11 Things to Do in Svolvær, Norway (from a Frequent Visitor)

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Post overview: In this guide, I cover the best things to do in Svolvær, including where to eat, the best day trips, and a few worthwhile excursions.

At the end, I answer some FAQ that will help you plan the most epic trip to Svolvær in the Lofoten Islands!

Svolvær is the gateway to the Lofoten Islands and is actually one of the most beautiful places in the north of Norway.

There are many things to do in Svolvær, from watching the northern lights to jumping on a silent cruise to Trollfjord. It is a great starting point for a Lofoten road trip, but I definitely recommend spending at least a day there for most first-time visitors to the archipelago.

I have had the pleasure of visiting Svolvær too many times to count at this point. My first trip there was in 2017, and I have been back several times since, including many times when I spent a month living in Henningsvær a couple of years back.

Svolvær has one of Lofoten’s main airports, a lot of places to go shopping, and some tasty restaurants/cafes. I will highlight some of my favorites in this guide!

This is a guide about what to do in Svolvær, Norway. If I missed any places to visit in Svolvær, let me know in the comments. Thanks!

Best Things to Do in Svolvær

1. Take a boat to Norway’s narrowest fjord, Trollfjorden.

Trollfjorden is the narrowest fjord in Norway, and one of the top things to do in Svolvær is to take a boat out there and to see it for yourself!

I have been through Trollfjord on many Hurtigruten journeys, but I enjoyed my trips from Svolvær more because you spend a longer time learning about and in the fjord itself.

There are a few options for getting to Trollfjorden from Svolvær, but my two favorites are to take Brim Explorer’s silent catamaran cruise or a RIB boat sea eagle safari. I have done both and recommend both of them, albeit to different types of travelers.

Silent Catamaran to Trollfjorden

Brim Explorer runs a silent catamaran trip from Svolvær to Trollfjorden from February until October. The boat leaves Lofoten for a few months in winter (I think it is the one used for whale watching in Tromsø then), but you can take a RIB boat tour then if you still want to get out there during the months it isn’t available with Brim.

Anyway, the boat trip is 3.5 hours long, wheelchair accessible, and a great way to spend part of your day. They run tours at 9am and 1:30pm daily.

Sea Eagle Safari to Trollfjorden

Alternatively, you can go on a RIB boat tour from Svolvær. You can read my experience on a sea eagle safari from Svolvær here, as this is mainly what the tour focuses on.

You will get dressed in a weatherproof suit before boarding a RIB boat out to Trollfjorden. Along the way, you will have a chance to watch sea eagles feed and photograph them. It is a pretty epic experience, to be honest. The boat trip is 2 hours long and is available year-round.

2. Take a day trip to the wild west of Lofoten.

If you don’t have your own rental car or way to move through the islands, then a tour with Lofoten Insight to see the western part of Lofoten is essential!

This day tour lasts for 7-8 hours and leaves from a few pick-up points in Svolvær before making your way to Reine, Sakrisøy, Hamnøy, and more. The group will be small (8 participants or fewer) and you’ll have quite a few photo stops throughout the journey, so bring your camera (and a power bank if you’re using a mobile).

There is a stop along the way for lunch, but the meal is not included. This is a fabulous way to see the Lofoten Islands if you don’t have a car and don’t want to spend all day on public transportation.

3. Go on a Lofotpils Brewery tour.

One of my favorite things I did in Svolvær many years ago was to take a brewery tour of Lofotpils, the Lofoten Island’s only brewery. The pure water of the islands (and Norway) helped give life to this brewery, started by Andreas Thorvardarson, and you will get a chance to taste 6 beers at the end of the one-hour tour.

These tours are often connected with the Hurtigruten and Havila docking times, but you can visit independently, as I did. It is 500 NOK per person (around $50) and it starts at 6:30pm daily.

Lofotpils Brewery can be found at Fiskergata 36 in Svolvær. You can find their beers all across the islands and in other parts of Norway.

4. Visit the Lofoten Krigsminnemuseum.

If you’re visiting Svolvær, you definitely should make a stop at the Lofoten Krigsminnemuseum, a place in the city that commemorates WW2 and has been in operation in Svolvær since 1996. Inside the museum, you will find equipment, guns, vehicles, and many other historic artifacts from WW2 and how Norway (especially Northern Norway) had an involvement in it.

