The picturesque fishing village Reine, with its scenic landscape of Reinefjord and the small islands, is dotted with red fishermen’s cottages and hugged in between steep mountains that rise straight up from the sea. It is one of Norway’s most photographed villages, and you have probably seen photos from Reine on Instagram. You could say that Reine has become almost synonymous with Lofoten, as it is often chosen as the front cover of traveling books and brochures about Lofoten and Norway.
Reine consists of several small islands, all connected by bridges. There’s Sakrisøya island, where you’ll find Anitas Seafood restaurant and shop, famous for its fishburger. On the island Hamnøy, is Eliassen Rorbuer Accommodation, one of those iconic Reine photo spots.
Reine is all about those fishermen’s cabins, called rorbuer in Norwegian, and this is the perfect place to stay at a traditional (now renovated and modernized) rorbu.
A boat trip on Reinefjorden is a spectacular way to see Reine and its surrounding landscape. You can get off the ferry at Vindstad and walk over to Bunes Beach, a hidden gem and one of Norway’s most stunning beaches.
The village has been a huge inspiration for artists and films like the Disney movie Frozen and has been featured in theme parks like Disney’s Epcot in Florida (which has a Norwegian pavilion), Legoland (which has built a mini version of Reine in their theme park in Billund, Denmark), and Medurodam in The Hague in the Netherlands.
You can do activities like hiking, kayaking, SUP (stand-up paddling), or go on a fishing trip. At Reine Cultural Center, there is the Harr art gallery, where you will find beautiful paintings by Eva Harr.
So bring your camera, mobile phone, and tripod, and head to Reine to see those breathtaking Lofoten photos on Instagram with your own eyes! You will not be disappointed.
Reine is almost as far west as you can get in Lofoten (only Å is further out) and is a 2-hour drive from Svolvær city. If you take the ferry from Bodø to Lofoten (Moskenes), Reine is the first village you reach and your starting point for your Lofoten adventure.
Also, check out our recommended Lofoten itinerary and our ultimate Lofoten Travel Guide to start planning your Lofoten trip.
Reine Travel Guide – What To Do in Reine
This Reine travel guide gives you the best things to do and see in Reine in Lofoten and the best places to stay and eat. Reine’s top attractions, sights, and activities are listed and highlighted on a map, including where to take those iconic and stunning Reine photos. Have a great time exploring Reine! ♥
Table of Contents:
A Brief History Of Reine
Reine has been an important fishing village and has traded fish (especially cod and stockfish) since 1743.
The Germans partially burned down Reine in December 1941 during World War II, which sadly ruined many of the old rorbuer and the downtown area.
Today, photos from Reine and the famous mountain Reinebringen are on the cover of many tourist brochures, guides, webpages, and books.
Even Coca-Cola loves Reine and picked the small village as the place to launch their campaign “Coca-Cola Life” in Norway. They held an outdoor event here in January 2015, and almost all residents of Reine participated.
What To Do In Reine – The 8 Top Things
Rorbuer, Fjord Cruise, Hiking & Art Gallery
The map above: Reine Travel Guide – What To Do (purple), Best Photo Spots (black), Where To Eat (red), Where To Stay (yellow), Where To Park (blue), Day Trips (green)
Here we give you the best things to do in Reine, a list of the top eight attractions and activities in and around Reine village. Pick the best things that suit you based on your interests and how much time you have to spend in this area of Lofoten.
The 8 top things to do in Reine (in our opinion):
- Picturesque Fishermen’s Cabins/ Rorbuer – The best photo spots
- Reinefjord Sightseeing Cruise (available May – mid-September)
- Wildlife Sightseeing to Værøy Island (available May – mid-September)
- Kayaking
- Hiking – Reinebringen Mountain
- Art Gallery Harr
- Lofoten Toy Museum
- Yoga
1. Fishermen’s Cabins/ Rorbuer
One of the main reasons for visiting Reine in Lofoten is its breathtaking and picturesque surroundings and landscape. This tiny fishing village is surrounded by steep mountains shooting out of the fjord Reinefjorden, sea, small islands, inlets, and fjords.
The small islands are dotted with cozy red and yellow fishermen’s cabins (called rorbuer) along the shore. It is a stunning sight, and as we walk around the village, I totally get why Reine has become a huge hit on Instagram!
What Is A Rorbu?
A Rorbu or fishermen’s cabin is a traditional Norwegian house used as a temporary home for fishermen when fishing along the coast of Lofoten during the cod (“skrei” in Norwegian) season (January – April).
Rorbuer is typical for Norway’s Lofoten and Vesterålen areas, and rorbu is a North Norwegian word. But you can find these kinds of seasonal fishermen’s cabins all along the Norwegian coast from Sunnmøre and up north to Finnmark. However, in the southern part of Norway, they are called “fiskarstove,” which means fisherman’s house.
Rorbuer was extremely important back in the old days when men from all over Northern Norway went cod fishing in Lofoten during the winter. They used open wooden boats with no housing or sleeping accommodation onboard. A rorbu was a small cabin, used as a shelter and a place to get warm, eat, sleep, rest, and dry your clothes in between the fishing.
