Norway in summer: Fjords or Lofoten? Or Fjords near Lofoten?
 

Starting a new thread as originally I thought my husband and I would visit both the Fjords and Lofoten islands not realizing the distance between and time needed.
Now we're thinking we should narrow to one or the other. We're flying into Oslo in July and then considering if we should go to see the Fjords or take a jumper flight up to the Lofoten area (and possibly see the Fjords up there while visiting the islands). My questions are:
1) Fjords or Lofoten if have never been to Norway?
2) If Fjords, which area should we see? Which offer the most dramatic scenery?
3) If we do the Lofoten area (fly into Bodo), can we get a real feel of the Fjords by visiting them up there (i.e. Trollfjord) or should we just focus on the islands?

Many thanks in advance.

Also, can anyone tell me where this stock photo was taken? It's linked to many different places when I do a google search.
Attachment 3265

This is Reine in the Lofoten.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reine

Thank you!

Thanks BC, we're not big hikers - we're fit and don't mind a hike to see something spectacular but we're not the type to hike or trek all day. We prefer to drive to spots and take shorter hikes or walks from there.
Do you recommend Lofoten to the Fjords?
Senja looks spectacular! I wish I had a month to see more!

If you have at least 10 days in Norway I see no reason why could you not see a bit of both regions and you don't have to fly between them.

Taking the coastal ferry(Hurtigruten) or a train on the Nordland railway will be much more memorable experiences where the journey itself is the experience, it's not wasted time.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurtigruten

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nordland_Line

https://rail.cc/en/blog/bodo-trondheim-train

"However, the ships are slow and have a VERY odd schedules. The ships plough up and down the coast and act as part delivery ship, part posh(ish) cruise ship. The problem being is that they can arrive and leave the port you need at 3am."

The summer schedule is very convenient for a voyage from the western Fjords to the Lofoten.

Aalesund departure 19:30
Bodo arrival +1day 12:40

2 nights on the ship

https://www.hurtigruten.no/praktisk-...?season=Summer

Yes, but you can debark at Bodo at 1pm and take a local ferry to Moskenes.

Lofoten.

Thanks BDKR, I'd love to see both and love traveling by boat/train but was worried about spending the time traveling rather than having enough time in our destinations.
I didn't realize the flights could be an issue with a lot of cancellations.
Do you know if the 2 night boat trip just goes along the coast or if it includes some of the Fjords?
Also, I'm not sure how to read the arrival/departures. So I would take the boat from Alesun and not Bergen? And if so is the departure time listed is from Alesun and the arrival time when it gets into Bodo? Sorry if I'm being thick here but I don't see where to/from.

BC, I would definitely consider a small house rental. As for budget we tend to like higher end places while being somewhat budget conscious. We will splurge for something special. I'd love any recommendations if you're willing to share :)
I'd also love to see the whales! I'll check it out, but it may not be the right season? I wish we would be able to see the Auroras too but it's either the midnight sun or..and this is when we can go.

It sounds like the consensus is Lofoten, can I ask why Lofoten over Fjords if we had to choose just one? Are the Fjords up near Lofoten worthwhile or is the time better spent exploring the islands?

Thanks so much for the great input!

Unless I missed something you're still keeping the length of your trip a secret. If you have a week or less I'd stick to Oslo and the western fjords, the Norway in a Nutshell package or something less touristy if you have more than 2-3 days.

"love traveling by boat/train but was worried about spending the time traveling rather than having enough time in our destinations."

Well, Norway is your destination and you will still be in Norway on the ferry or the train and you get to see some amazing landscapes. OK, I'm not suggesting to spend 2 days travelling for only 2 days at your destinations. The question is still unanswered: How long is your trip?

The Hurtigruten ferries sail among the coastal islands, through open seas and some fjords as well. It's sort of like the Inside Passage of the Alaskan Marine Highway, but the largest, most spectacular fjords are in the west of Norway and they deserve as much time as you can afford. As you can see from the schedule the Hurtigruten ships sail into the Geiranger Fjord on the way from Bergen to Alesund.

