Backed by the dramatic Seven Sisters mountain range, Sandnessjøen is a lively commercial and transportation town on the island of Alsta. It once served as the administrative hub of Stamnes and has recently garnered a reputation for the Helgeland Kammerkor, a local choir that holds regular performances in the region.
Things to do in Sandnessjøen
Stroll through the bustling streets of Sandnessjøen to explore its unique shops, which include bookstores, a fishmonger and a boutique selling yarn. There’s a modern cinema complex where you can watch the latest blockbusters and several restaurants serving everything from sushi to pizza and Chinese cuisine.
An architectural highlight of Alsta is the Petter Dass Museum, which comprises several buildings dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries, in addition to a contemporary structure designed by the renowned Norwegian firm, Snøhetta. Learn about the life and legacy of the parson-poet, Petter Dass, before admiring the 16th and 17th-century furnishings on display in the old parsonage. The on-site cafe, Margrethe’s, serves locally sourced produce from the Helgeland region.
Keen trekkers can hike the entire Seven Sisters mountain range in a day, with the 27-kilometre-long route taking around 13 hours. Alternatively, you can tackle one of the seven peaks, which range in elevation from 910 metres (Stortinden) to 1,072 metres (Botnkrona) and are each named after female trolls said to have turned to stone.
Getting there
With flights to destinations across Norway, Sandnessjøen Airport is the main gateway to Alsta and is around 10 minutes’ drive from Sandnessjøen. You can drive across the Helgeland Bridge to mainland Norway, with the same highway also connecting south to the islands of Offersøya and Tjøtta. The centre of Sandnessjøen is compact enough to explore on foot, although having your own vehicle is best for getting around the island.