Floor-to-ceiling glass facing the fjord, mountains stacked behind each other in every shade of grey and green, and in winter, northern lights rolling across the sky while you're lying on the sofa in your socks. Reinefjorden Sjøhus takes the traditional Lofoten rorbu concept and strips it back to clean Scandinavian lines, good heating, and views that do all the work.
The property sits on the water's edge in Hamnøy, a tiny cluster of buildings connected by bridges to Reine and Sakrisøy. You'll need a car. Reine village centre and the Reinebringen trailhead are a 10-minute drive through a tunnel that isn't safe to walk. Leknes Airport is roughly an hour and a half's drive. Stock up on groceries at the Coop Marked in Reine or, better yet, in Leknes before you arrive.
The units you should book
These are self-catering units, not traditional hotel rooms. Kitchens are properly equipped with dishwashers, coffee makers, and enough cookware to make real meals. The finishes are modern, well-maintained, and warm and everything feels new. The Deluxe Studios and sea-front Fisherman's Cabins are the ones to book. Those get the panoramic glass and the unobstructed fjord views. The larger multi-bedroom apartments work for groups but come with a real limitation: the 3-bedroom units that sleep up to six adults have one bathroom.
There's no daily housekeeping. This operates like a high-end vacation rental, not a serviced hotel.
Saunas with a spectacular view
Two saunas sit directly over the fjord, with a spectacular view of the fjord and the Lofoten mountain range. Steps lead straight from the sauna into the water for a cold plunge. There's also a private jacuzzi you can book. Afternoons and evenings fill up fast, so book a morning slot if you can. It's a separately charged extra, not included with your stay.
Eating
There's no restaurant on site, but the kitchens make self-catering easy. When you want to eat out, Gadus is a five-minute walk away in Hamnøy. It's a small Italian-Norwegian fusion place with homemade pasta, fresh seafood, and a daily-changing menu. It changed owners in mid-2025 but kept the same concept and is still getting strong reviews. You should book ahead in summer. Anita's Sjømat on Sakrisøy, about a 15-minute walk or 2-minute drive, does excellent seafood sandwiches and is something of a local institution.
Location
Hamnøy is one of the most photographed spots in Lofoten. The famous Hamnøy Bridge viewpoint is a 2-3 minute walk from the property. That means you're in the middle of a tourist magnet during summer daylight hours. Photographers line up on the bridge. By evening it quiets down. In winter, the hamlet is almost deserted and the northern lights can be visible right through your apartment windows, which is a genuine advantage over properties where you'd need to stand outside in minus 10.
Reinefjorden Sjøhus vs the alternatives
Eliassen Rorbuer is next door on Hamnøy. Older, more traditional cabins, and the waterfront units have the most famous view in Lofoten. But you can't step directly onto a terrace from your cabin, and the interiors feel dated for the price. On-site restaurant Gadus does Norwegian-Italian fusion.
Reine Rorbuer in Reine village, ten minutes south, has more polished traditional cabins, a better restaurant (Gammelbua), and walking access to the Coop and a couple of cafés. More convenient, less isolated. Open February to October only.
Sakrisøy Rorbuer is the yellow cluster one bridge over. Family-run, slightly cheaper, and directly across the road from Anita's Sjømat. More rustic, more personal, less dramatic views.
Pick Reinefjorden Sjøhus if you want the newest, most contemporary option in the Hamnøy area. The modern sea houses have bigger windows, proper terraces with fjord access, and a cleaner Scandinavian design than the traditional rorbuer nearby. The waterfront saunas with glass walls and cold plunge are a step above anything else in the immediate area. No restaurant on site, so you're driving or walking to eat.
Neighbourhood vibe
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