The Day and Night of Lofoten

Rated by 'Lonely Planet' as the most beautiful archipelago in the world, the beauty of Lofoten is an exclamation mark❗️ Moreover, winter and summer offer completely different experiences. Winter in Northern Norway spans 8 months, with the remaining 4 months divided among spring, summer, and autumn. When most of the Northern Hemisphere has entered spring, Lofoten is still covered in snow. Here's what you need to know about visiting Lofoten: ⭕️ Public transportation in Norway is inconvenient, especially in Northern Norway. Traveling between Tromso and Lofoten without a car is a big challenge. The longest journey involves taking a bus, then a plane to Bodo, followed by a speedboat, and finally, a cruise on either Hurtigruten or Havila (a separate article will compare the two). I think taking a cruise is a must to better appreciate the fjord scenery. However, it's actually enough to take a 1-2 day port to port cruise, and then explore the islands at your own pace. ⭕️ The Northern Lights season in Northern Norway is from October to early April each year. It is said that the weather in October/November or March is relatively stable and not so cold. I visited in March, and the weather was not very stable 🤣🤣. ⭕️ The weather on the Lofoten Islands in winter is unpredictable; it can be sunny one moment and overcast the next, followed by heavy snowfall within 10 minutes. The day before we arrived, the snow on the island had almost melted, but overnight, nature had re-coated it with a fresh layer of snow. So whether you're there to see the snow or the Northern Lights, don't be misled by the weather forecast. It might say it's cloudy at night, but the wind could blow the clouds away, although this doesn't apply to rain. ⭕️ Stay on the island for at least 4-5 days, as the weather is changeable, and you don't want to miss the Northern Lights or the snowscapes due to weather conditions. ⭕️ If you're staying in Solvaer, don't miss the Thon Hotels, which has two locations, one 5🌟 and the other 4🌟. Their breakfasts at the two Solvaer locations are truly comprehensive and have won the award for the best breakfast in Europe. See picture 16 for details. ⭕️ In March, temperatures in Northern Norway range from -5 to -10 degrees Celsius. Thanks to the warm Gulf Stream, it's much warmer than the rest of the Nordic countries at the same latitude. ⭕️ Have ice grips and reflective vests ready for safety at night.