Henningsvær, part 2

Lighthouse on stilts
Henningsvær

After a walk around Henningsvær (there are some photos in part 1), we headed to the waters edge in search of something I had wanted to see for a while.

Football pitch in the snow
Henningsvær Idrettslag Stadion

Did you guess what it was? We were looking for a football stadium called Henningsvær Idrettslag Stadion. I have no interest in football but there is something special about this particular stadium... it's located on two small islands surrounded by mountains and ocean. Maybe you recognise it from this photo…

https://www.instagram.com/p/BnvtEjcnwhy/

The turf was hidden by snow but we stood on it nonetheless. Mission accomplished! There are no stands; a tarmac path around the edge of the field provides enough standing room for around 500 people. If you look at the Instagram photo very closely, you'll see the stadium is surrounded by cod frames (aerial footage).

Stockfish frames
Snowy mountains and sea
View over snowy mountains
Rocks and snow

We followed a snowy path further up and the island and the views got better and better. Curiosity got the better of me when I spotted that tiny red roof so I clambered up the rocks to check it out. Thankfully I was wearing my ice grippers! I think it may be a lookout point rather than a lighthouse as I couldn't see a lantern inside — or perhaps there use to be.

Red roofed lighthouse
Lookout
Rocks and snow
View from the lookout
Man on bench

We sat on this bench for a while, looked out over the mountains and scoffed a few squares of Norwegian chocolate (Freia Melkesjokolade). You can tell we had acclimatised to sub zero temperatures by this point because neither of us are wearing gloves and my coat is undone. It was one of the warmer cold days :)

Me on phone
Freckled face from all the snow and sun
Couple in the snow
White wooden house

This building appears to be the lighthouse keepers station. From what I can tell, the tower below is an old lighthouse that is now inactive.

Lighthouse on stilts
View over snow covered islands

There are six bus journeys from Henningsvær to Svolvær on weekdays (only two on Saturdays and Sundays though). We contemplated exploring for a little longer but the next bus was two hours away so we decided to call it a day sooner rather than later. The buses were fantastic though — they took cards and ran on time despite sheet ice covering the roads.

Henningsvær should definitely be on the list if you visit Lofoten. Snow definitely adds to the magic but I imagine it's also an amazing place to be in the Summer.

Scott Evans

Travel notes

  • Bus timetable available on 177nordland.no (English planner).
  • The fare was approx. £9 for a return and the bus company accepts cards and cash.
  • Take the ice grippers off your shoes before boarding (they'll ask you to remove them if you haven't already).

© Copyright Gemma Evans 2025. Images cannot be used without permission.