Discover Stokmarknes

Stokmarknes brings together Hurtigruten history, cultural attractions, seasonal wildlife watching and winter sports. When looking for a hotel, you could first consider whether you are mainly interested in the museum, a cultural heritage route or outdoor activities.

Hurtigruten history at the museum

Richard With founded Hurtigruten in Stokmarknes in 1893. Hurtigruten ships have been calling at Stokmarknes since the Risøyrenna opened in 1922. These dates represent two different aspects of the town's history: the founding of Hurtigruten and the start of the port calls.

The Hurtigrutemuseet offers guided tours of the engine room of the Hurtigruten ship MS Finnmarken, built in 1956. The museum also has offerings for children and young people. On board the MS Finnmarken, there is a museum café serving food and drinks, with authentic decor and expansive views. The Hurtigrutemuseet thus brings together maritime history, a close-up look at the engine room and an onboard café.

Hadsel Church and the pilgrimage route

A pilgrimage route leads from Stokmarknes over the hill to Hadsel Church and Hadsel cultural heritage park. The walk from the campsite in Stokmarknes to the church and cultural heritage park takes about an hour. Nearby Hadsel Church is an octagonal church dating from 1824. It stands on a hill between Stokmarknes and Melbu, with views across the Hadselfjord towards Møysalen. Its old altarpiece is one of the five pre-Reformation altarpieces in the Leka series.

More cultural attractions in the wider destination of Hadsel

The cultural heritage park in the wider destination of Hadsel is an open-air museum that showcases a variety of cultural heritage sites and presents Hadsel's cultural history. Another historic site in the wider destination of Hadsel is Neptun Sildoljefabrikk. This industrial heritage site is located on the small island of Svinøya, on the south side of Hadseløya in Vesterålen, and illustrates the industrial fishing industry from the late 19th century to the 20th century. The historic site offers outdoor guided tours that can be booked.

Seasonal nature and winter sports

Sperm whales and orcas are often spotted in the waters around Stokmarknes, especially in late autumn and early spring. Continuous cross-country ski trails lead from Stokmarknes via Lekangmarka to Melbu. Gledalen skianlegg in Stokmarknes has cross-country ski trails measuring 1.3 km and 2.5 km; cross-country skiing depends on seasonal snow conditions.

Another cycling facility in Stokmarknes is Junior Sykkelpark. For planning your travel dates, comparing the nature and winter sports options offers practical guidance: sperm whales and orcas are spotted especially in late autumn and early spring, while cross-country skiing depends on seasonal snow conditions.

Getting there and planning your trip

Stokmarknes Airport is located in Skagen, 8450 Stokmarknes.

Discover more destinations: Hennes, Tengelfjorden, Myrland, Grytting, Melbu, Tengelfjord

Back to the wider travel overview: Hadsel.