CRUISING NORWAY'S MOST BEAUTIFUL COASTLINE TO THE LOFOTEN ISLANDS
In this post, we are going to cruise Norway's Most Beautiful Coastline on the iconic Hurtigruten and make our way from the North Cape to the Lofoten Islands.
Come along as we experience incredible views, charming villages, and so much more on this ultimate adventure in the North!
For the people that are new on my blog… Hi, my name is Alessia.
For five years I’ve been living in the Arctic in Northern Norway, at 71 degrees North.
To recharge my batteries before the start of the summer season, this year, I am leaving the island of Magerøya already in May. My boyfriend and I are taking the coastal ship from the North Cape to the Lofoten Islands, where we will stay for five days.
Then we will do a long road trip, driving through Sweden to reach the Southern coast of Finland.
THE JOURNEY ON HURTIGRUTEN
The coastal Hurtigruten is a Norwegian cruise ship that travels from Bergen to Kirkenes and back, stopping in 34 ports.
The seven coastal ships still carry goods and passengers along the Norwegian coast- which Hurtigruten has operated since 1893.
We started the journey at 6 AM in Honningsvag—our home base, and we travelled for one day and a half to Svolvær in the Lofoten Islands, on board of the hybrid ship Richard With.
pic by @ShermansTravel
We took the most basic room on board, which was quite small for two people, but If you need to stretch your legs, there are plenty of common areas on the ship where you can walk around, have a coffee while reading a book, hit the gym, or simply relax enjoying the ocean views. My favourite area was the panoramic lounge on the 7th floor, where we could admire the incredible scenery, and the peaceful cafe on the 4th floor.
The breakfast was very rich, ideal if you like seafood. For dinner, we chose the a la carte restaurant and tried some typical dishes like reindeer meat, sea urchins, blue mussels, wolf fish and a cloudberry dessert.
On the second day, we were luckier with the weather, and the views south from Harstad became more scenic. As we left the barren plateaus of the Finnmark region, the fjords became more dramatic, while passing by charming Norwegian villages.
The more south we were heading, the greener nature got, and after a long time, we could finally see the first glimpses of the summer season.
My favourite location during the cruise was Trollfjorden —an area with glaciers, beautiful waterfalls, and peaks over 1000 meters high. Many people also did the eagle safari tour from here, which you can book from the ship.
I recommend Hurtigruten If you want to explore Norway's beautiful coastline and its charming villages, while travelling in comfort and saving long driving distances.
When we arrived in Svolvaer we left Hurtigruten with our car, which we transported on board, and we headed 120 km south towards Reine, where we were staying for three nights.
EXPLORING THE LOFOTEN ISLANDS
Driving in the Lofoten Islands it’s an experience in itself. As you cross scenic bridges and pine forests, you pass beautiful white-sandy beaches surrounded by dramatic mountains.
The total length of the Lofoten archipelago is 175 km.
WHERE TO STAY IN REINE?
We started our journey in Hamnoy — Norway’s most photographed fishing village.
THE MANOR HOUSE
We stayed for 3 nights in a historic guest House named ‘the Manor House’ — built in 1890, and it used to be the meeting point of the fishermen.
All the house's rooms have an amazing view towards the ocean and the mountains.
In total, there are two shared bathrooms, two living rooms, a kitchen and a terrace in the garden.
If you are interested in this accommodation during your stay in Lofoten, you can book it through this link. I will earn a small commission, and at no extra cost to you, you will help a small content creator like me :)
THE HIKE TO REINEBRINGEN
The following day we woke up with beautiful sunshine and 20 degrees, which is quite rare here in the Arctic!
We parked our car in Reine and we decided to do the iconic hike of Reinebringen.
Even though the mountain is only 448 meters high, it is one of the most photographed viewpoints in Norway.
The stairway with 1566 steps was built by Nepalese sherpas, and it's ascending all the way to the summit ridge. It is quite demanding and it took us 2 hours back and forth.
The panoramic views from the top are absolutely stunning and worth all the effort to get there. From here, you can see the beautiful Reinefjord surrounded by majestic mountains and the villages of Reine, Sakrisøy and Hamnøy.
On the way back we decided to visit Reine — a picturesque fishing village with only 300 inhabitants.
Since it was the 17th of May — Norway’s National Day, we witnessed an outdoor concert in the village. Norwegians celebrate the signing of the constitution in 1814 – it’s a huge day with parades, concerts and celebrations all over the country.
VISIT LOFOTEN’S SOUTHERNMOST VILLAGE - Å
The next day we woke up with gloomy weather and a bit of rain, but Lofoten is one of the few places that looks scenic even with bad weather. As the clouds were covering the peaks, the views became more mystic.
Because of the rain, we decided to skip a hiking day and visit the village of Å.
Located at the southern tip of the Lofoten, Å is a well-preserved fishing village with typical fisherman houses lining the coastline, and fish drying racks standing on the hills. Many of the preserved buildings have been turned into museums, so Å is a great place to add to any trip to Lofoten.
You can find The Stockfish Museum where they show the process from when the cod is brought ashore to when it is exported.
If you are luckier than us with the weather, from Å you can do different hikes that start from the mountains in the background.
