Best Hotels in Svolvær and around (Lofoten)
Where to stay in Svolvær, plus Kabelvåg and Henningsvær nearby
View from our rorbu at Skarungen in Kabelvåg, a short drive from Svolvær
Svolvær is Lofoten's main town, the place most flights and ferries land, and it has by far the widest hotel selection on the islands. It's a pretty city, but it’s not the only option nearby if you want something slightly more scenic. Kabelvåg is right next door, and Henningsvær, one of Lofoten's most photographed fishing villages, is about a 30 minute drive away. Here's where to stay in Svolvær and around.
🛌 Where to stay:
• Thon Hotel Lofoten — full-service hotel right in central Svolvær, the most-searched name in town.
• Svinøya Rorbuer — historic rorbuer on their own islet, more character than a standard hotel room.
• Skarungen — in Kabelvåg, next door, and the one with the outdoor hot tub and sauna.
🇳🇴 Top experiences:
• Northern lights minivan tour from Svolvær — leaves right from town.
• Northern lights tour from Henningsvær — handy if you end up staying out that way instead.
🚗 Svolvær Airport car rental — pick up the moment you land.
Jump to: Hotels in Svolvær · Kabelvåg, next door · Henningsvær, about 30 minutes away · What to know before you book · FAQ
Best hotels in Svolvær: Quick answer
Svolvær has the most hotel choice anywhere in Lofoten. There are two separate Thon hotels and two separate Scandic properties covering full-service options, Fast Hotel Svolvær is the budget pick, and Svinøya Rorbuer offers a historic, on-the-water alternative to a standard room. Kabelvåg, right next door, has Nyvågar Rorbuhotell and our favorite, Skarungen. Henningsvær, about 30 minutes away by car, has two separate hotels worth telling apart: Henningsvær Bryggehotell and Villa Bryggekanten.
Hotels in Svolvær
In Lofoten, views never disappoint, even in the “capital”!
Svolvær is Lofoten's largest town and its main transport hub, with its own airport and the region's key ferry connections, which is exactly why it has more hotel beds than anywhere else on the islands. It's also the easiest base for a northern lights tour, as most trips leave right from town. Read our guide to the northern lights in Lofoten for more.
Thon Hotel Lofoten
Sits right in the town center and is the more established of the two Thon-branded hotels in Svolvær. A reliable, full-service option within walking distance of the harbor. In the Nordics, Thon Hotels are an institution.
Thon Hotel Svolvær
A separate Thon property from Thon Hotel Lofoten, not the same building under a different name. Worth checking both before you book.
Scandic Svolvær
Previously known as Rica Hotel Svolvær before that chain merged into Scandic, same building, new name. Another Nordic favorite.
Scandic Vestfjord Lofoten
A different building altogether from Scandic Svolvær, still listed under its older name, Norlandia Vestfjord Hotell, on a few travel sites.
Fast Hotel Svolvær
The budget option, no frills, but well located for the price. A word of caution: we haven’t stayed there, but reviews are not the best. We still included it for the prices, as Lofoten isn’t cheap in high season.
Svinøya Rorbuer
Puts you in a converted 19th-century trading post on its own small islet. A completely different stay from a standard hotel room, and one of the most picturesque around. If you love rorbuer, don’t miss our guide to the Best Hotels & Rorbuer in Lofoten, and the Best Rorbuer in Reine (coming soon).
Nordis Hotel Lofoten
A cozy, centrally located hotel in Svolvær. A few travel sites still list this address under an older name, Best Western Svolvær Hotel Lofoten, so don't be thrown if you see both while searching.
Marina Hotel Lofoten
Sits down by the water, with the famous Svolværgeita peak visible from town. Mixed reviews.
Anker Brygge
Waterfront rorbuer-style apartments built out over the harbor, another good alternative to a standard hotel room in town.
Villa Svolvær
A smaller, more budget-friendly guesthouse-style option in town.
Nordis Apartments
Self-catering apartments right on Torget, Svolvær's main square, a separate listing from Nordis Hotel Lofoten and worth it if you want your own kitchen. Views are pretty wow.
Hotels in Kabelvåg, next door
Enjoying Skarunen’s sauna, hot tub and cold plunge!
Kabelvåg sits right next to Svolvær, the old administrative center of Lofoten before Svolvær took over as the main town. We covered it in more detail in our guide to Where to Stay in Lofoten by Area, but here are the two actual hotels.
