That’s why deciding where to stay in Lofoten mostly comes down to what you want to see and how much driving you’re willing to do. Below are my seven picks from east to west, with three hotels or rorbuer in each area, from luxury to budget.

Where to Stay in Lofoten: The Best Areas

• Svolvær - best town for first-timers and travellers without a car
• Henningsvær - best fishing village for couples and atmosphere
• Unstad and Eggum - best area for surfing, the midnight sun and the northern lights
• Ballstad and Leknes - best base in the middle of the islands
• Ramberg and Nusfjord - best area for white beaches and a historic fishing village
• Reine, Hamnøy and Sakrisøy - best area for photographers and hiking
• Å and Moskenes - best area if you’re arriving on the ferry from Bodø

I start in Svolvær, where most people arrive, and follow the E10 west to Å. In many places you’ll stay in a rorbu, an old fisherman’s cabin by the water that’s now a holiday home with its own kitchen, and I explain these in more detail under Svolvær. For each area you get a map, transport, price level and three places to stay. The prices come from a search for a weekend at the end of June for two people. Lofoten is expensive in summer, and the best rorbuer get booked up well in advance.

1. Svolvær - best town for first-timers and travellers without a car 🏙️

• 📍 Distance to the centre: You’ll be staying in or close to the centre around the square and the harbour. From Svinøya you can walk over the bridge to the square in about ten minutes.
• 🚌 Transport: Svolvær is Lofoten’s transport hub. Hurtigruten and the express boat from Bodø dock in the harbour, and buses leave from here heading west and to Evenes.
• ✈️ Time from the airport: Svolvær Airport is about six kilometres east of town, with flights from Bodø. From Harstad/Narvik Airport Evenes, allow two and a half to three hours by car.
• 💰 Price level: High. The three places below cost roughly NOK 1,730 to 5,860 (around £140 to £470) per night when I searched for a weekend at the end of June.
• 👮 Safety: Very safe, including in the evening. In winter the pavements and quays are often slippery, so bring shoes with a good grip.

Svolvær is Lofoten’s largest town and where most people begin. It sits on Austvågøya with a harbour full of little islands and bridges, and above the houses rises the Svolværgeita rock with its two horns. Here you’ll find the widest choice of restaurants, shops and supermarkets on the islands, which matters, because further west the places to eat are few and far between.

Just west of town lies Kabelvåg, where, according to Visit Lofoten, King Øystein built the first rorbuer. A rorbu is a fisherman’s cabin by the water, where fishermen lived during the great winter fishing season. Today most have been converted into holiday homes with kitchens, and the standard ranges from very basic to luxury. If you want to get out on the water, take a boat trip to Trollfjorden on a quiet electric boat for around NOK 1,490 (around £120).

See hotels in Svolvær here.

I’d stay in Svolvær if it’s your first trip to Lofoten and if you’re travelling without a car. You have the airport, the boats and most bus departures here, and many tours start from the square. You’ll find bus and boat routes and departures in the journey planner at Reis Nordland. If you’re flying via Oslo, you can read my guide to getting from Oslo Airport, and if you have a night in the capital, you can see where to stay in Oslo. If you want to drive west yourself, pick up a car at the airport and compare prices on car hire at Booking.com.

The downside is the distance to the most photographed spots. Reine and Hamnøy are more than two hours’ drive each way, so Svolvær isn’t the right base for the whole of Lofoten. It’s also more of a town than a fishing village, with traffic and newer hotel developments by the harbour.

Hotels in Svolvær

Svinøya Rorbuer - five-star rorbuer on a small island by the centre

Svinøya Rorbuer is on the small island of Svinøya, which is linked to Svolvær by a bridge, and it’s the most expensive place in town. The rorbuer have kitchens and range from 35 square metres to over 100, with a private sauna in the largest, and there’s a restaurant on site and free parking. It scores 9.1 from around 1,800 reviews, but the smallest rorbuer have a very small bathroom, and one guest felt the breakfast was fairly average.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “Everything has been thought through to give guests the best experience, and the houses are really cosy.”

See photos and book Svinøya Rorbuer here.

