Henningsvær
A fishing village on small islands off the south-west tip of Austvågøya, reached by a side road from the E10. Henningsvær has hotels, rorbuer, galleries and restaurants, and is one of Lofoten's main bases for climbing around Vågakallen.
Henningsvær is built on the small, fairly flat islands of Heimøya and Hellandsøya, just off the south-west tip of Austvågøya in Vågan. It is 26 km from Svolvær and 31 km from Svolvær Airport, Helle. The road link to Austvågøya opened in 1983, and the village is reached on the Fv816 from the E10.
What is there Henningsvær was long one of the dominant fishing villages in Lofoten and is still the main fishing village in Vågan. In 2022 its cultural environment, covering parts of Heimøya and Hellandsøya and the Heimsundet strait, was protected by royal decree. The village has several hotels, rorbu complexes, restaurants and galleries, among them KaviarFactory. Visit Lofoten gives the population as just over 500.
What is nearby Henningsvær is one of Lofoten's main starting points for climbing around Vågakallen, and Festvågtinden is close by. Local operators run kayak, snorkelling and RIB trips from the harbour. A local bus route links the village with Kabelvåg and Svolvær.
Who it suits Climbers and ski tourers, visitors interested in galleries and craft shops, and travellers who want to stay in a fishing village with places to eat within walking distance.
Things to consider Visit Lofoten describes the road from the E10 as narrow and busy in summer, and the village streets make parking difficult. It recommends leaving the car at one of the larger car parks and walking, or arriving by bus, and asks visitors to keep noise down in the evenings.
Places to stay in Henningsvær
4 places to stay
Henningsvær Bryggehotell
Boutique hotel in Henningsvær
An all-suite hotel of 39 rooms spread over seven buildings on the harbour front in the centre of Henningsvær, with sea and mountain views and the Vind Brasserie restaurant.
- Waterfront
- Sea view
- Price
- Check current price
Henningsvær Rorbuer
Rorbu in Henningsvær
Self-catering rorbu cabins and apartments at the far end of the road through Henningsvær, letting since 1982, in old fishery buildings facing the open sea and the Lofoten Wall.
- Sea view
- Sauna
- Hot tub
- Kitchen
- Price
- Check current price
Tobiasbrygga
Apartment in Henningsvær
Fifteen apartments on a 1935 fishing pier in Henningsvær harbour, with a bar and restaurant on the quay, a bookable sauna and hot tub, and boat hire.
- Waterfront
- Sea view
- Couples
- Families
- Price
- Check current price
Trevarefabrikken
Boutique hotel in Henningsvær
A small hotel on the upper floors of a former carpentry factory in Henningsvær, now a cultural venue with a café, pizzeria, bar, restaurant, event spaces and a wooden sauna on the shore outside.
- Families
- Sauna
- Price
- Check current price
Sources
- Beaches in LofotenVisit Lofoten. Official tourism, checked 16 September 2026
- HenningsværVisit Lofoten. Official tourism, checked 16 September 2026
- Travel within LofotenVisit Lofoten. Official tourism, checked 16 September 2026
- National road database (NVDB): road at Fv816/E10 junctionStatens vegvesen (Norwegian Public Roads Administration). Government, checked 16 September 2026
- Norwegian Scenic Route LofotenNasjonale turistveger / Statens vegvesen. Government, checked 16 September 2026
- OpenStreetMap road data for the E10 in LofotenOpenStreetMap contributors. Mapping, checked 16 September 2026
- OpenStreetMap: Heimøya island outlineOpenStreetMap contributors. Mapping, checked 16 September 2026
- Place-name register: HenningsværKartverket (Norwegian Mapping Authority). Mapping, checked 16 September 2026
- Henningsvær – Store norske leksikonPublication, checked 16 September 2026
- Vågan – Store norske leksikonPublication, checked 16 September 2026
Details last verified 16 September 2026.