Photographers (and travellers like me with an iPhone) come to the Lofoten Islands, seeking the best photo spots. This archipelago in northern Norway is breathtaking, with soaring mountains, colourful fishing villages and hauntingly beautiful beaches. In truth, it’s difficult to take a bad photo in Norway. But where are the best places to capture a phenomenal shot? Here are the best photo locations in the Lofoten Islands.
Headed to Norway? This post highlights the BEST photo locations in the Lofoten Islands.
If you’ve got the cash, there are several pricey photography tours. But this post is meant to make a self-guided tour doable. I highly recommend renting a car to get to all the best photo spots in the Lofotens. Public transportation is geared toward the locals, not tourists.
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A few reasonably priced day tours include many great photo spots in the Lofoten Islands. The Lofoten Photo Tour is a full 8 hours that starts and ends in Svolvær. It includes several spots listed below. Planning a summer visit? Consider the Midnight Sun Photo Tour. It’s on my bucket list.
Where to Stay
As for where to stay, consider Leknes and Svolvær, the archipelago’s two biggest towns.
Located above the Arctic Circle, Svolvær is an excellent base in the northern part of the Lofotens. Recommend the Scandic Svolvaer. It’s on the harbour, just a few minutes walk from the town centre. The rooms are cozy, and the restaurant and bar are in a lovely window-filled building.
Leknes is more central. Recommend Lofoten Basecamp, located on the water about 7 km outside the town. The accommodations are in cute little red cabins; some have terraces with an ocean view.
Hamnøy Bridge: Lofoten Islands’ MOST Renowned Photo Spot
If you’ve seen any photos of the Lofotens, there’s a good chance they were taken from the Hamnøy Bridge. It’s probably the most famous photo location in the Lofoten Islands.
When I visited on an icy cold February morning, the bridge was lined with photographers. Everyone fixated on capturing Hamnøy’s charming red fishermen’s cabins that cluster around the bay. Majestic snowy mountains loom in the background, the most prominent of which is the stunning Mount Festhæltinden.
Hamnøy is on the main “highway,” the E10. It’s just a two-lane road, but it’s well-maintained and easy to drive. Pull-off spots allow you to park and walk to the bridge safely. To find the exact photo spot, navigate to “Fotospot Hamnoy” in Google Maps.
I stayed in Leknes, which is about an hour away. It is more central, with an airport and a grocery store. But I was tempted to spend a night at Eliassen Rorbuer. Located in Hamnøy, these renovated fisherman’s cabins are wood-lined and super cozy, with kitchens and fjord views.
Other Fishing Villages
Hamnøy was my favourite fishing village, but certainly not the only charming village in the area.
Fishing has been essential to the Lofotens for thousands of years, so the “rorbuer,” traditional fishermen’s cabins, are plentiful throughout the archipelago. They once housed upwards of 30,000 fishermen from January to April when the Skrei (Norwegian-Arctic cod)came to spawn. The cabins are usually painted cherry red or mustard yellow, adding a pop of colour to photos. Many today are tourist accommodations.
Henningsvær
If I could only recommend one other fishing town, it would be Henningsvær. With a population of ~500, it is located over several islands. It’s stunning, backed by dramatic mountains and possibly the world’s most scenic football (soccer) pitch.
Nusfjord
Nusfjord is the oldest fishing village in the Lofotens, with several century-old Robuer. It is picturesque, but you do have to pay to explore the small village.
Å
Å is located in the southern part of the Lofoten Islands, at the end of the E10. Many visitors are drawn to the village because of its unique, single-letter name. But it is charming, with the cheerful red fisherman’s cabins connected by wooden bridges.
The Iconic Red Shed
The red shed is a famous photo spot in the Lofotens. And I would have driven right past it if I hadn’t known it was a thing. There was also a huddle of photographers nearby, setting up their tripods. It’s located about a kilometre outside the small village of Ramberg.
Ramberg has a little grocery store, coffee shop, and cute souvenir shop. There aren’t many places to shop in the Lofotens, so if you want to bring home a memory, I recommend a stop at The Lofoten Store.
Look for the Ramberg Beach Red Cottage on Google Maps. A small parking lot is a 2-minute walk away.
Why is it such a popular spot? The shed’s simplicity, combined with the mountain and vibrant blue water, makes it quite a unique spot.
Favourite Photo Spot in the Lofotens
This little yellow cabin in Sakrisøy is one of my favourite photos.
It’s located in the parking lot of Anitas Seafood restaurant. I didn’t notice it initially because a tour bus blocked it, but the kind driver moved when I asked.
The warm mustard-coloured building sits beneath the dramatic Olstinden mountain. The roof lines up almost perfectly with the mountain’s peak.
Sakrisøy is a smal island on the E10 between Reine and Hamnøy. Anitas Seafood is my favourite restaurant in the Lofotens. I’ve gone back a couple of times for their fantastic burgers!
Artic Beaches
When travelling beyond the Arctic Circle, heading to the beach might not be on your mind. But you’ll regret it if you miss stopping, as the beaches in the Lofotens are some of the best photo locations! The winter climate in the Lofoten Islands is surprisingly mild. I won’t try to convince you to go for an arctic plunge, but you might spot a surfer, even in February!
Skagsanden Beach
The sand at Skagasnden Beach is mesmerizing. Water running down from the mountains creates unique swirls as it slowly slips into the ocean. A dreamy mountain juts out to the sea, creating a wonderful backdrop. And if the conditions are right, it’s a great place to see the Northern Lights.
If you’re interested in a Northern Lights Tour, this one with pickup from Svolvær is excellent.
Haukland Beach
Another must-visit beach is Haukland. It’s famous for its white sand and clear aqua-blue water. If you see a photo taken in the summer when the nearby mountains are lush and green, you might think it’s of a tropical island. It’s in a curved bay, surrounded by mountains with incredible views any time of year.
Most Unique Photo Spot in the Lofoten Islands: Dragon’s Eye
This unique rock formation along the coast existed long before cameras but has become a sought-after photo location in the Lofotens. Head up the narrow road beyond Uttakleiv Beach; you’ll likely see a cluster of photographers waiting to take their shots.
The Dragon’s Eye formed during the last ice age and eerily resembles a reptilian eyeball peeking up from the earth. It can only be seen at low tide and looks different depending on the time of year and light. The rocky eye socket has tones of red and yellow from iron and sulphur and green from algae.
The ideal photo (not mine) lines the eye up with the mountain in the background, but I only discovered this after comparing my photos with those of real photographers.
Reindeer Farm
Visiting a Sami Reindeer Farm and feeding the reindeer is a very special experience, along with discovering more about the Sami culture and history. Most of these experiences are based in Tromsø, another 9-hour drive further north. If you are heading to Tromsø, I highly recommend Reindeer Sledding & Feeding with a Sami Guide. But I did find one farm in the Lofotens, near Sortland. It is run by Laila, who shares her culture and offers delicious Sami cuisine plus time to visit her reindeer.
I’m in love with my reindeer photos and the overall experience. It is family-run, so you must contact Inga Sámi Siida directly.
The Reindeer Farm in Sortland is totally worth a visit, but it’s about 3 hours north of Leknes and two hours from Svolvær. That was a lot of driving for a round-trip, so I stayed at Scandic Sortland for one night. It was such a good choice! Located on the harbour, the rooms were a calm retreat, and my room had a view of the floating sauna. I’m not one to hang out in the lobby, but I couldn’t help myself; it had huge windows with fabulous views. And the buffet breakfast was excellent!
If you love discovering great photo spots, check out my post on the 11 Best Photo Spots in Oslo, Norway.
