Discover Gimsøysand

Planning your trip to Gimsøysand

Gimsøysand on Gimsøya can be explored through three specific themes: Gimsøy Church, the coastal 18-hole links golf course at Lofoten Links, and activities at Hov Gård. If you are looking for a hotel in Gimsøysand, you can choose your destination based on your interests: cultural history, golf or outdoor experiences. The following sections set out these themes by location and type, so you can consider them separately when planning your trip.

Gimsøy Church: architecture and history

Gimsøy Church in Gimsøysand on Gimsøya is a wooden long church. Aslak Bolt first mentioned it in 1432. The stained-glass windows by artist Borgar Hauglid, dedicated in 1968, represent a different period. This brings together three distinct aspects: architectural style, first mention and artistic features. For a trip focused on architecture and art history, the church offers a specific cultural highlight: it can be understood both through its architectural style and through the design and dedication of its windows.

Hov Gård between Hoven and the sea

Hov Gård lies between Mount Hoven and the sea. Throughout the year, Hov Gård offers walks on the beach and walks beneath the midnight sun and northern lights; horseback rides are also available year-round. Activity availability may change, so it is worth checking before making plans. Hov Gård also rents out a wood-fired sauna at Hov Beach. Availability of this option may also change. The offerings differ by type: walks and horseback rides are activities, while the sauna is a rental at the beach. If you are planning your trip around a specific activity, you can consider each of these options separately.

Golf course and Hoven Trail

Lofoten Links is a coastal links golf course with 18 holes. Nearby, the easy Hoven Trail starts at the golf course parking lot and is 2 km each way. Route details vary by season and depend on snow conditions; check them before setting out. For planning purposes, the two options can be assessed by different features: for the golf course, its links design and number of holes; for the trail, its length, difficulty and seasonal conditions.

Getting to Hov Gård and shuttle services

You need a rental car to get to Hov Gård: the bus that passes by is a school bus, not a public bus. As transport services can change, check the latest travel information before setting out. Lofoten Links offers shuttle services to Harstad/Narvik Airport (EVE), Leknes Airport (LKN) and Svolvær Airport (SVJ). Availability of these services may change; confirm it before planning your trip around them. This lets you take the travel information for Hov Gård and the separate shuttle service from Lofoten Links into account as appropriate when planning.

Vågan as a regional context

Beyond Gimsøysand, the wider destination of Vågan offers other distinct nature and culture themes. On Gimsøya in Vågan, there are extensive protected areas with rare wildlife and a rich diversity of birdlife. From Hoven, there are 360-degree panoramic views of the Lofoten mountains and the open sea to the north. In Kabelvåg stands the Lofoten Cathedral, built in 1898 and the largest church in Northern Norway. Henningsvær is one of Norway’s 13 protected cultural landscapes. These examples relate to the wider Vågan region; the local themes in Gimsøysand remain the church, the golf course and Hov Gård.

Discover more destinations: Digermulen, Kleppstad, Laupstad, Laukvik, Brettesnes, Henningsvær, Svolvær, Skrova.

For the wider travel overview: Vågan.