Thon Hotel Svolvær - five-star hotel by the harbour a few steps from the square

Thon Hotel Svolvær is on Avsigata by the harbour, a couple of hundred metres from the square. Like Svinøya it’s five-star, but it came in at just over half the price when I searched. Rooms are 24 to 32 square metres, there’s a restaurant, bar, sauna and gym, and breakfast is included in most rates. It scores 9.0 from just over 1,200 reviews. Parking costs NOK 200 (around £16) per day, and one guest felt the room wasn’t warm enough.

From one review: “The breakfast was excellent, varied, delicious and beautifully presented.”

See photos and book Thon Hotel Svolvær here.

Lofoten Rorbuer - cheap rooms and apartments by the water north of the centre

Lofoten Rorbuer is on Jektveien by the water, just over a kilometre from the square, and it’s the cheapest of my three picks in Svolvær. There’s everything from 12-square-metre double rooms with a shared bathroom to 40-square-metre apartments with sea views, plus a shared kitchen and free parking. It scores 9.0 from almost 1,900 reviews, but several guests find the beds small and soft, and say there can be noise from the corridors in the evening.

One guest highlights: “The shared outdoor area had a lovely view and was really pleasant.”

See photos and book Lofoten Rorbuer here.

2. Henningsvær - best fishing village for couples and atmosphere 🎨

• 📍 Distance to the centre: The fishing village is small, and everything is within walking distance of the harbour. Svolvær is about 25 kilometres away.
• 🚗 Transport: A car is the easiest option. The road out to the village crosses several bridges from the main island of Austvågøya.
• ✈️ Time from the airport: From Svolvær Airport, allow about half an hour by car.
• 💰 Price level: High. The three places below cost around 2,260 to 3,360 Norwegian kroner (around £180 to £270) per night when I searched for a weekend at the end of June.
• 👮 Safety: Very safe and quiet. In summer there are lots of day-trippers in the middle of the day, and at the football pitch you should remember that people live right next door.

Henningsvær sits on a string of small islands off the south coast of Austvågøya, linked by bridges, and for many people it’s the most beautiful fishing village in Lofoten. The houses huddle along the harbour with fish-drying racks and mountains behind them, and according to Visit Lofoten the village is one of 13 protected cultural heritage sites in Norway.

It’s best known for the football pitch right out on the rocks, which you’ve probably seen in aerial photos. The village is also a meeting point for climbers from all over the world, and Festvågtind rises 541 metres above the houses. There are several galleries, and the Kaviar Factory art space has exhibited work by artists including Ai Weiwei. In winter, the area just past the football pitch is a popular spot for photographing the Northern Lights with Festvågtind in the background.

See hotels in Henningsvær here.

I’d stay in Henningsvær if you’re a couple and want the atmosphere of a real fishing village with restaurants and cafés within walking distance. In the evening, once the day-trippers have left, the harbour goes quiet, and in summer it’s light all night, so you can sit outside until late. Svolvær is only half an hour away, so you can easily head out on trips from there or drive on towards the west.

The downside is that there are few places to stay, and they get booked up early for the summer. Parking is limited, including at the hotels, and the road out there is narrow with lots of cars in high season. There’s no sandy beach in the village itself either, so if you want a swim, you’ll need to drive.

Hotels in Henningsvær

Henningsvær Bryggehotell - five-star hotel by the harbour with a restaurant

Henningsvær Bryggehotell is on Misværveien by the harbour in the middle of the village. It’s a five-star hotel with a restaurant and bar, some rooms have sea views, and breakfast is included. It scores 9.2 from just over 700 reviews. There are only a few free parking spaces, which can’t be reserved, and a couple of guests find the breakfast rather basic.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “A beautifully decorated hotel. Very stylish and comfortable.”

See photos and book Henningsvær Bryggehotell here.

Tobiasbrygga - apartments with kitchens and sea views at the southern end

Tobiasbrygga is on Hellandsgata in the southern part of the village, a couple of hundred metres from the harbour. The apartments range from 27 to 80 square metres with kitchens, several have sea views or a terrace, and parking is free. It scores 9.0 from just over 1,000 reviews. Breakfast isn’t included, the smallest apartments are cramped, and one guest missed blackout curtains during the bright summer night.

From one review: “Fantastic location. Close enough to everything, but far enough away to be quiet and peaceful.”

See photos and book Tobiasbrygga here.