EXPLORE LOFOTEN’S MOST PHOTOGRAPHED VILLAGE - Henningsvær
Another village that I recommend you to visit is Henningsvær — One of the most famous fishing villages in Lofoten.
It consists of several small islands that are connected by bridges and it got popular for the scenic football pitch pictures.
The stadium is set against a backdrop of towering mountains and surrounded by the ocean and traditional fish-drying racks. It's no wonder that the Henningsvær Stadium has become a popular destination for photographers from all over the world.
WHERE TO EAT IN LOFOTEN?
If you want to try some typical dishes in the Lofoten Islands, you can find many dining places. Our favourite Restaurant was next to the guest house where we were staying in Hamnøy, named Gadus — a Nordic trattoria.
Fusion cuisine between Italian and Norwegian is a common tradition here in Lofoten, due to the export stockfish market going on for centuries between Norway and Italy.
LAST DAY IN REINE
To end our perfect trip in Reine, on the last day, we had a beautiful sunset, with the colours of the sky reflecting in the crystal clear waters.
Where I live at the North Cape from May until the end of July we don’t get proper sunsets any more, because the sun always stays above the horizon without setting.
It has been nice to come here to Lofoten, take a break from the endless light, and enjoy the beautiful sunsets again.
MY FAVOURITE VILLAGE IN LOFOTEN - NUSFJORD
The following day, we travelled 40 km North from Reine to Nusfjord. You will be surprised by the panoramic road as you pass the spectacular mountain passes of Flakstad.
WHERE TO STAY IN NUSFJORD?
LOFOTEN COTTAGES
We stayed in a typical fisherman's cabin, and this was our view!
The accommodation is part of Nusfjord Arctic Resort. You can choose between several high-end cabins with a unique sight overlooking the fjords.
If you are interested in this accommodation during your stay in Lofoten, you can book it through this link. I will earn a small commission, and at no extra cost to you, you will help a small content creator like me :)
THE VILLAGE
Nusfjord is one of the oldest and best-preserved fishing villages in Norway and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
This picturesque village has a long and fascinating history that dates back to the Viking Age. For generations, the people of Nusfjord have been fishing for their livelihood, and the traditional fisherman’s cabin symbolises their hard work and dedication to the sea.
Today the village is privately owned and only 19 people can call Nusfjord their permanent home.
Landhandleriet Café
In the village, we found a very cosy cafe. Since the weather was changing every minute we were happy to relax and eat breakfast. I choose a shrimp sandwich and a lemon cream bun.
In the cafe, there was also a souvenir shop, and of course, I had to buy some post cards and a sea urchin candle.
HISTORY
When the rain finally stopped we went outside and explored the village. They even had a bakery that was built in 1877, and it provided fresh bread for the fishermen.
Unfortunately, it was closed because we were there before the start of the summer season.
We also visited the Art Gallery and the museum that explained how the fishing industry impacted the life of this old fishing village.
In the ‘golden age’ of Nusfjord, over one thousand people inhabited the village centre, with a long-standing tradition of seasonal cod fishing.
They produced cod liver oil and the smokehouses were used for smoking the salmon.
This boat from the late 19th century, was used for line fishing and also as a means of transporting people to and from church, since the road to the village was only built in 1967.
Nusfjord was my favourite village in Lofoten, and I recommend you visit it if you are travelling here.
THE LONG DRIVE TO SOUTHERN FINLAND
After our Norwegian holiday, we drove for 20 hours, so almost 1500 km and headed into the wilderness of Finland.
The scenery for the first 4 hours of drive was incredible, the best part was after we crossed Svolvær and headed North on the road E10. The landscape reminded me of the Alps with the sea.
After we crossed the Finnish border we were driving through the forest, on a straight road all the way to southern Finland.
Finland is consistently ranked as the happiest country in the world, and the lifestyle places a huge emphasis on spending time with family, friends and nature.
The simple Finnish way of living consists of relaxing in a traditional sauna, and jumping into an icy lake, followed by a trip to a lakeside cottage to relax and enjoy the beautiful forest scenery.
HELSINKI - THE BEST NORDIC SUMMER CITY
After getting a good dose of nature in Norway, we wanted to take a break and enjoy the city life instead. We live on a remote island in the Arctic so it always feels exciting to go back to the city and civilisation after many months!
We decided to spend some days in Helsinki. The city is home to around 650,000 people, so it feels very peaceful to be the capital.
When we were there, we got a glimpse of what Finnish summer feels like. Helsinki is a completely different city during the summer season, it wakes up after the long and cold winter. People are enjoying the sun in the parks and having a good time on the terraces.
We visited the Contemporary Art Museum, walked around the old city centre, enjoyed some Finnish food, had breakfast in cute cafes, and watched one of my favourite ballet shows in the national theatre— The Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky.
HEADING BACK TO THE ARCTIC
After our two-week holiday, it was time to head back to the Arctic. We took the night train from Helsinki to Rovaniemi, and then we drove for 9 hours all the way to Honningsvåg, Norway.
It was nice to take a break before the start of the hectic summer season and explore Northern Europe as a change.
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See you in the next post :)