Is Henningsvaer worth a visit in September or is everything closed? In this post, I’ll answer everything you might wonder about the little Island in Loften. If you’re planning a trip already, this will prepare you for what you can expect, and if you’re not. I’m positive that you will add this to your list of places you have to visit.

Although the sun will most likely shine with its absence while you’re here, the views are incredible and luckily, there are still plenty of things that make a visit in September worth it! In September the summer tourists have all retreated to their life in the city and the streets are way less crowded, you won’t have to queue to get a seat in any of the restaurants or risk having to wait 1 hour for food during lunchtime.

Parking spots are very limited since the Island is quite small, and in the summer you either have a tough time finding a spot, or you will have to use the parking area on the Island next to Henningsvaer and walk to the village using the bridge that connects the Islands to the mainland. But in September, I can guarantee that you will find somewhere to park during your visit! Unless there is some kind of special event or unusually many tourists in town!

What days are the best to visit?

At the beginning of September, many businesses in Henningsvaer shift their opening hours when tourism slows down, so they open later in the day and close earlier. The further into the month you get, the more Restaurants, shops & cafes close completely every Monday &Tuesday. If the shops & restaurants are a big reason for your visit my suggestion is that you visit Henningsvaer between Wednesday-Sunday when everything is open!

Klatrekafeen & Knusarn are the 2 places I’ve found to be open every day of the week, even in September. There you can take a break from the cold, grab a coffee, and/or have lunch and dinner. Read about the best cafes in Henningsvaer to find your preference, and visit Visithenningsvaer.no to check the opening hours for each place in town.

RECOMMENDATION: on the weekends I would still call ahead to book a table because it can still get quite busy!

What about dietary restrictions?

Like every small place, it might be a little trickier to cater to your dietary requirements! Me, myself, being vegetarian and my friend being both Lactose & wheat intolerant know your struggle all too well! Simply put, we have always been able to find something to eat here in Henningsvaer even if the variation might not be the biggest, but I don’t expect a small place like this to have the same variety and selection as the big cities.

recommendation: The vegan Burger @ Klatrekafeen, or the Chevre Salad @ Lofotmat

Can you still hike?

The midnight sun is long gone and the further into September you get, the darker it will get. But worry not! There are still plenty of hikes you can do during the day, but a suggestion is to bring sturdy boots because it can be quite slippery on the trails. It seems like the further into September you get, the more it tends to rain, Haha, so it can be quite muddy in certain places this time of the year. If it’s been raining a lot before your visit you might wanna google ahead to see if the trail you want to hike is available, or if the current weather makes it impossible. Some trails will be dangerous if it’s too wet/muddy, that’s why it’s always good to do a quick search before you head out!

Recommendation: Reinebringen is still available even if it’s raining since the trail is mostly man-made steps up the mountain. it can be quite slippery though so be careful.

And the darkness isn’t all bad this far up North! If the sky is clear and Mother Nature is in a good mood, chances are pretty high that you will get to experience the Aurora Borealis, commonly known as the northern lights. It is a magical sight, watching the color swirl across the sky like a glamorous dancer. So make sure you’re an outstanding citizen of planet earth before you get here, minimize plastic use and pick up your garbage, and hopefully, mother nature feels in a good enough mood to grant you this magical show during your visit!

Is there work here in September?

If this isn’t your first rodeo with me, You know I love to combine my travels with work and have spent the past two summer seasons working in Lofoten. Unfortunately the demand for staff, especially seasonal workers kind of die down End of August, especially in the stores. If you’re lucky there might be a Restaurant or cafe looking for someone to work a few days a week, but if you do find someone currently looking for staff, you probably wouldn’t get a lot of hours this time of the year. You never know tho, you might get super lucky!

ACCOMMODATION?

Since the demand for accommodation goes down, so does the prices. The hotel rooms & the traditional rorbu cabins drop in price which makes it more affordable to stay here than during the summertime.

Recommendation: If you don’t want to have a firm base in Henningsvaer during your visit I would suggest your roll around in style through lofotenVanlife. They look sweet as!

All in all, Henningsvaer is still very much worth your time and effort in September! The trails are emptier, the bars & restaurants as well which means you will get more out of the experience, for less money. Probably less sunshine too, but hey, the mountains look pretty damn cool during a cloudy day and it gives you an excuse to indulge in hot chocolate and wear cozy sweaters.

With that said, I hope you liked this post and if you want me to continue creating content like this, I would appreciate it if you would Like, Save, Comment, or share my posts on social media. That way I am able to see that what I’m writing is appreciated by you. That was everything for now, and until next time, take care! xo Nathalie