europe · 4 days · 9 stops

Lofoten Islands — the Arctic Road

The E10 down the Lofoten archipelago: fishing villages under granite peaks, the beach at Haukland, and the ferry crossing from Bodø to Moskenes.

Days
4
Stops
9
Driving
186 km
Behind the wheel
4h 44m

Driving figures are measured road distances between the stops listed for each day, not straight lines. The transfer from wherever you sleep to the first stop of the day is not included.

Daylight on this route, by season

The single number that decides whether a self-drive day works. Almost every guide tells you to "check the daylight hours"; here they are for this route, on the solstices and equinoxes.

Day Driving 21 Jun21 Sep21 Dec21 Mar
Bodø → Å 3h 29m 24h (midnight sun) 12h 31m 0h (polar night) 12h 22m
Reine → Nusfjord 0h 35m 24h (midnight sun) 12h 31m 0h (polar night) 12h 23m
Leknes → Haukland Beach 0h 11m 24h (midnight sun) 12h 32m 0h (polar night) 12h 23m
Henningsvær → Kabelvåg 0h 29m 24h (midnight sun) 12h 32m 0h (polar night) 12h 23m

Measured at the midpoint of each day's stops. "Midnight sun" means the sun does not set; "polar night" means it does not rise.

Day by day

Day 1: Bodø → Å

2 stops · 101 km · 3h 29m driving · 3h at stops

In winter: About 3h 29m of driving against 0h of daylight — you will be driving in the dark. Start before sunrise, or split this day.

  1. 1

    Bodø

    Ferry terminal — the islands start across the water

    Allow about 1h 30m

  2. 2

    Å i Lofoten

    The end of the road, at the far south-west

    Allow about 1h 30m

Legs and times
  • Bodø → Å i Lofoten: 101 km, 3h 29m

Day 2: Reine → Nusfjord

2 stops · 41 km · 0h 35m driving · 3h 30m at stops

In winter: About 0h 35m of driving against 0h of daylight — you will be driving in the dark. Start before sunrise, or split this day.

  1. 1

    Reine

    The view from Reinebringen, over the harbour

    Allow about 2h

  2. 2

    Nusfjord

    A preserved fishing village on a side road

    Allow about 1h 30m

Legs and times
  • Reine → Nusfjord: 41 km, 0h 35m

Day 3: Leknes → Haukland Beach

2 stops · 14 km · 0h 11m driving · 2h at stops

In winter: About 0h 11m of driving against 0h of daylight — you will be driving in the dark. Start before sunrise, or split this day.

  1. 1

    Leknes

    The islands' main town — fuel and shops

    Allow about 1h

  2. 2

    Haukland Beach

    White sand between the peaks

    Allow about 1h

Legs and times
  • Leknes → Haukland Beach: 14 km, 0h 11m

Day 4: Henningsvær → Kabelvåg

3 stops · 30 km · 0h 29m driving · 4h 30m at stops

In winter: About 0h 29m of driving against 0h of daylight — you will be driving in the dark. Start before sunrise, or split this day.

  1. 1

    Henningsvær

    Harbour village on its own little islands

    Allow about 2h

  2. 2

    Svolvær

    The largest town in Lofoten

    Allow about 1h 30m

  3. 3

    Kabelvåg

    Old fishing village opposite Svolvær

    Allow about 1h

Legs and times
  • Henningsvær → Svolvær: 24 km, 0h 22m
  • Svolvær → Kabelvåg: 6 km, 0h 7m

When to drive it

21 Jun

24h

of daylight

21 Sep

12h 31m

of daylight

21 Dec

0h

of daylight

21 Mar

12h 22m

of daylight

Longest days are around 21 June, shortest around 21 December. On this route the swing is large enough that the same day's driving can be comfortable in June and entirely after dark in December — which is why the table above is per day.

Plan this route with the daylight in view

Tseril builds the multi-day route on a map, warns you about the legs you would drive at night, and shows the snow and weather at every stop. Free to use.

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