Å is a fishing village in the Lofoten Archipelago in northern Norway. This is as far as you can drive before literally ending up in the Atlantic Ocean. This village, with a very short name, is probably home to more seagulls than humans. The birds have built nests next to about everywhere. Roofs, windowsills, and other small spaces can have several birds nesting. So this otherwise quite a little fishing village does from time to time have a huge orchestra of birds.
A Short History of Å
Å has originally developed from a small farm to become an important fishing village in the Lofoten archipelago. The villagers, as in many of the fishing villages in the area, specialized in the production of stockfish. That was the story for the village until the 1990s. The area has since become a popular tourist destination and it is now tourism that locally has become the most important industry.
Things to Do and See
Walking as far as possible will get you to a rocky area with a view out over the bay Andstabbvika, with the peaks of Alpiggen and Stor-Andstabben on the other side. That is just one of several views possible to enjoy in the village. There is plenty more to explore in this village that really is located at the end of the road.
The Village Itself
Well, Å in its entirety needs to be mentioned here. The small fishing village is filled with interesting sights and unnamed viewpoints. Enjoy the view from the cliffs with the white and red houses in the background or enjoy the view of the sea and surrounding mountains. There are, of course, also several seagulls to wave to as you walk down along the streets.
Lofoten Stockfish Museum
This is a museum that also goes by its Norwegian name Lofoten Tørrfiskmuseum. This is a museum about the production of Norwegian stockfish. Stockfish has for centuries been an important export for Lofoten as well as many other parts of Norway. The museum tells the story about the fish and its production.
Norwegian Fishing Village Museum
Also this museum is known by its Norwegian name, Norsk Fiskeværsmuseum. This is the closest you will get to a local heritage museum in Å. The museum tells the story of the local fishing in the past 200 years.
How to Get to Å
- Flights: Svolvær Airport (SVJ) is 134 kilometers from the town and offers a few domestic routes.
- Car: The village is located at the end of road E10, to the west of towns like Narvik and Svolvær.
- Ferry: There are ferries from nearby Moskenes to Bodø on the mainland, as well as to the islands of Værøy and Røst.
The driving distance from 5 major Norwegian cities, according to Google Maps:
- Oslo – 1292 kilometers (19 h)
- Bergen – 1428 kilometers (22 h 29 min)
- Trondheim – 804 kilometers (12 h 37 min)
- Narvik – 348 kilometers (5 h 20 min)
- Kirkenes – 1162 kilometers (16 h 12 min)
Find out more about other destinations in Norway by visiting our page Exploring Norway