Henningsvær Guesthouse - guesthouse with a highly praised breakfast and free parking

Henningsvær Guesthouse is on Dreyersgate in the middle of the village and was the cheapest of my three suggestions. The rooms are spacious with private bathrooms, breakfast is included, and you can park for free behind the house. It scores 9.3 from just over 1,100 reviews, and the only thing guests really complain about is the curtains, which don’t keep out the midnight sun.

One guest writes: “The breakfast is excellent, and the staff are really lovely!”

See photos and book Henningsvær Guesthouse here.

3. Unstad and Eggum - best area for surfing, the midnight sun and the northern lights 🏄

• 📍 Distance to the centre: There’s no centre here. Unstad and Eggum are two small settlements on the north side of Vestvågøy, and Leknes is about half an hour away by car.
• 🚗 Transport: You’ll need a car. The roads out to both settlements are narrow and end at the sea.
• ✈️ Time from the airport: From Leknes Airport, allow about half an hour by car.
• 💰 Price level: Mid-range to high. The three places below cost around 1,350 to 5,170 Norwegian kroner (around £110 to £415) per night when I searched for a weekend at the end of June.
• 👮 Safety: Very safe. The sea is cold and the waves are powerful, so only go in the water where it’s safe, and surf with an instructor if you’re a beginner.

Unstad and Eggum sit on the north side of Vestvågøy, facing the open sea, and this is the side of Lofoten where you’ll see the sun over the sea in the middle of the night. Visit Lofoten specifically mentions Unstad and the fishing village of Eggum among the places to see the midnight sun, which in Lofoten lasts from late May to mid-July.

Unstad is Lofoten’s best-known surf beach, and surfers are in the water both summer and winter, with snow on the mountains. Eggum is a small fishing village at the end of the road, with a pebble beach and open views to the north. In winter there’s almost no light from towns out here, and you can see the northern lights in Lofoten from late August to mid-April when the sky is dark and clear.

See hotels near Unstad here.

I’d stay at Unstad or Eggum if you want to surf, see the midnight sun over the sea or have the northern lights right outside your door, and if you have a car. It’s also a good spot for one or two nights as a break midway through your trip, once you’ve seen the fishing villages. If you want a better chance of seeing the northern lights and more tours to choose from, Tromsø is a better choice in winter, and here you can read about where to stay in Tromsø.

The downside is that there are only a few places to eat and no shops, so you’ll need to stock up in Leknes before you drive out. There are also few places to stay, and they get booked up quickly for summer. The weather changes fast out by the sea, and in winter the roads out here can be icy.

Hotels near Unstad

Unstad Arctic Resort - resort by the surf beach with a restaurant and sauna

Unstad Arctic Resort is right by the beach at Unstad and has both apartments and cabins, some with their own kitchen and others with a shared bathroom. There’s a restaurant, sauna and hot tub, water sports facilities and free parking. It scores 9.0 from around 200 reviews. It’s the most expensive place by the beach, so check what’s included in the price, and one guest complained about a hob that didn’t work.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “The sauna was really lovely and easy to use.”

See photos and book Unstad Arctic Resort here.

Unstad Cabin with Seaview - small cabin with sea views and a very high score

The cabin is a few hundred metres from the beach at Unstad and measures 38 square metres, with one bedroom, a kitchen and sea views. There’s free parking, and it scores 9.8 from just over 120 reviews, one of the highest in the whole guide. You cook for yourself, and one guest felt the shower could have been cleaner.

From one review: “Fantastic view. A great place to watch the northern lights from.”

See photos and book the cabin in Unstad here.

Unstad Surfpacker Hostel - cosy hostel with dorms and double rooms

Surfpacker Hostel is a few hundred metres from the beach and has both dorms and private rooms with shared bathrooms and a communal kitchen. There’s free parking, and it scores 9.1 from just over 230 reviews. It’s the cheapest of my three suggestions at Unstad, but one guest mentions that there was nobody there to welcome them on arrival.

One guest highlights: “Hospitality, warmth and a cosy, friendly atmosphere.”

See photos and book Unstad Surfpacker Hostel here.

