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Træna – an archipelago of distinctive peaks

Træna’s ancient past as one of Norway’s oldest fishing villages lives on as a small tight-knit community framed by unique mountains.

Lying just over 30 nautical miles from Norway’s Helgeland coast, north of Lovund and south of Myken, Træna Municipality is made up of around 500 islets, skerries, and islands. The Arctic Circle traces a line through them, but it can look like the tropics when you sail here in summer.

This is a place of white sandy beaches and peaks that rise from clear seas. There’s even a beach that the locals refer to as ‘Waikiki’ and a signpost that points in the direction of Hawaii.

A short history of Traena

Home to one of Norway’s oldest fishing villages, Træna’s year-round resident population has barely changed since the Stone Age, growing from around 250 people to just 500 today. These permanent residents live on the four main islands – Husøya, where the majority of people live, Selvær, Sanna, and Sandøy.

The deep, cold waters that surround the archipelago are rich with different species of fish throughout the year. It’s long been known that Træna’s rocky islands, with their sheltered inlets, are the ideal base for fishing boats.

An aerial view over Træna (Image copyright: Hans Petter Sørensen / FarOutFocus – Visit Norway)

(Image copyright: Hans Petter Sørensen / FarOutFocus – Visit Norway)

In scenes that could be from almost any time in the last few centuries, you’ll see fish hanging from the eaves of rorbuer, traditional red fishing huts next to the water’s edge, as fishermen chat over the day’s haul.

The people who call Træna their home love to welcome visitors. “In a place like this, where everybody knows everyone, we’re always ready to have a chat, so please say hello when you visit!” says Marit Strige Bertheussen, the Manager of Træna Museum.

Ramona Remmen, born and raised in Træna, admires the entrepreneurial mindset of its people. An example of that out-of-the-box thinking is the Træna Festival on Sanna island. This annual music festival attracts hundreds of revellers to the island's beaches, while Kirkhelleren Cave – with its great acoustics – acts as the stage for the performers.

The best things to do in Traena

The Petter Dass Chapel in Husøya, Træna Municipality. Image copyright: 
Christine Baglo/Visitnorway.com

1. Stroll around Husøya

The most populated of the archipelago's island communities, Husøya is easily explored on foot. Take a walk along the waterfront to the ‘City Beach’ next to the ferry dock and to maybe go have a sauna in Træna’s oldest boathouse. If you're here in July, you won't want to miss the annual Træna Festival.

A kilometer across the island from the port is the beautiful, modern Petter Dass Chapel (pictured). It’s a fitting memorial to northern Norway’s beloved 17th-century poet-priest, as well as to all those who have lost their lives at sea.

(Image copyright: Christine Baglo/Visitnorway.com)

Sanna island in the Træna archipelago, Norway. Image copyright: Marvin Kuhr - Visit Helgeland

2. Explore Sanna island

Sanna is Ramona’s favorite of all the islands: “It’s accessible to everyone, child friendly, beautiful, and it has the best beaches, in my opinion. It’s called ‘the fairytale island’ and you can easily hike around it.”

You can also walk through a mountain tunnel leading up to the radar station on top of Sanna’s southern peak, Kjølen, for far-reaching views across the archipelago. And if you're visit the archipelago on a Hurtigruten voyage, our island-hopping excursion visits Sanna, too.

(Image copyright: Marvin Kuhr - Visit Helgeland)

Fårikål is a traditional Norwegian cabbage and mutton served. Image copyright: Christian Roth Christensen - VisitNorway.com

3. Get a taste of Træna

Sit down for a meal at one of Husøya's restaurants. Cod, salmon, herring, and shellfish are always on the menu, but the islands are also known for sheep farming, and a local favorite is fårikål (pictured), a warming mutton stew with cabbage.

“Make sure you try Karen’s lefse at Aloha Café, and Edgar’s fish cake at Havfolkets Hus!,” says Marit. “They make what they can themselves, with their own personal touches.”

(Image copyright: Christian Roth Christensen - VisitNorway.com)

A sea eagle swoops above Glomfjord in Norway

4. Bring your binoculars and your camera

Look out for Norway’s largest bird of prey: the White-tailed Eagle, also known as the sea eagle.

“My favorite creatures to spot are eagles and otters but we have over 230 different species of birds so it’s every bird enthusiast’s paradise out here,” says Ramona. “There are plenty of species of fish and crustaceans, and we sometimes have families of whales, dolphins, and orcas pass through.”

Traena Museum

5. Travel back in time

Housed in a traditional red building close to the church in Husøya, the Træna Museum covers the history of the archipelago since the Stone Age.

The fascinating Træna-Hawaii exhibition tells the story of a young man called Theodor who emigrated from Træna to Hawaii at the beginning of the 1900s and corresponded with his little sister Alma back in Træna.

ramona-traena
There’s no doubt that the best view is on the top of Gompen. It’s my favourite because if you look towards the mainland, you’ll see a string of mountains on the horizon. You can understand why the Vikings thought the world was flat and that all the water was held in place by the Jörmungandr, also known as the Midgard Serpent or World Serpent.

Ramona Remmen

Træna resident

When is the best time to visit Træna?

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

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Average min temp (night) °F

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From late-May to mid-July, the Midnight Sun bathes the islands in daylight around the clock. It’s a time when Træna buzzes with activity with visitors and festival-goers swimming or joining locals on trails, picking berries as they go.

And when fall does show up, says Ramona, “nothing can beat the magical light we get late in the season, just before we go into the darkness of winter!” Marit agrees that she also likes autumn, “We’re still holding on to the summer warmth but also get some of the magical remnants of the Midnight Sun.”

“Being on the Arctic Circle, we get both the Midnight Sun and the winter dark, which means we also get the Northern Lights, so it really is the best of both worlds,” says Ramona.

Visit Træna with Hurtigruten

The islands of Træna are known for their distinctive peaks

Northbound on The Svalbard Line

In port: 4 hours

We spend the afternoon in Træna on the northbound leg of the Svalbard Line, our premium, all-inclusive voyage from Bergen to Svalbard and back.

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Getting to Træna from your ship

When traveling with Hurtigruten on the Svalbard Line, your ship will dock at Husøya. As you approach, you’ll see the three distinctive peaks of Sanna island beyond. It’s an easy stroll into town from the quayside to stretch your legs, breathe the fresh island air, and take in the colorful rorbuer, restaurants, and cafés.

From Husøya, you can explore the rest of the archipelago, take a sauna and swim in the Arctic Sea, or visit the caves, trails, and beaches of the other main islands.

Port address: 8770 Træna, Norway

Excursions in Træna

These experiences take you straight to the heart of the Træna archipelago.

Neighboring ports of call

The view over Åndalsnes from Rampestreken, Norway

Previous port

Åndalsnes

Situated in the heart of the Romsdalsfjord, the small town of Åndalsnes is the mountaineering capital of Norway.

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