Local Activities - Heart of Lofoten

Heart of Lofoten aims to give its guests a real local experience by introducing them to a number of locally owned realities. We cooperate with family owned businesses that carry on traditional activities, tiny local museums, galleries displaying local artists’works.

We dream of a kind of tourism that protects the diversity of local traditions and helps the small local activities to thrive, in opposition with mass tourism’s exploitation that finances big multinational companies bringing around the world pollution, chaos and the omologation of junk souvenir shops.

Our guests can literally build their own tour by choosing to insert a visit to one or more of the following in their itinerary, and to highly enrich therefore their travel experience.

Handcraft shops:

Glasshytta Vikten

Address: Vikten, 8380 Ramberg

Entrance: free

Web: https://glasshyttavikten.no/

A family-run artisan company consisting of a glass blowing workshop, a pottery workshop, exhibition and sales, as well as a café.

Lofoten Seaweed

Address: Flakstadveien 73 8382 Napp

Entrance: free

Web: https://lofotenseaweed.no/

A female-led business that creates innovative seaweed products for everyone from home cooks to pro chefs.

Lofoten Wool

Address: ind. Steineveien 294,

8340 Stamsund

Entrance: free

Web: https://lofoten-wool.no/

Scarfs, gloves, caps and sweaters produced exclusively with local wool by nice and friendly sheep. They organize dyeing and sewing workshops.

Rokkvika keramik

Address: Steineveien 16, Stamsund

Entrance: free

Web: https://rokkvikaporselensfabrikk.no/

Rokkvika Porselensfabrikk is at all times the scene of new experiments thanks to ceramist Gunvor Tangrand’s spontaneous, playful and intuitive visual expression that explores the possibilities that lie in clay, glaze, methods and techniques.

Lofoten Glass

Address: Steinveien 15, 8310 Kabelvåg

Entrance: free

Web: https://www.facebook.com/lofotenglass

A glass factory in Kabelvåg where you can buy fine art, get inspiration and learn.

Engelskmannsbrygga

Address: Dreyers Gate 1, 8312 Henningsvaer

Entrance: free

Web: https://www.engelskmannsbrygga.no/

Engelskmannsbrygga in Henningsvær (since 1997) is a gallery and workshop of three craftsmen and one photographer. All the products are made by hand at the workshop offering passion for the craft and unique design.

Art galleries – Art museums:

Lofoten Galleri

Address: Misværveien 18

8312 Henningsvær

Entrance: upon payment

Web: https://www.galleri-lofoten.no/nb/

Lofoten Gallery has Norway’s largest art collection of Northern Norwegian paintings from the period around the turn of the last century, a period that many refer to as the Golden Age of Northern Norwegian painting

Kaviar Factory

Address: Henningsværveien 13, 8312 Henningsvær

Entrance: upon payment

Web: http://www.kaviarfactory.com/

The KaviarFactory is an international venue for contemporary art. Located in Henningsvær, it takes advantage of its off-the-grid location and aims to offer experiences and confrontations that never previously have been available to such regions.

Galleri Espolin

Address: Storvåganveien 22,

8310 Kabelvåg

Entrance: payment

Web: https://www.museumnord.no/vare-museer/galleri-espolin/

KAARE ESPOLIN JOHNSON (1907-1994) was a Norwegian visual artist and illustrator who let the nature and people of the north be the most important source of inspiration for his creative work.

Galleri 2:

Address: J M Johansens vei 18 – 8340 Stamsund

Open: daily, 12-18

Entrance: free

Web: http://www.galleri2.no/

The gallery was founded in 1999 by the artist couple Vebjørg Hagene and Scott Thoe and is located in a hundred-year-old laundry at Hurtigrutekaia in Stamsund. Scott Thoe is known through Lofoten for wall paintings, and one of his works has travelled on the space shuttle “Atlantis”.

Galleri Eva Harr:

Address: Reine Kultursenter

8390 Reine

Entrance: upon payment

Web: https://www.evaharr.no/

During the summer of 2007 a permanent gallery showing the art of Eva Harr opened at Reine Kultursenter (culture centre), at Reine in Lofoten. The gallery presents a permanent collection of paintings from her artistic career, plus a selection from her graphic works. In the extension of the gallery photographer Frank A. Jenssen shows the photo installation From Lofoten in a separate movie theatre.

