Lofoten roads are scenic, and quite narrow. The main road E10 is a national scenic route. You can drive all thew way from Svolvær to Å in about 2.5 hours, and there is a lot to see along the way.
Don’t worry about driving distances, you will not be bored. Driving 1 hour in Lofoten is something completely different from driving 1 hour somewhere less scenic – like Oslo, where a 20 minute drive is “long”.
Visit Norway has some general information about driving in Norway, and How difficult is driving in Lofoten in winter? will tell you everything you need to know about (not) driving in Lofoten in winter. See also: Driving licences in Norway and abroad.
95% of new cars sold in Norway are electric, and there are fast, public charges several places in Lofoten and elsewhere. Lillevik has an EV charger, free for guests, so you can charge the car over night, and spend no time on it. You probably don’t need to charge during the day: Lillevik – Svolvær – Å – Lillevik is 280 km (5+ hours), and much more than a typical day’s driving.
Both the Gimsøystraumen bridge and the Raftsundet bridge (on the road to/from Evenes airport) close in strong wind, and can be closed for several hours. There is no alternative route.
An example of winter driving in Lofoten, near Lillevik at Gimsøy:
When planning drives you obviously have to consider the weather (yr.no) and road conditions (175.no).
Below are some general driving tips, in semi-random order.
Maps and road information
- The official source for road information is Statens vegvesen: 175.no. They also have weather information (from yr.no – see Lofoten weather) and web cameras so you can see the current conditions.
- Don’t rely 100 % on Google Maps or other unofficial apps or services. They sometimes give bad routes and directions, and have incorrect information about road closures, etc.
- Follow the road signs, not Google. What may seem like a shortcut on Google Maps is probably not. Some narrow roads may have an 80 km/h speed limit, even though no sane person would consider that safe. In reality it has no speed limit, and drivers must drive according to the conditions. Still: Google considers road’s speed limit equal to a highway, and some tourists (and even tour buses) choose the narrow road instead of the main one.
Driving speed
- Don’t drive too slowly, and let others pass. You may want to drive 40-50 km/h in an 80 zone to enjoy the landscape, but you are not alone in the world. Try to drive close to 80 km/h. If you want to look at the nature: Park somewhere safe.
- The gray sign with “60” and four diagonal lines across means the 60 km/h zone ends, and that the speed limit is now 80 km/h. Same with “50” and diagonal lines. Don’t be “that tourist” continuing in 40 or 60 km/h in the 80 zone.
- If you have a car behind you: Let it pass you as soon as possible. On a clear stretch: Blink to the right to signal that you can be overtaken. It may be helpful to slow down a little too.
- If the car behind you flashes its lights, it’s probably because you are driving too slow. Let it pass you.
- If an oncoming car flashes its lights, it may be warning you of an accident, moose on the road, or another hazard. Or that your headlights are off.
- Respect the speed limit. If it’s 50 or 60 km/h, it’s for a reason – probably because it’s a populated area, there are sheep, pedestrian crossings, etc. The size of the fines may surprise you: Drive 81 km/h in a 60 zone and you may get a NOK 13,050 fine (1100 EUR).
- In Norway, there is zero tolerance for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Even small amounts can cost you your license and may lead to jail. The fines are based on your income and can be very high.
Stopping and parking
- Don’t stop in the middle of the road to take photos, and don’t drive slowly to take photos either. If you want to take photos: Find somewhere safe and legal to park, and walk to where you want to take the photo. Wear a hi-viz vest if it’s dark.
- Narrow roads without a center line often have some slightly wider passing places marked with blue “M” signs (“møteplass” in Norwegian). Those spots are meant for situations where two vehicles are too wide to pass on the road itself – such as a tractor. Don’t stop or park there, because you’ll be in the way for everyone.
- Learn where it’s legal to park. It’s illegal to park on a road where the speed limit more than 50 km/h. Since it’s illegal to drive – and of course park – offroad, you may not be able to park exactly where you want to, so you may have to walk a little.
- All parking lots where you have to pay are required to have a sign with information. The Easypark app is popular, but you pay a 15% premium over paying directly.
- Don’t drive off road. All off road driving and parking is illegal in Norway. Don’t “make your own parking space” on the side of the road. Vegetation can take several years to grow back after someone in a camper van has driven a few meters offroad just to stay in a nice spot for one or two nights.
- Respect the “no parking” and “no camping” signs. The right to roam is not for driving, and does not mean that you are entitled to park or camp everywhere. As a tourist you are not equally qualified as locals to decide whether you are a nuisance or burden. It should not be necessary with all the signs, but sadly it is.
Other driving tips
- Learn how wide your car is, and drive on your side of the road, as close to the white line as possible. Most roads are wide enough for two normal cars to pass each other, but only if both cars are driving properly on their side, and not 1 meter from the white line and “in the middle” of the road.
- Lofoten roads usually don’t have a shoulder. If you drive outside the white line, the ground may simply give away, and you end up in the ditch. This is especially important if you are driving a large motorhome (“campingbil” in Norwegian), or even one of those expedition trucks – which are completely pointless in Norway. In winter there are “tourist holes” in the snow along most roads, where tourists in rental cars have had accidents.
More information: How to get to Lofoten, and get around: Airports, ferries, rental cars, buses, etc.