A rorbu in the old days contained bunk beds where the whole crew of one boat could sleep, a small kitchen area, and usually a table and some chairs. The typical rorbuer were placed close to the sea and the harbor so that the fishermen easily and quickly could get back and from their boat. That way, they could lift their fishing gear and clothes directly from the boat and into the rorbu.
The fishermen could own the rorbu themselves (have built it or bought it), or they could rent a rorbu from the lord of the manor (called a “væreier” in Norwegian) of an area. Fun fact: My great grandfather was the “væreier” of Stamsund in Lofoten and rented out rorbuer to fishermen during the cod fishing season.
Modern Rorbu Today
Today, most of the old rorbuer in Lofoten has been renovated into cozy rental cabins. Here you can stay in modern comfort end enjoy a private bathroom with toilet and shower, bedrooms with kingsize beds, a living room with a sofa, and tv, and a fully-equipped kitchen. Some even have a fireplace, sauna, and jacuzzi. And most rorbuer have a balcony or patio overlooking the sea where you can sit and enjoy the northern lights or midnight sun.
Many of the rorbuer you find in Lofoten today are newly built too, and the only resemblance between the new rorbuer and the old rorbuer is the location by the seashore. The rorbuer is also no longer only rented out to fishermen but tourists and travelers like us. 🙂
You will find rorbuer, especially the old traditional ones, in and close to fishing villages. There are several fishing villages with rorbuer in Lofoten, and Reine is the most famous and picturesque of them all.
Lofoten’s 3 Most Famous & Picturesque Rorbuer Are In Reine
Three of Lofoten’s most popular and famous rorbuer are located in and around Reine:
- Eliassen Rorbuer
- Sakrisøy Rorbuer
- Reine Rorbuer
Read more about these three rorbuer/ fishermen’s cabins and how you can stay there in the section “Where To Stay In Reine” further down in this article.
The 3 Best Places To Photograph Reine
Reine is an authentic fishing village and thus has several rorbuer, more than any other fishing village in Lofoten.
You can find three of Lofoten’s most breathtaking and popular photo spots in Reine (they are plotted on the map further up in this article):
Photo spot 1: Hamnoy Island/ Eliassen Rorbuer
The most famous photo spot in Lofoten is the red Eliassen Rorbuer on Hamnoy Island with the fjord and mountains as a backdrop (see the photo below). You will see this landscape photo all over Instagram, just search for “Lofoten”.
How to get there: When driving into the village Reine from the north, you will cross several small bridges and islands. One of these bridges is Hamnoy Bridge. Park your car on the small island Hamnoy on the east side of the bridge. Walk onto the Hamnoy bridge and set up your camera/ phone on the pavement.
Photospot 2: Sakrisoy Island/ Sakrisøy Rorbuer
The next Reine photo spot is on the small bridge connecting the two islands Olenilsøya and Sakrisøy.
From there, you will be able to capture the stunning Sakrisøy island with the yellow rorbuer dotted along the shore with the bridges, sea, and mountains as a foreground and background:
How to get there: Park your car on either Olenilsøya or Sakrisøy. Walk onto the small bridge and along the shoreline of Olenilsøya.
Photospot 3: Reine Village
The most iconic and famous photo of Reine village itself is, however, taken from photo spot no. 3.
Here you will get the perfect shot of Reine village with the mountain Olstinden in the background and the fjord straight ahead, encircled by rorbuer. And if you are lucky, the Olstinden mountain will make a beautiful reflection on the fjord as well.
How to get there: Park your car at the Reine parking lot, where you turn off the road E10 to drive down to the central Reine area. Walk along the road to Reine, and stop by the side of the road in the bay Gravdalsbukta.
2. Reinefjord Sightseeing Cruise
To fully explore Reine and its surroundings of fjords, small islands, and inlets, you should consider going on the 1,5-hour Reinefjorden Sightseeing Cruise.
The Reinefjorden Sightseeing Cruise takes you to some of the most stunning fjords of Lofoten.
The boat stops at several beautiful places along the coast where you can stretch your feet and take photos. You can also go on hiking trips if you want, to two of Lofoten’s most stunning beaches – Horseidstranda and Bunes Beach. The Reinefjorden Sightseeing Cruise has several departures each day, so you can use it as a hop-on-hop-off cruise to do hiking.
Reinefjorden Sightseeing Cruise – Summer
- Season: May – mid-September
- Estimated time: 1,5 hours
The Reinefjord Sightseeing Cruise is a fantastic way to see the beautiful fjords, mountains, and waterfalls surrounding Reine.
From the ship, you have a stunning fjord and mountain view, and the local English-speaking guide will tell you interesting and fun stories about the history, wildlife, and geography of your surroundings as you glide through the sea.
The boat makes several stops along the way:
- Hamnoy Island
- Rostad (photo stop)
- Kirkefjord/ Kjerkefjorden (photo stop, hiking opportunity to Horseid Beach)
- Vindstad (photo stop, cafe, hiking opportunity to Bunes Beach and Helvetestinden mountain)
- Forsfjorden (photo stop)
At both Kirkefjord/ Kjerkefjorden and Vinstand, you can get off the boat and go for a hike in the Lofoten National Park. You can, for instance, walk to the scenic beaches Horseid and/ or Bunes (see further down under the section “4. Hiking“). If you go hiking, you can take a later boat back to Reine as there are five boat departures each day.
