Reine is a locality in the Lofoten Archipelago in Northern Norway. It and the around 300 inhabitants are a part of Moskenes Municipality in Nordland County. The fishing village is famous because of the many photos in brochures and advertisements globally. It is indeed a beautiful place. Even with its gained popularity for tourists, it is still possible to see the old traditions surviving. It is not unlikely that visitors stumble upon the many racks of fish that are out to dry.
A Short History of Reine
Reine has a long history of fishing and trading. The fishing village has for centuries been a center for the local fishing industry. There has been a fishing fleet stationed here and facilities for processing the catch have been on the site. The village has also been a known trading post since 1743.
In modern times the village is famous for having been burned down by the Germans in 1941. The attack on the village was an act of revenge for an earlier raid in Lofoten by the British. The village has since been rebuilt and tourism has been added to the local business map.
Things to Do and See
Few places in Europe can match the views on offer in Reine and even though the number of specific sights is small, there is still the whole scenery itself to enjoy.
Reine
Yes, Reine itself is one of the main attractions in the area. The small fishing village, on a small peninsula, offers a lot to see. Walking along the cliffs will certainly provide great views of the surrounding waters and mountains. There is also the possibility to encounter one of the many racks used for drying fish and maybe there are still cod heads handing there.
Reinebringen (581 m)
Reinebringen is probably one of the most famous mountains in Lofoten. It has a height of 581 meters above the sea and the view from its summit has been used in many articles and brochures. The climb has traditionally been considered quite dangerous and many climbers have lost their lives here. However, improvements to safety have been made in more recent years and there are now stairs for the first 400 meters of altitude. In total there are 1566 steps, but the climb that begins after the stairs is still challenging.
Reine Church
Reine Church is a white wooden church dating back to the year 1890. The church was once the center of the local parish and has seats for around 250 people.
How to Get to Reine
- Flights: Svolvær Airport (SVJ) is 126 kilometers from the town and offers a few domestic routes.
- Car: The town is along the road E10 between Ramberg and Å.
- Ferry: There are ferries from nearby Moskenes to Bodø on the mainland.
The driving distance from 5 major Norwegian cities, according to Google Maps:
- Oslo – 1292 kilometers (18 h 56 min)
- Bergen – 1428 kilometers (22 h 21 min)
- Trondheim – 804 kilometers (12 h 38 min)
- Narvik – 340 kilometers (5 h 11 min)
- Kirkenes – 1154 kilometers (15 h 59 min)
Find out more about other destinations in Norway by visiting our page Exploring Norway
