Svolvær Helle Airport: where to stay, areas and recommended hotels

Helle airport is about 5-6 km from Svolvær, 10 minutes by car or taxi with no direct buses: the town is nonetheless the only sensible base, since all the area's hotels are concentrated there. The harbour remains the centre of everything, with the main hotels facing the quays; those who want to sleep in traditional rorbuer, the fishermen's cottages, need to move to the small island of Svinøya, connected to the town by a bridge and also reachable on foot in a quarter of an hour.

Svolvær and the harbour

City centre · About 5-6 km and 10 minutes by car or taxi from the airport; no direct bus dedicated to flights.

Best for: Those who want to stay right on the harbour quays, a short walk from restaurants, buses and shops.

Pros

Hotels literally on the quays, 50 metres from the bus terminal and the centre
The widest choice of restaurants and organised excursions (fjords, fishing, northern lights watching)

Cons

No hotel near the runway: 10 minutes of transfer are still necessary
In high season harbour prices rise more than elsewhere in town

Recommended hotels in this area

Thon Hotel Svolvær: 50 metres from the centre and the bus terminal, with a floating sauna on the pier and views of the Vestfjord; the newer of Svolvær's two Thon hotels.
Thon Hotel Lofoten: On Svolvær's harbour, renovated in 2016-17, with the Paleo Arctic restaurant specialising in fish and local Lofoten dishes served on the quay.
Anker Brygge: Rooms in authentic fishermen's houses on a small island in the heart of the harbour, about 150 metres from the main square; the Kjøkkenet restaurant specialises in Lofoten cuisine.

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Svinøya

Neighbourhood · About 5-6 km from the airport to Svolvær, plus crossing the Svinøya bridge (350 metres): by car a few minutes more than to the harbour, on foot from the centre about a quarter of an hour.

Best for: Those who want to sleep in a genuine historic rorbu, accepting to cross the bridge for every restaurant or shop.

Pros

Original fishermen's cottages, some dating back to the nineteenth century, renovated while keeping their historic look
An isolated atmosphere yet within walking distance of the harbour, with views over the fjord entrance

Cons

No restaurant or shop on the small island: you cross the bridge for everything
In winter the walk across the wind-exposed bridge is uncomfortable with luggage

Recommended hotels in this area

Svinøya Rorbuer: Svolvær's best-known rorbuer complex, restored fishermen's houses on the small island of Svinøya with views over sea and mountains; among the most highly rated properties in the whole of Lofoten.

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