Things to do in Svolvær

Svolvær is the main town of the Lofoten Islands, at about 68 degrees north on the island of Austvågøya. It is small, built around a harbour, with a twin-horned peak above it. The villages in the photographs are not here.

They lie more than 100 km to the south-west along the E10, a good hour and a half by road. So the typical visit is a full-day minivan trip.

In and around town

• The Goat. Svolværgeita, the twin-horned peak above the harbour, is the town's landmark.
• Svinøya. A small island by the harbour, lined with rorbuer, the old fishermen's cabins.
• Vågan Church. The wooden Lofoten Cathedral at Kabelvåg, built in 1898 and large enough for about 1,200 people.

The road to the villages

Day tours run the same line, with the stops shuffled. Eight hours gets you to Å.

• Hamnøy and Sakrisøy. Red cabins and a bridge viewpoint, then yellow cabins in a village known for stockfish.
• Reine and Å. Reine sits on small islands among peaks. Å is the last village, at the end of the road.
• Nusfjord. A preserved fishing village with a blacksmith's shop, smokehouse and cod liver oil factory.
• Beaches. Skagsanden and Ramberg, both white sand under steep mountains.

Aurora and the longer trips

• Aurora photography. A four-hour evening trip, eight guests at most. The guide follows the clearest sky, with stops such as Gimsøy and Lyngvær.
• Three days. A photo tour of south, central and north Lofoten in a small van.

Practical

• Weather. Winter days sit near 0C and July afternoons reach about 14C. The sun does not set from roughly late May to mid-July. Wind and sudden rain are normal in any month.
• Getting here. Short flights from Bodø land at Helle, near town, and the Hurtigruten coastal ship calls at the harbour.
• Group size. Most vans carry eight adults at most, so book before you land.
• Clothes. Layers, solid shoes, thermals and gloves for the evening trips, even in autumn.