Austvågøya – Svolvær
Svolvær is a town in Austvågøya (one of the lofoten islands) where it has its own fishing port. When I first reached Svolvær, I was greeted by a subtle hint of fish smell, just like those found in the fish section of the supermarket. Here, I would talk about some highlights of this town.
Prices wise, for those staying in Thon Lofoten Hotel, it is 200 Nok/pax for 1.5h. For those not staying in Thon Lofoten Hotel, it is 250 Nok/pax for 1.5h. For more information, visit the website
LYST Lofoten Sauna Svolvær
One of my personal favorites of my 18-day winter trip in Norway is the sauna and ice bath in the ocean in Svolvær. It is really a new and refreshing experience for any first timers. For the sauna, there are two rooms
To use the sauna, one has to bring their own towels to sit on the bench as it is very hot. You also have to take a shower before entering the sauna. But fret not! There are both gender changing rooms where it is fairly clean. During my experience, there weren’t many people using the sauna so it wasn’t crowded at all.
For the ice bath, it is optional to dip into the ocean but it is highly recommended!! It is a tradition in Norway to take a dip into the ocean first before going into the sauna. People may be skeptical about it at first because they fear that it might be dangerous. For those who are a bit scared like me, fear not! There are steps going down into the ocean where one can just sit on the steps to dip for a few seconds before going back into the sauna. For adventurous souls, one can even go for a swim in the ocean but make sure there is someone accompanying you when you do so.
Restaurant – Sakura Lofoten
Sakura Lofoten is a Japanese restaurant with a high rating of 4.7 stars. I highly recommend this restaurant if one is craving for Asian food. It serves a variety of mouthwatering food.
The best dish was the Lofot Maki, it was highly recommended by the waitress. Indeed, the taste is impeccable, the salmon melts in one’s mouth, complemented by the satisfying crunch of the maki’s crispy sides. We also ordered Red Curry, Teriyaki Chicken and Pad Prik Pao with rice which were delicious.
Thon Lofoten Hotel
In Svolvær, we stayed in the Thon Lofoten Hotel for 1 night. We booked a business room for 4 adults, where it has two bedrooms, a toilet, a kitchen area and a living room area with nice comfy sofas. Some benefits include a breakfast buffet, free access to the fitness area and WIFI.
The breakfast buffet was delicious and filling. While eating, the air was filled with the pleasant melody of a live piano performance, enchanting us with festive Christmas tunes. What a great atmosphere to start the day!
Leave a Reply