SVOLVÆR

BASIC INFORMATION
Svolvær is a small town in Nordland County, commonly known as the “Capital of Lofoten.” It is beautifully situated on the island of Austvågøya, with the waters of Vestfjorden and the sea to the south and dramatic mountains rising to the north. The skyline is dominated by the distinctive Svolværgeita, or “Svolvær Goat,” with its two characteristic rocky “horns.”
The first written references to the settlement date back to the 16th century, while the name itself probably originates from Old Norse and refers to a cool or chilly fishing village. The nearby settlement of Vågar was one of the earliest known settlements in northern Norway.
Although Svolvær covers an area of only around 2.5 km² and has fewer than 5,000 inhabitants, it fully deserves its title as the capital of Lofoten. Here you will find supermarkets, a cinema, hotels, excellent restaurants, a cultural centre, art galleries and a spacious marina. There is even a ski lift nearby. More than 200,000 tourists visit the town every year.
One of the most interesting attractions is the Lofoten Krigsminnemuseum (Lofoten War Memorial Museum), which houses an extraordinary collection of artefacts from the Second World War. Visitors can also explore the Nordnorsk Kunstnersenter, dedicated to contemporary art. Every September, the centre organises a month-long art festival, often using unusual venues such as wartime bunkers or traditional wooden racks used for drying cod.
Another fascinating attraction is Magic Ice, an unusual art gallery featuring sculptures and installations carved entirely from ice.

AT THE FOOT OF THE GOAT’S HORNS
One of Svolvær’s most recognisable landmarks is Svolværgeita, the spectacular granite formation towering above the town. Reaching its summit is not an ordinary hike—the final ascent is steep and technical and requires ropes and standard climbing equipment.
The summit is crowned by two distinctive rocky “goat horns,” separated by a gap of approximately 1.5 metres. For some climbers, jumping from one horn to the other has become a legendary challenge. According to local stories, looking down during the jump offers a rather sobering view of the cemetery below.
Svolvær has been a fishing town since its earliest days and has retained this character to the present day. In addition to commercial fishing, every March the town hosts the World Cod Fishing Championship, attracting hundreds of competitors from several countries.

SVOLVÆR ON OUR LOFOTEN EXPEDITIONS
Svolvær is the most “civilised” stop on our route through the Lofoten Islands. Its sheltered marina provides a safe place for the yacht, making it an ideal location to rest, explore the town and head into the surrounding mountains.
We usually spend time discovering Svolvær itself and organise hikes in the surrounding area. When we have enough time and the weather conditions are favourable, we can also arrange a more demanding excursion towards Svolværgeita.
The waters and mountains around Svolvær are also excellent places for observing white-tailed eagles. Several nesting territories can be found nearby, and we sail through this spectacular area on our way towards Trollfjorden.
Svolvær combines everything that makes Lofoten special: dramatic mountains rising directly from the sea, a centuries-old fishing tradition, colourful harbour life and easy access to spectacular Arctic nature. For us, it is not simply a convenient port—it is one of the natural gateways to exploring the heart of the Lofoten archipelago.