Travel guide
Vesterålen: travel guide to Sortland, Andøya, Nyksund and the best hotels
Vesterålen sits just north of Lofoten, with the same mountains and beaches but fewer people. Here you can watch whales off Andenes, walk through a fishing village that came back to life and stay in the blue town of Sortland. This is what to see, and where to stay.
Short answer
If it is your first stay in Vesterålen, Scandic Sortland is our first pick. Sortland is central, so you can reach the rest of the islands on day trips, and guests on Hotels.com rate the hotel 9.2. If you are going on a whale safari, add a few nights in Andenes.
First pick: See rooms at Scandic Sortland
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It is eleven at night and the sun is still above the sea off Bø. A fishing boat slides slowly in towards land, and the mountains behind the beach are yellow in the light. It is July, and out here it does not get dark until August.
Vesterålen is made up of five municipalities spread across several islands. The region is large and the distances are long, so a hire car makes it far easier to see everything.
Midnight sun over the sea
A fishing boat heading home in the midnight sun off Bø.
Things to do in Vesterålen
Whale safari from Andenes
Off Andenes the seabed drops away steeply, and there is food for sperm whales all year round. The whale safaris leave from the harbour in Andenes, and the chances of seeing whales are good. We have told the whole story of whale safaris on Andøya, with Helge and the boats that take you out.
Andøya and Bleik
Andøya is a national scenic route in its own right, with the road laid right out against the sea. At Bleik there is a long white sandy beach, and out in the sea lies the bird island Bleiksøya, where puffins nest in summer. In winter you can see the northern lights above the Andøya Space rocket range, which we have written about in a rocket in the northern lights.
The fishing village that woke up
Nyksund was almost abandoned, but today there is life along the harbour again.
Nyksund
Nyksund is an old fishing village at the far end of Øksnes that was almost abandoned, and then taken back. Today the colourful houses stand along the harbour again, and in summer the cafés are busy. The road out is narrow and runs close to the sea, so take it slowly.
Stokmarknes and Hurtigruten
It was in Stokmarknes that Richard With started Hurtigruten, the Norwegian coastal ferry, in 1893. The Hurtigruten Museum tells the story, and the old ship MS Finnmarken stands on dry land beside the museum. The town is also a natural place to spend the night between Sortland and Lofoten.
Sortland, the blue town
Sortland has been nicknamed the blue town after an art project that painted many of its buildings blue. The town is the region's shopping centre and sits on the Sortland strait, with the bridge across to Hinnøya. This is where you stock up before driving on.
Northern lights over the boathouse
From September to April the northern lights can dance above the boathouses in Bø.
Midnight sun and northern lights
From late May to late July the sun does not set in Vesterålen. From September to April it is dark enough for the northern lights, and with little light pollution and an open horizon towards the sea, Andøya and Bø are among the best places to see them.
Hotels in Vesterålen
The mountains outside the window
From Scandic Sortland you look straight out at the mountains above the Sortland strait.
Scandic Sortland
Scandic Sortland sits by the marina in the town centre, near Sortland Museum, and from several of the rooms you look straight out at the mountains on the far side of the strait. The hotel has its own restaurant and sauna. A good choice if you want one base and day trips by car.
Book your stay: See rooms at Scandic Sortland
Lounge with fjord views
From the lounge at Richard With you look out over the fjord in Stokmarknes.
Quality Hotel Richard With
The hotel in Stokmarknes is named after the man who started Hurtigruten, and has the marina right outside. From the lounge you look out over the fjord, and the hotel has a gym and a bar. Guests rate it 9.6, the highest of the hotels in this guide.
Book your stay: See rooms at Quality Hotel Richard With
Fireplace in the lobby
The fireplace in the lobby of Andenes Suite Hotel is the place to warm up after a day at sea.
Andenes Suite Hotel
Andenes Suite Hotel is a newer hotel on Andøya, around ten minutes by car from the Whale Centre and Andøya Space. The hotel has a fireplace in the lobby and a 24-hour gym, and the beach at Bleik is a short drive away. Guests rate it 9.4.
Book your stay: See rooms at Andenes Suite Hotel
Breakfast before the whale safari
Breakfast at Andrikken before the boat heads out on a whale safari.
Thon Hotel Andrikken
Andrikken is in the centre of Andenes, a fifteen-minute walk from the Polar Museum and the Whale Centre. The hotel has a bar and breakfast every morning, and the boats that take you out on whale safaris are close by. A practical choice if you are heading out to sea early.
Book your stay: See rooms at Thon Hotel Andrikken
Good advice before you go
Hire a car. The distances are long and buses are infrequent. Read more about car hire in Norway. With a car you can reach Andøya, Bø and Nyksund on the same trip.
Book your whale safari early in summer. The trips from Andenes fill up quickly in July.
Combine it with Lofoten or Senja. Lofoten lies directly to the south, and in summer there is a ferry from Andenes to Senja.
Frequently asked questions about Vesterålen
Where is Vesterålen?
Vesterålen is in Nordland county in northern Norway, north of Lofoten. The region consists of the municipalities of Andøy, Bø, Hadsel, Sortland and Øksnes, spread across several islands.
What is the difference between Lofoten and Vesterålen?
The landscape is related, with mountains dropping straight into the sea and white beaches. Vesterålen has fewer tourists and is known for whale safaris from Andenes. Lofoten is better known and has more visitors in summer.
When is the best time to visit Vesterålen?
June and July bring the midnight sun and the best conditions for whale safaris and hiking. From September to April it is northern lights season. The whale safaris from Andenes run all year.
Where should I stay in Vesterålen?
Sortland is the best base, in the middle of the region. If you are going on a whale safari, Andenes is the right place, and Stokmarknes works well on the way between Sortland and Lofoten.
How do I get to Vesterålen?
There are airports on Andøya, in Stokmarknes and at Evenes, and Hurtigruten calls at Sortland and Stokmarknes. By car you arrive from Lofoten in the south or from Evenes in the east.