Nordnorsk kultursenter:

Address: Torget 20

Svolvær

Entrance: free

Web: https://nnks.no/

In Svolvær, the Northern Norwegian Artists Center works with an ever-changing exhibition program, as well as selling the region’s arts and crafts.

Our aim is to create interest and strengthen the visual arts and crafts in the region through regional and international orientation.

Salteriet Nusfjord:

Address: Nusfjord, Lofoten

Entrance: free

Web: https://nusfjordarcticresort.com/no/salteriet-galleri-nusfjord/

in the heart of the Nusfjord is the Salteriet, where the roe were previously salted and stored. The building was then transformed into an art gallery where today art is exhibited and communicated on two floors. On the first floor, curated exhibits of art of all genres are displayed. On the second floor, the gallery collaborates with QSPA – Queen Sonja Print Award, which broadcasts graphic works by Norwegian and international artists.

Local museums:

Lofotr Viking museum:

Address: Vikingveien 539, 8360 Bøstad

Entrance: upon payment

Web: https://www.lofotr.no/

The largest Viking longhouse ever found and excavated in the world of the Vikings. Feel the smell of tar and smoke, study the architecture and arts and crafts. Archaeological exhibition with unique finds. Viking feast (booking required) every evening.

Lofotmuseet

Address: Storvåganveien 25,

8310 Kabelvåg

Entrance: upon payment

Web: https://www.museumnord.no/vare-museer/lofotmuseet/

The Lofoten Museum is situated in an idyllic spot by the water’s edge, on the site of the medieval town of Vågar. It comprises an impressive manor house from 1815, two authentic «rorbu»-cabins, several boathouses with a large collection of traditional wooden boats to explore, as well as a charming “krambu”, or general store, and a lovely garden with historic perennials. Private guiding by appointment.

Å i Lofoten fishing village

Address: Å i Lofoten

Entrance: upon payment

Web: https://www.museumnord.no/en/our-venues/norwegian-fishing-village-museum/

At Å at E 10, Kongeveien’s end station, you will find the Norwegian Fishing Village Museum, one of the best preserved and complete old fishing villages in North Norway with authentic buildings: boathouse, cod liver oil factory, manor house, forge, post office, fisherman’s cabin and 19th-century bakery. You can get to know the hard and picturesque life in a fishing village under the Lofoten Fishery and all year round. You will be guided through the daily lives of the travelling fisherman, the local families and the squire, who controlled the fishing village from around 1840 to 1960.

Stockfish museum

Address: Å i Lofoten

Entrance: upon payment

Phone: +47 76091211

The Lofoten Stockfish Museum is devoted to the production of Norwegian stockfish, one of Norway’s oldest export commodity. The Museum is located in an old fish landing station. The museum displays the process from when the fish is brought ashore until it is finally packaged and ready for export.

Nusfjord arctic resort:

Address: Nusfjord, Lofoten

Entrance: upon payment

Web: https://nusfjordarcticresort.com

Nusfjord has been one of Lofotens most important fishing harbours for centuries. The fishermen came for the seasonal cod fishery and stayed in the traditional ‘rorbu’ cabins. The wooden cabins and industrial buildings date back to the 19th and early 20th century, and make up the historical centre of Nusfjord Arctic Resort. Nusfjord was one of three nominated locations in Norway for UNESCOs 1975 traditional architecture preservation pilots. To date, the quiet fishing town remains one of the best-preserved fishing villages in Lofoten.

Lofoten aquarium:

Address: Storvåganveien 28,

8310 Kabelvåg

Entrance: upon payment

Web: https://www.museumnord.no/en/our-venues/lofoten-aquarium/

See fish and fascinating sea creatures from the waters surrounding Lofoten. Get to know the life that moves beneath the surface and hides in the deep – from crustaceans to sea cucumbers and a special aquarium for Northeast arctic cod. The undisputed highlight of the day is the feeding of the otter and seals. Exhibition about fisheries and aquaculture. Café with a sea view. Family friendly! 