There is a cafe at Vindstad during summer. But I recommend that you bring some food, snacks, and drinks, as well as warm clothes if you plan on going hiking. The weather shifts fast in Lofoten so always be prepared for wind and rain.
If you don’t want to go hiking, you can just stay on board during the boat trip. The entire boat trip takes about 1,5 hours back and forth.
You can choose between different departure times, there are five departure times in total each day. You can board the boat from either Reine or Hamnoy Island (for instance if you are staying at Eliassen Rorbuer which is located on Hamnoy). Departure times from Reine: 9:00 AM, 10:45 AM, 1:30 PM, 3:15 PM, and 5:00 PM. Departure times from Hamnoy: 9:15 AM, 11:00 AM, 1:45 PM, 3:30 PM, and 5:15 PM.
Since the cruise has several departures each day, you can use it as a hop-on-hop-off boat, and go hiking.
Click here for more info and availability on the Reinefjorden Sightseeing Cruise
The Local Reinefjorden Ferry
Another option to see the Reinefjorden by sea is to take the local ferry. It is a little bit cheaper than the sightseeing cruise, but is not so flexible and does not stop along the way for photo spots. The local ferry also does not have an English-speaking tour guide.
The local Reinefjorden ferry (ferry 18-773) takes you from downtown Reine and out on the Reinefjord. The ferry stops at Kjerkfjorden/ Kirkefjord (where you can hike to Horseid Beach) and Vinstad (where you can hike to Bunes Beach).
Another option is to just stay on board the ferry all the way back to Reine, like a roundtrip. The ferry roundtrip from Reine and back to Reine takes 1 h and 10 min and runs all year round (winter and summer).
Check the ferry schedule at ReisNordland.no or download the Reinefjorden ferry schedule here.
3. Wildlife Sightseeing To Værøy Island
- Season: May – mid-September
- Estimated time: A full-day trip (9 hours), 9:00 AM – 18:00/ 6 PM
Lofoten has unique wildlife, especially at sea and on the islands, and a great way to experience it is to join a wildlife sightseeing tour to the fantastic Værøy, famous for its thousands of puffins that nest on the island.
On this wildlife sightseeing tour, you will get a chance to see and photograph the white-tailed sea eagle, razorbills, and last but not least the cute puffins with their special and colorful beak. If you are lucky, you can also spot humpback whales and orcas out hunting for herring and mackerel.
The boat trip out to Værøy is beautiful, where you can enjoy the fjord and mountain landscape of Lofotodden National Park. You will also cross one of the strongest current in the world – Moskenes current. Such a fun experience.
You can choose to depart from Hamnøy at 9:00 AM, from Reine at 9:30 AM, or from Å at 10:15 AM. When you arrive at Værøy Island around 11:30 AM, the boat will be docked in the Værøy harbor for four hours.
During these four hours you are free to explore the island on your own by foot or bicycle. Highlights of Værøy are: the fishing village Sørland, the lighthouse at Røssnesvåg, Værøy Church (Lofoten’s oldest, constructed in 1740), and the old and abandoned airport runway.
You can also hike Håen Mountain (also called Håheia), 438 m tall. The hike takes around one hour, and the panoramic view from the top is amazing and well worth the hike! Or you can join guided tours provided by small local businesses on Værøy.
The boat will depart from Værøy at 3:30 PM/ 15:30. On the way back, the kiosk on board will be open, serving food and drinks. Same as on departure, you can choose which place you want to disembark – Å, Reine or Hamnøy. The whole wildlife sightseeing tour to Vaeroy takes about nine hours in total.
Værøy Island
The beautiful island Værøy is one of the southern-most islands in Lofoten with only 728 inhabitants. Most of its inhabitants live in the fishing village of Sørland where also the main harbor is situated. The island has a long history and was established as the municipality of Værøy 1st of January 1838.
The island’s name Værøy consists of the word “vær” meaning weather in English, and “øy” which means island, referring to the exposed and unsheltered position of the island far out at sea. The weather can still be quite rough out here, especially during winter, so bring warm and wind- and rainproof clothes.
Puffin
Værøy is especially famous for puffins, which nest on the island in huge numbers every summer. In fact, Værøy’s coat of arms is a puffin on a blue background. Puffins were important for the people of Værøy in the old days, both for meat and eggs but also for their feathers and down. Puffin down was very valuable and used in blankets and pillows.
Today the puffin is endangered and on the red protection list. It is strictly forbidden to hunt puffins or collect puffin eggs.
The puffins are so cute and look a bit like small penguins with their black and white body. The most striking feature is, however, its beak which is grey during winter and turns into a rainbow color of orange, blue, and yellow during spring and summer during mating season. Its colorful beak is why it is nicknamed sea parrot.
Click here for more info and availability on the Wildlife Sightseeing To Vaeroy
4. Kayaking
If you want a more active way of seeing Reine from the seaside, you should head out on the Reinefjord in a kayak.
