10 Absolute Best Hikes in Lofoten
Destinations | Europe | Hiking
I’m so excited to be sharing the 10 absolute best hikes in Lofoten—specifically on the island of Moskenesøya! Lofoten consists of seven main islands and this island is packed to the brim with jagged peaks, fjords, turquoise water, and some of the world’s best hiking trails.
The Lofoten Islands are in Northern Norway and should be on your bucketlist if you love hiking, the outdoors, the ocean, and mountains.
You can experience the ethereal Midnight Sun in the summer and witness the magical Northern Lights in fall, winter, and spring. I have visited twice, once in the winter and once in the summer, and I fell in love with the quant fisherman villages, jagged peaks, seemingly endless fjords, and the way you can feel like you’re the only person who is there.
Want to jump ahead?
Getting There
From North America, it is a trek to get to the Lofoten Islands… but one that is worth making. My total trip time last August was about 30 hours from Vancouver, BC!
There are many ways to get there, but being that it is a series of islands with many, many fjords, travel in general takes longer than expected. Here are a few options:
- Fly into the Harstad-Narvik airport which is situated in the north of Lofoten. This airport is the cheaper option but requires a 4.5-hour drive to get to Reine (a main village in Moskenesøya Island). This has been the way I’ve traveled to Lofoten twice and I would do it again.
- Fly into Bodø and then take the ferry to Moskenes. This is a common route in the summer season, but not so common in the winter as the ferry schedule is limited.
- Fly into Svolvær Airport or Leknes Airport. They are both in a more central area of Lofoten. Flying into these airports will cut down on driving but flights and rental cars may be more expensive and I haven’t tried it for that reason.
I recommend renting a car so you are able to get to each of the trailheads listed below—but if you prefer to avoid renting a car, check out this website to find a bus that gets you to Reine.
You wouldn’t be able to get to all trailheads without a car but you could get to a few by walking from Reine which might be fine if you are planning a short trip.
I’ve heard that Norway is a great place to book an electric car as well. It looks like there seems to be enough chargers to get you around just fine—check out all the chargers here.
Where to Stay
I like to book my stays (and car rentals) via Expedia so I earn points with one brand so I can use them to ftuure travel. If you find this blog post helpful, please consider booking both or either here (through my affiliate link).
There are some iconic, yet affordable ($200-300CAD a night), stays in Lofoten that would add an extra special element to any trip to Lofoten.
I stayed in a cozy stay in Reine for a few days and I loved leaving the rental car parked at our stay while we walked to the trailhead for Reinebringen and any of the trails that started with a ferry since the ferry terminal was a short walk from our front door.
Here are three stays that are on my bucketlist for my next trip.
Reine Rorbuer – Reine, Lofoten
Eliassen Rorbuer – Reine, Lofoten
Å Rorbuer – Å, Lofoten
Best Time to Visit
If you want to experience the Midnight Sun, aka when the sun doesn’t set, plan your trip between May 28th to July 14th (exact dates vary slightly from place to place).
Keep in mind that the months before and after this will still have long days of daylight. The benefit of visiting during the Midnight Sun is that you flip your sleeping schedule to be able to hike during the ‘night’ and almost always have the trails all to yourself.
The flip side of this is that restaurants, cafes, grocery stores, etc., are closed most of the time you are awake—which is fine, just something you need to prepare for.
I visited at the end of August when the sun rose at around 4am and set at 10pm. I loved this time of year but I will go during the Midnight Sun next trip. September is also a great time to visit as you can witness the Northern Lights and still have access to all the trails before snow falls.
If you’re keen on visiting in the winter, check out this post on winter travel in Lofoten.
Ready for the 10 Absolute Best Hikes in Lofoten?
Bunes Beach (Bunesstranda)
You start your journey at the local ferry terminal in Reine as the trailhead is a boat ride away. Make sure to arrive early because the ferries fill up fast in the summer months.
It is a stunning ride to your drop-off point and once you’re there the hike is easy and you’ll get to the beach within the hour. The beach is bigger than it looks so make sure you have plenty of time to explore.
There’s a great view if you head to the left side of the beach towards a house. If you’re camping, the best spots for your tents are on the flat grassy dunes found at the back of the beach, there is some fresh water via several waterfalls and a door-less drop toilet.
Distance: 2.8km
Elevation gain: 80m
Difficulty: Easy
More info: Here
Helvetestinden
This hike starts at Bunes Beach and takes you above the beach with views of white sands and turquoise waters far below you. It truly is incredible.
