Nordland is home to Bodø, Lofoten, Vesterålen, Helgeland, and Narvik and might just have the most stunning landscapes in all of Norway.
Lofoten has quickly gained in popularity over the past few years (thank you, Instagram) and for good reason – with its breathtaking mountains, picturesque fishing villages, and dramatic drives, Lofoten is a paradise for adventure seekers, photographers, and even surfers!
Aside from Lofoten, Bodø and the nearby islands of Vesterålen are definitely worth a visit – especially if you’re coming in the summer and want to avoid the tourist crowds. You can either get the train to Bodø or fly. And then the Helgeland coast is probably my most favorite area in all of Norway.
I’ve written up a one week itinerary for Nordland here, an Arctic bucket list itinerary including Nordland here, and a two week road trip itinerary for Trondheim, Helgeland, and Lofoten here.
Lofoten
Read “Things You Should Know Before Visiting Lofoten”
Read about a summer day trip to Lofoten here
Read about my experience taking a winter sea eagle RIB safari on Lofoten here
Read about my experience horseback riding under the Northern Lights on Lofoten here
Vesterålen
Read my guide for things to do and where to stay in Vesterålen here, including whale watching, visiting reindeer, and staying in an authentic Norwegian cabin.
Bodø
Read my guide to things to do in Bodø here
Read about visiting Bodø in winter here
Helgeland
Helgeland is one of Norway’s most beautiful regions. I might be biased because I used to live in Helgeland.
It’s probably most famous for the beautiful Helgeland coast, which makes for the perfect road trip. I also really love the town of Mosjøen, which I consider one of Norway’s hidden gems (I used to live in Mosjøen), and the hike to Marmorslottet (the “marble castle”) is one of the most unique places I’ve been in all of Norway.
Inner Helgeland is very special and less visited, so you’ll feel like you’re getting a truly authentic Norwegian experience here. I especially recommend visiting in the winter when there’s lots of snow – and you have to go husky sledding!
And you have to go to the islands! You can get an express boat from Bodø so in some cases you won’t even need a car (though I would recommend a car for the bigger islands. Here are some Helgeland islands definitely worth a visit:
Narvik
Narvik is also a great town, surrounded by dramatic mountains. And it’s also connected to Sweden by a train line, and just a short ride away from Abisko, which is the best place in Europe to see the Northern Lights.
In Narvik you can also stay in an Arctic Dome right on the mountainside, which is an amazing experience to have in Norway and definitely something you should try once in your life! You can read about my stay in the Arctic Dome here.