4. Ballstad and Leknes - the best base in the middle of the islands 🎣

• 📍 Distance to the centre: Ballstad is about a quarter of an hour’s drive south of Leknes, the market town in the middle of Vestvågøy with supermarkets and an airport.
• 🚗 Getting around: A car is the easiest option. There’s a bus between Leknes and Ballstad, and from Leknes the buses carry on both east and west.
• ✈️ Time from the airport: Leknes Airport is about two kilometres north of Leknes, so you’ll be in Ballstad in just over 20 minutes.
• 💰 Price level: Mid-range to high. The three places below cost around NOK 1,440 to 3,610 (around £115 to £290) per night when I searched for a weekend at the end of June.
• 👮 Safety: Very safe and quiet. Ballstad is a working fishing village, so keep clear of the quays when the boats are unloading.

According to Visit Lofoten, Ballstad is the largest fishing village in Lofoten that is still in operation, and the rorbuer (fishermen’s cabins) line a sheltered harbour protected by small islands. Above the houses rises the mountain Skottind, and from the top you get views all the way round, as long as you don’t mind heights. From the harbour you can join fishing trips or go kayaking or snorkelling.

Leknes is a quarter of an hour away and isn’t pretty, but it’s practical, with an airport, large supermarkets and buses. The Hurtigruten calls at Stamsund about 20 minutes from Leknes, and north of the town is the Lofotr Vikingmuseum in Borg, where you can step inside the world’s longest reconstructed Viking longhouse.

See hotels in Ballstad here.

I’d stay in Ballstad if you want to be in the middle of Lofoten and take day trips in both directions. Reine is about an hour’s drive away and Henningsvær a little more, so you can reach most places without moving base. It’s also a good choice for families, because many of the rorbuer are spacious, and prices were lower than around Reine when I searched. If you’re flying into Leknes, you can check the airport’s facilities and car hire on Avinor.

The downside is that Ballstad is some way from the best-known sights, and there are few restaurants. In Leknes itself the choice is mostly apartments, and the town isn’t somewhere you travel to Lofoten to see. In winter the fish hang to dry on the racks, and you can smell it down by the quays. If you want to eat out many evenings in a row, there’s more choice in Svolvær.

Hotels in Ballstad

Hattvika Lodge - modernised rorbuer with a restaurant and sauna

There isn’t a proper luxury hotel in Ballstad, but Hattvika Lodge is the most stylish place. It’s on Hattvikveien in the southern part of the fishing village, the rorbuer have been modernised, and some have a kitchen and balcony. There’s a restaurant, a sauna and free parking, and breakfast is available at extra cost. It scores 9.1 from just over 500 reviews, but some of the units have steep stairs that won’t suit everyone.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “Traditional accommodation, beautifully modernised.”

See photos and book Hattvika Lodge here.

Solsiden Brygge Rorbuer - harbourside rorbuer with a breakfast buffet and sauna

Solsiden Brygge is on Moloveien by the harbour in Ballstad, and the rorbuer range from 20 to 100 square metres with a kitchenette, some with sea views and a balcony. The breakfast buffet is included, which is why the price was a little above Hattvika when I searched. There’s a shared sauna, a restaurant and free parking, and it scores 8.9 from just over 1,000 reviews. A couple of guests felt their rorbu was worn.

From one review: “What a lovely location, and the view from the property is fantastic.”

See photos and book Solsiden Brygge here.

Kræmmervika Rorbuer - simple rorbuer and hostel rooms at a low price

Kræmmervika Rorbuer is on Ballstadlandet in the western part of the fishing village and was the cheapest of my three suggestions. There are simple cabins and hostel rooms, some with a kitchenette and shared bathroom, and there’s free parking. It scores 8.2 from just over 1,000 reviews, but the beds are small, and in some cabins you have to do the washing-up in the bathroom sink.

One of the guests writes: “The cabin is really warm and cosy.”

See photos and book Kræmmervika Rorbuer here.

5. Ramberg and Nusfjord - best area for white beaches and an old fishing village 🏖️

• 📍 Distance to the centre: Ramberg is a small village on the E10 on Flakstadøya. Nusfjord is on the south side of the island, about 20 minutes away by car.
• 🚗 Transport: You’ll need a car. The buses towards Reine and Å run along the E10 through Ramberg, but departures are few.
• ✈️ Time from the airport: From Leknes Airport, allow about 40 minutes by car to Ramberg.
• 💰 Price level: Mid-range to very high. The three places below cost around NOK 1,350 to 8,130 (around £110 to £650) per night when I searched for a weekend at the end of June.
• 👮 Safety: Very safe. The water at the beaches is cold, even in summer, so keep an eye on the children.

