A while back I had the opportunity to join my friend to stay at Hattvika Lodge in Ballstad. When I heard Ballstad, I thought it was the place where I stayed with my parents a year earlier. Luckily I was wrong, because where I stayed earlier was terrible and waste of money, I will maybe make a post about places to avoid in Lofoten, as I want you to have the best experience when visiting this magnificent place. When I got to visit Lofoten again, Hattvika welcomed us and let us stay in the house at Hattvika lodge and it was great, when we left, the owner Kristian told me to contact him next time I would visit Lofoten again, so I did, because in my opinion it’s the best place to stay and you get the most out of the money there as well.

IS BALLSTAD PART OF LOFOTEN?

You may wonder If Ballstad is part of Lofoten, and it definitely is. Ballstad is the place if you are really into adventures and fun. Everyone that comes to Lofoten has Reine in mind, but it is so much more to Lofoten than just Reine. Ballstad is a village in Vestvågøy Municipality. It is actually the largest fishing village in Lofoten, dated back to hundreds of years of fishing. It’s close to the best hikes and the most beautiful beaches you will find in the Lofoten archipelago, and Ballstad has the best accommodation waiting for you at Hattvika Lodge.

ACCOMODATION AT HATTVIKA LODGE

Hattvika Lodge is owned by Kristian and Guri. I didn’t get to meet Guri at this time, but Kristian was an amazing host and made us feel like home. He always had some information for us or a story to tell. Kristian and Guri has rebuild this place together and are very passionate about sharing the Lofoten culture, the history of this place and taking care of mother nature is a high priority for them. Kristian made sure to explain how to separate and sort the trash.

I don’t even know where to start, but I must say that the service at this location is beyond amazing. I don’t think I have ever experienced better service and felt so welcomed. When we arrived Hattvika, the co-owner Kristian met us and helped carry our luggage. He showed us where to stay and this time I got to experience the real “rorbu” atmosphere, which is traditional fisherman’s cabins in Norway. To be honest I had no idea what his cabins looked like, I always like to be surprised so I don’t have my hopes up (I know it’s a bad thing) but seriously though, you don’t need to worry if you ever head out this way.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT AT HATTVIKA LODGE

You can expect private, luxurious, modern, pristine and highly picturesque accommodations. All the cabins are refurbished but still has the touch of the traditional fisherman’s cabins from the old days. We stayed in “strømøybua”, which is one of the smaller cabins, but still amazingly beautiful. Strømsøybua is perfect for two people and has an exquisite view, you could also literally jump in the water from your porch, which I would not recommend by the way.

Each cabin at Hattvika Lodge has modern bathrooms with huge shower, heated tile floors where you can control the heating yourself. Strømsøybua has two bedrooms, one with two single beds and one with a king size. I can’t even say enough how comfortable those beds were, I could seriously lay there all day, but mother earth was calling so I had to go. The kitchen has an oven, a stove, coffeemaker and all the essentials. Hattvika Lodge also provides bed sheets and towels.

THE EXPERIENCE AT HATTVIKA

They offer sauna on the dock, which has an outside shower and a huge window with a really nice view (I could sit there forever.) Bendiksenbua (their most luxurious accommodation has its own jacuzzi outside, just imagine sitting there with the northern lights dancing in the sky or during summer with the midnight sun. Maybe I get to show you guys that too in the future. There is another sauna as well, which has a really funny design, it’s round and has a hot-tub next to it.

Kristian and Guri wants you to have a taste of the whole “Lofoten experience” so they offer tours all year around, such as kayak, fishing tours with local fisherman’s and the super fresh food right from their harbor. They also offer a private restaurant, I never got to test it out, but I will for sure if I head back during the summer months

MÖLLER’S FISH OIL

Have you ever had fish oil before? Hattvika Lodge also provides a shot with the world-famous local fish oil, located right on the harbor Hattvika Lodge. There isn’t anywhere else in the world who has a Möller’s fish oil taste depot, they must be proud. The Möller’s factory is located opposite of Hattvika Lodge and has now produced three kinds of cod liver oil, including the original which literally taste like fish (this is for the brave one) no im just kidding, it doesn’t taste much actually, and it is full of omega-3 which is super good for your health, also including lemon taste and apple. I have never tasted the apple before but maybe I will buy it now since I love apple and it helps me stay healthy all year.

MY 100% HONEST REVIEW

Our stay here was one of the better ones. I had so much fun, I felt so comfortable and my friend even said that she couldn’t even imagine seeing herself in such a nice home in the future. I honestly don’t think you will find a better location, or a more modern accommodation in Lofoten. Hattvika Lodge is just so beautiful and offer so many things, such as the two saunas, beautiful cabins, jacuzzi, hiking opportunities good food and super hosts. We woke up, made ourselves coffee and a good egg and bacon breakfast every morning, took off to explore the area and the hiking opportunities nearby.

After a long day in the cold and bad weather, Kristian treated us with the beautiful sauna (I honestly don’t like saunas, I feel claustrophobia but not in this sauna.) it had two large windows with exquisite view and a shower outside we could cool off, and then head back into the sauna. We also jumped into the freezing cold water, Kristian told me the water holds a temperature of 5 degrees Celsius all year. After the cold bath, we ran into the sauna on the harbor, pretty close to our cabin. I always feel welcomed when I come here, Kristian is so nice and he will make your stay the best, he will help you as much as he can