Activities
Explore & experience on the island and beyond.
Bjarkøy is a small, green island in Northern Norway, nestled between Tromsø and Lofoten. Here, life follows the rhythm of the sea, and nature is never far away.
Most of our experiences take place right here on the island and in the surrounding waters. Others invite you to explore a little further afield. From wildlife and Viking history to mountain adventures, there's plenty to discover.
Explore the map to find your next adventure, here on Bjarkøy and beyond.
Showing Northern Norway
Coastlines © OpenStreetMap contributors and Natural Earth.
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On Bjarkøy
Northern lights and dark skies
- Travel
- Right outside the house
- Season
- September – March
Included in your stay
There are no town lights out here, so the sky gets properly dark. On a clear night with activity in the sky, you may see the northern lights from right outside the door, with no crowds around. They can never be promised, but the dark skies give you a good chance.
12 activities
01 · On Bjarkøy
Northern lights and dark skies
Included in your stay
Right outside the house · September – March
There are no town lights out here, so the sky gets properly dark. On a clear night with activity in the sky, you may see the northern lights from right outside the door, with no crowds around. They can never be promised, but the dark skies give you a good chance.
02 · On Bjarkøy
Midnight sun
Included in your stay
Right outside the house · Late May – late July
From late May to late July the sun doesn't set. You can be out in the boat or down on the dock at midnight in full daylight, and the evening light over the sound lasts for hours.
03 · On Grytøya
Wood-fired sauna & sea bathing
Included in your stay
A short drive away · All year round
Heitlaugen is a wood-fired sauna on Grytøya, just a short drive from Bjarkøy, available for our guests to enjoy. Set on the rocks just steps from the sea, it has a large round window overlooking the water. Feel the warmth of the fire, step into the cold Arctic sea, then return to the heat. Take your time and enjoy the contrast.
04 · On Bjarkøy
Fishing on the fjord
Included in your stay
From our own dock · All year round
Step aboard our boat and head out with one of us at the helm. Depending on the season and conditions, you might catch cod, haddock or halibut. Across the water, Grytøya's dramatic peaks rise more than 1,000 metres straight from the sea, with Nona standing tall above the fjord.
05 · On Bjarkøy
Seafood dinner
Included in your stay
At the house · All year round
When you've caught your own fish, we'll show you how to clean and fillet it before preparing dinner together. On days when the fish aren't biting, we use fresh local ingredients instead. Either way, we'll gather around the table, share a good meal and enjoy the simple pleasure of eating together.
Photo: Jacob Spinks, CC BY 2.006 · On Bjarkøy
Sea eagles and wildlife
Included in your stay
From the boat and the shore · All year round
This coast has one of the highest densities of white-tailed eagles in Europe. With a bit of luck you may see them follow the boat, or even take a fish from the surface a few metres away.
07 · On Bjarkøy and Grytøya
Hiking & ski touring
Arranged on request
From the doorstep, or a short drive to Grytøya · Hiking in summer and autumn, ski touring in late winter and spring
Explore Bjarkøy on foot, with easy walks along the shore and over the low hills. For bigger adventures, head to Grytøya, where Nona rises more than 1,000 metres above the sea. Hike to the summits in summer and autumn, or explore the mountains on skis in late winter and spring. Tell us what you enjoy, and we'll help you find the right route.
Photo: Steve Nilsen, CC BY-SA 4.008 · Under an hour
Harstad · Coastal town life
Arranged on request
By tunnel and ferry · All year round
Make time for a visit to Harstad, where you'll find waterfront restaurants, a lively harbour and a taste of Northern Norwegian culture. Browse the local shops, enjoy a meal by the sea, or join the celebrations during festival week in June. Then return to the peace and quiet of Bjarkøy after a day in town.
Photo: Simo Räsänen, CC BY-SA 3.009 · On Bjarkøy and in Harstad
Viking history and Trondenes
Arranged on request
On the island, or under an hour to Trondenes · All year round
Step back in time and discover the Viking Age on the island, or explore its history at Trondenes Historical Centre, just outside Harstad. In the Viking Age, Bjarkøy was the seat of one of the most powerful families in the north, and its chieftain Tore Hund fought against King Olav at the Battle of Stiklestad in 1030.
Photo: foxypar4, CC BY 2.010 · Under an hour
Golf in the midnight sun
Extra cost · we can arrange it
Just north of Harstad · May – August
Harstad Golfklubb. In summer you can tee off at midnight in broad daylight, which is stranger than it sounds and something you can only do this far north.
Photo: Simo Räsänen, CC BY-SA 4.011 · A day trip
Kvitnes Gård
Extra cost · we can arrange it
2 – 4 hours by car and ferry · Book well ahead
The world's northernmost Michelin-starred restaurant, awarded its star in June 2026, with Halvar Ellingsen as head chef. It is in Hadsel in Vesterålen, a full day's trip from here, and a good sign of how seriously this coast now takes its food.
Photo: Buiobuione, CC BY-SA 4.012 · A day trip
Whale safari from Andenes
Extra cost · we can arrange it
2 – 4 hours by car · Strongest in autumn and winter
Sperm whales feed off Andenes on Andøya, where the continental shelf comes close to shore. The trip also passes Bleiksøya, a bird cliff full of puffins and sea eagles.
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Only here for a day?
If you're visiting Bjarkøy for the day, or have an afternoon free in Harstad, you can book these on their own.
