Northern lights in Lofoten

Viewing spots

• Gimsøysand · Gimsøy church Tiny settlement by the old church on the flat, thinly populated island of Gimsøya, with open shore and marsh to the… Dark skyAbout 46 min from the middle of Lofoten
• Eggum rest area Norwegian Scenic Route rest area in an old fishing hamlet on the ocean side of Vestvågøy, with nothing but sea between… Dark skyAbout 26 min from the middle of Lofoten
• Uttakleiv beach Boulder beach on the north side of Vestvågøy, one of Lofoten's most photographed aurora spots; the narrow access road… Dark skyAbout 12 min from the middle of Lofoten
• Skagsanden beach Sandy beach beside the E10 near Flakstad whose north-facing bay gives a broad sky between the mountains. Dark skyAbout 20 min from the middle of Lofoten
• Rambergstranda Long white beach and Scenic Route rest area at Ramberg on Flakstadøya, right on the E10. Dark skyAbout 23 min from the middle of Lofoten
• Hauklandstranda Norwegian Scenic Route rest area at a sheltered sandy beach with a large car park, toilets open all year and a café… Dark skyAbout 10 min from the middle of Lofoten
• Unstad beach Arctic surf beach at the end of the road on Vestvågøy's outer coast, facing the open northern sea between steep valley… Dark skyAbout 20 min from the middle of Lofoten
• Storsandnes beach · Flakstadøya White-sand beach on the quiet north side of Flakstadøya off the Myrland road; part of the 'easy-to-access roadside… Dark skyAbout 12 min from the middle of Lofoten
• Yttersand (Ytresand) beach · Fredvang Long sandy beach on the outer side of Moskenesøya past the Fredvang bridges, facing the open sea to the north-west; a… Dark skyAbout 29 min from the middle of Lofoten
• Torvdalshalsen rest area Norwegian Scenic Route rest area on a hilltop south of Torvdalsvatnet with a long wind screen and benches; toilets… Dark skyAbout 22 min from the middle of Lofoten
• Gimsøystraumen rest area Norwegian Scenic Route rest area beside the bridge between Austvågøy and Gimsøy, toilets open all year; a reliable… Mostly dark skyAbout 43 min from the middle of Lofoten
• Austnesfjorden rest area · Sildpollnes chapel view Norwegian Scenic Route rest area on a promontory with a raised walkway looking across Sildpollen to the Sildpollnes… Dark skyAbout 1 h 11 from the middle of Lofoten
• Reinehalsen viewpoint · Reine Norwegian Scenic Route viewpoint at the foot of Reinebringen, 'one of Norway's most photographed spots': aurora above… Mostly dark skyAbout 47 min from the middle of Lofoten
• Haverringen rest area · Vestersand Small Statens vegvesen rest area at Vestersand on the north coast of Vestvågøy: the same open-ocean northern horizon… Very dark skyAbout 29 min from the middle of Lofoten
• Napp · Nappstraumen car park Car park by the E10 at Napp, where the strait between Flakstadøya and Vestvågøy opens north to the sea: a quick stop… Dark skyAbout 13 min from the middle of Lofoten
• Laukvik · Austvågøy north coast Fishing village on the north side of Austvågøy that faces the open sea to the north-west, long known locally as an… Dark skyAbout 1 h 02 from the middle of Lofoten
• Hamnøy bridge rest area Small rest area by the Hamnøy bridge, the classic Lofoten aurora-photo view of red cabins and steep peaks. Very busy… Dark skyAbout 43 min from the middle of Lofoten
• Fredvang rest area · Flakstad Main rest area with toilets on Strandveien (Fv7708) in Fredvang, Flakstadøya, close to the north-facing beaches. Mostly dark skyAbout 28 min from the middle of Lofoten
• Hagskaret rest area · Fv815 Main rest area with toilets and picnic site on Hagskarveien (Fv815) above Leknes, Vestvågøy. Mostly dark skyAbout 5 min from the middle of Lofoten
• Klokkarvika car park · Gravdal Public car park with an information board at Klokkarvika on Buksnesveien (Fv818), Gravdal, with toilets (fee) and a… Some light pollutionAbout 6 min from the middle of Lofoten
• Grunnfør rest stop Scenic Route stop on the quiet outer coast of Austvågøy between Laukvik and Fiskebøl: a cyclists' shelter and a small… Mostly dark skyAbout 1 h 12 from the middle of Lofoten
• Hov beach · Gimsøy White-sand beach at the northern tip of flat, thinly populated Gimsøy, beside Hov farm and its campsite; the open sea… Mostly dark skyAbout 42 min from the middle of Lofoten
• Vikten beach Beach on the wild ocean side of Flakstadøya, just south of the small glassblowing hamlet of Vikten near the end of the… Mostly dark skyAbout 18 min from the middle of Lofoten
• Henningsvær football pitch The famous football pitch on Henningsvær's outermost island, a short walk from the village: the no-car choice if you… Some light pollutionAbout 35 min from the middle of Lofoten
• Hattneset rest area · Fiskebøl Small roadside rest area with picnic tables on a point at the mouth of Higravfjorden, just south of the Melbu ferry… Mostly dark skyAbout 1 h 25 from the middle of Lofoten

Drive times are estimates from the middle of Lofoten by straight-line distance, as the app estimates them before it knows your route; ferries and winter closures are not counted.

Good to know in Lofoten

• Use official parking and stay off private land Visit Lofoten asks visitors to park only in official areas, pull fully off the road, keep headlights and torches away from homes, stay off private land, and check the rules before flying a drone. Source
• The famous beaches charge for parking Haukland and Uttakleiv both have paid car parks. Haukland charges by the hour, with the first 20 minutes free and a 16-hour maximum; Uttakleiv uses automatic number-plate payment. Source
• Check the E10 before driving Storms can close stretches of road in Lofoten. Statens vegvesen's traffic map shows closures, road conditions and road cameras along the E10. Source
• Expect cloud and chase the gaps In December to February, Lofoten is overcast or mostly cloudy about three quarters of the time. Clear gaps drift along the islands, so check the cloud forecast and be ready to drive east or west. Source
• From Svolvær, the open northern sky is 30–40 minutes away The mountains around Svolvær block the north, so staying in town and looking up is a weak bet. The nearest open northern sky is 30 to 40 minutes by car, on Gimsøy or at Fiskebøl. Source

Nearby destinations

• Vesterålen 100 km
• Bodø 100 km
• Harstad 140 km
• Narvik 160 km
• Helgeland 210 km
• Senja 210 km