A new stunning location is incoming… now! Dear Hivers, I’m pleased to bring you another post from my travels, this time from the stunning archipelago of Lofoten.
The Lofoten Islands are located in northwestern Norway, in the Arctic Circle. That means, in summer, the sun doesn’t set for a month or two, and even after that, it still isn’t completely dark. The Lofoten are known for their stunning landscapes, beautiful white sand beaches, and cozy fishing villages. And also for their ever-changing, windy, and rainy weather.
My friends and I traveled there at the end of July, so the sun was already setting, but it wasn’t dark. And we were super lucky when it came to the weather: it was sunny for six days straight! It became obvious that we needed to visit some beaches in that weather, especially when those looked like somewhere in the Bahamas. What were the most beautiful beaches that we came upon?
1. Rørvika Beach
A beautiful white sand beach located near the picturesque town of Henningsvær and with a view of the southern part of Lofoten. Rørvika is located in a fairly secluded spot on the southern part of the island Austvågoy, on the side towards Norway (not the ocean). This makes it a perfect beach for swimming on a sunny summer day – if you dare. The water here in summer can be 13-15 degrees Celsius in the summer, beautifully turquoise and clear. The water gets deep gradually here, so it can be a perfect spot to visit with children if your children don’t mind colder temperatures.
There is a large car park and camping area next to the beach. There is also a beach shower for rinsing off the seawater and toilets that open with a credit card (normally costs NOK 15-20 depending on the location). Except for the fine white sand, there are also big stones on the beach, perfect for lying down. They get warm with the sun and protect visitors from the wind a little.
Of all the beaches we visited, this one was the absolutely best for swimming.
2. Haukland Beach
Haukland Beach is a gorgeous, wide strip of white sand in a cove protected by a mountain range. It's on the ocean’s side of the islands, so the water is colder (estimated 13 degrees). But since the surrounding mountains protect it from the wind, the overall felt temperature was high and pleasant.
There are great facilities: several parking lots (160 NOK/night), a large grassy area for camping, toilets (opened by the credit card), a sink and a hose with drinking water, and a café. Haukland Beach is great for an overnight stay, a hike up Mannen Hill, or a picnic on the beach. You can also walk to the next beach, Uttakleiv Beach, which is also a beautiful white sand beach, and also has camping. However, we just looked out of the car and drove on, so I can’t tell you more about it.
3. Skagsanden Beach
We only stopped here briefly, but this is also a beautiful beach. It's popular with surfers (brrr!), with beautiful views of the mountains around and white sand. Right next to the beach is a campsite with an ocean view. Outside the campsite, there's another car park, which is free.
I didn't find the beach great for swimming, though: it was quite windy, there were waves (of course, that's why it's popular among surfers), and I suspected the water would be very cold. Nevertheless, it's a beautiful place and definitely worth visiting.
4. Ramberg Beach
Practically just "around the corner" from Skagsanden, another beautiful beach is Ramberg Beach. It is located in a bay facing the mountains on a neighboring island, and the water here is beautifully turquoise. Compared to the previous beach, it is more sheltered from the wind, and the water is calm. It will probably be cold, it is on the ocean side after all, but at least a picnic will be nice.
Right next to the beach is a campsite and a parking lot where you can use a parking app popular on the islands. You’ll find the instructions directly on the parking.
5. Kvalvika Beach
For me, Kvalvika is the most beautiful beach we've been to. The beach is located in the Lofotodden National Park, and the only access is on foot by one of the paths through the mountains. I don't need to mention the beautiful turquoise, greenish water, and white sand. The beach is bisected by a hill that drops sharply into the ocean and is backed on three sides by mountains. Still, I think it can get quite windy at times.
Kvalvika is located in the Lofoten National Park, where camping is allowed on a no-trace basis, which means you should carry everything you brought there back; you shouldn’t make fire or disturb nature in any other way.
There are sheep grazing here, which, unfortunately, is associated with the increased presence of some unpleasant flies. The beach‘s beauty easily outweighs this small inconvenience, though. There is a stream at the beach. However, I would recommend boiling or filtering the water before use. I’m pretty sure the sheep poop in its close proximity. 😊
So these were my top 5 beaches in Lofoten. Which one was your favorite?
For more travel content like this, you can follow me on PeakD, Liketu & Instagram.
