The Lofoten Islands at a glance
The Lofoten scenic route runs between Å and Raftsundet. It is 230 km (143 mi) long including its detours to Nusfjord, Vikten, Utakleiv, Unstad, Eggum and Henningsvær. That figure includes the side trips, so it is not the plain driving distance along the E10.
This guide covers the villages, the way from Bodø by plane or ferry, the Reinebringen hike and the rules for camping and drones. The seasons are summed up at the end, and the details sit on the best time to visit page. Northern lights have their own page, and so does the road trip through the region. This is an independent site, not run by a municipality, an airline, a ferry operator or a tour company. The Lofoten Islands guide covers the villages, boat tours and the midnight sun in more depth.
Villages and stops along the route
The places named by the scenic route authority, in the order you are likely to need them.
Reine, Hamnøy and Sørvågen
Reine lies at the foot of the Reinebringen trail. Hamnøy and Sørvågen are listed as nearby places to stay overnight. In the photo above, red fishing houses stand below steep peaks.
Nusfjord and Vikten
Both are detours from the main road, and both are part of the 230 km figure. Plan extra time for each, because side roads are slower than the E10.
Utakleiv, Unstad and Eggum
Three more detours on the scenic route, each with its own side road. Add them to your time budget.
Henningsvær
A detour on the scenic route. The village has a modern church.
Our picks: Lofoten tours
Two boat trips from Svolvær into the Trollfjord, on a quiet electric ship or in a RIB boat.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Silent electric ship cruise into the Trollfjord
3.5 hours with a live guide, heated indoor areas and tap water.
Check availability →Trollfjord sea eagle safari by RIB boat
Two hours with a guide, a safety briefing, a flotation suit, life jacket, gloves and goggles.
Check availability →Lofoten tours and boat trips
Cruises, hikes and guided day trips on the Lofoten Islands, with live prices and availability.
Getting to the Lofoten
Most visitors come via Bodø. Widerøe flies direct from Bodø to Leknes (LKN) and Svolvær (SVJ). Fares and departure times depend on the day, so look at the airline's own schedule for your date. The other way is the ferry from Bodø to Moskenes, operated by Torghatten as route 18-782.
| Option | Operator | Price or note (October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Bodø to Leknes (LKN) | Widerøe | Direct flights, price depends on the day |
| Bodø to Svolvær (SVJ) | Widerøe | Direct flights, price depends on the day |
| Bodø to Moskenes, foot passenger | Torghatten, route 18-782 | Free |
| Seat guarantee, adult | Torghatten | NOK 65 (reduced NOK 35) |
| Car up to 6 m (20 ft) | Torghatten | NOK 605, plus NOK 130 for the seat guarantee |
| Motorcycle | Torghatten | NOK 177 |
The vehicle fares are the tariff without AutoPASS discounts and without the reservation supplement. The price block on the operator's page carries no year, so treat the figures as the tariff shown in October 2026. Booking ahead is not compulsory. The operator's pages disagree on how much capacity can be reserved (50 or 60 percent) and on the deadline (20:00 the evening before, or 10 hours ahead), so check the route page for your date. Travelers with a booking have to be ready 45 minutes before departure.
For scale: one scheduled crossing on 16 October 2026 ran from 16:45 to 20:00, which is 3 hours 15 minutes, and a 00:45 departure was cancelled that day. A winter timetable for 2026/27 applies from 7 September 2026. The Bodø page has the town side of the trip.
Reinebringen: the Reine stairway
The summit is 484 m (1,588 ft) high. The recommended hiking season is May to September. The path is a steep Sherpa stairway, and it is not an easy walk.
- A tourism source gives 2 km (1.2 mi) return and about 1 to 2 hours from the start of the trail area. From the Ytre Havn parking lot, the local trail site gives 5.8 km (3.6 mi) return. Check which starting point a time refers to.
- A count from January 2024 gave 1,974 steps. It is a dated figure, not a confirmed one for 2026.
- Stay on the stairway, bring water and do not count on refilling on the way.
- Small children and winter hikes are not recommended.
- Camping on Reinebringen is not allowed. Reine Ytre Havn is the designated parking lot, and no fee is confirmed.
Camping, drones and the right to roam
On the mainland the right to roam allows tents on uncultivated land more than 150 m (490 ft) from an inhabited house or cabin. Staying more than 2 nights in the same place generally needs the landowner's consent, with exceptions far from settlements and in high mountains. It is not a license for private gardens, motorized off-road driving or places with local bans, and the full map of local camping bans is not covered here.
Drones in the open category weigh under 25 kg (55 lb). You must keep visual contact, stay within 120 m (390 ft) of the nearest terrain and not fly over crowds. Protected areas and airport zones add their own limits. A camera drone generally has to be registered. A registration from an EASA member state is valid in Norway, so if you live in one, register there. The insurance rules for light drones are described differently on the authority's pages, so check your own model before you fly.
Light and seasons
A tourism source gives the midnight sun on the Lofoten as 28 May to 14 July, and the polar night roughly as early December to early January. These are guide dates, and weather and mountains decide what you see.
The dark season for northern lights runs from early September to about mid-April in the far north, according to the University of Tromsø. Nobody can promise a sighting. How to plan around cloud and forecasts is on the northern lights page. If you want a city base for evening tours, Tromsø has its own guide.
Where to go next
Senja is the other island landscape of the region, with its own scenic route. Read the Senja page if you plan to combine the two. If your interest is alpine ski touring and big mountain days on the mainland, the Lyngen Alps have a guide of their own.
Lofoten Islands: frequently asked questions
How long is the Lofoten scenic route?
The scenic route between Å and Raftsundet is 230 km (143 mi) including the detours to Nusfjord, Vikten, Utakleiv, Unstad, Eggum and Henningsvær. It is not the distance of the E10 alone.
How do I get from Bodø to the Lofoten?
By Widerøe flight to Leknes or Svolvær, or by Torghatten ferry to Moskenes. A scheduled crossing on 16 October 2026 took 3 hours 15 minutes. Foot passengers travel free, and a car up to 6 m costs NOK 605 in the tariff shown in October 2026.
Do I have to book the Moskenes ferry?
No, the operator says booking ahead is not required. A seat guarantee costs NOK 65 per adult. Because its pages give different reservation shares and deadlines, check the route page for your travel date.
How long does the Reinebringen hike take?
A tourism source gives about 1 to 2 hours return from the start of the trail area, for a 2 km (1.2 mi) route. From the Ytre Havn parking lot the return distance is 5.8 km (3.6 mi). The recommended season is May to September.
Can I pitch a tent anywhere?
Not anywhere. On uncultivated mainland you must be more than 150 m (490 ft) from an inhabited house or cabin, and a stay of more than 2 nights usually needs consent. Camping on Reinebringen is not allowed.
When are the northern lights visible?
The dark season runs from about early September to mid-April, and the best hours are roughly 20:00 to 02:00. Cloud decides, and no one can guarantee a sighting.