Where to Stay in Svolvær (My Favorite Rorbuer, Hotels, & Areas)

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Post overview: This guide contains tips for where to stay in Svolvær, the gateway to the Lofoten Islands.

I have had a chance to stay at several hotels in Svolvær over my many trips, so I chat about my favorite stays, including a highly recommended rorbuer resort there.

If you’re coming off a cruise ship like the Hurtigruten or Havila, or you’re simply arriving in the Lofoten Islands from Narvik Airport or Svolvær, the town of Svolvær will likely be your starting point in the Lofoten Islands.

I know Svolvær well. I spent a little over a month living in Henningsvær (a village around 30 minutes away), and I would come to Svolvær to do my grocery shopping, meet friends, and take a few tours for this blog.

And since I didn’t bring a car with me to the Lofoten Islands during this time, I usually would grab a hotel and stay the night just to get away from my apartment in Henningsvær for the evening.

In this guide, I cover my favorite places to stay in Svolvær. I have been going to the town since 2017 and have stayed at quite a few places, but there are three I really love these days.

There are definitely more than three hotels in Svolvær worth recommending, and I will list a few of those at the end, but these three are my personal favorites and ones I’ve stayed at in recent years.

Have any questions about where to stay in Svolvær? Let me know in the comments! Thanks!

Where to Stay in Svolvær Overview

Svolvær has quite a bit of accommodation. The town has just under 5,000 people living there and is one of the main hubs in the Lofoten Islands. It has one of the main airports (SVJ) and is a perfect place to pick up a rental car and base yourself from before heading to the wild west of Lofoten (Reine, etc.).

The town of Svolvær is also where Hurtigruten and Havila coastal liners come to port for a bit. I have taken the Hurtigruten to and from here so many times over the years, and there are hotels right at the harbor that are quick to check into.

While I want to keep this guide strictly about accommodation in Svolvær, I will also list a few highly-rated places in Kabelvåg, another town pretty close to Svolvær. Kabelvåg is a bit quieter and has some cozy lodging by the sea and it is still easy to get to by car or public bus (Bus 743 goes there from Svolvær’s main shopping center).

Here is a quick overview of the Svolvær accommodation options I discuss in greater detail below:

• Svinøya Rorbuer (my favorite rorbuer in Svolvær)
• Nordis Apartments
• Thon Hotel Lofoten

There are two Thon Hotels in Svolvær. I recommend the Lofoten one (only because that is the only one I have stayed at and I thought it was good value).

Best Area to Stay in Svolvær

Svolvær is small, but there are two notable areas I recommend in this guide: the center and Svinøya island. Svinøya is connected by a bridge to Svolvær, but if you’re arriving and have heavy luggage, you will need to definitely grab a taxi over there if you do not have a rental car.

The recommended taxi for Svolvær is Nordland Taxi, and their phone number is +47 22 38 83 09. They speak English.

There is also a small island even closer than Svinøya that is called Lamholmen. Anker Brygge and Scandic Svolvær are located on it, and while I have heard great things about both, I have never personally stayed at either, hence not putting them into this guide. I plan to do so on my next trip. Lamholmen can be walked to from the harbor area.

My Favorite Hotels in Svolvær

1. Svinøya Rorbuer (My Favorite Rorbuer in Svolvær)

I love Svinøya Rorbuer so much that I have stayed there twice. The first time was back in 2017 as part of a sponsored trip with the Lofoten tourism board. I prefer to stay in places on my own dime, so I was quick to book it again when I was back there recently.

These are, easily, some of my favorite rorbuer in the Lofoten Islands. I have stayed in one of their larger rorbuer that had two floors, as well as a more budget-friendly one. Both stays were fantastic.

One of the things I love most about Svinøya Rorbuer is Børsen Spiseri, their on-site restaurant. The breakfast is very Norwegian and my favorite style. Their dinners almost always include stockfish, and they cook it to perfection.

The only negative about staying at Svinøya Rorbuer is that you need to spend a little extra money getting a taxi over there if you’re unable to walk there. But it is well worth the extra to do so.

