Dønna: Cultural Heritage and Island Experiences

On Dønna, you’ll encounter coastal history, protected cultural heritage sites and routes through a varied island landscape. The municipality extends across the islands of Dønna, Løkta and Vandve; on 1 January 2025, 1,447 people lived here. This makes it possible to plan your trip while getting your bearings between the islands and exploring a range of historic sites and activities.

Coastal Culture and History

Nordvika gamle handelssted on Dønna is one of the oldest and best-preserved historic trading centres in Northern Norway. During the summer season, you can visit exhibitions and shop at the general store. Coffee in the historic parlour is also part of the seasonal offering: the wallpaper is decorated with real gold. If you plan to visit, take the summer season into account.

Bjørnsmartnan puts coastal culture at its heart and is held every two years. Before your trip, check whether an event date falls during your stay. The festival is therefore a different kind of occasion from a museum visit, which can be planned independently of a specific event date.

At Glein, remarkable relics of the past take centre stage: visitors can see Northern Europe’s largest marble phallus and the Fruktbarhetsutstilling, an exhibition of fertility symbols from around the world dating back 25,000 to 30,000 years. The site also includes a large burial ground from the Early Iron Age, dated to 300–600 AD; it is a short walk from the attractions at Glein. Visitors are free to walk among and around the burial mounds. The burial mounds and the phallus are protected cultural heritage sites.

The past can be experienced in different ways elsewhere, too. Dønna was an important centre of power and culture from the Migration Period until the 20th century, as numerous cultural heritage sites attest. The Dønnes kirke and a mausoleum containing 22 coffins stand on the grounds of Dønnes Gård. An exhibition on Dønna is dedicated to the life and work of Ole Edvart Rølvaag and displays his complete collection of first editions.

On Løkta, the museum features exhibitions on fishing, the living conditions of smallholders and local industrial history. These include an exhibition about granite quarrying in Horn from 1918 to 1923. The topics offer different insights into work and daily life: from fishing and life on small farms to local industry.

Island Routes and Activities

With its varied landscape and long country roads, Dønna is one of the best destinations on the Helgeland coast for travellers with a bicycle. For a walk, the Dønna Nature and Cultural Trail runs from Dønnes Gård through Dønnesskogen to a viewpoint on Dønnesfjellet, 128 metres above sea level. The trail is marked and signposted, with stairs and bridges at difficult sections. From Dønnesfjellet, you can look out over the islands of the Helgeland coast and watch the sunset or the midnight sun over the sea.

The route up Dønnamannen is quite different: it is very challenging and follows a steep path with plenty of loose scree. After rain, the path can be slippery, and some sections are poorly marked. Breivika is the easiest starting point on Dønna for this route. Check local conditions before setting out. This will help you distinguish between the marked cultural trail to the viewpoint and the demanding mountain path as different ways to spend time outdoors.

Water-based activities are also on offer. Dønna Opplevelser rents out kayaks and offers stand-up paddleboarding as well as guided archaeological and historical walks. Introductory and family courses are available for stand-up paddleboarding; availability depends on bookings, weather and water conditions. For a more relaxed activity, Yogalåven on Dønna offers yoga, classes and retreats in a natural setting close to the sea and mountains.

Getting Around and Places to Eat

A bridge connects Dønna to the neighbouring municipality of Herøy; it was completed in 1999. A ferry connects Sandnessjøen with Bjørn on Dønna, and Løkta is linked to Sandnessjøen and Dønna by ferry. Check the current timetables for departure times.

There are different seasonal options for a meal or a break. Sjokoladebrygga has a café in summer and hosts various events at other times of the year; check the latest information before visiting. The 3 Kalver farm restaurant serves food made with locally sourced ingredients and short supply chains. Along with the seasonal café and museums, these places complement excursions into Dønna’s history and landscape.

Discover more destinations: Vandve, Dønna, Kopardal, Hemnes, Tjeldsund, Sørfold, Steigen, Røst.

Back to the main travel overview: Nordland.