Brønnøysund – Norway’s midpoint of myths and mountains

A small seaport with a unique dialect, local food-focussed restaurants and a legendary mountain.

Torghatten mountain in Brønnøysund is the place of many Norse myths

History The best things to do Weather in Brønnøysund Getting to Brønnøysund Activities

Sitting halfway along the Norwegian coastline, just south of the Arctic Circle, Brønnøysund is a small seaport strung along a narrow peninsula.

Water shapes life here – from the tides that lap its shores to the ancient myths that swirl around nearby Torghatten, the ‘mountain with an eye’.

A short history of Brønnøysund

At the foot of the mythical Torghatten, a Viking chieftain once established a thriving trading post. But the village was razed in 1240, during the Norwegian civil wars, when nobleman Skule Bårdsson tried to seize power from his son-in-law King Haakon.

The area slowly recovered, resettled by Norwegians from the south and waves of Swedish immigrants in the 19th century. Their influence can still be heard today in Brønnøysund’s distinctive dialect, touched by Swedish intonation.

Visit Brønnøysund with Hurtigruten

Southbound on The Coastal Express

In port: 25 hours and 25 minutes

We call at Brønnøysund in the afternoon on the southbound leg of our Coastal Express route, giving you plenty of time to join our many shore excursions and explore the town.

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Southbound on The Svalbard Line

In port: 4 hours

From May to September, we stop at Brønnøysund on the southbound leg of the Svalbard Line, our Signature voyage that sails from Bergen to the Arctic archipelago.

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Getting to Brønnøysund from your ship

Manoeuvring along the island-dotted Helgeland coastline, look out for the UNESCO-listed Vega Archipelago famed for its lagoons with shell-strewn beaches. Looking south, you might spy the grey mass of Torghatten.

Our ships steer you right into the heart of Brønnøysund, with town less than a five-minute stroll away.

Port address: Havnegata 42, 8900, Brønnøysund

MS Nordlys sailing past Torghatten, an icon on the Norwegian coast

Activities in Brønnøysund

Whether you want to hike up Torghatten mountain or go in search of sea eagles on a RIB, there are plenty of active excursions to enjoy while we dock at Brønnøysund.