Reine is one of the best places in Lofoten to go kayaking, with beautiful fjords and small islands surrounding it. It is a good place for beginners to try out kayaking as the Reinefjorden is calm and sheltered. You can go kayaking the whole year-round unless the weather is awful.
Kayaking In Reinefjord
- Estimated time: 3 hours
On this Kayaking in Reinefjord tour, a professional kayaking guide will take you out on the fjord. This is a beginner-friendly tour, so no prior kayaking experience is needed. All equipment needed is included in this tour, also life west/ jacket.
Click here to check availability and the latest prices
Also, Reine Adventure runs kayaking tours from Reine. Schibevaag Adventure rents out paddleboarding (SUP) at Sakrisoy.
5. Hiking
Reinebringen – 448 m
- Estimated time: 2-3 hours to the top and back down
- Distance: 1,7 km (steep terrain, a stone staircase)
- Hiking Level: Medium
The most popular hike in Lofoten is Reinebringen. And for a good reason; the panoramic view from the top is spectacular! You can see down on the houses in Reine with the stunning fjords Reinefjorden, Kjerkfjorden, and Vorfjorden as a backdrop. It is probably the most famous viewpoint in the whole of Lofoten, and Reinebringen is visited by thousands of people each year.
It is a medium challenging hike as it is pretty steep and not suitable for those who fear heights. However, the path up to Reinebringen has become a little easier to walk since sherpas from Nepal built a stone staircase along the mountain path in 2018. Reinebringen even has its own Facebook page where you can see the latest updates and info before going on your hike.
Reinebringen is a summer hike. Therefore, there might be a risk of landslides, avalanches, and falling rocks in autumn, winter, and spring (when there is snow and rain).
The path to Reinebringen starts next to the tunnel, but you must park at the parking lot at Reinehalsen (along the E10 road to Reine, see the map above). Then, walk along E10 road for a couple of hundred meters past the tunnel (walk on the old road outside the tunnel). Finally, you will see the path just past the tunnel.
Horseid Beach
- Estimated time: 1-2 hours from Kjerkfjorden ferry port
- Distance: 4,5 km (flat terrain)
- Hiking Level: Easy (suitable for kids)
Horseid is a fantastic 2 km white sandy beach on the “outside” of Lofoten. Steep mountains surround the beach. There are two ways of getting to Horseid Beach:
- The shortest walk: Take the Reinefjorden Sightseeing Cruise or the local ferry from Reine to Kjerkfjorden (ferry 18-773, runs daily, a 15 min ferry trip, check the ferry schedule at ReisNordland.no). When you step off the ferry, turn right at the pier and follow the signs. Walking time from Kjerkfjorden to Horseid Beach: 1-2 hours one way (easy walk, also suitable for kids).
- A longer walk: Drive to Selfjord and park where the road ends. About 50 m from the parking lot, you will see the trail next to the cabin Selfjordhytta. Walking time from Selfjorden to Horseid Beach: 3-4 hours one way.
Make sure to be back at Kjerkfjorden to catch the return ferry back to Reine.
Bunes Beach & Helvetestinden Mountain (602 m)
- Estimated time from Vindstad ferry port to Bunes Beach: 40 min
- Distance: 2,5 km
- Hiking Level: Easy (suitable for kids)
Bunes Beach is also a stunning stretch of white sand with turquoise water.
For a more challenging hike, you can climb the neighboring mountain Helvetestinden to get that impressive Instagram shot of the curving white beach tucked in between steep mountains and fjords. Helvetestinden means “hell mountain,” by the way. 🙂
To get to Bunes Beach, you must take the Reinefjorden Sightseeing Cruise or the local ferry from Reine to Vindstad (the same ferry that goes to Kjerkfjorden and Horseid Beach, ferry 18-773, runs daily, check the ferry schedule at ReisNordland.no).
From the ferry pier at Vindstad, follow the gravel road along the east side of Bunesfjorden until you reach the end of the fjord. Here you follow the old narrow dirt track road uphill (to Einangen, 70 m high) and follow the track downhill on the other side of the hill until you reach Bunes Beach. It’s an easy walk that takes about 40 min. Suitable also for kids.
If you want to hike up to the mountain Helvetestiden, turn right at the top of the hill Einangen instead of downhill towards the beach. Follow the mountain edge up to Brunaksla and the mountain Brunakseltinden. The last bit up to Helvetestinden (602 m tall) is airy, and from the top, you get an amazing view! The walk up to Helvetestinden takes 2-3 hours one way and is steep and airy, with a good path.
Make sure to be back at Vindstad on time to catch the return ferry back to Reine. There is a cafe at the old school at Vinstad in the summer.
6. Art Gallery – Reine Cultural Center – Eva & Karl Erik Harr
The former Reine School has been reconstructed into an art gallery called Reine Cultural Center. Here you can enjoy paintings by the artist and painter Eva Harr (art gallery Eva Harr) and her older brother Karl Erik Harr.
Eva Harr
Eva Harr was born in Harstad in Northern Norway in 1951 and is a painter, graphic designer, and illustrator.
