Discover unique museums and nature centers in Andenes. Learn about the northern lights phenomenon, otherwise known as aurora borealis, at a unique space center. This historic fishing village also features outdoor activities, including whale-watching safaris, hiking and cycling. Learn about the natural history of northern Norway at a nature center, known as Hisnakul.
Find the Andøy Museum and see exhibits on the region’s hunters, including Hilmar Nøis, a famous Norwegian trapper. Learn how Nøis spent almost 40 seasons on Svalbard, an archipelago located about halfway between the mainland and the North Pole. See equipment used by the trappers and explorers as they braved the unknown and headed north.
Notice the Andenes Lighthouse next to the Andøy Museum. This lighthouse stands about 130 feet (40 meters) tall and can be climbed by the public. Take a guided tour of the lighthouse and walk up almost 150 steps to the top. Spot many species of birds as you look over the Norwegian Sea from the top of the lighthouse.
Stop at Spaceship Aurora, an educational center linked to the Andøya Space Center. Discover how rockets from Andøya are used to investigate the northern lights. The Andøya Space Center has been integral in establishing Norway as a space nation. Spaceship Aurora is located in the Andøya Space Center and features virtual space exploration activities, educational displays and a widescreen cinema.
Find Andenes in the Vesterålen District of Nordland County. The Andøya Airport is only a short walk from the center of Andenes.
Andenes is renowned for its whale-watching safaris, museums preserving northern Norway’s trapping history and remarkable space center.
