Gravdal Leknes Lofoten

On approach, the ship passes near Moskenesstraumen, the strong tide between Moskenesøy and Vaerøy Islands. Edgar Allan Poe describes this tide, somewhat fancifully, in "A Descent into the Maelström."

You may dock, but larger cruise ships are usually tendered to a pier halfway between Gravdal and Leknes, a six minute ride away.

At Leknes pier, a gift and service shop can help during your visit, offering: • Internet 3.50 euro for 20 minutes • General information • Exchange • Fishing gear rentals • Souvenirs • Post cards • Stamps and post office services.

Views from both the ship and the pier are delightful.

If you do not choose an excursion, walk from the dock into Leknes, about 4 km away, through fantastic scenery. Taxis are also available.

This is the first port above the Arctic Circle, and most cruise lines hold a Midnight Sun party.

Unlike neighbouring communities, Leknes developed without a fisheries base, so its town centre stands away from the sea. Rapid expansion has shaped its appearance instead of the traditional wooden buildings found elsewhere in Lofoten, and it may not look as picturesque as the fishing villages nearby. Yet mountains, peaks, cliffs and white sandy beaches create scenery regarded as some of Norway's finest. Leknes Havn is a key Norwegian cruise-ship harbour with frequent calls.

The town has fewer than 3000 inhabitants.

The midnight sun remains above Leknes's horizon from May 26 to July 17. In the winter period from December 9 to January 4, the sun never rises.

Independent sightseeing is cumbersome, so a cruise line excursion is a good choice. Otherwise, arrange car hire in advance.

When booking an excursion, remember that Lofoten has only one road, so you will return by the same route you used to leave.

Pier shuttles run to Ballstad, an active fishing village, for 15 Euro.

Bicycles can be hired at the pier for 21 euro/day.

Norwegian weather can be highly unpredictable, so check cancellation policies for inclement weather; an excursion in the clouds is no fun.

Typical nearby Lofoten villages include:

Ballstad is one of Lofoten's largest and most picturesque fishing villages, about an half an hour from Leknes by bus.

At Mortsund, the port fish-factory buys cod during the winter fishingseason, drying it for the Italian market while also making cod-liver oil and salted fish for Spain and Portugal.

For Lofoten bus schedules, note that buses leave from Leknes, not from the pier.

Shops take Euros and sometimes Dollars, but each appears to use its own exchange rate.

At the far end of town is a massive mall that looks out of place among the small wooden buildings. It also contains a very good supermarket.

The Norwegian crown, or norske krone, is Norway's currency and is abbreviated kr. An øre is 1/100th of a krone, and 1.00 EUR = about 8 NOK.

Norway's ATMs are called Minibank.

Nearly all shops accept major credit cards, including Mastercard and Visa. Bring your passport/driver's license, as identification is required when using a credit card.

Pepe’s Pizza in town offers free WiFi.

Norway's opening hours have improved, but many smaller stores still close early on Saturday, typically 1 PM or 3 PM, and almost everything shuts on Sundays. Door signs often show "9-21 (9-18)", meaning 9 AM to 9 PM on weekdays and 9 AM to 6 PM on Saturday.