Eva Harr’s paintings capture nature and the different moods of night and day perfectly, with nature’s unique light that changes with the seasons. You will notice that the moon is often the main subject in her paintings.
Eva Harr is most famous for her paintings of abandoned houses which symbolize the modern time we live in. A time of unrest and changes with centralization where young people tend to leave the countryside and move into the big cities. I love how she balances the bright and light colors with dark colors and complete black.
Karl Erik Harr
Eva’s older brother Karl Erik Harr (born in 1940) paints grand landscape paintings where the sea plays the central role. Karl Erik is both a painter, illustrator, graphic artist, and author. He lives in Kjerringøy in Northern Norway.
Karl Erik Harr is most famous for having decorated the Hurtigruten ship Richard With and his illustrated works of the famous Norwegian writer Knut Hamsun.
Souvenir Shop & Cafe
In the same building as the art gallery, you will also find a design and souvenir shop where you can purchase books, arts, local design items, as well as graphic artwork by Eva and Karl Erik Harr.
There is a small cafe here also. We had some locally produced ice cream here, which was delicious. 🙂 The Loften ice cream Arktis is produced in Svolvaer and is a must-try when you visit Lofoten. They have both sorbet and gelato in many different tasty variants.
- Address Gallery Harr: Kirkeveien 38, Reine (next to one of the parking lots in Reine)
- Opening Hours Gallery Harr: May – September 09:00 am – 20:00/ 8 pm
- Gallery Harr’s Official Webpage
7. Lofoten Toy Museum/ Lofoten Leketøymuseum
The unique and cozy Lofoten Leketøymuseum (meaning toy museum), which also goes under the name Dagmar’s Dukke- og Leketøysmuseum, is located on Sakrisøy Island at Reine. Here you get to see old children’s toys from both Norway and Europe from 1860 until 1965. With more than 1500 dolls, teddy bears, and other toys, this is Norway’s largest collection of toys.
Do you wonder why teddy bears are called teddy bears? Head to the toy museum and find out. 🙂 You find an antique shop on the museum’s second floor (free entrance) where you can also buy a cup of coffee.
- Opening Hours Lofoten Toy Museum: Summer (May-August): 11:00 am – 17:00/ pm every day (also Sundays).
- Lofoten Toy Museum’s Facebook Page
8. Yoga
If you are a yogist or want to try it out, you should join a yoga session at the beautiful Catogården in downtown Reine.
The yoga is every morning at 08:00 am, and for 90 minutes, you get to stretch your body and calm your mind at this Kundalini Yoga class.
And best of all, the yoga class is free! No previous yoga experience is required; everyone can join.
Catogården is located in central Reine and is an old wooden mansion house surrounded by a lovely garden. The house has been turned into a beautiful boutique hotel and yoga place. Well worth a stay if you want to stay in downtown Reine.
Click here if you want to see what it’s like to stay at Catogården Boutique Hotel
Where To Eat In Reine
Anita’s Seafood
Anitas Mat/ Anita’s Seafood is the best place to eat in Reine. You cannot visit Reine without setting your foot at Anita’s (at least to just look at all the goodies).
Here you can have breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and indulge in freshly cooked seafood and fish from Lofoten, which you can either eat in the restaurant or grab with you to go. Anita’s is most famous for its fishburger topped with shrimps and salmon (Winnie the Pooh/ Ole Brumm).
We tried the classic burger, and it was awesome! Highly recommended! They also have a delicious fish soup as well as sandwiches with fresh shrimp. And for dessert, try one of their homemade cakes or a cinnamon bun together with a freshly brewed coffee or tea.
Anita’s also has a delicacy shop with a great selection of fresh fish, seafood, and snacks (such as stockfish, reindeer jerky, seaweed sal, seaweed pasta, and locally produced chocolate and jam).
You can buy some fish and seafood that you can bring with you back to your rorbu and cook later yourself. For example, why not buy some king crab and boil it when you get to your rorbu. So delicious!
Anitas Seafood is a great place to buy local Lofoten souvenirs and gifts to bring back home.
Stockfish for sale at Anitas Seafood
Lots of local Lofoten delicacy at Anitas Seafood
Be aware, however, that the prices can be a bit steep.
The Norwegian Automobile Association NAF has picked out Anita’s Sea Food as Norway’s best truck stop.
- Opening hours Anita’s Seafood: 10:00 – 20:00 every day (also Sundays). Check their webpage for the latest opening hours (they have limited opening hours in winter).
- Anita’s Seafood Official Webpage
- Anita’s Facebook Page
Underhuset Restaurant
Just across the road from Anita’s Seafood on Sakrisøy Island, you find the restaurant Underhuset. The restaurant belongs to the Sakrisøy Rorbuer.
Here you can have some delicious local food (mostly fish and seafood) in a cozy and charming wooden rorbu house dating back to 1840. The view is excellent too.
On the menu, you find the catch of the day, beef cheeks, bacalao, smoked salmon, whale, and for dessert, my favorite – creme brulee as well as homemade ice cream.
- Opening hours Underhuset Restaurant: 15th of June – 15th of August: 17:00/ 5 pm – 21:00/ 9 pm. Closed on Sundays.