This hike was harder than I thought it would be. A lot of elevation in a short time and a lot of exposed areas to be mindful of.
I would recommend camping overnight at Bunes Beach if you want to do this hike or make sure you’ll have enough time to get back to the dock. Be sure to double-check that ferry schedule so you don’t get stuck overnight without gear.
Distance: 4km
Elevation gain: 602m
Difficulty: Moderate
More info: Here
Hermannsdalstinden
This was hands down my favorite hike I did while in Lofoten, but it also was the most challenging. You are rewarded with absolutely spectacular views of seemingly endless mountain peaks.
There are two ways to get to the top. One way is starting at Sørvågen which is longer and goes by Munken Hut and the other is shorter but much steeper and requires a ferry from Reine to Forsfjord.
I decided to go “the long way” via Sørvågen just to experience the entire trail and it was stunning! The two trails merge at hill 448 which is the hilly area before the last ascent and after the last lake (if you’re coming from Sørvågen).
This trail was long and hard because you’d climb up elevation and descend multiple times. Prepare for an all-day hike.
If I were going to do this hike again and only had a goal of going to the top of Hermannsdalstinden, I would go “the short way” and ferry to Forsfjord because it’s a shorter hike.
Distance: 9km (via Sørvågen option)
Elevation gain: 1029m
Difficulty: Hard
More info: Here
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Need Hiking Inspo?
Munken
If you don’t want to go all the way to Hermannsdalstinden, Munken is a great midway point to hike to.
You take the same trail from Sørvågen to get to Munken Hut then you head uphill a bit more to get incredible views of mountain peaks, fjords, and the sea.
I hiked up to the hut, which was beautiful, but didn’t get to Munken this time around.
Distance: 5.5km
Elevation gain: 797m
Difficulty: Moderate
More info: Here
Horseid Beach (Horseidstranda)
This is the hike that ‘got away’ for me. I didn’t have time to squeeze it in on my trip but I will go back for it! It is an absolutely stunning beach and a fun adventure.
Find all the info you need via the link below and send me photos when you go so I can live through your adventures!
Distance: 4.5km
Elevation gain: 200m
Difficulty: Easy
More info: Here
Kvalvika Beach
I’ve hiked to Kvalvika Beach two times in the winter but decided to skip it during my summer trip because I wanted to hike to different trails. If you haven’t been, you got to see this classic!
There are a few ways of getting there which you can find under ‘more info’ and they are relatively easy compared to other hikes.
Distance: 2km
Elevation gain: 200m
Difficulty: Easy
More info: Here
Ryten Mountain
You can hike up to this peak from Kvalvika Beach and get two hikes in one—and what a beautiful day that would be!
I have hiked this trail three times from different trailheads (twice in the winter and once in the summer but there was no visibility) and I loved doing a whole day trip to see both the beach and the mountain. This is a true Lofoten classic.
Distance: 3.5km
Elevation gain: 543m
Difficulty: Moderate
More info: Here
Reinebringen
Welcome to the best stairmaster you’ve ever done!
Reinebringen has one of the most beautiful views I’ve ever seen. I’ve been there in both summer and winter and it takes my breath away each and every time. You can access this trail via Reine and can expect about 2,000 stairs to get to the top. This is a must-do.
Distance: 1km
Elevation gain: 448m
Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
More info: Here
Tindstinden
This was another hike that I wasn’t able to get to but thought it looked stunning. It’s a good intro to hiking in Lofoten if you want to ease into it. No need for a ferry for this one so if you’re on a budget this a great hike to do.
Distance: 2km
Elevation gain: 490m
Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
More info: Here
Håen
Technically this trail isn’t on the island of Moskenesøya—it’s on the island of Værøy—but I wanted to include it in case you wanted to venture a bit farther.
You can take a ferry from Å which is the end of the road in Lofoten.
This hike is one of the main reasons people take the journey to the neighboring island and they usually do a day trip. The views are super unique and incredible!
Distance: 3km
Elevation gain: 438m
Difficulty: Easy
More info: Here
What to Pack for 10 Absolute Best Hikes in Lofoten
A few things you will need are supportive hiking boots, wool layers and hiking clothing, sun protection, and waterproof gear! Lofoten, like all mountainous regions, can have all sorts of weather so you need to be prepared.
You can find some of my all-time favorite pieces of gear I have used for years and some helpful posts about gear here.