Smeden i Sund

Address: Sundsveien 118, 8380 Ramberg

Entrance: upon payment

Web: https://smedenisund.no/nettbutikk/

The forge was founded by Hans Gjertsen in 1947, with the introduction of the motorized fleet in Lofoten, while the official opening of the museum took place in 1964.

Today, Tor-Vegard Mørkved is the blacksmith of Sund. You can see him at work making his famous cormorants.

Skaftnes Gård

Address: Ureveien 106,

8352 Sennesvik

Entrance: upon payment

Web: https://www.museumnord.no/en/our-venues/skaftnes-farm/

Skaftnes Farm is beautifully situated between the ocean and the green mountains. The farm consists of a farmhouse, a barn, a pier and a boathouse. These are open for visitors, and a guide is available. Here you can learn how the traditional fishermen-farmers lived, and how they fed their families on what the ocean and the small patches of land could provide.

Svolvaer war museum:

Address: Fiskergata 3, 8300 Svolvær

Entrance: upon payment

Web: https://www.lofotenkrigmus.no/

The Lofoten War Memorial Museum gives a balanced perspective from a very dramatic time periode, from 1940 til 1945, displayung many rare objects and photos/prints from the war.

The museum probably offers Norway´s most extensive collection of uniforms and smaller objects from the second World War.

Farms:

Aalan Gård

Address: Lauvdalen 186, 8360 Bøstad

Entrance: free

Web: https://aalan.no/

Aalan Gård is a family-run farm in Vestvågøy, Lofoten. They keep goats and produce ecological cheese and herbs. Tove and Knut have been innovators within their field, and were one of the very first in North Norway to start up with a farm shop and cheese factory. Aalan Gård has received many awards, including awards for their cheese products and as best market seller. Here you can meet the goats and see how cheese is made.

Gårdsysteri

Address: Saupstadveien 235

8360 Bostad

Entrance: free

Web: https://www.lofoten-gardsysteri.no/

Farm and cheese factory in a fabulous location between fjord and mountains at Saupstad on the north of Vestvågøy, on the road to Unstad. Diverse organic farm with goats, pigs and chicken. Farm shop selling various organic local products: white cheeses, meat, sausages, herbal products and more. The farmcafe is connected to the cheese making room where guests have the possibility to see how cheese is made.

Aimee’s farm

Address: https://www.facebook.com/aimeesfarm

Entrance: free

Web:

Aimees Farm is a small farm in Lofoten. With us, getting out and feeding on local resources is central to our business and everything revolves around it. We produce Lofotlam which is geographically protected, we have free range pigs, both Hungarian mangalitsa and Norwegian pigs, and we have grass fed Scottish Highland cattle that are out in the winter with access to a bedding shed. In summer they go to open fields or mountains and this season we use NoFence grazing technology.

Hov horse farm

Address: Tore Hjortsvei 471, 8314 Gimsøysand

Entrance: free

Web: https://hovgard.no/

Hov Gård is beautifully located in Hov on Gimsøy on the outer side of Lofoten, close to a white sand beach, the ocean and the midnight sun. We have around 48 Icelandic horses and 2 Shetland ponies. Here you can ride mountains, beaches and roads that the predecessor of our “Viking horses” rode over 1,000 years ago. The Icelandic horse has its roots in Norway and the Viking Age.

Lofoten Seafood center

Address: Mortsundveien 379, 8370 Leknes

Entrance: upon payment

Web: https://www.lofotenseafoodcenter.com/

Lofoten Seafood Center offer you a full experience journey where you can learn about aquaculture as food products. The Center will give you information about salmons circle of life, production and distribution. As a visitor you will get knowledge about this high-tech industry, but also about traditional fishery wich has been an important foundation for the Lofoten Islands since light of day.

Here you can take a deep dive in the Salmon Kingdom and get educated with the aquaculture high-tech industry, smell Lofoten’s oldest surviving food tradition and production in our Stockfish House and get a first hand knowledge of Lofoten’s high quality products.