You might have seen these cabins before. Bright red, on stilts, reflected in the fjord with jagged peaks behind them. That iconic image on Lofoten guidebook covers and Norway tourism posters. The property sits on the tiny island of Hamnøy, and the Hamnøy Bridge viewpoint is a two-minute walk from the front door.
Because these are the most photographed cabins in Lofoten, you may find photographers and tour groups setting up tripods near the waterfront cabins, particularly during Northern Lights season or around sunrise. It's the trade-off for staying in the postcard.
This is the oldest rorbuer resort in Lofoten. Some of the cabins date back over a hundred years, originally built for fishermen arriving for the annual cod season from January to April. The Eliassen family has been running the place for generations. Today there are around 35 cabins, ranging from one to three bedrooms, all with fully equipped kitchens, living areas, bathrooms with heated floors, and free Wi-Fi.
There are two saunas on the property, each holding up to six people, with time slots at 17:00 and 20:00. They cost extra and need to be booked at reception. You can also arrange kayak rentals, boat trips, fishing excursions, and Northern Lights tours through the front desk.
Which cabins to book
The waterfront cabins are the cabin you should book. Actually, nothing else is worth booking here. The cabins sit on stilts directly over the water, with unobstructed views of Reinefjorden and the surrounding mountains. You can watch the Northern Lights from your living room window. The land-facing standard cabins look at other cabins, the road, or the car park. The difference is a spectacular stay and a forgettable one.
The interiors are clean and functional. Wood-panelled walls, simple Scandinavian furniture, a compact kitchen with a fridge, stove, dishwasher, coffee maker, and enough kitchenware to cook properly. The living rooms are spacious. The bedrooms are small. Beds are wedged against walls in some units, and bathrooms are tight, with showers that occasionally leak water onto the floor. Sound insulation is average, you'll hear the seagulls and your neighbours.
Food
Gadus, the on-site restaurant, serves Norwegian-Italian fusion with homemade pasta, fresh cod, fish soup, and reindeer. It's a small place inside an old white wooden house, with a partly open kitchen downstairs and a cosier dining room upstairs. Book a table in advance during summer.
Gadus may close or reduce hours in the deep off-season, so check ahead if you're visiting between November and February. For a cheaper meal, the Coop grocery store in Reine is about a ten-minute drive, and the kitchens in the cabins are genuinely well-stocked enough for proper cooking. Anita's Sjømat on neighbouring Sakrisøy, a five-minute drive or twenty-minute walk, does excellent fish soup and smoked salmon.
Eliassen vs altarnatives
Reine Rorbuer in Reine village, ten minutes down the road, is the closest match. Similar traditional cabins, slightly more polished interiors, and a better restaurant (Gammelbua). The big difference is location: you're in the village itself, walking distance to the Coop, a café, and a couple of restaurants. More convenient, less dramatic. Open February to October only, with a two-night minimum in summer.
Sakrisøy Rorbuer is the yellow one on the island between Hamnøy and Reine. Family-run for five generations, and noticeably cheaper than Eliassen for comparable cabins. Anita's Sjømat is across the road. The views are lovely but you're not perched directly over Reinefjorden the way Eliassen's waterfront cabins are.
Reinefjorden Sjøhus is practically next door on the Hamnøy side. The newer sea houses have bigger windows, proper terraces you can step onto, and a more contemporary feel. They've added waterfront saunas with fjord access. No restaurant on site, so you're driving or walking to eat.
Pick Eliassen if you value the view. The waterfront cabins deliver the most photographed perspective in Lofoten, and no other property nearby puts you over the water in the same way. Book the waterfront category or don't bother.
Getting there
You need a car here. Leknes Airport is about 80 minutes by car. The alternative is flying to Bodø and taking the 3.5-hour ferry to Moskenes, then driving ten minutes to Hamnøy. A bus runs the route from Leknes, but service is infrequent, especially on weekends and in the low season. Summer books out months ahead, so plan early.
Neighbourhood vibe
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