Nyvågar Rorbuhotell
A rorbu-style hotel that puts you close to the Lofoten Museum and the Lofotr Viking Museum without the crowds of Svolvær. Really nice.
Skarungen
We stayed there a few years ago, and visited again after they renovated. What used to be a rustic rorbu place has grown into one of Lofoten's best wellness stays, and after a snowy day out we went straight to the sauna, the hot tub, and a cold plunge with a view over the water. It's a completely different pace from a standard Svolvær hotel room, and our favorite option in the area. We added it to our favorite Northern Lights Hotels in Lofoten!
Lofoten Apartments
Self-catering apartments in Kabelvåg, a practical option if you want your own space and a kitchen (you’ll save a lot on restaurants) rather than a hotel room.
Henningsvær, about 30 minutes away
Exploring Henningsvær
Henningsvær is worth the drive on its own merits, one of the most photographed fishing villages in Lofoten, built out across a cluster of small islands, and one of the highlights in our full guide to Things to Do in Lofoten. Now, it gets pretty busy in summer, so staying there allows you to enjoy the peace and quiet before and after the tour buses (and if you do, we highly recommend a meal at Fiskanken). There are two separate hotels in town, both run by Classic Norway Hotels.
Henningsvær Bryggehotell
Sits right on the water among the old fishing warehouses in the heart of the village. A lovely option.
Villa Bryggekanten
A separate property from Henningsvær Bryggehotell, not a renamed version of it, out on the island of Heimøya.
Trevarefabrikken
A converted former sawmill turned guesthouse, one of Henningsvær's more distinctive stays. We think it’s pretty cool.
Henningsvær Guesthouse
A smaller, simpler guesthouse in the village, still listed under an older name, Henningsvær Vertshus, on a few sites. Welcoming and cozy.
Tobiasbrygga
A small, modern waterfront guesthouse on its own, quieter than the two Classic Norway Hotels properties in the village center.
Finnholmen Brygge
Rorbuer-style apartments right on the water, another self-catering option in the village.
What to know before you book
Svolvær books up fastest of the three. It's the default base for most visitors and the easiest to reach by air or ferry. If you want to actually stay in Henningsvær rather than just visit for the day, book early. Both Henningsvær Bryggehotell and Villa Bryggekanten are small properties in a village with very few beds to begin with. Watch the names carefully when you search, they're separate hotels and it's easy to book the wrong one by mistake.
A rental car makes visiting all three easy. Svolvær and Kabelvåg are close enough that a car isn't strictly required between them, but you'll want one to reach Henningsvær and explore further down the E10.
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FAQ: Best Hotels in Svolvær and around
Is Rica Hotel Svolvær still open?
Yes, same building, new name. It now operates as Scandic Svolvær after the Rica chain merged into Scandic.
Is Henningsvær Bryggehotell the same as Villa Bryggekanten?
No, they're two separate hotels in Henningsvær, both run by Classic Norway Hotels. It's a genuinely easy mix-up, so double-check which one you're booking.
Do I need a car to see Svolvær, Kabelvåg, and Henningsvær?
Not for Svolvær and Kabelvåg, they're close enough to manage without one, but you'll want a car to reach Henningsvær and to explore beyond these three towns.
Which town is closest to the airport?
Svolvær has its own airport, so staying in town is the most direct option if you're flying in.
Where you stay among these three comes down to how much you want to be in the middle of things. Svolvær puts you closest to the airport, the ferries, and the widest choice of hotels. Kabelvåg is a quieter version of the same convenience. Henningsvær means driving a bit further for one of Lofoten's best-looking villages, worth it if a room there is actually available. We included a few of these accommodations in our selection of the Best Hotels and Rorbuer in Lofoten.
Looking for activities? Read our favorite Things to do in Lofoten. Not sure where to base yourself? Read our guide Where to Stay in Lofoten by Area. Finally, explore all our Northern Norway Travel Guides here.
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Where to stay
Lofoten Hotels & Rorbuer
Where to Stay in Lofoten by Area
Best Northern Lights Hotels in Lofoten
Best Reine Rorbuer
Best Hotels in Svolvær
Things to do and when to go
Things to Do in Lofoten
Lofoten Hiking Guide
Best Time to Visit Lofoten
Northern Lights in Lofoten
Lofoten in Winter
Getting there and around
How to Get to Lofoten
Tromsø to Lofoten Road Trip
Renting a Car in Lofoten
