Svolvær is considered the capital city of Lofoten and is the major municipality of Vågan municipality. The city itself has approx. 4590 inhabitants and throughout the municipality it lived approx. 9285 people in 2015. The Vågan municipality as a whole is one of the largest fishing communities in Norway.
In the Fløyfjellet surrounding the city lies Svolværgeita.
Svolværgeita is 569m above sea level and its upper part consists
of two approx. 20m tall "horn" with less than 2m distance. From ancient times it was called " Old Woman and Kallen." One can easily see the fellow where he keeps his left hand over his shoulder to his wife while they gaze at the city.
It is popular that climbers climb to the top of Svolværgeita and jump between the horns (first climbed in 1910).
More information about Svolvær is available at http://www.svolvaer.net
During the MMC workshop, the temperature in Svolvær (according to the forecast) would be between 8° to 13°.
It would be cloudy on Monday, Tuesday, and be rainy from Wednesday to Friday.
Warm clothes are strongly recommended.
You can check detailed weather information at
www.yr.no or
www.accuweather.com.
Hiking is very popular in Svolvær (as in many other places of Norway). In Svlovær they have a annual hiking activity called Lofoten High5, which is a 5-mountain hike and the mountains are Fløya(590 moh) - Blåtinden(621 moh) - Nattmålstuva(477 moh) - Kongstinden(386 moh) - Tjeldbergtinden (367 moh) with total height 2000 meters and approximate distance 20 km.
The High5 hike can be changed to 2-mountain hike with mountains Kongstinden - Tjeldbergtinden (3-hour trip) or 3-mountain hike with mountains Fløya - Blåtinden - Nattmålstuva.
The 2-mountain hike is a suitable challenge for a whole family. From the map it looks easier to go to the Tjeldbergtinden first. More info is available at Lofoten High5.
An old Fishing village (living museum), Svinøy, is very easy to visit and walk around after lecture (1 km from Svolvær sentrum).
There is a resturant Børsen spiseri that is recomended, but rather expensive (ca NOK 300 for a main course). Another restaurant in Svolvær is Du verden.
Kabelvår is only 10 min bustrip away and the bus leaves every hour. Tor's wife Kjersti plans go there one day. The acccompanying people who want to join Kjersti are welcomed.
It's also possible to go to the Viking museum by bus (bus stop Bøstad skole). There is a bus leaving Svolvær 11.08 arriving 12.15 and the retur leaving 15.30 beeing back in Svolvær 16.30. The ticket price for the bus is NOK 126. They suggest 2 hour in the Viking Place. The entrance fee is NOK 140 in September. Here is the link to the museum http://www.lofotr.no
Bus schedule from Svolvær is available at www.177nordland.no.