- For those who want to combine the Kvitnes experience with other pleasures in Northern Norway
Vesterålen
Vesterålen is like Lofoten really, but without all the tourists.
The whole of Vesterålen is packed with nature experiences in the mountains and at sea. Midnight sun in summer, northern lights in winter. Lots of chalk-white beaches and charming little villages.
BLACKLAND
Sortland is located in the middle of Vesterålen, is a trading center and a good place to stop to do your shopping before heading further out into Vesterålen. Sortland municipality is also home to Sigerfjord, the world's most beautiful place, according to Halvar (possibly because that's where he's from).
The firehouse bakery Are you hungry for the world's best cardamom knots? Then you need to stop by Eldhusbakeriet, just outside Sortland. Marit fires up her wood-fired oven on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, so it's definitely worth a visit, but get there early as she often sells out.
Naustet in Sigerfjord During the summer and almost every Sunday throughout the year, there is a café at Naustet in Sigerfjord. Very cozy place with good cakes and good service.
Lihallen cultural center In the summer there is a café at Lihallen, combine it with looking at art by hostess and visual artist Tove Hov Jacobsen. Lihallen is an old tuberculosis home in the middle of the mountainside in Sigerfjord. The view is worth the trip, throw in some cake and art, and you have 3 good reasons to stop by.
Miscela coffee shop In Sortland shopping center, you'll find a coffee shop that makes really great coffee! Wanja worked here for 10 years before joining Kvitnes, so don't be surprised if you meet someone from Kvitnes in the coffee queue.
CHORUS
Øksnes really is where the fish you eat comes from. In Øksnes you'll find Myre, Norway's largest fishing port. In winter, during the cod fishing season, the port is bustling with people. In the summer, Nyksund and tourism are the order of the day. Klo and Stø are also two charming fishing villages that are well worth a visit.
Nyksund A visit to Nyksund is a must if you're in Vesterålen. An old fishing village that for a time was completely deserted. Now several people have settled in the small fishing village and filled it with life, where you'll find nice little galleries, second-hand shops and cafés. Even the drive out to Nyksund is spectacular. A visit to Nyksund can be combined with walking the Queen's Route, where Nyksund can either be the start or end point of the trip.
The expedition The expedition is run by Ringo and Monja Haupt. Here you'll be served solid, tasty and down-to-earth food, made from local and good ingredients. In the summer, it's a good idea to book a table, as both Nyksund and Ekspedisjonen can be very busy. You can also spend the night here if you wish.
Skåltofta Just outside Nyksund is Skåltofta, a fantastic house with a view straight out to sea. Here you can sit and watch the storm.
BØ IN VESTERÅLEN
Perhaps the finest municipality in Vesterålen, where nature meets you head on, beautiful and raw. Also known as Norway's Monaco because it was the first municipality to reduce its wealth tax.
Airbnb These two are located right next to each other at Vinje in Bø, both houses are relatively new and have a very high standard. Book early if you hope to stay in one of these houses. https://abnb.me/2xM7iPWLAcb https://abnb.me/luNrU8dLAcb
Litløy Lighthouse On the outer side of Litløy you'll find Litløy Lighthouse, perhaps one of the most spectacular places to stay in Norway. Here you'll find peace and quiet, with no other people around. All you can see is the sea and the Lofoten Wall in the distance.
Gimstad farm This is where we buy the butter, cheese and cream that we serve at Kvitnes. Give us a call if you're in the area and pick up some delicious dairy products.
Storhavet Café Storhavet café is located exactly where the name suggests, right by the sea on the outskirts of Bø. Here you can eat delicious traditional northern Norwegian food and cakes. In the summer, you can also stay in one of the "tents" they have for rent. Storhavet café is located in the small village of Hovden, which is worth a visit in itself. A real, small northern Norwegian fishing village.
The man from the sea The Man from the Sea by Kjell Erik Killi Olsen is a sculpture in Sculpture Landscape Nordland. Right next to The Man from the Sea you will find the open-air gallery, with pictures of all the sculptures in Sculpture Landscape Nordland.
New bakery The bakery is located between Vinje and Straume, right by the road. It's the perfect place to stop and stock up on some delicious baked goods.
ANDØY
On Andøya you'll find offers all year round. In winter, there's often spectacular northern lights and a perfect starting point for whale watching. In summer, there are chalk-white beaches, spectacular surroundings and still a good starting point for whale watching. It is recommended to drive around the entire island to experience lots of small, pretty villages and fishing villages and extreme nature.
Spaceship Aurora Spaceship Aurora is a learning and experience center located in connection with Andøya Space, where they launch research rockets into space every year. Here you can be launched into space in a simulator, learn more about the northern lights and visit a real space center.
Whale watching Off the island of Andøya, whales gather in both summer and winter. It was on Andøya that organized whale watching started in the mid-1980s. There is a whale center here where you can learn more about whale biology and the ecosystem they live in. https://www.whalesafari.no https://www.seasafariandenes.no
Alveland Dverberg is located in the middle of Andøya. Here you'll find Vesterålen's coziest soap kitchen, café and shop. In the shop they have all kinds of knick-knacks and naps, and of course they produce their own soaps. These are the soaps we use at Kvitnes. Also check if Teaterklubb '81 has a performance, it's well worth catching! http://www.tk81.no http://www.alveland.no
Bukkekjerka Shit in really nice surroundings. One of Norway's most spectacular toilets can be found on the outer side of Andøya. It's a nice detour if you're in a hurry, but there can be a bit of a queue, so it's an advantage if you manage to stick around.
