Leknes-Gravdal (Vestvagoy Island Lofoten Norway)

Gravdal is a port town in Nordland Norway, located on Vestvagoy Island (central Lofoten archipelago). As cruise port, Gravdal shares a ship docking pier with Leknes (port town on Vestvagoy) located approx 4 km (2,5 mi) to the south. Gravdal is along Buksnes Fjord's coast, approx 72 km (45 mi) west of Svolvaer (Austvagoya Island) and approx 63 km (39 mi) east of Moskenes (Moskenesoy Island). The small town has population around 2,000.

Nordland School of Fisheries and Nordland Hospital are located in Gravdal. They have been its major economic centers for a very long time, along with the Gravdal port. The Buksnes Church (built 1905) is the town's main tourist attraction.

In the past, Gravdal was Vestvagoya's main trade center, with 4 different grocery stores, bank, postal office, fashion boutique, flower shop, furniture shop, architect's office, cinema, hotel, restaurants. Currently, in Gravdal there are a primary school, kindergarten, bowling alley, kiosk of Narvesen-chain, RV-dealership, tanning salon, hair salon, the legendary night club "Titanic Dancing", football fields, basketball court, gymnasium (with handball court) and a small beach. Current-day Gravdal is mainly a residential area, while the neighboring Leknes became the island's center for administration and trade.

Leknes' population is around 3,000. The town is one of the few in Lofoten Norway that doesn't depend on fisheries. Also unlike most Lofoten towns, its center is not located by the sea. However, Leknes is among Norway's most stunning natural areas, with its surrounding mountains, cliffs, white-sand beaches.

Leknes is Lofoten's trading and shopping center, rivaled only by Svolvaer. Trough the town runs the E10 highway, which connects all the archipelago's main islands to mainland Norway. Leknes Airport serves regional air traffic. The domestic airline Wideroe has 7 daily scheduled flights from Leknes to Bodo, plus some to Svolvaer. The town's bus terminal is the hub linking to the rest of the archipelago.

Leknes-Gravdal cruise terminal