I linked the Norwegian language site and I thought the schedule is clear without speaking Norwegian, but you could of course easily switch the site to English: https://global.hurtigruten.com/pract.../sailing-plan/
If reading a simple schedule like this is causing you difficulties, you may be better off letting a travel agency organise the trip for you.

" BC, I would definitely consider a small house rental."

Good idea, you can rent local fisherman's houses called rorbu. https://www.classicnorway.com/hotels...-rorbu-cabins/

"I'd also love to see the whales! I'll check it out, but it may not be the right season?

I think you have a good chance to see whales and you will certainly see lots of birds.

Lofoten over Fjords and I've seen both. And yes, Fjords like Geirangerfjord are overwhelmingly beautiful. Then I went to Lofoten and was just stunned. By the light, a kind of liquid luminosity that is almost physically present. Also the landscapes, the remoteness of it and island culture. Also, Lofoten is under pressure as Norway's oil and liquid gas industry is expanding, so see the area before it will have changed irrevocably.

BDKR,
LOL, my trip length certainly isn't a secret...all you need to do ask :) We have a one way ticket to Oslo at the moment and were thinking 7 days but could push it to 10 if we need to. If the ferry trip is spectacular and a "do not miss" experience we would consider if we need to add days for it vs possibly taking a day cruise in the Fjords and then flying up to Lofoten. Or skipping the Fjords all together (bc it takes to long to get to the departure point).
In terms of the ferry schedule, I did change it to English but either way it appears there's info missing that is normally on schedules. For instance for Bergen it says Arrival: 14:30 Departure: 21:30. I'm guessing it doesn't mean arrives at the port at 14:30 and sits there for 7 hours until it departs. When I look at the next port to see if maybe there is synergy the times don't seem to coordinate.
For every schedule I've ever used usually it says the departure from one port and an arrival time in the next port. (For example, this one: https://www.vallejobayferry.com/vallejo-ferry-schedule/vallejo-san-francisco-ferry-fleetweek-schedule-2014/)
I've spent over 30 years planning my own trips and have not had issue so I was hoping someone would be kind enough to explain how this one schedule works. If not, sure I can call a travel agent to see if they can tell me.

Menachem, thank you for explaining your thoughts on Lofoten and why over the Fjords. I think we're leaning toward Lofoten. Have you been to the Fjords in that area?

Also BDKR, thank you for the link for the Rorbu cabins, they look fantastic.
One more question for anyone who has been to Lofoten in the summer - there appear to be some beautiful beaches; however in looking at average water & air temps in July it seems too cold to swim. Can anyone comment on this?

"there appear to be some beautiful beaches; however in looking at average water & air temps in July it seems too cold to swim. Can anyone comment on this?"

You can swim if you want, not only in summer. It may help if you have Nordic genes. :-)


"For instance for Bergen it says Arrival: 14:30 Departure: 21:30. I'm guessing it doesn't mean arrives at the port at 14:30 and sits there for 7 hours until it departs."

Yes, it stays there for 7 hours. Bergen is the home port of the ships and that's where they turn around.

First column port of call, 2nd column arrival to that port, 3rd column departure from that port

As you can see the interval is only 10 minutes at smaller ports, but can be much longer at larger ports(3 hours in Trondheim for example).

If you have 10 days you may do:

Oslo - Myrdal - Flam by train, Flam - Gudvangen by ferry, Gudvangen - Voss by bus, Voss - Bergen by train. This trip is marketed as Norway in a Nutshell by travel agencies who sell it as a package.

https://www.norwaynutshell.com/original-tour/

Hurtigruten ferry from Bergen to Trondheim(2 nights) via the Geirangerfjord.

Trondheim - Bodo by train, ferry to Lofoten.