BLUE
This is a town that must be visited if you are in Vesterålen. Approximately 500 inhabitants live here in close proximity. Just outside Bleik, you'll find the iconic Bleiksøya island with its famous bird cliffs. People have lived on Bleik "forever" and an old farm mound can be traced back to 600 AD. The beach is just as spectacular as the football pitch where you play in a constant headwind no matter which way you play. Bleik also has a really cool shop and café that's worth a visit - Bleik Village Service. Want more Bleik? Watch Alex and Aune on tv2 sumo, a 17-18 episode program where everything takes place in Bleik - awesome!
Måtinden One of Vesterålen's most visited mountain peaks. Not too difficult a hike, and at the top you get to experience a completely wild view so nice that Apple has used a picture from Måtinden in the launch of its products.
HADSEL
Kvitnes is located in Hadsel municipality, a municipality that is spread out a little. From Kvitnes to Stokmarknes, which is the center of Hadsel, it takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes to drive, then you have to drive through Sortland municipality. If you have a bicycle with you, we recommend a bike ride up Storheia, Norway's Mont Ventoux. Stokmarknes is also home to the hospital, which may be useful to know as well.
Gallery Uver On the outer side of Hadseløya you'll find Galleri Uver, where you can buy glass art by Siv Johansen or eat fantastic cakes and drink delicious coffee or tea.
Uværshula You'll find it not far from Galleri Uvær. A small building squeezed between two rocky outcrops. Here you can sit safely and warmly and watch the storm.
Neumann's Smokehouse and Supperclub Neumann's is located in a disused herring oil factory. Here you'll be served delicious homemade sausages and barbecue food. Just check the opening hours before you decide to have dinner here, they may vary slightly.
Morsmors is a really nice and good Kafè in the middle of Stokmarknes Sentrum. Rumor has it that one of our former apprentices works there.
Hadsel inland and Møysalen This is where Kvitnes is located. In addition to visiting us, we recommend you take a trip further inland to Hennes and Kaljord. From Hennes, the guided tours go up to Møysalen, the summit of Vesterålen and the most spectacular mountain hike. Møysalen towers 1262 meters above sea level and here you can look out over the whole of Lofoten and Vesterålen. The hike up and down takes a whole day, but those who have been there say it's worth it. If you haven't been there before and are an experienced mountain walker, you need a guide.
Lofoten
Henningsvær: Perhaps the most iconic fishing village in Lofoten, crowded in summer, but just as nice all year round.
Erlingstua rorbu, a really cool old rorbu in the middle of Henningsvær. This isn't one of those mass-produced boring rorbu, but has been a real rorbu for hundreds of years.
The wood products factory An old timber factory in Henningsvær that has been refurbished to become a kind of cultural center. Concerts are held here, there's a bar, coffee shop and outdoor seating with pizza from a wood-fired oven and even accommodation. In the summer they organize the music festival Trevarefest, but it's virtually impossible to get a ticket.
Engelskmannsbrygga This is where Cecilie Haaland is based, and it is she who has made all the ceramics for Kvitnes Gård. She runs Engelskmannsbrygga together with Mette Paalgard, who blows glass. Both are extremely skilled craftsmen. A visit to Engelskmannsbrygga is a must if you're in Henningsvær, where you can buy Mette and Cecilie's fantastic products.
Einvær Einvær is a kind of pop-up restaurant that is open in the summer and in November and December, at least for now. We hope they come to their senses and stay open all year round. Einvær is run by Svein Trandem, who also runs Einer in Oslo. Svein is a good friend of Halvar's and the two worked together in Oslo at Palace Grill.
Aaland Farm Aaland Farm produces fantastic cheese, and we use the very best, Capra, all the time at Kvitnes. Stop by their farm shop.
Lofoten gårdsysteri Also a very good cheese producer in Lofoten. Lofoten Gårdsysteri delivers goat yogurt to us, and also has accommodation and a farm shop.
Lofoten Food Studio Lofoten Food Studio is run by a true culinary legend - Roy Magne Berglund. He has previously been on the national culinary team and started and ran Du Verden in Svolvær for a number of years. Now he has built himself a tiny restaurant in his garden at home in Ballstad. Here you can sit at his kitchen counter and be served delicious food with ingredients from the area. "Roy Magne's dad is Norway's best crayfish fisherman, we think, the only problem is that he doesn't fish enough so that we can always have it on the menu.
The Viking Museum at Borg At Borg, they have built a gigantic longhouse that is identical to one that stood nearby well over 1,000 years ago. Stop by and see how people lived a long time ago.
Bakery Å Really cool bakery built in 1844 at the very end of Lofoten. The oven is fired with birch and from here you can buy fantastic cinnamon buns and bread from May to September.
Unstad At Unstad on the outer edge of Lofoten, you'll find some of the world's best waves to surf, or so they say. At Unstad Arctic Surf you'll also find some insanely good cinnamon rolls.
Raftsundet If you are driving to or from Kvitnes, we recommend taking a short detour from Lofast and out through Raftsundet. Here you can look across to Trollfjorden if you don't have a boat and the opportunity to drive in there yourself. Drive all the way out to Årstein, where it's awesome!
