Drive it Yourself: Harstad to Svolvær (via the Fv83)
Read our road-trip guide to Harstad and Svolvaer.
The Hidden North
North European travel guide
Population 10,400 / 68.4 degrees north
Sortland, Norway
Sortland has a reputation around Norway for being the ‘blue city’ after an initiative to paint the town blue in the early 21st century.
Fun Facts About Sortland
Latitude: 68.4 degrees north
Population: 10,400
Sami name: Suortá
Hottest month: July
Coldest month: February
Wettest month: October
Windiest month: June
Annual precipitation: 1303mm
Sortland Municipality
In this Travel Guide...
Things to See & Do
Here’s an overview of some of the best things to see and do in Sortland
Sortland Guides
Find guides to Sortland on our online store.
Hikes, Day Trips & Experiences
Looking to go for a hike or take part in a unique experience? Here are my recommendations!
Road-Trips
Follow my road-trip guides for scenic trips around Sortland
Harstad to Andenes
Sortland is one of the stops we make on the way to Andenes from Harstad.
Self-Guided Walks
No self-guided walks are currently available for Sortland.
Sortland on YouTube
Watch my YouTube videos featuring Sortland
Uniquely Sortland
Here are some things that you must do and try in Sortland
The Blue Buildings
Around 20 buildings in Sortland are painted blue. In 1999 the artist Bjorn Elvenes launched an idea to paint the buildings in Sortland blue to bring in tourists.
History of Sortland
Sortland is a relatively new town; it received town status in 1997. However, the area around Sortland is mentioned int he Viking Sagas. The church in Sortland is first mentioned in written sources in 1370. Merchants began to settle in the 17th century.
Sortland Today
Today Sortland is the largest town and commercial centre in Vesterålen. Sortland is also regarded as one of the best music communities in Norway, and the local band Madrugada is one of the best in the country. The Sortland Jazz Festival takes place here every year.
The most important industries are trade, agriculture, fishing and aquaculture.
Sortland is the only municipality in Vesterålen that has had a stable increase in population over the past 25 years.
Travel Information
Getting Here
Fly: No airport
Drive: The Rv85 runs from the E10 all the way to Sortland.
Train: No train access.
Ferry: Sortland is a port of call on the coastal ferry. The northbound stops in the middle of the night, while the southbound stops in the middle of the day.
Getting Around
You’ll need a car to get around to all the major sites.
Shops
Places to Eat
Cafes & Bakeries
Quick Bites
Reasonable Restaurants
High End & Unique Eats
Places to Stay
All my hotel recommendations are based on research and experience. I don’t recommend somewhere unless I think it is wonderful! The Hidden North focuses on accommodation that provides good quality for price or offer local or unique experiences.
Camping
Sortland Camping & Motel: Click here to view rates & book
Cabins & B&Bs
Chains & Mid-Range
Thon Hotel Sortland: Click here to view rates & book
Scandic Sortland: Click here to view rates & book
High End & Unique Properties
Sunrise/Sunset & Weather Averages
January
Sunrise: 10:53am
Sunset: 1:22pm
Average Temperature: -0.8C (30.6F)
February
Sunrise: 8:22am
Sunset: 4:03pm
Average Temperature: -1.3C (29.7F)
March
Sunrise: 6:21am
Sunset: 5:55pm
Average Temperature: -0.3C (31.5F)
April
Sunrise: 5:04am
Sunset: 8:54pm
Average Temperature: 2.3C (36.1F)
May
Sunrise: 2:31am
Sunset: 11:24pm
Average Temperature: 6.4C (43.5F)
June
Midnight sun
Average Temperature: 10C (50F)
July
Midnight sun until 21 July
Average Temperature: 13.1C (55.6F)
August
Sunrise: 4:09am
Sunset: 9:53pm
Average Temperature: 12.4C (54.3F)
September
Sunrise: 6:12am
Sunset: 7:32pm
Average Temperature: 9.1C (48.4F)
October
Sunrise: 8:03am
Sunset: 5:23pm
Average Temperature: 4.6C (40.3F)
November
Sunrise: 9:20am
Sunset: 2:04pm
Average Temperature: 1.9C (35.4F)
December
Polar night
Average Temperature: 0.1C (32.2F)
All Posts About Sortland
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