Winter
Dec → Feb2 to 3°
nights -2 to -1°
- 19 rainy days · 114 mm
- sea 5°
When is the best time to visit the Lofoten Islands?
- Jan2°fair
- Feb2°recommended
- Mar2°recommended
- Apr4°fair
- May8°fair
- Jun11°recommended
- Jul14°recommended
- Aug14°recommended
- Sep11°fair
- Oct7°not recommended
- Nov5°not recommended
- Dec3°not recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in the Lofoten Islands, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rainfall | Rainy days | Sea | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 2° | -2° | 115 mm | 18 d | 5° | |
| February | 2° | -2° | 98 mm | 18 d | 4° | ✓ |
| March | 2° | -2° | 90 mm | 18 d | 3° | ✓ |
| April | 4° | 1° | 59 mm | 14 d | 4° | |
| May | 8° | 4° | 66 mm | 15 d | 6° | |
| June | 11° | 8° | 66 mm | 14 d | 10° | ✓ |
| July | 14° | 10° | 63 mm | 13 d | 15° | ✓ |
| August | 14° | 11° | 97 mm | 16 d | 15° | ✓ |
| September | 11° | 8° | 97 mm | 15 d | 12° | |
| October | 7° | 4° | 117 mm | 18 d | 10° | |
| November | 5° | 1° | 122 mm | 19 d | 8° | |
| December | 3° | -1° | 130 mm | 20 d | 5° |
The four seasons in the Lofoten Islands, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Reine) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Spring
Mar → May2 to 8°
nights -2 to 4°
- 16 rainy days · 72 mm
- sea 4°
Summer
Jun → Aug11 to 14°
nights 8 to 11°
- 14 rainy days · 75 mm
- sea 13°
Autumn
Sep → Nov5 to 11°
nights 1 to 8°
- 17 rainy days · 112 mm
- sea 10°
Book early for February to March and June to August
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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Daylight in the Lofoten Islands, month by month
The time between sunrise and sunset, from shortest to longest. Not to be confused with the sunshine hours in the table above, which count clear skies. In June there are 24h of daylight, in December 0h, a difference of 24h. Polar night sets in around December: the sun no longer rises. In June the sun does not set.
3h07Jan
7h37Feb
11h22Mar
15h33Apr
20h13May
24hJun
24hJul
17h21Aug
13h02Sep
9h02Oct
4h43Nov
0hDec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "Reine" (67.93°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in the Lofoten Islands, month by month
| Activity | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiking | ||||||||||||
| Beach & swimming | ||||||||||||
| Towns & culture | ||||||||||||
| Long days | ||||||||||||
| Events | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
EventsSkrei seasonJanuary to AprilLofoten SkreifestivalMarchMidnight sunMay to JulyNorthern lightsSeptember to MarchDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Long days: April, May, June, July, August
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall, sea), not from an opinion.
What's on in the Lofoten Islands, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. One of these events fills the hotels and pushes prices up: something to aim for or to avoid, depending on what you want.
- January to AprilSkrei season
Barents Sea cod come to spawn off the islands: the cod drying racks fill up and the harbours work non-stop.
- MarchLofoten Skreifestival
Vestvågøy hosts the world cod fishing championship in late March, with lively quays and cod on every table.
- May to JulyMidnight sun big crowds
From late May to mid-July, the sun never dips below the horizon and hikes happen at any hour.
- September to MarchNorthern lights
As soon as the nights return, auroras appear above the fjords, with the best chances between October and March.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Fair2°-2° at night
- 115 mm · 18 d
- sea 5°
Low season, lower prices
February
Recommended2°-2° at night
- 98 mm · 18 d
- sea 4°
Busy, without the crush
March
Recommended2°-2° at night
- 90 mm · 18 d
- sea 3°
Busy, without the crush
April
Fair4°1° at night
- 59 mm · 14 d
- sea 4°
Low season, lower prices
May
Fair8°4° at night
- 66 mm · 15 d
- sea 6°
Busy, without the crush
June
Recommended11°8° at night
- 66 mm · 14 d
- sea 10°
High season, book early
July
Recommended14°10° at night
- 63 mm · 13 d
- sea 15°
High season, book early
August
Recommended14°11° at night
- 97 mm · 16 d
- sea 15°
High season, book early
September
Fair11°8° at night
- 97 mm · 15 d
- sea 12°
Low season, lower prices
October
Not recommended7°4° at night
- 117 mm · 18 d
- sea 10°
Low season, lower prices
November
Not recommended5°1° at night
- 122 mm · 19 d
- sea 8°
Low season, lower prices
December
Not recommended3°-1° at night
- 130 mm · 20 d
- sea 5°
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. Deep winter: 2 °C at the warmest of the day, -2 °C at night. Frequent rain: 115 mm over 18 days. Sea at 5 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
February. Deep winter: 2 °C at the warmest of the day, -2 °C at night. Frequent rain: 98 mm over 18 days. Sea at 4 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
March. Deep winter: 2 °C at the warmest of the day, -2 °C at night. Frequent rain: 90 mm over 18 days. Sea at 3 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
April. Deep winter: 4 °C at the warmest of the day, 1 °C at night. Frequent but light showers: 59 mm over 14 days. Sea at 4 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
May. Cool: 8 °C at best, 4 °C at night. Frequent but light showers: 66 mm over 15 days. Sea at 6 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
June. Cool: 11 °C at best, 8 °C at night. Frequent but light showers: 66 mm over 14 days. Sea at 10 °C, too cold to swim. High season: book early.
July. Cool: 14 °C at best, 10 °C at night. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (63 mm). Sea at 15 °C, too cold to swim. High season: book early.
August. Cool: 14 °C at best, 11 °C at night. Frequent rain: 97 mm over 16 days. Sea at 15 °C, too cold to swim. High season: book early.
September. Cool: 11 °C at best, 8 °C at night. Frequent rain: 97 mm over 15 days. Sea at 12 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
October. Deep winter: 7 °C at the warmest of the day, 4 °C at night. A very wet month, 117 mm of rain over 18 days. Sea at 10 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
November. Deep winter: 5 °C at the warmest of the day, 1 °C at night. A very wet month, 122 mm of rain over 19 days. Sea at 8 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. Deep winter: 3 °C at the warmest of the day, -1 °C at night. A very wet month, 130 mm of rain over 20 days. Sea at 5 °C, too cold to swim. Quiet at the start of the month, then busier as the holidays approach.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit the Lofoten Islands?
February to March and June to August: over these months, recorded highs range from 2 to 14 °C, with 16 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 records, Reine).
Which month should you avoid in the Lofoten Islands?
December: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 130 mm over 20 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (Reine).
What is the hottest month in the Lofoten Islands?
July, with 14 °C on average in the afternoon and 10 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Reine).
What is the coldest month in the Lofoten Islands?
January, with 2 °C at best during the day and -2 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Reine).
What is the driest month in the Lofoten Islands?
April: 59 mm over 14 days of rain, against 130 mm in December, the wettest month.
When can you swim in the Lofoten Islands?
The water stays cool all year (warmest 15 °C in July, measured in 2023-2024 on the nearest coast, Reine): swimming is for the brave.
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Lofoten Islands guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🧭 When to visit Norway: the country overview→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
Compare with other destinations
Photos: Sofiia Asmi / Pexels · Tom Asito / Pexels · Deimantas Viburys / Pexels · Clément Proust / Pexels · Raul Ling / Pexels