The small village of Nesna is ideally situated in the heart of the Helgeland coast. Here, on a peninsula between two fjords, the coast meets the islands, and the fjords meet the mountains, allowing you to enjoy the best of both worlds.
Nesna is located in the middle of the Helgeland coast, about an hour’s drive north from Sandnessjøen, or an hour’s drive west from Mo i Rana.
Ferry
From Sandnessjøen, you need to take the ferry from Levang to Nesna.
If you are going to the Nesna islands of Tomma, Hugla (Vikholmen), or Handnesøya, you can take the ferry from Nesna.
Click on the names above to see the ferry docks on Google Maps.
See ferry times for the ferry from Levang to Nesna
Express boat
You can travel to Nesna with the express boats Helgelandspendelen and Nordlandsekspressen.
Helgelandspendelen runs from Sandnessjøen in the south to Træna in the north, with several stops along the way.
Nordlandsekspressen runs from Sandnessjøen in the south to Bodø in the north, with several stops along the way.
See the schedule for Sandnessjøen to Nesna
See the schedule for Bodø to Nesna
Nesna is perhaps one of the best hubs on the Helgeland coast. Both the Helgelandspendelen express boat route and the Nordlandsekspressen express boat have stops here, making it easy to embark on trips to the outer islands. With the local express boat route, you can also explore the beautiful Nesna Islands, such as Tomma, Hugla, and Handnesøya. All are excellent starting points for kayak trips. In addition to this, Nesna also has a very good guest harbor for those exploring the coast with their own boat.
You’ll also find many great hiking opportunities starting from Nesna, both on the mainland’s Hammarøyfjellet and on the Nesna islands of Hugla, Handnesøya, and Tomma, where, for instance, Tomskjevelen offers a fantastic mountaintop hike in winter when conditions are right. In the summer, it’s nice to travel to the islands by bike, allowing you to explore and experience the beautiful cultural landscape on your way to and from your destinations.
Nesna has long been a central hub for its part of the Helgeland coast, serving as a trading post, church site, and educational site. This is evident in the village, and it’s worth, for example, visiting the large, beautiful wooden church from 1879, which, with around 800 seats, is one of the largest in Helgeland. Or the teacher training college’s very impressive building from the 1920s. Both of these and several other beautiful Nordland houses and buildings from the 1800s and early 1900s, can be seen as you walk through the village. You can find them in the app or on the Kulturpunkt website.
Find accommodation, restaurants and activities
Great hikes and trips on and around Nesna
Thank you for respecting the local communities, and for helping us preserve the natural beauty of Helgeland!
Please:
- Strive to leave no trace of your visit. Bring back all your rubbish, including used toilet paper, and discard it in the nearest rubbish bin.
- Plan your toilet visits and use the opportunity when you pass a toilet. In the wilderness, make sure you are not a nuisance to others.
- Respect the local wildlife. Keep a good distance from wildlife, livestock and birds. Keep your dog leashed.
- Respect private property. Keep a respectful distance from houses and cabins.
- Show good boating sense. Keep a good distance from shore and drive at a low speed, especially when you are close to anyone or anything on the water, including birds or animals. Avoid loud and disturbing engine noise. Be aware that some islands and nature reserves are important nesting sites, and that going ashore is prohibited during the nesting season.
- Follow the Norwegian Mountain Code (Fjellvettreglene). Plan your excursion according to the weather forecast, your skills and experience.
- Join a guided excursion or consider hiring an experienced guide, especially when you don’t have sufficient experience or knowledge to guarantee a safe trip.
