Insider Journeys: Nusfjord Arctic Resort, Lofoten Islands

Property Overview

Nusfjord Arctic Resort, located in the picturesque village of Nusfjord on the Lofoten Islands, offers a unique blend of traditional fishing heritage and modern comfort. With charming Rorbu cabins, stunning natural surroundings, and a range of outdoor activities, it provides an unforgettable Lofotens experience for guests seeking authentic stay with a bit of luxury mixed in.

There are a range of fisherman's cabins, each with comfortable beds, mini-bars, lounge areas and bathrooms. These are dotted around the harbour in the traditional buildings, with breathtaking views of the fjords and jagged peaks of the island. As you walk around the resort you get a sense of the traditional fisherman's village this was, in such a stunning and unique location.

There are dining options at both the Oriana Tavern, a renovated pizzeria, and the more upmarket historic dining room, Restaurant Karoline, which specialises in local seafood and meat from the islands. We tried both, and particularly liked Restaurant Karoline for its relaxed feel paired with high-quality dining.

What we loved

We loved the location of Nusfjord Arctic Resort, in the heart of the Lofoten Islands, making it the perfect destination for exploring the top hikes and towns of each corner of the island. The resort is also well-positioned for kayaking, with guided tours departing from right next to the lodge.

Nusfjord Arctic Resort offers a variety of amenities, including a wonderful Arctic Wellness Spa complete with wood-fired jacuzzis and sauna overlooking the water. On a bad weather day during our stay, we loved returning from our rainy hike to enjoy a soak in the hot tub. If you're brave, you can try some hot-cold water therapy, and use the sauna and outdoor hot tub and then jump into the fjord for a 'refreshing' change. There are a range of therapeutic wellbeing massages available at the Spa.

Recommended experiences

A 50 minute drive South of Nusfjord is the town of Reine, with the famous Reinebringen hike. This was one of the most visited hikes in Norway in 2024, and for good reason. Hikers will climb for around 2 hours to get to the famed peak with panoramic views of the surrounding islands and turquoise waters. The small town of Reine is also well-worth visiting.

Nearby in the town of Sakrisoy is Anita's Seafood restaurant, which offers a wide-range of local seafood overlooking the fjords and mountains, with fish drying outside in the traditional method. We were happy to experience this after our strenuous hike, and it was a great place to buy mementos of our trip such as Arctic salt and dried cod. We also recommend the hike at Kvalvika beach - which is only accessible on foot and has the most stunning turquoise water lapping the shores and dramatic mountains rising above it - and the easy coastal walk to Nesland fishing village.

What’s Nearby?

Nusfjord is located in the centre of the Lofoten Islands, an hour's drive from the Southern city of Svolvaer and just 30 minutes from Leknes airport. Bodo and Manshausen Island are two great additions to a Lofoten Islands trip, as both are easily accessed and have some great hikes that are completely different to the walking on offer on the Lofoten Islands.

The city of Bodo on mainland Norway is a great place to spend some time pre or post your Lofoten adventure. The 25 minute flight from Leknes to Bodo is an incredibly scenic flight with the views from our plane window giving us a great perspective of the Lofoten Islands - be sure to get a window seat!

Wood Hotel Bodo is a contemporary boutique hotel we stayed at with a great rooftop pool with views to the mountains - highly recommended! Spend a couple of days here to allow time to visit the natural phenomenon, Saltstrummen - where rapids form what appears to be horizontal falls on the river - and to hike Finnkonnaken.

Image: Finnkonnaken Hike, accessed from Bodo.

Manshausen Island is our other recommendation for extending your time in the region. Manshausen is a remote island, about one hour boat trip away from the Henningsvaer/Svolvaer end of the Lofotens. On Manshausen you'll find unique glass-walled cabins perched above the water, with a great wellness area and onsite dining. While here, the Nordskot Traverse is the go-to hike, one of Norway's best.