following:
- Reinebringen – Reine (https://www.alltrails.com/trail/norway/nordland/reinebringen?u=i). One of the most hiked places in Lofoten.
- Svolvær til Fløya og Djevelporten (https://www.alltrails.com/trail/norway/nordland/svolvaer-til-floya-og-djevelporten?u=i).
- Holandsmelen (https://www.alltrails.com/trail/norway/nordland/holandsmelen?u=i).
- Kvalvika beach -Flakstadøya (https://www.alltrails.com/trail/norway/nordland/topptur-til-ryten?u=i).
- Himmeltinden – Leknes (https://www.alltrails.com/trail/norway/nordland/himmeltindan–2?u=i).
- Offersøykammen – Leknes (https://www.alltrails.com/trail/norway/nordland/offersoykammen?u=i).
- Hoven – Gimsøya (https://www.alltrails.com/trail/norway/nordland/hoven?u=i).
- Glomtinden – Svolvær (https://www.alltrails.com/trail/norway/nordland/glomtinden?u=i).
Lofoten Islands Scenery
Average phone camera pictures will not do justice to the majestic cliffs and fjords of the Lofoten Islands, which are very unique in the world. See some of the professional pictures below.
Summary
Lofoten Islands should be considered the “Patagonia of Europe” and every traveler should put them on the top of their bucket list. They are easy to reach from Oslo and summer is the best time to enjoy the hikes and midnight sun. A trip in winter will also be magical if you are lucky enough to view the Northern Lights (almost guaranteed due to 68.5° N latitude) with the backdrop of this spectacular scenery.