What It’s Like to Visit (and Stay at!) Nusfjord Village
Tucked away on the coast of Norway’s Lofoten Islands lies a small fishing village called Nusfjord.
Or, it once was a fishing village — a thriving harbor where fisherman once filled the small red cabins along the shoreline.
Today, Nusfjord is a living testament to this history, with restored buildings telling the story of what life in Lofoten used to be and finding a new purpose for Nusfjord as a thriving arctic resort.
Before visiting Nusfjord, I was a bit confused about what Nusfjord was and how to visit it. If you have the same questions, I hope to clear them up in this post, where I’ll tell you what Nusfjord Village is, how to visit, what to do there, and what it’s like to stay overnight.
This is what to know about visiting — and staying at! — Nusfjord Village and Resort.
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What is Nusfjord Village?
Nusfjord is not a typical village — even compared to other places in Lofoten.
Whereas towns and villages like Reine and Svolvaer have small but meaningful year-round populations of full-time residents, Nusfjord only has about 20 permanent residents. That’s because Nusfjord is, first and foremost, an open-air museum rather than a place where people continue to live today.
But it’s a very cool museum — a preserved and restored area that’s a testament to the village that once was, when more than 1,000 people lived in Nusfjord.
In its heyday, Nusfjord was a true fishing village, with fisherman filling the rorbuer (the small red cabins that are still there today) and working in the cod fisheries. Many of those buildings are still standing today and have been preserved or restored so visitors can learn about how Nusfjord operated as a fishing village.
Today, Nusfjord is also a resort, with lodging in the rorbuer, an upscale restaurant, a charming cafe, a casual pizza place, a spa, a functioning bakery, and more.
You can stay overnight at Nusfjord Village & Resort or you can just visit the village for the day. The village and the resort are intertwined — for example, people who visit the village without staying at the resort will be walking around many of the rorbuer where people are staying.
Confusing? Fair enough. Until I visited Nusfjord myself, I also did not really understand how Nusfjord works. It may help to see this stylized map of the village and resort:
Most of the unlabeled red buildings (from end to end of the map) are rorbuer for resort guests, while the yellow buildings and white buildings (some labeled in the map, some not) serve various purposes for the village and resort — some (like the restaurant, the spa, and the bakery) are functional today, while others (like the cod liver oil factory and the boathouses) are essentially mini-museums. More on all of that below!
Whether you’re just visiting the village for the day or staying one or more nights at the resort, you can walk around the whole area depicted on this map. You just won’t be able to go inside any of the rorbuer unless you’re staying in one as a resort guest!
Visiting Nusfjord Village
If you’d like to experience Nusfjord via a day trip or stopover on your way between two other destinations in Lofoften, here’s what to know.
Parking at Nusfjord
There are two free parking lots at Nusfjord, which you’ll find here and here.
Do not try to park beside any of the rorbuer — those spots are reserved for guests of the resort.
Entering Nusfjord Village
Entrance to Nusfjord Village is right beside the Reception building — right about here.
Look for the small structure near the top of the hill, where you can pay the entrance fee. During my visit, entrance to Nusfjord Village cost 100 NOK (roughly $10 USD) per person.
NOTE: If you stay overnight at the resort (much more on that below), you don’t need to pay to enter the village — your room key serves as an entrance ticket.
What to See in Nusfjord Village
Nusfjord Village has a number of historic buildings that have been preserved or restored, either as miniature museums showcasing what the buildings were used for when Nusfjord was a working fishing village, or as structures for modern use.
I recommend walking around and popping into the museum-like buildings, which include:
- The cod liver oil factory, where fish livers were steamed to produce oil that was used in medicine, lighting, tanning, soap, paint, and more.
- Two boathouses that were used to store fishing gear and boats — and which served as lodging for fishermen during the busiest years of the Lofoten fishery.
- The smithy, where tools and fishing gear were forged.
And then there are there restored buildings used today for modern purposes, such as:
- An art gallery
- A very cute cafe serving drinks and food
- A bakery with fantastic pastries
If you only have time to see one or two things in Nusfjord, be sure to check out the harbor, which may be the most picturesque part of the village. Take a little walk around the harbor and, if you’re able, climb up the rocks at one end of the harbor for a great view over much of the village.
I also strongly recommend visiting the bakery — get there early, as they’re not open all day — and eating lunch at the cafe.
Staying at Nusfjord Village & Resort
Like I said above, Nusfjord Village isn’t just an open-air museum — it’s also a resort, with lodging in the rorbuer, great restaurants, a spa, and plenty of optional activities. Formerly called Nusfjord Arctic Resort, the resort is now known as Nusfjord Village & Resort.
During my trip to Lofoten, I stayed overnight at the resort and I’m so glad I did. Here’s what to know about staying at Nusfjord Village & Resort.
Lodging at Nusfjord Village & Resort
Like I said, most lodging at the resort is located in rorbuer — the restored red fishermen’s cabins that line the shore in Nusfjord.
The Nusfjord rorbuer are a variety of sizes, with some sleeping 1 or 2 and others sleeping up to 4 or 6. Check out some of your options here.
There are also a few specialty lodging options — the Upper Icehouse and the House of Dahl — which hold more people and are also considerably more expensive.
