Best Time to Visit Lofoten Islands

June to August, January to February

Months to avoid: November to December (polar night without aurora reliability, most cafes and smaller accommodations closed)

Recommended stay: 5-7 days

Plan Lofoten Islands for June to August, January to February. Give it 5-7 days. The window to avoid is November to December (polar night without aurora reliability, most cafes and smaller accommodations closed).

What the season gets you

• The hike up Reinebringen at dawn puts you above the clouds with the entire Reinefjord below, a 90-minute climb that makes no attempt to be gentle
• Renting a rorbu cabin, a converted fisherman's boathouse on stilts over the water, is the only correct way to sleep here
• Haukland Beach in June: white sand, 15°C water if you're brave, and mountains behind you that belong in a different ecosystem entirely