Melbu offers a range of ways to enjoy a stay: the park at Melbo Hovedgård, with a self-guided trail exploring flora and cultural heritage; the Norsk Fiskeindustrimuseum; and the cycling tour around Hadseløya, which starts and ends in the village. Culture and outdoor activity take centre stage, each with a clear focus. The wider destination of Hadsel also offers other places and activities with their own distinctive themes.

Park and fishing history in Melbu

Melbo Hovedgård is set in a beautiful park in the centre of Melbu. The museum garden has a self-guided trail with clues about flora and cultural heritage. The trail is available, but opening times may vary. Its self-guided format and two themes give the activity a clear focus. Those interested in plants and cultural history will find a different experience here than at the museum.

The Norsk Fiskeindustrimuseum is now housed in the former production premises of the Neptun Sildoljefabrikk in Melbu, Nordland. The history of the fishing industry is therefore also part of what the village has to offer. The museum focuses on the fishing industry, while the museum garden trail combines flora and cultural heritage.

Cycling around Hadseløya

The cycling tour around Hadseløya starts and ends in Melbu. It is 42 kilometres long and follows flat, easy-to-cycle terrain. Alongside the local cultural attractions, it offers a clearly defined circular route. The distance and terrain give the cycling option its own character, setting it apart from the self-guided trail in the museum garden.

The tour also offers a glimpse of Hadseløya’s rich wildlife, including eagles. Choosing between the two activities therefore comes down to different interests: the garden trail explores flora and cultural heritage, while the cycling tour covers a 42-kilometre loop and the island’s wildlife. You can shape your stay around either Melbu’s cultural attractions or the cycling tour.

Hadsel in a wider context

Within the wider destination of Hadsel, the Neptun Sildoljefabrikk is located on the small island of Svinøya, off the south side of Hadseløya in Vesterålen. This technical industrial heritage site illustrates the fishing industry from the late 19th century through the 20th century. Guided tours of the exterior can be booked. This historical focus complements the fishing history of the Norsk Fiskeindustrimuseum in Melbu with a look at earlier industrial production.

Hiking and cultural history are also part of what Hadsel has to offer. The Møysalen Nasjonalparksenter is a national park centre at Møysalen National Park in Hennes, in the municipality of Hadsel, Nordland. There are several starting points for hikes to Møysalen, as well as routes of varying lengths and difficulty. Hadsel’s Kulturminneparken is an open-air museum showcasing a variety of cultural heritage sites and presenting Hadsel’s cultural history.

Connected cross-country ski trails run between Stokmarknes, Lekangmarka and Melbu. Hadsel offers several ways to get active: a 42-kilometre cycling tour starting and ending in Melbu, hiking trails to Møysalen of varying lengths and difficulty, and connected cross-country ski trails linking three places.

Find a hotel in Melbu

If you’re including other activities in Hadsel, it’s worth deciding first which themes and places you’d like to visit.

Discover more destinations: Hennes, Stokmarknes, Myrland, Grytting, Tengelfjorden, Tengelfjord

View the main travel overview: Hadsel.