2. Nordis Apartments

I stayed at Nordis Apartments for a night recently, and oh my goodness, those views! When I arrived, it was after dark, and I couldn’t take it all in. Fortunately, the next morning gifted me with some pretty stellar views that have me pining to go back there.

Nordis is right on the harbor. It is an easy place to get to from the Hurtigruten boat (this is why I stayed there) and the apartments are a bit more upscale than I had expected.

I stayed in their two-bedroom apartment with a balcony, which was way too large for a solo traveler, but I didn’t mind for one night. They all have private kitchenettes.

3. Thon Hotel Lofoten

So there are two Thon Hotels in Svolvær: the Thon Hotel Lofoten (closer to the center) and the Thon Hotel Svolvær (slightly further away but still extremely close). I have been to the Thon Hotel Svolvær before, but I have never stayed there, so I am only recommending Thon Hotel Lofoten.

Thon Hotel Lofoten has a variety of rooms with twin beds, double beds, and a few suites. The reason I like staying here is that I like their restaurant, Paleo Arctic.

I have eaten here a few times over the years, and it has always had a good atmosphere and tasty Norwegian food. If you are going to head out on a Brim Explorer Trollfjorden cruise, this is right beside the place where the boat goes from.

Where to Stay in Kabelvåg

If you’re not keen to stay in Svolvær but need to stay nearby somewhere, consider Kabelvåg. It is a fishing village on the southern side of Austvågøya and is home to around 2,300 people. Kabelvåg is cute and has the Vågan Church, the Espolin Gallery, and the Lofoten Museum within SKREI.

Some notable places to stay in Kabelvåg are:

• Nyvågar Rorbuhotell: A Classic Norway Hotels property; located in the heart of Kabelvåg on the water. These are some of the most iconic rorbuer in Kabelvåg.
• Astra Village: Waterfront rorbuer in Kabelvåg; a holiday park with a lot of amenities and laundry services.
• Skårungen: Not in Kabelvåg but a turn further down from the village in a place called Ørsvågvær. These are waterfront cabins, and they have incredible views.

Where to Stay in Svolvær FAQ

What is the best area to stay in Svolvær?

The best area to stay in Svolvær is in the center of town at Thon Hotel Lofoten, Thon Hotel Svolvær, or Nordis Apartments. If you don’t mind a short walk, you can walk across the Sjømmannsgata Bridge to Lamholmen, a small island with Scandic Svolvær and Anker Brygge on it.

If taking a taxi or driving is no issue for you, then venture over to Svinøya, a small island connected by the Svinøy Bridge to Svolvær. There, you’ll find some of the best views of the sea at Svinøya Rorbuer, along with Børsen Spiseri, their on-site restaurant.

Should I stay in a rorbu or a hotel?

Staying in a rorbu offers a one-of-a-kind experience if your budget permits. In Svolvær, Svinøya Rorbuer is an iconic rorbuer (fishermen’s cabins) resort. Otherwise, head a little further into the Lofoten archipelago to Kabelvåg to Nyvågar Rorbuhotell, a part of the Classic Hotels Norway group.

When should I book accommodation in Svolvær?

As soon as you have confirmed your dates for Svolvær, it is best to get accommodation booked. Summer is the high season, but tourism is picking up during the winter and shoulder season these days. Since Svolvær is a port for coastal voyages like Hurtigruten and Havila, it is best to secure a place as soon as you can.

Do I need a car if I stay in Svolvær?

No, but it can be helpful if you’re planning to do a road trip through the Lofoten Islands. You can pick up a car in the city center or at the Svolvær Airport. Svolvær is pretty walkable, and you can also use the Nordland Reis app to take public transportation around the islands if you can’t rent a car.

Can I see the northern lights from my accommodation in Svolvær?

Yes! There is some light pollution in the center of Svolvær, but if you head over to Svinøya, you can see the northern lights without much obstruction. I have seen them from Svinøya Rorbuer during one of my stays there.

Do you have any questions about where to stay in Svolvær? Let me know your favorite hotels in Svolvær… or the place you’d love to stay most when there. Thanks!