I visited Nusfjord Village & Resort with a friend and we stayed in a two-bedroom cabin, which would have held up to 4 people if we needed. One bedroom had a double bed and the other had bunk beds. There was (of course) a bathroom with a shower, a kitchenette area, a dining table, and a small living room. The bedrooms had very strong curtains, which was much appreciated since we were visiting during the time of the midnight sun, when it never gets truly dark at night.
All in all, I thought our rorbu was a very comfortable and surprisingly spacious place to stay!
We did have to climb up a narrow set of stairs to enter our rorbu (this is not the case for every cabin) and there were a few stairs within our rorbu (to get up to the bathroom and one of the bedrooms). If you have particular accessibility needs, I recommend reaching out to Nusfjord while or after booking to request a rorbu that meets your needs.
Food at Nusfjord Village & Resort
When I think back on my brief time at Nusfjord, the food is one of my favorite parts!
We ate exclusively at Karoline, the resort’s on-location restaurant. The space is large and upscale, yet cozy, and they serve fantastic food.
When we booked our cabin, we also paid for dinner and breakfast at Karoline during our stay. As it turned out, dinner was a three-course meal — we could choose our courses and while the salmon appetizer was probably my favorite of my three selections, they were all delicious! Breakfast, in contrast, was a lovely buffet with classic Scandinavian options and more.
If Karoline is a bit outside your budget, or you’re just looking for some variety, there’s also a small pizza restaurant at the resort. And, as I’ve mentioned, there’s a bakery open in the mornings and a cafe that’s a great lunch option. You won’t go hungry at Nusfjord!
NOTE: There’s no grocery store in Nusfjord — like I said, it’s not exactly a place where a lot of people live! — so if you want to save some money by preparing your own food rather than eating at the resort’s restaurants, you’ll need to bring your food with you to Nusfjord.
Activities at Nusfjord Village & Resort
While there’s plenty to see at Nusfjord while just walking around and exploring the buildings, you can also book a number of activities to fill your time at the village and resort. Options include:
- Guided kayaking or paddleboarding, where you’ll glide through fjords and admire Nusfjord from the water
- Sauna rituals, massage, and other wellness activities at the resort’s spa
- A fishing adventure on the resort’s traditional fishing boat
- A speedboat tour via RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat)
- Lino cut class, where you’ll make a work of art to take home with you
Check out more activities and learn how to book them here:
Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to book any activities during my own stay at Nusfjord, as I was only staying for one night and my arrival and departure times didn’t line up with the activity times, but I’d love to return to Nusfjord and stay for a bit longer so I can experience some of them!
Is Nusfjord Village & Resort worth staying at?
So, is Nusfjord worth staying at? My answer is a definite YES. I stayed at a handful of fantastic places while visiting the Lofoten Islands, and Nusfjord is one of the most memorable. It’s not cheap (but hey, what’s cheap in Norway?), but it’s a very special and unique place. I’m already dreaming and scheming about how soon I can return to Nusfjord for a longer stay!
Booking a Stay at Nusfjord Village & Resort
You can book a stay at Nusfjord Village & Resort directly on their website here, or on hotel booking websites like Booking.com.
Note that Nusfjord Village & Resort, for whatever reason, has two separate listings on Booking.com. In addition to the Nusfjord Village and Resort listing, you can book the resort through this Lofoten Cottages by Nusfjord listing. (I’m not sure why they do this, but it might just be an artifact of their recent name change from Nusfjord Arctic Resort to Nusfjord Village & Resort.)
Nusfjord Village FAQ
How to get to Nusfjord
It’s extremely difficult (impossible, even, depending on the day and time of year) to get to Nusfjord by public transportation, so you should plan to get to Nusfjord by car. To be fair, this is the best and easiest way to get around Lofoten in general!
Check availability for car rentals here:
How long should you stay in Nusfjord?
If you can swing it in terms of both time and budget, I recommend staying in Nusfjord for at least two nights, which would give you enough time to both explore the village and book one or more activities.
I only stayed in Nusfjord for one night, and it was a great experience, but I didn’t have enough time to visit the spa or book a fishing trip, both of which I would have loved.
If lots of the activities at Nusfjord are calling to you, try to stay for three nights — it won’t be cheap, but I have no doubt that you’ll have a fantastic time.
Is there anywhere else to stay in Nusfjord?
What if you don’t want to (or have the budget to) stay at Nusfjord Village & Resort? Is there anywhere else to stay in the village of Nusfjord?
Answer: options are quite limited, but yes, a couple of the rorbuer in Nusfjord are still managed separately from the resort — although no promises on whether they’ll be less expensive. These include:
If you’re interested in staying in one of these rorbuer, I recommend messaging the owner in advance to confirm whether you can access Nusfjord Village for free (like people who stay at the resort) and whether you’ll be able to take advantage of certain of the resort’s amenities, like the spa and Karoline Restaurant.
Final Thoughts
It may be out of the way, but Nusfjord is well worth the trip during a visit to Lofoten! It’s a unique opportunity to step back in time and see Lofoten during its fishing heyday…or to enjoy a few days of relaxation and adventure…or ideally both!
Do you still have questions about visiting or staying at Nusfjord Village & Resort? Shoot me a message or leave a comment below — I’d love to help!
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