You can find the Lofoten Krigsminnemuseum at Fiskergata 3 in Svolvær. It is open daily, but times may shift with the season. Adult tickets are 150 NOK (kids are 50 NOK).

5. Take the ferry to Skrova, the Hawaii of Lofoten.

Skrova is an island a short ferry ride away from Svolvær that is starting to gain attention among tourists. Situated in Vestfjorden, it gets the least amount of rain of anywhere in the Lofoten islands and is often referred to as the Hawaii of Lofoten.

I had plans to visit when I was living in Henningsvær and made my way all the way to Svolvær to go there and opted not to at the last minute due to stormy conditions (for me, this was probably rain). The reason I wanted to head out there was to see a skrei (cod that is caught from January until April in Lofoten) fishing tournament and festival.

Anyway, I still think it is a good place for people who have a decent amount of time in Svolvær to visit.

You can check ferry times on the Reis app (used around Nordland) or on Norway’s EnTur app. You will want to search ‘Svolvær ferjekai’ to ‘Skrova ferjekai’. There are around 4-5 departures daily.

If you’d rather join a day tour that is more organized, Skrova Kayak offers a trip out there that includes the ferry from Svolvær to Skrova. You can check prices and availability here.

6. Go snowshoeing from Svolvær during winter.

One of my favorite activities to do in Lofoten in the wintertime is snowshoeing. Of course, it depends on the conditions, but if you have snow in the mountains, it is a great soft adventure activity.

This trip is with XXLofoten (they also run the sea eagle safari I mentioned above) and lasts for three hours.

When I did this, we headed to Kabelvåg, but the guide will determine your destination depending on the conditions. And if the conditions are not suitable for snowshoeing, it may turn into a hike (for a heads-up). Snowshoes, an English-speaking guide, transport, and hot drinks are included in the trip. Click here to check rates and availability for snowshoeing in Svolvær.

7. Try climbing Svolværgeita in summer.

The Lofoten Islands are renowned for their climbing opportunities, and Svolvær has plenty of spots to go (and companies to go with). While rock climbing is very much NOT my thing (afraid of heights here), Geita is on a lot of Lofoten bucket lists. This imposing rock formation over Svolvær means ‘Goat’ in Norwegian and you can sign up for a climbing adventure to the peak.

Alpine Guides has experienced and skilled climbing guides who will be with you every step of the way, and this is a great thing to do in Svolvær in summer!

8. Spend part of your day in Henningsvær.

Henningsvær is one of my favorite places in the Lofoten Islands, and I even stayed there for a little over a month a couple of years ago. I have a full guide about the best things to do in Henningsvær here, but I will list a few of them here, including details on how to get there from Svolvær.

In Henningsvær, some of the can’t-miss places and things to do are Galleri Lofoten, Trevarefabrikken (I frequent their cafe when I am visiting), hiking Festvågtind, Kaviar Factory (an art gallery), and Henningsvær Lysstøperi & Cafe (my favorite cafe in the village). There are also a few cute boutiques there, like A Day by the Sea and MIN.

Getting to Henningsvær is pretty easy from Svolvær, actually. You will need to head toward Svolvær Sentrum shopping center and take the 743 bus to Henningsvær. The ticket is approximately 66 NOK (around $6.50), and the journey takes just under one hour depending on the bus route.

Henningsvær is one of the best day trips from Svolvær, and if you have a chance to stay overnight in the village, I encourage you to do so.

9. Head over to Svinøya to Kjeøya Kystbatteri.

One of the best places to visit in Svolvær for history lovers is Kjeøya Kystbatteri, a WWII bunker on Svinøya island in Svolvær.  

Norway had many cities that were damaged during WW2 and the Lofoten Islands experienced their fair share of impact from the infamous war. 

In the southern part of Svolvær, you will find Kjeøya Kystbatteri, an old WWII bunker located in a very photogenic area. There are also stockfish drying racks in the area, making it very picturesque. You can find Kjeøya Kystbatteri at Gunnar Bergs vei in Svolvær.

10. Take a northern lights tour from Svolvær.

Over the years, I have seen so many bloggers say that Lofoten is a bad place to see the northern lights, but I very much disagree.

I have seen the northern lights at least 50+ times in the Lofoten Islands over the years, and while, yes, some seasons are better than others (March is amazing), it is not a bad place at all. Weather patterns don’t hover over places for long on the archipelago, which is often a good thing.

