To main content
Hurtigruten Coastal Logo Hurtigruten Coastal Logo Norwegian Coastal Express
Go to Hurtigruten Expeditions

Norwegian Coastal Express

Go to Hurtigruten Expeditions
Go to Hurtigruten Group
  • Voyages
  • Offers
  • Ships
  • Blog
  • Order Brochures
  • Request a Quote
  • Norway’s Coastal Kitchen
  • Search

For travelers

  • My Booking
  • Book excursions
  • Extend your voyage
  • Practical information
  • Health and safety on board

Norwegian Coastal Express

Go to Hurtigruten Expeditions
Go to Hurtigruten Group
Change
Info: We at Hurtigruten use cookies to optimize our websites for your needs. By using this website you consent to our cookie policy
  • Rorbu in Svolvær in winter
  • Fishermen's cabins and wooden racks
  • Interior of old rorbu

Fishermen’s Cabins (Rorbu)

Classic North Sea fishermen's cabins are now popular holiday cottages

You’ll find rorbu, or fishermen’s cabins, all along the Norwegian coast, at the water’s edge and often built atop sturdy timber piles. These historical cabins are reminders of a time that has, for the most part, gone by.

ONCE SHELTER FROM THE SEAS
Even though this type of accommodation is found all along the entire Norwegian coast, the fishing villages of northern Norway are the best-known locations for these fishermen’s cabins. This is no coincidence: Even in modern times, a winter fishing trip here is a popular, if icy, experience.

In the past, when fishing boats were open vessels without shelter from the elements, fishermen’s cabins were an absolute necessity. They provided a few hours of relief from the intensely demanding weather. Back then, cold, exhausted fishermen tied up their boats at the wharf, offloaded their fishing gear, and set about finding shelter for the night. These cabins were their refuge.

NOW-FAVORED VACATION HOMES
Many rorbu now function as cafés and tiny restaurants or are rented out as accommodations. Originally resulting from the need for fishermen to offload equipment directly from their boats, the cabins now attract tourists from both near and far. With their characteristic atmosphere, they have become the topic of a popular catchphrase in Norwegian tourism known as ‘Fishermen cottage holidays’. Spending a holiday in a fishermen’s cabin is particularly popular in Lofoten and Vesterålen. 

Further reading

  • Risøyrenna (The Risøy Channel)
  • Kjeungskjær Lighthouse

Receive $100 Onboard Credit Today

Sign up for our newsletter today to receive $100 Onboard Credit on Your First Cruise.

Yes, sign me up!

Contact

  • 14242740452

     

  • [email protected]
  • Contact us

About us

  • Hurtigruten Group
  • 1893 Ambassador Loyalty Program
  • Sustainability
  • Charters and Incentives
  • Travel Agent Portal
  • Press
  • Order Brochure
  • Awards

Support

  • Request a Quote
  • My Booking
  • Make a Payment
  • Uplift - Book Now, Pay Later
  • FAQ
  • Terms and Conditions

Social media

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

Privacy

  • Statement of Privacy
  • Cookie policy
  • Cookie Settings

Hurtigruten Expeditions

  • Expedition Cruises
  • Alaska Cruises
  • Antarctica Cruises
  • British Isles Cruises
  • Cruise Cape Verde Islands
  • Caribbean Cruises
  • Central America Cruises
  • Europe Cruises
  • Galapagos Islands Cruises
  • Greenland Cruises
  • Iceland Cruises
  • North America Cruises
  • Norway Cruises
  • South America Cruises
  • Svalbard Cruises
  • Northwest Passage Cruises
  • Transoceanic Cruises

Norwegian Coastal Express

  • Norway Fjords Cruise
  • Northern Lights Cruise