- Underhuset’s Official Webpage
- Underhuset’s Facebook Page
Bringen Cafe
Bringen is located in the center of Reine, in a beautiful and romantic old white wooden house. They have a lovely seating area outside where you can have your food and drinks while enjoying the view and taking in the Reine atmosphere.
At Bringen Cafe, you get delicious homemade cakes, buns, sandwiches, cinnamon buns, milkshakes, coffee of all kinds, hot chocolate, and tea. They also have take-away and free wifi.
Bringen sells cakes, sandwiches, coffee, te, and other small dishes
Bringen Cafe sells local delicacies
- Opening hours Bringen Cafe: 10:00 am – 16:00/ 4 pm
- Bringen’s Facebook Page
Restaurant Gammelbua
The only “real” restaurant in the downtown area of Reine with a high-class selection of food and dishes. It belongs to the hotel Reine Rorbuer and is a cozy and atmospheric restaurant in a 200 years old rorbu house that used to be the old general store in Reine.
The fireplace makes your dining experience warm and super cozy if the weather is bad, or you can sit outside and enjoy the sun and view if the weather is good. The hospitality and service are excellent.
Head here for breakfast (breakfast buffet with a wide selection of food), lunch or dinner. On the menu, you’ll find stockfish, king crab, lobster, reindeer, whale steak, cod, and halibut. Or you can opt for the set feast menu with a little taste of everything (4 starters, 4 main courses, and 2 desserts).
- Opening hours Gammelbua Restaurant: 06:00 – 21:00 (until 22:00 Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays). Dinner menu: 17:00 – 22:00
- Gammelbua’s Official Webpage
Gadus Restaurant
Gadus is a Norwegian/ Italian fusion with local ingredients from Lofoten. It belongs to the Eliassen Rorbuer, but you can visit Gadus even if you are not staying there.
They have Italian dishes with a Norwegian touch, like stockfish ravioli, Lasagne Con Broccoli, and Frutti di Mare. They have the Italian classics on the menu, such as Pasta Carbonara, and seafood pasta. Make sure to try their tiramisu and Panna Cotta for dessert, soooo good. There are children’s portions available if you are traveling with kids.
Affordable, good-sized-portions and high-quality Italian food with local Norwegian ingredients sum up Gadus perfectly.
- Opening hours Gadus: 18:00/ 6 pm – 22:00/ 10 pm
- Gadus’ Official Webpage
Tapperiet Bistro
Located in downtown Reine, Tapperiet Bistro is a more casual and informal place to dine than Gammelbua Restaurant. It is a combination of a pub, bar, and bistro that serves fish & chips, fish soup, hamburgers, fish burgers, and pizza.
It is a nice place to sit outside (they have a huge terrace) with a beer or a glass of wine in the evening, enjoying the view and atmosphere of Reine.
Tapperiet also has live music once in a while, usually on the weekends, and serves local beer from Lofoten and Northern Norway. This place is affordable if you are looking for a place to eat in the lower price range.
- Opening hours Tapperiet Bistro: 12:00 – 22:00/ 10 pm
- Tapperiet’s Official Webpage
- Tapperiet’s Facebook Page
Havet Restaurant
A 10-min drive south of Reine (towards Å), you find the small village Sørvågen/ Sorvagen. In Sorvagen you will find the new and modern Tide Hotel with a great restaurant called Havet (which means “the sea” in English). We stayed two nights at Tide Lofoten Hotel and had breakfast, lunch, and dinner at Havet Restaurant. Everything was delicious!
We had delicious steak at Havet Restaurant
Fantastic view from Havet Restaurant at The Tide Hotel
Finding this kind of cool and modern restaurant in this part of Lofoten really took me by surprise! The chic design and atmosphere were like taken out of a design magazine, and I felt like I have stepped into a hip restaurant in New York but with a way better view. The huge floor-to-roof windows give a fantastic view of the fjord and mountains; I could sit there for ages looking at the sea.
Here you can try local dishes like stockfish, cod, whale steak, fresh shrimps, and mussels. Or you can opt for their 7-course tasting, where you get to try the specialties of Lofoten. We opted for the entrecote, which was delicious! Go for the rhubarb soup for dessert; it is a North Norwegian specialty and one of my favorite summer desserts.
Havet restaurant was a big surprise, and I can’t wait to stay and eat there again! One of the highlights of our Lofoten trip.
- Opening hours Havet Restaurant: 08:00 am – midnight. Breakfast: 08:00 – 10:00 am. Lunch: 12:00 – 16:00 pm. Dinner: 16:00/ 4 pm – 22:00/ 10 pm.
- Havet’s Official Webpage
- Havet’s Facebook Page
Where To Stay In Reine
Reine is all about rorbuer/ fishermen’s cabins. It is the place in Lofoten with the most rorbuer, and it is the perfect place to check them out and try to live like a fisherman. However, the historical and traditional fishermen’s cabins are totally renovated for tourists and have all modern amenities.
There are three rorbuer/ fishermen’s cabins accommodation facilities in Reine; Reine Rorbuer, Eliassen Rorbuer, and Sakrisøy Rorbuer, which you can read more about below. All three are in the same price range and allow pets.
