With the ferry/taxi the tour to Lyngør takes you about ten minutes.
You are mostly welcome to one of Europe’s most beautiful and well kept villages. This is the place for sailors on holiday. In the autumn of 2002 this part of Norway was elected one of the world’s best places for holiday and praised extravagantly in the foreign media (Independent 2003). Around 90 souls live today on the Island Kingdom of Lyngør and everybody is very proud of their Sea Village. Here you can find small paths and tiny houses constructed in a maritime way dating back to the time of the sailing ships. There are of course no cars on the islands, so you will have to use the boat buying food in the small, but modern shop or when you visit your friends. The average temperature summer time is around 25 degrees Centigrades, and in the sea just above 20 degrees. The sea is crystal clear and you can find cosy deserted creeks and smooth bare rock-face where you can relax and swim naked if you want. The free and protected area in the skerries is a favourite place for sailors to anchor to enjoy the enchanting nature of Lyngør. You can find many flowers that are wild growing, including rare trees that you only find on Lyngør. The famous wood called The Trollwood is looking like a rainforest with various creepers climbing the trunks.
This is Europe’s Best Kept Village.
Even if you find Lyngør far out in the ocean facing Skagerrak, the islands are characterized by the swarming life of the tourist during the summer season. If you arrive late for the season, you may find that everything is fully booked. You have to book early if you want to rent a cottage or stay in the boarding house visiting the Island Kingdom of Lyngør. You may of course also rent a private house but then you may need to know somebody private. On the mainland you can find a camping, but not on the island. On the Island Kingdom of Lyngør the houses are so densely placed that you will have problems finding space enough for a tent. Out in the skerries there are plenty of room, but to put up a tent with only bare rock-face for the tent pegs, you should forget to even try to use a tent. The best is of course to use your own boat with enough room for sleeping on board. You may even sail across the Skagerrak to Skagen in Denmark or Koster in Sweden (approximately 65 sea miles) on days with perfect conditions for sailing.
The picture above is showing Seilmakerfruens Kro (The Sailmaker’s wife’s Pub)
The picture below: The Main Street facing north (the sound is called a street on Lyngør!) This is because the boat is the main transporter for everybody and everything. On the islands you will find only small paths and tiny roads. The roads are made of concrete and you may walk barefoot, this is a very clean and dustfree place on the earth.
The picutre below: Parts of the area around the Guardhouse. The Guardhouse moor is an old place used by the sea pilot master and today the old optical telegraph is rebuild and constructed as a memory of old days.
This place is known all over Norway and abroad for its famous Fish Soup, Terje Vigen Museum and organized tours across the island using a guide speaking many languages.
The Blue Lanterne is a restaurant and museum assembling the time of the sailing ships. You may eat on the pier close to the sea accompanied by a cold beer and live music. The Blue Lanterne has its own private landing stage.
The Sailmaker’s Wife’s Pub
The Sailmaker’s Wife’s Pub (Seilmakerfruens Kro) is a very old authetic loft where they used to and still make sails. A very cosy wooden restaurant with acceptable prices. You may order everything from fish soup to homemade pizza. Upstairs you may find a pub which is open until the dawn strikes in the east.
The Sailmaker’s Wife’s Pub has of course its own landing stage and can offer places for guests using boat. You may also use the fascilities to shower and wash your clothes.