Flakstadøya sits between Vestvågøy and Moskenesøya, and this is where you’ll find some of the most beautiful beaches in Lofoten. Rambergstranda is a long beach with white sand and turquoise water right by the E10, with mountains behind it, and there are more beaches along the coast on either side. It looks like the Caribbean, until you dip your toes in the water.

On the south side of the island lies Nusfjord, one of the oldest and best-preserved fishing villages in Norway, with red rorbuer (fishermen’s cabins) around a narrow harbour between steep mountains. Many of the old rorbuer have been restored and turned into a luxury resort, and in summer lots of day-trippers come to see the fishing village.

See hotels near Ramberg here.

I’d stay near Ramberg if you want a central base in the west with a beach right outside the door. Reine is about half an hour away by car and Leknes a little further, so you can take day trips in both directions without moving. Nusfjord is the place if you want to treat yourself to a night or two in a rorbu with hotel service, and it’s one of the few places on the islands where you get that in an old fishing village. If you stay near Ramberg, you can easily see Nusfjord in an afternoon.

The downside is that Ramberg is a small village with few places to eat and few shops. The beaches are exposed to the open sea, so it’s often windy, and in winter the weather can change in a matter of minutes. Nusfjord is expensive, and the fishing village sits at the end of a narrow road, so it’s a detour when you move on.

Hotels near Ramberg and in Nusfjord

Nusfjord Village & Resort - five-star rorbuer in an old fishing village

Nusfjord Village & Resort is in Nusfjord itself, and you stay in restored old rorbuer with a kitchenette, some with views over the harbour. It’s five-star with a restaurant, bar, sauna and spa, breakfast is included and parking is free. It scores 9.4 from just under 600 reviews. It was the most expensive place in the whole guide when I searched, and reception is only open from 9am to 5pm.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “The cabins were modern and clean, and the view was completely surreal.”

See photos and book Nusfjord Village & Resort here.

Arctic Apartments Ramberg Beach - self-catering apartments by the beach

Arctic Apartments is on Flakstadveien by Rambergstranda, and the studios are 22 square metres with a kitchenette, some with sea views. There’s a restaurant and bar on site and free parking, but breakfast isn’t included. It scores 9.0 from just over 270 reviews, and one guest notes that the sea view isn’t direct.

From one review: “Fantastic, friendly staff and well-prepared rooms with an equipped kitchen.”

See photos and book Arctic Apartments here.

Lofoten Beach Camp - cheap rooms and cabins by the beach with a sauna

Lofoten Beach Camp is by a beach a couple of kilometres east of Ramberg and was the cheapest of my three suggestions. There are family rooms and cabins with a kitchenette, a sauna with views over the sea and free parking. It scores 8.5 from just over 360 reviews, but the double rooms with a shared bathroom are very small.

One of the guests writes: “The beach and the campsite itself are lovely, and there’s a wonderful sauna with a view over the sea.”

See photos and book Lofoten Beach Camp here.

6. Reine, Hamnøy and Sakrisøy - best area for photographers and hiking ⛰️

• 📍 Distance to the centre: Reine is the centre, with a shop and restaurants. Sakrisøy and Hamnøy are a couple of kilometres to the east along the E10, about five minutes by car.
• 🚗 Transport: A car is easiest, but the buses to Å run through Reine, and the ferry terminal in Moskenes is just a few minutes away.
• ✈️ Time from the airport: From Leknes Airport, allow about an hour by car, and from Svolvær Airport more than two hours.
• 💰 Price level: High to very high. The three places below cost roughly NOK 1,970 to 5,280 (around £160 to £420) per night when I searched for a weekend at the end of June.
• 👮 Safety: Very safe. Visit Lofoten advises against climbing Reinebringen in winter for safety reasons.

Reine is the image most people have in their heads when they think of Lofoten: red rorbuer (fishermen’s cabins) on islets in the fjord and steep granite peaks right behind the houses. The fishing village sits at the far western end of Moskenesøya, has about 300 inhabitants and is the administrative centre of Moskenes, and according to Visit Lofoten it’s one of the most photographed places in Norway.

