Outside the door of Villa Lofoten
Five minutes from the house is a sandy beach. If you enjoy cold water you can swim on sunny summer days. Or you can walk along the beaches looking for shells and all sorts of things the ocean has thrown ashore. Villa Soleng has bicycles for hire. Lofoten is a cyclist's paradise. Or you can go for a walk in the mountains behind the house. Bring your fishing rod and you might come back with trout for dinner. If the weather is good you might be able to go with one of the fishing boats for a day of fishing. Or you can take your camera, go for a walk, and come back with fantastic photos of birds and nature. In winter you can go cross country skiing.

Art
In Nordland county there is a unique sculpture collection. 33 of the 45 local municipalities in the county have sculptures made by world famous sculptors from 15 different nations. The sculptures are placed in nature in co-operation with the artist. The intention being that the sculpture is the place where it is located, and the place is part of the sculpture. There sculptures are in Lofoten:

• Without title, Dan Graham (USA) Lyngvær in Vågan
• Head, Markus Raetz (Switzerland) Eggum in Vestvågøy
• Epitaph, Toshikatsu Endo (Japan), Ramberg in Flakstad
• Laurel leaves-Moskenes, Cristina Iglesias (Spain), Akkarodden in Moskenes
• The nest/Il Nido, Luciano Fabro (Italy), Vedøya at Røst

Gallery Espolin in Kabelvåg shows works by the artist Kaare Espolin Johnsons who's characteristic works have a mythical quality and is often tied to life in the North. In Svolvær you will find the North Norwegian artist centre with it's exhibitions of local art. In Henningsvær you will find more local art at Gallery Lofoten's House. In Moskenes there are exhibitions at Gallery Krysset.

Historic places
The cultural history is rich at a place that has been inhabited for 6 000 years. You can follow in history's footprints by exploring the project called "Footprints towards the North". Each local municipality has contributed one aspect, which seen as a whole gives a cultural history of Northern Norway and Lofoten. In Lofoten you can find the "footprints" here:

• Vågan: Vàgar was the first urban development north of the Arctic Circle. It is thought that the European trade in dried fish started here in the 11th century. There is a path from the Lofotmuseet to Kabelvåg where various finds are presented.
• Vestvågøy: Lofotr - The Viking museum at Borg is based on the remains of a chieftain's seat from the Iron Age. The museum is a reconstruction of the 83 metres long house.
• Flakstad: From Nusfjord to Øvre Nesland there is a path between two fishing hamlets where you can follow in the footsteps of several generations of fishermen and farmers.
• Moskenes: The cave paintings in Revsvika are remains of people that lived 3000 years ago. Paintings depicting 21 human figures tell us something about their lives. Authorised guides take visitors by boat to the site.

There are also other museums. A World War 2. Museum in Svolvær. In Moskenes there is a doll museum, a dried fish museum and a folk museum depiction the history of a fishing hamlet. Ramberg church in Flakstad is worth a visit, as is Buksnes in Vestvågøy.

Nature
Out-door activities recommended are cycling, hill-walking, rock climbing (courses at Henningsvær) midnight sun golf (9-holes at Gimsøy) alpine and cross country skiing in the winter. Lake and sea -fishing and wale-watching.

Fishing hamlets
The most picturesque fishing hamlets are Henningsvær and Nusfjord, both still teeming with activity during the winter season. Until June you will see the fish drying outside in the traditional way before it is exported as dried fish and stock-fish primarily to Italy, Spain and Portugal.

Lofoten has a lot to offer, but you need time as well as a car, good shoes and warm clothes. With all that in hand you can get around and see what Lofoten has to offer no matter the weather. Welcome to a world of new exciting and exotic experiences in Lofoten.