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In this part I will describe the three northernmost islands that we visited in Lofoten - Vestvagoy, Gimsoya and Austvagoya. Because of the Haukland beach (one of the most beautiful beaches we've ever seen), this is probably my favorite part of the Lofoten archipelago. Haukland, because of its appearance, could be easily located in the tropics - with white, soft sand and turquoise waters. However, I must admit, that it's nearly impossible to have a favorite place in Lofoten as virtually all the spots are equally incredible - there are no words that can describe the natural beauty of this place (as I mentioned so many times in the previous posts - Lofoten South and Vaeory island).

Best Places to See in Lofoten - the north

Lofoten map - Vestvagoy, Gimsoya and Austvagoya

Haukland Beach

Continuing north, passing the amazing Flakstad Fjord, we arrived at Haukland Beach (number 1 on the map). This is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world - not only does it have white sand and typical tropical look, but it's also surrounded by pointy mountainous peaks covered by snow. It seems like a mixture of the Caribbean and Swiss Alps - as if those two natural wonders were placed side by side. Before traveling to Lofoten, I had no idea that such beaches exist so far north from the tropics - it's simply unbelievable. Of course, because Lofoten is so off the beaten path, Haukland is wild and empty - it has all the qualities I love the best! Maybe with the exception of one - you have to be very brave to take a swim in it!

The Haukland beach is pretty large, there are a few trails around and one leads to the top of the nearby hill - the view from there is so breathtaking that you'll never want to leave! If the weather is nice, it can get pretty warm and very pleasant - spend there at least half a day (or night as the sun never sets in the summer)!

Accommodation at Leknes and Eggum

In between Haukland beach and Eggum - little fisherman village, we also visited the town of Leknes where we rented a little red cottage - it was an amazing experience - I would recommend that you rent local accommodation where you can cook yourself as it can save a lot of money - we all know how Norway can get expensive. Even this seemingly ordinary village turned out to be spectacular. From a window of our cottage, we had such an amazing view that it looks as if it was a painting!

Traveling from Leknes further north, we stopped at Eggum (number 2 on the map) as it was an another amazing spot - white sand beach, mountains and a fisherman houses strewn here and there. There were also a lot of cod fish drying in the sun - Norway is famous for its fish products. Take a little stroll around the beach - it's really pleasant.

Look at the window - it's a view not a painting!

Gimsoysand

Gimsoysand (number 3 on the map) is the northern part of one of the smallest islands in the archipelago - Gimsoy. You can find a little white wooden church here, and, as usual in Lofoten, amazing coastline. The mountains surrounding Gimsoy are unique - one of them has a distinctive, conical shape.

The water here is a bit greener in color, but it's as clear as in any other place in Lofoten. The seaweed seem to float in the shallow waters of the lagoon - the view is somehow unique and incredibly beautiful. We stopped here for a picnic - having lunch with such surroundings is unforgettable!

Rorvik Beach

From Gimsoysand we headed straight to the town of Svolvaer - the largest town in Lofoten. We did not expect anything else on the way, because how much beauty can one place have? And then, we came across the Rorvik beach which is visible from the road, but otherwise quite hidden and not many people going to Lofoten are aware of this little gem.

The Rorvik beach is narrow, with clear turquoise waters similar to Haukland a bit, but it's surrounded by steeper, forested mountains. It's a yet another perfect place for a picnic or just to relax - and during the Polar Summer, you don't have to worry about the time - note that I took the photos of Rorvik beach after 9 pm! Looks like in the middle of the day.

I was so incredibly happy to find this amazing spot just by chance! Don't miss it! The Rorvik beach is marked as number 4 on the map.

Svolvaer

The only "city" in Lofoten - Svolvaer, is, of course, incredibly beautiful as well. Squeezed among the mountains and right by the sea - with distinctive wooden architecture. What's interesting about it is the fact that Svolvaer, although located above the Polar Circle is warmer than cities such as Quebec in Canada! Svolvaer is the first place in Lofoten where we could feel a bit of a city vibe - you can find many shops, restaurants and even spot crowds in the streets. The food is amazing but the prices are unfortunately up to the Norwegian standards!

We arrived in Svolvaer at around 11 pm and the sun was shining as if it was 3 pm. On the way back, we also spotted a beautiful church and other little villages in the mountains - see the photos below.

All together, I chose 10 places to see in Lofoten in the parts 1 and 2. Some of those places I had planned to visit (like Kvalvika or Haukland), others, I discovered by pure chance. However, although those spots presented here, especially grabbed my attention, you'll see for yourself that when traveling through Lofoten you'll find a hundred more that will become your favorite!