Reine Rorbuer
Right in the middle of the downtown Reine, you find Reine Rorbuer (by Classic Norway Hotels). The 39 bright red wooden cabins lay beautifully by the shore of Reinefjord.
Reine Rorbuer has 39 fishermen's cabins for rent
Reine rorbuer are cozy yet modern
The cozy cabins have a private bathroom and a fully-equipped kitchen (including a coffee machine). That way you can cook your own food, for instance, your self-caught fish straight out of the sea. All cabins have a fjord view. If you are traveling with kids, family, or a group of friends, you can choose between 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom rorbu.
The hotel has a restaurant as well, the restaurant Gammelbua (read further up under the section “Where To Eat In Reine”) serving breakfast.
Click here for the latest prices
Eliassen Rorbuer
Eliassen Rorbuer is probably the most famous of all rorbuer in Lofoten due to its picturesque location right by the sea, surrounded by tall mountains. Just do a search for #Lofoten on Instagram, and plenty of beautiful photos with Eliassen Rorbuer in front of the sea and mountains will pop up.
The cozy Eliassen rorbuer lay right by the sea
Me going for a stroll between the fishermen's cabins at Eliassen Rorbuer
Eliassen Rorbuer is located on Hamnøy Island (a 10-min drive from downtown Reine). Here you stay in renovated fishermen’s cottages, all with a kitchen, living room, and private bathroom. The rorbu accommodation has a restaurant, the Gadus (serving Italian-Norwegian fusion food, read more about Gadus further up in this article), where you have breakfast. They have two-bedroom cabins (for four persons) and one three-bedroom apartment (for six people).
Click here for the latest prices
Sakrisøy Rorbuer
Sakrisøy Rorbuer is a 7-min drive from downtown Reine, just across the road from Anitas Seafood which serves Lofoten’s most famous fishburger. The charming fishermen’s cabins are renovated and have a private bathroom and modern kitchen.
Here you can choose between several sized rorbuer, from the small budget double room cabins (no sea or mountain view) to 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom, and 3-bedroom cabins. The accommodation has a museum of children’s toys which is quite cute, and a cafe and antiques shop in the summer. In addition, Sakrisøy Rorbuer has its own restaurant, the Underhuset Restaurant, where you can enjoy breakfast and delicious local Norwegian dishes for dinner.
Click here for the latest prices
Catogården Boutique Hotel
Catogården almost feels like staying at someone’s home, right in the middle of downtown Reine. The old historical wooden villa has roots back to 1775 and has been transformed into a creative guest house where all 10 rooms are unique (painted in different colors) with a sea or mountain view.
Catogården does not have a restaurant, so breakfast is not included, but you can head over to the neighboring cafe Bringen or Gammelbua for breakfast. The rooms also have shared bathrooms. At Catogården, you can join in on yoga classes or rent a kayak.
Click here for the latest prices
The Tide Rorbuer
A 10-minute drive south of Reine village (towards Å/ A), in the cozy fishing village Sørvågen/ Sorvagen, you will find the brand new and chic hotel The Tide. The Tide has both a newly-built modern hotel, as well as old renovated rustic rorbuer.
The rorbuer are located right by the sea and differ in size, some can house a big group of up to 12 people. The rorbu all have a private bathroom, fully-equipped kitchen, and a patio with a great sea view.
Click here for the latest prices
The Tide Hotel
If you, however, want to stay in a regular and modern hotel with all its services and comfort, you should choose The Tide Hotel. It is located only a 10-min drive from downtown Reine (in Sorvagen, between Reine and Å).
We stayed two nights at the Tide Hotel and it was one of our best stays in Lofoten!
Check out this lovely view from the Tide Hotel
Our fresh and modern room at The Tide Hotel
From the modern, comfortable room and bathroom (which had the most comfortable shower and beds ever!) with a fantastic view of the fjord and village of Sorvagen, to the amazing restaurant Havet – everything was just perfect! The breakfast was fantastic. There is a grocery store just across the road from the hotel, very convenient.
Click here for the latest prices
Day Trips From Reine
Å
The small and traditional fishing village Å (a 15-min drive from Reine) is the last stop and endpoint on the E10 road through Lofoten. Å fishing village has been turned into a well-preserved museum. Here you can walk around the old traditional houses and stockfish racks and see how they lived back in the day. Å also has a fantastic bakery making one of the best cinnamon buns in Lofoten!
⇒ Read More: Travel Guide To Å – Lofoten’s Best-Preserved Fishing Village (Folk Museum)
Sund
The main reason for heading to Sund (a 20-min drive from Reine) is its smith (goes under the nickname “Smeden i Sund,” meaning the blacksmith in Sund), making his famous black cormorant standing on a rock with his wings spread out. Here you also find Sund Fishery Museum, Lofoten’s oldest tourist attraction, dating back to 1947.
Nusfjord
The cutest fishing village in Lofoten must be Nusfjord (a 45-min drive from Reine). It is one of the oldest and best-preserved fisherman’s villages and is beautifully located in a narrow fjord tucked between tall mountains. Here you find rorbuer, an excellent restaurant, and an art gallery and museum.
