During the summer, outings are arranged with the Nordland jekt "Brødrene". Contact Nordland Academy for information about trips, hiring the vessel, etc.

Melbu’s growth as a community is unparralleled i Vesterålen. In the course of a few decades at the turn of the century, the town developed explosively from a quiet, patriarchal trading station to an active, diversified centre of industry. From the middle og the 1920s, developedment stopped. Crises and unimployment becamed recurrent themes, before new optimism rejuvenated Melbu in the 1980s.
Melbu is once again on the map, but this time with cultural events as its banner. In addition to the annual Summer-Melbu cultural festival and Nordland Academy for the Arts and Sciences, there are two large scale museums located here.

The Vesterålen Museum and the Norwegian Fishing Industry Museum. The latter is closely tied to the Melbu Fishing Industry plant, which today is the town's principal employer.