The Andenes Lighthouse can be visited on a guided tour that includes climbing the stairs. The tour includes an exhibition, the lighthouse’s history and views from the top. It offers a direct introduction to Andøy’s maritime side. Check details of the guided tours before your trip.

Museums and Maritime History

The Andøymuseet has branches in Andenes and Risøyhamn. Risøyhamn is also home to an open-air museum with five buildings. The museum’s boathouse houses the large Fembøring Haakon, built in Helgeland in 1880. Opening hours at the open-air museum may vary; check visiting options in advance.

The Risøyhamnmartnaden takes place every year in July. It features stalls, refreshments and an open museum. Check the dates and programme for the relevant year if you want to plan your visit around the festival.

Space and Art

The Andøya Space visitor centre offers a virtual journey to Mars. Visitors can also learn more about aurora research and the history of Andøya Space. Access to the visitor centre is seasonal, so check visiting options in advance. Spaceship Aurora offers activities for space enthusiasts of all ages. The current programme may change, so it is worth checking before your visit.

Atelier Nøss offers a different cultural focus: it is an artist-run gallery and studio in Nøss, a small village on the island of Andøya. Alongside maritime history and space, it brings art and a specific small island village into focus.

Bird Cliffs and Nature Experiences

Bleiksøya is a protected area in Andøy. To protect its wildlife and birdlife, access is prohibited at certain times of the year; check the current local regulations before visiting. More than 80,000 pairs of puffins breed on Bleiksøya. Numbers and wildlife conditions can vary by season.

Puffin Safari takes visitors to the bird cliff at Bleiksøya in a traditional fishing boat. Departures are seasonal; check tour availability before your trip. Kayaking from the sea is also possible on Andøya. Sea conditions and tour availability may vary. At Stave Beach, the Stave Beach Sauna is just a few steps from the sea.

Routes and Getting There

The Norwegian Scenic Route Andøya runs between Andenes and Bjørnskinn. It is part of National Cycle Route 1 and also follows EuroVelo 1, the “Atlantic Coast Route”. Weather and road conditions affect the route. Telltur lists 32 routes across Andøy and offers another resource for planning. Choose a route to suit your interests and take local conditions into account.

Hurtigruten calls at Risøyhamn twice daily, year-round. In summer, there is also a daily ferry service between Andenes and Gryllefjord on Senja. The ferry service is seasonal, and timetables may change. Check the latest departures if you are planning your arrival or other arrangements around them.

Discover more destinations: Fiskenes, Andøy, Risøyhamn, Dverberg, Nøss, Andenes, Sortland, Moskenes.

Back to the main travel overview: Lofoten.