Many people think the Lofoten Islands are hard to reach. You cannot fly there directly from the Netherlands without one or sometimes several layovers. If you want to drive there with your own car, you need to plan several days for the trip. On top of that, the many ferry routes in Norway can be confusing for many travelers. It all sounds complicated, so you probably wouldn’t consider going for just a few days. Right? Well, we actually did! We traveled to northern Norway to visit the most beautiful spots in the Lofoten Islands in just five days. In this article, I’ll explain how we got there. You’ll also read why we chose to drive with our car from Bodø to the Lofoten instead of taking the direct ferry crossing.
How to get to the Lofoten islands
If you have weeks to spare and want to do a scenic road trip, driving from the Netherlands to the Lofoten is definitely doable. You should expect around 35 hours of driving time (not including traffic, detours or stops), so if you spread it over a few days, it works well. For example, you could stop along the way to visit the North Cape.
That said, not many people choose this option when visiting the Lofoten. And it’s not necessary either! You might not expect it, but the Lofoten islands are a perfect destination for a short trip of about a week. If you’re up for a brief stay, it’s best to fly into a destination fairly close to the islands. Consider Bodø (340 km to Svolvær), Narvik (220 km to Svolvær) or Tromsø (421 km to Svolvær). Book a rental car in advance, pick it up upon arrival and start your journey to the Lofoten right away.
Prefer flying from Bodø to the Lofoten islands?
If the driving distances above seem too long for you, you can also fly from Bodø to the Lofoten with the airline Widerøe. Flights are available from Bodø to Leknes and from Bodø to Svolvær. Widerøe also offers flights to Leknes from Tromsø and Narvik.
From Bodø to the Lofoten by car via Narvik
There are several ways to drive from Bodø to the Lofoten. If you have time and want to spend a night along the way, you can choose to drive from Bodø via Narvik to the Lofoten. The distance is just over 500 kilometers, which takes about 8 hours assuming Svolvær is your first stop on the Lofoten. After Narvik, you will drive more than 220 kilometers on the E10, known as one of the most beautiful roads in the world. Definitely not a punishment!
From Bodø to the Lofoten by car via Bognes ferry
We chose to drive from Bodø to Bognes, a distance of 215 kilometers, which takes just over 3 hours without stops. From Bognes, the ferry departs several times a day to Lødingen. You can check departure times on the Torghatten Nord AS website, which also shows the return crossings. You can book tickets on this website, but outside the high season it is also fine to just arrive about fifteen minutes before the ferry leaves. The crossing takes about an hour, during which you can enjoy beautiful views. Once in Lødingen, we get back in the car for a 1.5-hour drive to Kabelvåg, a town just minutes away from Svolvær. Altogether, the trip by car from Bodø to the Lofoten takes about 5.5 hours without stops.
From Bodø to the Lofoten by car via Skutvik ferry
In the summer months of June July and August you can take the ferry from Skutvik. This boat sails to Svolvær on the Lofoten via the island of Skrova. The crossing from Skutvik to Svolvær takes 2 hours. Want to visit Skrova? Then you can use the ferry between Skutvik and Skrova year-round which takes about 20 minutes. You’ll find the ferry schedules on the website of Torghatten Nord AS.
Taking the ferry from Bodø to the Lofoten
Not keen on driving all the way? Then you can also choose to take the ferry from Bodø to Moskenes on the Lofoten. The crossing takes between 3.5 and 4 hours. In high season it’s best to book tickets online in advance on the website of Torghatten Nord AS as ferries can fill up quickly. Even with tickets in hand it’s recommended to arrive at least 45 minutes before departure. As you can see in terms of total travel time there’s not a huge difference. From Moskenes it still takes about 2 more hours to reach Svolvær if that’s your final destination like in the other routes.
If you enjoy driving I would definitely recommend taking the road from Bodø to the Lofoten. The roads are well maintained the scenery is breathtaking and you’ll pass by some truly stunning places.
Tip for your route to the Lofoten: drive a loop
Can’t decide which route to take? Then the best option might be to do both. Make a loop. Take the ferry from Bodø to Moskenes on the way out explore the Lofoten stay in beautiful accommodations and return via Bognes or Narvik. Don’t want to drive the entire return trip in one go? Then spend the night in Lødingen before catching the ferry to Bognes like we did at Lødingen Brygge. Or start with the road trip and take the ferry from the Lofoten back to Bodø so you can reflect on your journey during the almost 4 hour crossing.
From Bodø to the Lofoten with a rental car
For our road trip to the Lofoten we rent a car through a reliable rental company that offers full insurance coverage. Everything is included so you don’t have to worry about hidden costs. Even if you accidentally cause damage you’ll be reimbursed for your deductible. A smooth and stress-free rental process means you can focus on what really matters the journey itself. And that’s a great feeling especially when driving Norway’s scenic roads.
Easy toll payment with AutoPASS in Norway
Almost all rental cars in Norway are now equipped with an AutoPASS. This pass is automatically scanned on toll roads and ferries making it easy to travel without having to pay on the spot. After your rental period you’ll receive an invoice by email listing all charges. During our 5 day trip to the Lofoten we paid about 95 euros including the AutoPASS service fee charged by the rental company. If you’re traveling with your own car you can order an AutoPASS online in advance.
