Good to know

Here you can find some useful information when visiting Vesterålen.

Information
06/10/2014
13:48
visitvesteralen.no

Opening hour for Grocery store ans other shops

Grocery stores are usually from early morning until late evening every day except Sunday, and slightly shorter opening hours on Saturday.

Other stores usually closes earlyer in the afternoon, but stores in shopping centres are often open longer. 

Alcohol

You can buy beer at the groceries, but please note that legally the sale of beer ends earlyer than the closing hour for the store.

To buy wine and spirits you must go to the liquor store Vinmonopolet which can be found in most towns and often closes early afterboon.

The minimum age is 20 to buy spirits, and 18 to buy beer.

Currency

It’s best to change foreign currency into NOK before your trip, since it is not possible to do it in Vesterålen.

Not many in Lofoten and Vesterålen accept EURO or other foreign currencies.

Payment cards are widely used in Norway, and most shops accept credit cards such as American Express, Diners, Eurocard, Visa and MasterCard. Foreign debit cards are not widely accepted; we recommend you to use an ATM to withdraw Norwegian currency instead.

Public access rights

Access rights are an integral part of the Norwegian cultural heritage, and require people to respect nature and property. 

Wilderness is uncultivated land, i.e. most water, beach, marsh, forest and mountain areas. Cultivated land, i.e. fields, meadows, pastures, gardens, newly planted areas, courtyards, building plots and industrial areas is not covered by the right of public access.

Lighting fires in woodland and open countryside is not allowed between 15 April and 15 September.

Northern Lights and Midnight Sun?

You cannot see the northern lights during the summer months because it is not dark in the evening and at night.

The best time for the Northern Lights is therefore October-March, but you can see it in September and April if the weather is clear and there is no light pollution.

You can see the midnight sun from about 20 May to about 20 July, depending on where in Vesterålen you are, but from mid-May to mid-August it is bright all day.

Emergency telephone 

  • Fire: 110
  • Police: 112
  • Emergency medical help: 113

The emergency helpline centres assess the situation and arrange the necessary assistance.

Driving

Cars must have headlights switched on at all times. The drinkdrivinglaws in Norway are strict. The legal limit is 0.02% blood alcohol content.

Recovery services

  • NAF (Norwegian Automobile Federation). Emergency number in Norway: 08505. From abroad - tel.: +47 23 21 31 00
  • Viking Recovery Service. Emergency number in Norway: 06000. From abroad - tel.: +47 22 08 60 00
  • Falck Norge. Emergency number in Norway: 02222. From abroad - tel.: +47 33 13 80 80

Motorhome service point

Empty your black waste and grey water (COORDINATES EU89, UTM-ZONE 33)

Andøy: Andenes Camping, FV 82 (North 7688634.93 East 542088.67)

Andøy: Midnattssol Camping, Bleik, FV 7702 (North 7685370.26 East 538125.51)

Sortland: Best Sigerfjord, FV 85 (Nord 7617402.17 Øst 519313.14)

Sortland Havna Service (Esso), FV 85 (Nord 7621503.03 Øst 516776.27)

Hadsel: Bobilcamp, Melbu, FV 85 (Nord 7598953.27 Øst 492328.31)

Hadsel: Rema 1000, Melbu, FV 85 (Nord 7598773.49 Øst 492312.28)

Hadsel: Vesterålen Kysthotell, Stokmarknes, FV 82 (Nord 7606499.43 Øst 496943.28)

Hadsel: Møysalen National Park Center Camping, Hennes, FV 822 (North 7602130.91 East 509620.67)

Øksnes: YX Myre Bilservice, FV 821 (Nord 7644864.22 Øst 503951.15)

Bø: Vinje boat association, Vinje FV 820 (fee) (North 7611686.12 East 477133.44)

Refill of gas bottles

Only 11 kg. Shell oil center / Hålogaland Varmeservice as. Markveien 25, Sortland. Tel: +47 76 12 00 29 (North 7621726.07 East 516069.09)

EV Charging Stations 

Map: https://www.ladestasjoner.no/kart/

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