Andøya Scenic Route and Bleik

The National Tourist Route Andøya runs 58 km along the outer edge of the island, between the open sea and the mountains – with white beaches, small fishing villages and wide views out to sea. At its northern end lies Andenes, and just before it the fishing village of Bleik with its long white beach, Bleikstrand, the peak Måtinden, the Bleikmorenen nature reserve and the bird rock on the island of Bleiksøya.

Start and end: the pin marks the start at Bjørnskinn in the south – the direction of Nasjonale turistveger’s route file. The route ends in Andenes. You can drive it either way.

Stops on the way: Bukkekjerka, a rest area by architects Morfeus (closed until further notice; the nearest toilet is at Sandvika, about 1,5 km south), and Kleivodden north of Bleik, a wheelchair-accessible rest area by the landscape architect Inge Dahlman (Landskapsfabrikken). From Andenes there are whale safaris and deep-sea fishing trips. Andøya Spaceport lies at Børvågen – the island launched its first research rocket in 1962.

Tips for campers: the road at Andøya Spaceport can be closed for up to 8 hours during launches – check the road status before you go: the road reports further down this page show live what is reported along the route, and the map with the road conditions shows closures in red. Emptying toilets is not allowed at the rest areas; the nearest dump station is in Andenes. In summer a ferry runs between Andenes and Gryllefjord, linking Andøya with the Senja scenic route (Bergsbotn, Tungeneset).