Just east of Reine you’ll find Sakrisøy, with its yellow rorbuer, and Hamnøy, where the red rorbuer stand on the rocks by the bridge. From Reine, the path up Reinebringen follows the Sherpa steps, a stone staircase almost the whole way, and the view from the top over Reinefjorden is the one you’ve seen in countless photos. This is where you’ll stay closest to the best-known hikes and photo spots in Lofoten.

See hotels in Reine here.

I’d stay here if you’re coming to take photos, hike or simply wake up to the most famous view in Lofoten. In the mornings and evenings, once the day-trippers have driven off, you’ll have the bridges and fjords almost to yourself, so get up early if you want to photograph from the bridge at Hamnøy without anyone else in the shot. If you arrive on the ferry from Bodø, you’ll be here a few minutes after driving off in Moskenes, and if you have a week, it makes sense to combine a couple of nights here with a couple of nights in Svolvær or Henningsvær.

The downsides are the price and the crowds. Reine and Hamnøy are among the most expensive places to stay in Lofoten, and in summer lots of cars and motorhomes park along the road, so parking can be tricky. The rorbuer are often small, and there are few restaurants, which have shorter opening hours outside the summer.

Hotels in Reine, Hamnøy and Sakrisøy

Rostad Retro Rorbuer - rorbuer with a breakfast buffet on an islet between Reine and Sakrisøy

There’s no proper luxury hotel in the area, so the priciest places are high-standard rorbuer, and Rostad Retro Rorbuer had the highest score of those I found. It’s on the islet of Olenilsøy, about one and a half kilometres from Reine. The cabins are 25 to 35 square metres with a kitchenette and views over the water and mountains, a breakfast buffet is served, and parking is free. It scores 9.6 from just over 1,100 reviews, but space is tight, so choose a bigger cabin if there are several of you.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “The view from the windows was breathtaking at every time of day.”

See photos and book Rostad Retro Rorbuer here.

Eliassen Rorbuer - red rorbuer on the rocks in Hamnøy

Eliassen Rorbuer is in Hamnøy, about two and a half kilometres east of Reine, and the rorbuer stand on the rocks facing the fjord with views of the peaks. The cabins are about 38 square metres with their own kitchen, parking is free, and in high season breakfast is served in the restaurant. It scores 8.7 from almost 3,000 reviews, but several guests feel the price is high for the standard and that the bedrooms are small.

From one review: “Like living in a postcard. Great breakfast!”

See photos and book Eliassen Rorbuer here.

Sakrisøy Gjestegård - guesthouse from 1880 with sea views on Sakrisøy

Sakrisøy Gjestegård is on Sakrisøy, about a kilometre from Reine, in the old main building Solbakken from 1880. The rooms are about 20 square metres, most with sea views, and some share a bathroom and kitchen. There’s no breakfast, but parking is free, and it scores 9.3 from just over 1,200 reviews. It was the cheapest of my three suggestions, but the walls are thin, and on the first floor the rooms share a single bathroom.

One of the guests writes: “Fabulous location and wonderfully comfortable.”

See photos and book Sakrisøy Gjestegård here.

7. Å and Moskenes - best area if you’re arriving on the ferry from Bodø ⛴️

• 📍 Distance to the centre: Å is a small village at the very end of the E10. Sørvågen and the ferry terminal in Moskenes are a couple of kilometres to the east, and Reine is about a quarter of an hour away by car.
• ⛴️ Transport: The car ferry from Bodø docks in Moskenes, and the buses from Leknes run all the way out to Å.
• ✈️ Time from the airport: From Leknes Airport, allow around an hour and a quarter by car.
• 💰 Price level: Mid-range to high. The three places below cost around 1,350 to 3,360 Norwegian kroner (around £110 to £270) per night when I searched for a weekend at the end of June.
• 👮 Safety: Very safe and very quiet. The rocks by the sea are slippery, so take care in wind and rain.

Å is the last stop in Lofoten, because this is where the road ends. The whole village is almost a museum, and the Norsk Fiskeværsmuseum shows life in a fishing village from around 1840 to 1960, with a boathouse, cod liver oil factory, forge and a bakery with a stone oven from 1878, where they still bake in summer.

Moskenes is the ferry terminal where the car ferry from Bodø docks after the crossing over the Vestfjorden. In summer the queues are long, and you can reserve a space for your car on some of the departures with Torghatten, which runs the route. Do it well in advance if you’re crossing in July, otherwise you’ll have to join the ordinary queue and hope for a space.

