The Viking Era saw the emergence of several large chieftain seats. Tofts from a Viking chieftain seat have been found at Borg on Vestvagoy Island, containing the largest Viking banquet hall ever found in any country. The building was 8.5 metres wide and as much as 83 metres long. A reconstruction of the building has been raised, and the Viking Museum, LOFOTR, at Borg opened in June 1995.

The Lofot fisheries early gained importance. King Oystein considered these fisheries to be of such significance that he, as early as 1103, built a church in Vagan, which at that time was the base of the Lofot fisheries. In about 1120, he also built the first fishermen/s huts ever mentioned in the Saga. Stockfish, produced from spawning cod, was the staple good, and it was sold to almost all of Europe. Italy is still the most important market for high-quality stockfish from Lofoten.

Near Kabelvag is the location of Vagar, the only medieval town of the North Calotte. From the 14th century on, Lofoten had to pay taxes to Bergen. This was the beginning of an economic dominance which lasted for 600 years, first executed by the German Hansa tradesmen, and then by their Norwegian heirs. Changing times with bad years and poverty were succeeded by periods of good years and wealth. Following the 1860s came the large herring migrations which were the basis of growth, prosperity and immigration. The foundation of today's settlement was laid.