Florø – the westernmost town on the Scandinavian mainland
Fishing heritage, island views and coastal life meet in Florø, a proud herring port turned culture hub on Norway’s western edge.
Florø is the westernmost town in Norway. It straddles the islands of Florelandet and Brandsøya, which are separated by a strait just a few metres wide. Founded as a herring port in 1860, it remains a proud coastal community, known for its working harbour, lively museums and idyllic archipelago scenery.
A history of Florø
During the 1800s, booming herring stocks brought growth and wealth to Norway’s west coast. The seaport of Florø was founded by Royal Decree in 1860, at the height of one of these herring booms. For generations, the town thrived on herring salting, shipbuilding and boat traffic, growing from a small outpost into Norway’s westernmost town.
You can get a sense of that story at the Kystmuseet – the Coastal Museum – with its historic boats, old salting equipment and outdoors cultural and natural history trail. On the mainland nearby, Ausevika’s Bronze Age rock carvings reveal another deep time layer, bringing you face to face with 3,000 years of human history etched into stone.
But Florø isn’t just about the past. Take a cultural walk through town to spot sculpture, murals and sea views, or island-hop your way even farther west by local ferry. From your ship, it’s easy to see how Florø’s sheltered location between Botnafjorden and Solheimsfjorden makes it perfect for adventurers wanting to explore the surrounding islands and fjords by boat, bike or on foot.
Port address
Fugleskjærskaien, 6900 Florø
