Svolvær – at the heart of Lofoten
Discover a Fishing Village
Excursion
Price from £90
Difficulty level
Level 2: Suitable for most.
Booking code
HR-SVJ9F
Duration
1 hour 30 minutes
Notes
Read practical information below
Take a guided walk through the small historic fishing village of Svinøya
Learn about the history of the village and the Lofoten fishery
Visit an art gallery dedicated to iconic Lofoten painter Gunnar Berg
Taste locally produced stockfish and bring some home as a souvenir
The town of Svolvær has been a thriving fishing community since 1828. On this excursion, you’ll explore the town's oldest quarter on the adjacent island of Svinøya.
As you explore the village, you’ll find evidence of Lofoten’s long cod fishing heritage. Well-preserved red fishermen’s huts, called rorbuer, line the shore on wooden stilts. Although they’re no longer used by fishermen, the smell of stockfish drying in the open air proves that the fishing industry is still very much alive in Svinøya. Find out how the fishermen lived, and sample some locally dried and cured stockfish. You’ll also get to take some back home as a souvenir!
Next, we’ll visit a gallery dedicated to local 19th century artist, Gunnar Berg, who was known for his paintings of Lofoten. We then pass a fish restaurant and fish processing plant before heading back across the bridge to Svolvær town centre.
Practical information
Embarking/disembarking port: Svolvær
Available: 1 Sep - 8 Apr, except 23-25 Dec and 31 Dec
Meals: A taste of stock fish
Clothes: Hiking shoes, warm and windproof clothing