Værøy

Værøy is a small island in the Lofoten archipelago. The island has a mountainous ridge running through the center and flat farmland below the mountains. It is famous both for its scenery and the abundance of puffins who nest here over the summer.

Cities
There are less than 800 inhabitants on the island, and most of them live in the town Sørland, in the flat farmland between the mountains.

Understand
Værøy is known to be the North-most point on Earth without a meteorological winter (i.e., the average temperature does not go below zero during winter). This said, it does freeze occasionally in winter. Most important, the weather can change very fast, and you can experience two seasons a day (fall and winter — do not expect any summer around here).

Talk
Norwegian of course. Most people speak English, though a little less than in the rest of Norway.

By helicopter
Plane flights are discontinued since a plane accident in 1990. However, helicopter flights are still possible from Bodø (total flight time: 25 minutes). Return flights depart from Værøy 20mn after arrival (i.e., at 9h45 and 17h15) Booking: Lufttransport (phone: 75431800).
 * Departure 9h from Bodø, arrival 9h25 in Værøy
 * Departure 16h30 from Bodø, arrival 16h55 in Værøy

By ferry
Værøy is located around 1h30 by ferry from Moskenes and 5h45 from Bodø (via Røst). Ferries are operated by Torghatten Nord. There is no ferry terminal strictly speaking, but a small waiting room, toilets, and a tourist information that is only open during the first 30 minutes following the ferry arrival. From the ferry, it is a 2km walk to Sørland.

From Moskenes (Rute 18-782)
Less connections outside of the summer. Price: 83 NOK (one way) for car, free for people.
 * Departure 8h15 from Moskenes, arrival only 10h45 at Værøy (everyday except Sunday, as of summer 2020).
 * Departure 22h15 from Værøy, arrival 23h59 (!) at Moskenes (everyday except Saturday, as of summer 2015).

By ferry from Bodø (Rute 18-782)
Two boats per day from Bodø:
 * Departure 4.30am from Bodø, arrival 11.30am in Værøy (everyday except Sunday, as of summer 2015)
 * Departure 4.30pm from Bodø, arrival 10.15pm (or 7.45pm on Tuesday), everyday except Saturday, as of summer 2015

By public transportation
There is no public transportation on Værøy. Taxi service:

By car
A large part of the island (in the West) is not reachable by car, and can be reached by foot only after a long walk passing by Nordland in the North of Værøy. As of 2015, the road to the summit Heia is closed for cars. Hence, a car is quite useless on Værøy.

By foot
Certainly the best way to explore Værøy. An alternative is to cycle up to Nordland, and explore the rest of the island on foot. But this rules out the possibility to then climb to Heia and go back to Sørland, which can only be made on foot.

See

 * Several Viking-era ruins on the island.
 * Puffins, who nest here over the summer; however, they will be gone by early August.
 * Several Viking-era ruins on the island.
 * Puffins, who nest here over the summer; however, they will be gone by early August.
 * Several Viking-era ruins on the island.
 * Puffins, who nest here over the summer; however, they will be gone by early August.
 * Puffins, who nest here over the summer; however, they will be gone by early August.

Beaches
Swim on the numerous white sand beaches of the island. Do not forget that the water is quite cold, even in summer...
 * Sørlandshagen beach
 * Sørlandshagen beach
 * Sørlandshagen beach

Hiking
Many hiking paths on the island, e.g.: Paths are clearly marked, and generally in good state. This said, some paths are not easy at all, as they can become very steep, especially between Nordlanshagen and Hornet. In any case, expect much wind! Also note that the maps given by the tourist information (and available at several points in Værøy) are quite erratic.
 * Going to the Nordlanshagen beach following the road (6km from Sørland)
 * Hiking to the Heia peak (2h one way from Sørland, 2h one way from Nordlanshagen).
 * Going to the Western (and much less reachable) part of the island (> 2h starting from Nordlanshagen), up to Måstad.

Buy
Due to the limited choice and the high prices, better bring your own food from the mainland.

Eat
No real restaurant, except the Cafè Supern (see below).

Drink
There is a single café on the island.

Stay safe
The most likely undesired event is to fall while hiking, or to catch a cold due to the bad weather. Other than that, the island is perfectly safe.

Connect
Mobile phone networks do not cover the entire island. Concerning Internet, only edge network is available, and only in parts of the island (as of 2015). Free Wi-Fi is available at the Cafè Supern.

Go next

 * Røst, another island further south-west
 * Moskenes, on the island of Moskenesøya in the Lofoten archipelago
 * Bodø, on the mainland