Risøyhamn: Open-Air Museum, Market and Moorland

Three themes can help guide your choice of where to stay in Risøyhamn: the open-air museum, the annual market held in July, and the moorlands with cloudberries. They offer cultural, seasonal and landscape perspectives on the place.

Open-Air Museum and Exhibitions

The Risøyhamn Museum is a small open-air museum in Risøyhamn, on the southern side of Andøya. It comprises five historic buildings: Børvågstua, Lensmannsgården, Nilsengården, the boathouse and the stable. The names of the buildings provide a concrete overview of the museum’s components.

The five-oared boat “Haakon” is housed in the boathouse. It was built in Helgeland in 1880 and is 14 metres long. The number of oars describes its design, while its length gives a sense of the boat’s size. Together, these details place the exhibit in terms of its design, as well as its time and place of origin.

The exhibition “Operations and expeditions – Andværinger i krig og fred” is located at Lensmannsgården. It opened on 8 May 2025 and explores the contributions and stories of people from Andøya in times of war and peace. The exhibition’s location and subject offer another perspective on the island’s history.

Skomakerstua in Risøyhamn also houses an exhibition, featuring numerous old artefacts. This adds another exhibition venue and a different focus beyond the open-air museum. If you are interested in the history and collections of the area, you can consider these two locations separately when planning your trip.

Market and Landscape in Risøyhamn

The Risøyhamn Market takes place every year in July. It features stalls, food and drink, and an open museum. If the event is important for your travel dates, check the specific dates: the market returns annually, but the exact dates may change.

Risøyhamn is surrounded by moorland and heathland where cloudberries grow. These landscape features add another dimension to the historic buildings and the event. The description of the surroundings combines two types of vegetation with a berry that grows there.

Getting There and Boat Rental

Hurtigruten calls at Risøyhamn twice a day throughout the year. Include the connection in your travel plans and check the current timetable before travelling, as the service frequency may change.

Risøyhamn Sjøhus offers boat rental. If you plan to use this option, check availability before your trip. The timetable and boat rental are two separate considerations: the current timetable is relevant for the ship connection, while availability matters for the rental service.

Other Perspectives in the Wider Destination of Andøy

In the wider destination of Andøy, you can visit the Andenes Lighthouse on a guided tour that involves climbing stairs. The tour includes an exhibition, history and views from the top of the lighthouse. Before travelling, check whether the guided access is available on your chosen date.

The Norwegian Scenic Route Andøya is also worth considering for a longer-distance route plan: it is part of National Cycle Route 1 and also runs along EuroVelo 1, the “Atlantic Coast Route”. These route names help identify the cycle routes; conditions depend on the weather and road status.

More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Andenes, Dverberg, Andøy, Fiskenes, Nøss

Back to the wider travel overview: Andøy.