Ramberg
Ramberg Beach (a 30-min drive from Reine) is one of the longest and most beautiful beaches in Lofoten. The crescent of white sand washed by crystal clear turquoise sea is a great place to see the midnight sun in the summer (May – July) and watch the northern lights in the winter (September – March).
Here you can go kayaking, SUP (stand-up paddling), kitesurfing, windsurfing, and surfing.
How To Get To Reine
By Car
The best and most convenient way to get to Reine is by car. You can rent a car in for instance Svolvær, Leknes, Bodø, Harstad, Narvik, or Tromsø, and drive to Lofoten and Reine.
It takes about two hours to drive from the capital city of Lofoten, Svolvær, to Reine (one way).
I highly recommend that you rent a car as there are few buses. That way, you get to go around Lofoten and see all those beautiful places and attractions.
By Ferry From Bodø To Moskenes/ Reine
If you fly to Bodø (from, for instance, Oslo or Tromsø), a popular way to get to Lofoten is to take the ferry from Bodø city to Moskenes. Moskenes is only a 7 min drive from Reine.
The ferry (Bodø – Moskenes) takes about 3-4 hours, and you can bring a car depending on the weather. During summer (high season), 3-4 ferry departs from Bodø to Moskenes each day, but there is only about 1 daily ferry in winter. Therefore, you should book the ferry in advance in summer as the ferry is extremely popular and often gets full.
You can get to Bodø by air from Oslo or Trondheim (which are served by many direct flights). You can also take the train to Bodø on the Nordland Line.
- Find the schedule for the ferry and book your ferry ticket in advance: torghatten-nord.no
By Bus
There are a few buses that run to and from Reine, but not many:
- Bus no. 300: Narvik – Harstad/ Narvik Airport Evenes – Svolvær – Reine – Å (plus several places in between)
- Bus no. 18-742: Å – Reine – Leknes (plus several places in between). From Leknes, you can take the bus to Svolvær.
- Bus no. 18-772: A local bus that runs between Å – Sørvågen – Moskenes Ferry Terminal – Reine – Hamnøy
- Find the bus schedules here: ReisNordland.no
By Air
The closest airport to Reine is Leknes Airport, a 1-hour drive away (one way). You can get to Leknes Airport from Bodø Airport (a 25-min direct flight), operated by Widerøe Airline. There are several flights daily between Leknes and Bodø.
Where To Park In Reine
There are two official parking lots in Reine. The first one you get to is located between the E10 main road and the smaller road down to downtown Reine. You will easily spot it; it’s on your left-hand side. You also get to take the most popular and classic Reine photo from this parking lot with the fjord in the foreground and the mountain Olstinden in the background.
You will find the next parking lot as you drive down towards downtown Reine. The parking lot is on your left-hand side, next to Reine Cultural Center (which houses the Harr art gallery).
A third option is in downtown Reine, in front of Bringen Cafe and Gammelbua Restaurant. But this parking lot is small and usually full (at least during the summer). If you plan on staying the night at one of the rorbuer/ hotels in Reine, you will get free parking right outside your cabin.
That’s it, our ultimate travel guide to Reine in Lofoten. This guide shows you the best activities, tours, and attractions in Reine, with all the best things to do and see in Reine. I hope this Reine guide can be of help to you when planning your trip.
Reine is a fantastic village with plenty to do and see. It also has some great nearby day-trip options where the fishing village museum in Å is a must-visit (only a 15-min drive from Reine). Reine is definitely one of the highlights when visiting Lofoten.
Make sure to check out what else you should not miss when going to Lofoten in our recommended Lofoten itinerary. Also, our ultimate Lofoten Travel Guide is a great resource for planning your Lofoten adventure.
Read next – start planning your Lofoten trip here:
- Lofoten Travel Guide – Everything You Need To Know To Plan Your Lofoten Adventure
- Where To Stay In The Lofoten Islands (Norway) – Lofoten’s Best Rorbuer & Hotels
- The Ultimate Road Trip Adventure To Lofoten Islands (Norway) – 10 Day Lofoten Itinerary
- 41 Amazing Things To Do In Lofoten Islands (Norway) Summer & Winter
In-depth Lofoten Destination Guides:
- The Ultimate Guide To Svolvær (The Capital Of Lofoten) – What To Do In Svolvaer
- DIY Walking Tour Of The Idyllic Svinøya Island (In Svolvær, Lofoten)
- The Ultimate Guide To Reine (Lofoten’s Most Scenic Village) – What To Do In Reine
- Why You Should Do A Trollfjord Cruise (By Silent Electric Ship) When Visiting Lofoten
- Top 7 Things To Do In Kabelvåg (Lofoten) – Kabelvåg Travel Guide
- The Ultimate Guide To Henningsvær (Lofoten’s Hippest Village) – What To Do In Henningsvaer
- A Complete Guide To Lofotr (Lofoten’s Viking Museum) – Ready For The Vikings?
- Travel Guide To Å – Lofoten’s Best-Preserved Fishing Village (Folk Museum)
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