There are places where your shoulders seem to relax almost the moment you arrive. Places with a unique sense of calm and atmosphere, where you quickly feel like you would rather just stay. Hotel Lyngørporten is one such place. The hotel is located right on the waterfront at Gjeving, overlooking the archipelago that has made the coastal waters outside Tvedestrand one of the most beautiful areas of Southern Norway. With its colourful interior and large terrace facing the sea, it almost feels like getting a little glimpse of the Caribbean – right in the middle of the Southern Norway archipelago.

Idyllic Hotel Lyngørporten

At the heart of it all stands Trudy.

With her warm smile, she welcomes guests as if they are arriving at the home of someone they already know. After 11 years in the cruise industry, she is well accustomed to creating those small moments that make a journey extra memorable. That experience is clearly felt. Here, hospitality is about giving every guest a genuine wow experience – whether they stay for one night or longer.

Hotel manager Trudy ensures that guests keep coming back.

The rooms offer views of the sea and the archipelago, and some have access to a private bathing area. This makes the hotel a little paradise for those who want to wake up to the sound of waves and the smell of salt sea air right outside their door. The hotel features a restaurant, bar, live music every Thursday in July, a beach volleyball court, and is located right next to the idyllic Einarsvika. At the same time, Hotel Lyngørporten is the perfect starting point for exploring the archipelago outside Tvedestrand – whether by kayak, boat, or through relaxing days among islets and piers. You can easily book your stay here.

At Hotel Lyngørporten, you stay right by the open sea, with your own private bathing area just outside your door.

Off on an adventure in the archipelago

Next door to Hotel Lyngørporten is Kote Null. Here we meet Nina and Nils, who are passionate about giving people authentic experiences out in the archipelago.

The range of activities on offer is broad. Here you can join seal safaris, guided boat tours, and freediving – or explore the archipelago at your own pace by kayak. The area is also home to the charming eatery “Litt over havet”, where pizza is served while quiz nights, concerts, and stand-up comedy bring life to the waterfront throughout the summer.

Nils Christensen at Kote Null is happy to take visitors out into the archipelago.

Guided tours

Kote Null offers a varied selection of guided tours:

Hiking in Lyngør – history, views and living coastal culture

Experience Lyngør on foot together with a local guide. On this guided walk we explore the idyllic island of Lyngørsida, where history, nature, and coastal life meet. The tour takes us along narrow paths and between well-preserved Southern Norway houses, before we continue up to Losheia – the highest point in Lyngør. From here, we enjoy panoramic views of the archipelago, while also learning about the important role of the pilots along the coast and the dramatic “Battle of Lyngør” in 1812.

Hiking on Kjeholmen / Lyngør Lighthouse

On Kjeholmen you’ll find the beautiful Lyngør Lighthouse along with the adjacent keeper’s residence, which has now been converted into a coastal heritage cabin. We dock by the old boathouses at the pier and walk around the island. We talk about the lighthouse as it once was and as it is today, see how visitors can now stay on the island by renting the keeper’s residence through DNT, and of course enjoy the stunning view over the open sea – a view that truly defies description.

Hiking in Lyngør “Speken” – at the very edge of the open sea

We are still in Lyngør, but on this tour we go all the way out to the outermost skerries known as “Speken”. Here you experience raw and beautiful coastal nature, and hear dramatic stories of shipwrecks and life at the very edge of the sea.

Boat tour in Lyngørfjorden

The tours can be combined with a guided boat trip in the Lyngør area. You will pass Askerøybukta, Løktene, and Selskjær. This can also be combined with lunch before or after the tour.

Towards Lyngør

The closer we get to Lyngør, the more densely the white, yellow, and red skipper houses stand, framed by white picket fences and colourful flowers. It almost feels like paddling into a living postcard.

No cars. No asphalt. It is hard not to slow down out here.

For generations, Lyngør has been an important stopping point along the Southern Norwegian coast, and it is still the sea that connects this island community.

Lyngør consists of four islands. On Lyngørsida you’ll find two restaurants, a shop, and a gallery. On Holmen stands the old Lyngør school building, which is now used for summer dining. The school was closed in 2000, but in its heyday it had around 90 pupils.

As early as the 18th century, Lyngør was an important trading post, especially connected to timber trade and coastal commerce. It is considered one of the largest and most significant “uthavner” (outports). At its peak, around 600 people lived here, while today there are approximately 50 permanent residents.

Lyngør is like a living postcard.

Good flavours and great atmosphere on the pier

On the pier at Lyngørsida, we meet Per Gunnar at Pers Brygge. During the summer months, the outdoor seating area fills up with boating tourists, cabin guests, and paddlers who have found their way here through the narrow straits.

– Lyngør is a place that leaves a strong impression on many people, he says.

It is easy to understand what he means.

He is the third generation running both a restaurant and a shop here. After nearly 20 years abroad, he returned home to what he describes as the paradise of Lyngør – the place he himself comes from.

You can easily get here by both boat and kayak.

The menu at the cosy pier restaurant includes homemade burgers, pizza, and fish soup. The small shop nearby carries all the daily essentials you might need.

After a meal, guests can take a peaceful stroll through the island community, between white wooden houses and picket fences, or simply sit by the pier and enjoy the view of the sea. Just outside the island lies Raet National Park, offering beautiful trails and coastal nature experiences right at the water’s edge.

On Lyngørsida you’ll also find Seilmakerfruens Kro and Galleri Seilloftet Lyngør, which together contribute to a vibrant and summery atmosphere on the island. On the island of Holmen, you’ll find the old Lyngør School, which now offers baked goods from the former woodworking classroom and serves food in the schoolyard during the summer season.

At the edge of the open sea

After a few hours in Lyngør, the journey continues further out into the archipelago, heading towards Lyngør Lighthouse at the very edge of the open sea.

Here you can stay overnight surrounded by the ocean, seabirds, and beautiful coastal nature – with great fishing opportunities and perhaps a refreshing morning swim at sunrise.

The lighthouse complex consists of two buildings, the Keeper’s House and the Annex, with a total of 22 beds. The cabins are unstaffed, open all year round, and accessed with a DNT key. The Keeper’s House has a kitchen, shower, and toilet, while guests in the Annex use the same facilities there. All beds come with duvets and pillows, but guests must bring their own bed linen or sleeping bags, and are responsible for cleaning up after their stay.

Around the lighthouse there are excellent hiking opportunities, and by the boathouses you’ll find a dedicated kayak dock, making it easy for paddlers to come ashore. There is also a barbecue and fire pit area, perfect for quiet evenings overlooking the open sea.

Lyngør Lighthouse was first put into operation in 1879 and remained staffed until it was automated in 2004. Today, it is a protected heritage site and stands as an important symbol of Norwegian coastal history.

It is now possible to book accommodation at Lyngør Lighthouse through the Norwegian Trekking Association (DNT).

A little further away from everyday life

The archipelago outside Tvedestrand offers space to unwind and leave everyday stress behind. Here, you get a sense of being a little removed from everything familiar. Out in the island world, the day is less about schedules and plans, and more about weather, wind, and sea. Time moves more slowly, and often the pace is determined by how long you sit on the pier before paddling on.