See hotels in Å here.

I would stay in Å or Sørvågen if you’re arriving on the ferry from Bodø late in the day or catching an early ferry back. It’s also the quietest place to stay at the western end once the day-trippers have driven home, and from here it’s a short hop to Reine and the hikes on Moskenesøya. Many people choose to start or end their trip here and drive the whole length of Lofoten to Svolvær. Take a stroll between the boathouses and drying racks in the evening, when the day-trippers have gone, and you’ll have almost the whole village to yourself.

The downside is that Å is very small, and a lot closes outside summer. There are few restaurants, and even the restaurant at Å Rorbuer is closed out of season. Henningsvær and Svolvær are more than two hours away by car, so it’s not a base for the whole archipelago.

Hotels in Å and Sørvågen

Å Rorbuer - rorbuer with kitchens in the middle of the museum village

Å Rorbuer sits in the middle of Å among the old buildings by the harbour. There’s no luxury hotel in Å, but the rorbuer here were the most expensive of my three suggestions. The cabins are around 30 square metres with a kitchen and private bathroom, there’s free parking and EV charging points, and the score is 8.8 from just over 500 reviews. The restaurant is closed outside summer, and one guest didn’t think their cabin was clean enough.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “A fantastic and authentic stay in Å! The cabin was cosy, clean and spacious.”

See photos and book Å Rorbuer here.

The Tide Hotel - minimalist hotel by the harbour in Sørvågen

The Tide is by the harbour in Sørvågen, a couple of kilometres from both Å and the ferry terminal in Moskenes. It’s a regular hotel with a restaurant, and the double rooms with harbour views are 18 square metres. There’s free parking, and the score is 8.7 from just over 500 reviews. Several guests feel that both the hotel and the restaurant are on the pricey side, even for Norway.

From one review: “The hotel was minimalist in style, but very clean and comfortable.”

See photos and book The Tide Hotel here.

Lofoten Å Hostel - budget hostel overlooking the harbour

Lofoten Å Hostel is in the middle of the village and was the cheapest of my three suggestions. The rooms are small, some just 9 square metres, and there’s a shared kitchen, shared bathrooms and free parking. The score is 8.6 from just over 900 reviews. There’s no breakfast and no common lounge, and several guests wished for better curtains during the midnight sun.

One guest highlights: “Beautiful views, cosy rooms and clean shared areas.”

See photos and book Lofoten Å Hostel here.

Where not to stay in Lofoten?

I wouldn’t stay in the same place all week if you want to see both Henningsvær and Reine. Svolvær to Reine is more than two hours each way, which adds up to a lot of hours in the car. Split the trip between two bases instead. Also avoid booking in Bodø, Narvik or near Evenes thinking they’re close, because they’re on the mainland several hours away.

If you’re coming in a motorhome, stick to the campsites. Visit Lofoten advises against parking close to other vehicles along the road because of the fire risk. And in winter I wouldn’t choose a place at the end of a narrow road without first checking road conditions, closures and webcams with Statens vegvesen.

If it’s your first trip and you have a week, I would stay three nights in Svolvær or Henningsvær and four nights in Reine, Hamnøy or near Ramberg. If you only have four or five nights, choose Ballstad or Ramberg in the middle of the islands and take day trips in both directions. If you’re travelling without a car, Svolvær is the only realistic choice, and if you want to surf or see the midnight sun over the sea, spend a couple of nights near Unstad.

Summer, from June to August, is high season with light nights, open hiking trails and the highest prices, and both the best rorbuer and the hire cars get booked up well in advance. So book as soon as you know your dates, and sort out your car hire with Booking.com in good time. In winter the days are short and prices lower, but you can see the northern lights, and you can join a northern lights tour from Svolvær for around 1,650 Norwegian kroner (around £130).

Lofoten is easy to combine with the rest of the country. If you want to see the fjords, you can read about where to stay in Bergen, and you’ll find all my suggestions for the rest of the country in the guide to where to stay in Norway. If you dream of the northern lights with snow and husky sledding, also take a look at where to stay in Lapland.

The post Where to Stay in Lofoten? The 7 Best Areas & Places to Stay appeared first on Destination Well Known.