Travel guide
Vesterålen travel guide: Sortland, Andøya, Nyksund and where to stay
Vesterålen lies just north of Lofoten, with the same mountains and beaches but far fewer people. You can watch whales off Andenes, wander a fishing village that came back to life and stay in the blue town of Sortland. Here is what to do, and where to stay.
In short
For a first visit to Vesterålen, our pick is Scandic Sortland. 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 whale watching, add a few nights in Andenes.
Our first choice: See rooms at Scandic Sortland
The links to the hotels are partner links. If you book through them, Picolo may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
It is eleven at night and the sun is still above the sea off Bø. A fishing boat slides slowly towards land, and the mountains behind the beach glow yellow in the light. It is July, and out here it will 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 much easier to see everything.
Midnight sun over the sea
A fishing boat heads home under the midnight sun off Bø.
Things to do in Vesterålen
Whale watching from Andenes
Off Andenes the seabed drops steeply, and there is food for sperm whales all year round. Whale safaris leave from the harbour at Andenes, and the chances of seeing whales are good. We have told the whole story of whale watching on Andøya, with Helge and the boats that take you out.
Andøya and Bleik
Andøya is a National Tourist Route, with the road laid right along the sea. At Bleik there is a long white sand beach, and offshore lies the bird island of Bleiksøya, where puffins nest in summer. In winter you can watch the northern lights above the Andøya Space centre, which we wrote about in a rocket in the northern lights.
The village that woke up again
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, then reclaimed. Today the colourful houses stand along the harbour again, and in summer the cafés are full of life. The road out is narrow and hugs the sea, so drive slowly.
Stokmarknes and the Hurtigruten
It was in Stokmarknes that Richard With founded the Hurtigruten coastal express in 1893. The Hurtigruten Museum tells the story, and the old ship MS Finnmarken stands on land beside it. The town is also a natural overnight stop between Sortland and Lofoten.
Sortland, the blue town
Sortland is known as the blue town after an art project that painted many of its buildings blue. It is the region's shopping centre and sits on the Sortland strait, with a 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 over 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 to the sea, Andøya and Bø are among the best places to see them.
Where to stay in Vesterålen
Mountains outside the window
From Scandic Sortland you look straight out at the mountains across the Sortland strait.
Scandic Sortland
Scandic Sortland sits by the marina in the centre, close to Sortland Museum, and from several of the rooms you look straight out at the mountains across the strait. The hotel has its own restaurant and a sauna. A good choice if you want one base and day trips from there.
Book your stay: See rooms at Scandic Sortland
A lounge with a fjord view
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 founded the Hurtigruten, and has the marina right outside. From the lounge you look out over the fjord, and there is 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
A fireplace in the lobby
The fireplace in the lobby at 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. It has a fireplace in the lobby and a 24-hour gym, and Bleik beach is a short drive away. Guests rate it 9.4.
Book your stay: See rooms at Andenes Suite Hotel
Breakfast before the safari
Breakfast at Andrikken before the boat heads out whale watching.
Thon Hotel Andrikken
Andrikken is in the centre of Andenes, a quarter of an hour's walk from the Polar Museum and the Whale Centre. It has a bar and serves breakfast every morning, and the whale safari boats are close by. A practical choice if you are heading out to sea early.
Book your stay: See rooms at Thon Hotel Andrikken
Before you go
Hire a car. Distances are long and buses are infrequent. Read more about car hire in Norway. With a car you can see Andøya, Bø and Nyksund on the same trip.
Book whale safaris early in summer. Trips from Andenes fill up quickly in July.
Combine with Lofoten or Senja. Lofoten lies just to the south, and in summer a ferry runs from Andenes to Senja.
Vesterålen: frequently asked questions
Where is Vesterålen?
Vesterålen is in Nordland county in northern Norway, just north of Lofoten. The region is made up of the municipalities of Andøy, Bø, Hadsel, Sortland and Øksnes, spread across several islands.
What is the difference between Lofoten and Vesterålen?
The landscapes are related, with mountains running straight into the sea and white beaches. Vesterålen has fewer visitors and is known for whale watching from Andenes. Lofoten is better known and busier in summer.
When is the best time to visit Vesterålen?
June and July bring the midnight sun and the best time for whale watching and hiking. From September to April it is northern lights season. Whale safaris from Andenes run all year.
Where should I stay in Vesterålen?
Sortland is the best base, in the middle of the region. For whale watching, Andenes is the place, and Stokmarknes works well on the way between Sortland and Lofoten.
How do I get to Vesterålen?
There are airports at Andøya, Stokmarknes and Evenes, and the Hurtigruten calls at Sortland and Stokmarknes. By car you come from Lofoten to the south or from Evenes to the east.