Anyway, from the end of August into early April, you can see the northern lights in Lofoten. But if you’re visiting for the first time, I highly recommend taking a tour with a guide. They will be able to drive around to find clear skies.

Lofoten Insight is run by Dave Williams, a name pretty famous in the northern lights community in the Nordics. You can check Lofoten Insight northern lights tour rates and availability here.

11. Visit an ice gallery at Magic Ice Lofoten.

Is Magic Ice Lofoten going to win any awards for being the best thing to do in Lofoten? No. It is kitschy, gimmicky, but kind of fun if you’re looking for something to do in Svolvær on a rainy day (or just to kill a few hours).

I have been to every Magic Ice Bar in the Nordics and have written about my experiences at Magic Ice Reykjavik and Magic Ice Tromsø.

Magic Ice Lofoten is a lot of fun if you go with friends and want to be silly and enjoy a different setting for a bit. I am not sure I’d head there during winter as you have all that ice outside, but it can be a bit of affordable fun during the summertime!

The ice bar is open daily in summer from 12pm to 10pm and in winter daily from 2pm to 10pm. They are located at Fiskergata 36 in Svolvær.

Where to Eat and Drink in Svolvær

Svolvær has a good little food scene for being so small. Here are some of my top spots:

• Paleo Arctic (a restaurant with many Norwegian options)
• Kos Lofoten (a cafe on Svinøya)
• Børsen Spiseri (my favorite place to eat in Svolvær; located at Svinøya Rorbuer, one of my favorite rorbuer resorts in the Lofoten Islands)
• Deja Brew (a cafe I like that has rebranded from Brent to Laura’s to Deja Brew in the last couple of years)
• Kringla (a bakery that is frequented by locals but good for a cup of coffee and bun)
• Sakura Sushi (pretty solid sushi place in the center of town)

Things to Do in Svolvær (On a Map!)

What to Do in Svolvær FAQ

Below are some FAQ answered about visiting Svolvær in the Lofoten Islands.

What are the best things to do in Svolvær?

There are many things to do in Svolvær, like taking a silent catamaran cruise to Trollfjord (or the more adventurous sea eagle RIB boat option), hiking to Fløya, climbing Geita, taking a day trip to the western part of the Lofoten Islands, visiting Magic Ice Bar, and more.

There is also pretty good food and coffee in Svolvær with restaurants like Paleo Arctic and Børsen Spiseri (and cafes like Kos and Deja Brew).

Is a Trollfjord cruise worth it?

Yes, taking a cruise to Trollfjord from Svolvær is well worth the price. Trollfjord is Norway’s narrowest fjord and the views are jaw-dropping.

There are a few options that go out there: a silent catamaran cruise with Brim Explorer and a RIB boat sea eagle safari with XXLofoten are two of the most popular.

What are the best day trips from Svolvær?

One of the most beautiful fishing villages in Lofoten is Hennignsvær and you can take a day trip from Svolvær to the place with Bus 743. It is less than an hour away.

Alternatively, you can take a ferry to Skrova, which has been dubbed the “Hawaii of Lofoten” and has beautiful beaches and hiking opportunities.

You can also sign up for a western Lofoten tour where a guide will drive you to Reine, Hamnøy, Sakrisøy, and other famous villages in the islands.

What can I do in Svolvær in winter?

Svolvær’s tourism is a year-round thing, and there is plenty to do in Svolvær in winter! You can sign up for a northern lights tour, a snowshoe hike, etc. There is no feeling better than staying over at one of the rorbuer on Svinøya Rorbuer and seeing the northern lights right on your doorstep.

Can I hike to the Svolvær Goat (Svolværgeita)?

Yes, you can hike and climb up to Svolværgeita, but this is only recommended for experts, and you can use the company Alpine Guides to help you do this safely. This is a summer activity. If you want an easier hike, opt for Fløya.

When is the best time to visit Svolvær?

There is no ‘bad’ time to visit Svolvær. If you want long days and hiking opportunities, opt for a summer visit. It will be at its most crowded, though.

Winter and the shoulder seasons offer northern lights, skiing, and snowshoeing. You can usually go kayaking year-round, and the RIB boat tour to Trollfjorden operates year-round.

If you have any questions pertaining to this Svolvær travel guide, please send me a message or leave a comment! Be sure to check out my guide on what to do in Henningsvær if that is the next stop on your list!

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