Havøysund Travel Guide: What to Know Before Visiting

My first encounter with Havøysund was on the Hurtigruten. I was trying to avoid drive time, so I took my car from Tromsø all the way to Honningsvåg, and I had to pass Havøysund on my journey.

When we approached Havøysund, I remember seeing a pod of porpoises from the ship’s deck and standing outside to take it all in. Havøysund looked like a cute village at the very top of the world. And that is pretty much what it is.

Havøysund sits at the end of one of Norway’s famous national scenic routes (Nasjonale Turistveger). There are 18 of these mind-blowing drives and I have been fortunate to experience a lot of them over the years.

Many are littered with cars during the summer months (ie, Atlantic Ocean Road, Lofoten, Trollstigen). Havøysund’s 67 km (41.5 mi) Norwegian Scenic Route is not that. At least not in mid-August.

In this guide, I tell you everything to know before you visit Havøysund, including how to get there, where to stay, and the best things to do in Havøysund. If you have any questions, please let me know in the comments. Thanks!

About Havøysund, Norway

Situated at 71 degrees north, the village of Havøysund sits at the end of Route 889 at the top of Finnmark in the Måsøy Municipality. It is located on the island of Havøya, which is connected by the 889 via the Havøysund Bridge. The village is small, with only 915 residents.

During WW2, Havøysund was mostly demolished by the Germans, so most of what you see today was rebuilt. The buildings along the harbor from were rebuilt right after the war (and can appear that way), while the other homes on the hillside were built later and in a more colorful fashion.

Today, Havøysund is one of the stops on the Hurtigruten. It is the last stop before reaching Honningsvåg, where you can get off and head to the North Cape. There is not much happening here, but perhaps it is just perfect that way.

How to Get to Havøysund

Getting to Havøysund is half the fun! If you’re coming from the Hurtigruten, you can simply disembark here with your ticket. Alternatively, you can fly to Lakselv (LKL), the closest airport, which is around 104 km (65 mi) from Havøysund.

However, the best way to get to Havøysund is by driving (in summer). Havøysund sits at the end of one of Norway’s famous scenic routes and is said to be the northernmost scenic route in the world.

The Havøysund Nasjonal Turistveg (Havøysund National Tourist Route) is 67 kilometers long (41.5 miles) and goes from Kokelv village north to Havøysund.

It winds around sea cliffs, through fjords, and over mountain plateaus where you’ll share the road with reindeer. It passes other small villages along the way, like Snefjord, where you can stop and relax at one of the rest shelters near the sea.

Havøysund is also a launchpad for some of the islands in the north, like Måsøya, Rolvsøya, and Ingøya. You’re also not far from Hjelmsøya, one of Europe’s most important bird cliffs, but you can only reach it by private boat, so it is not easy to access. The other three aforementioned islands all have ferries (although you will need to call for the Måsøya one).

While this drive is epic during the summer months, it will require a convoy (kolonnekjøring) in the winter months. You can see the convoy times here.

Things to Do in Havøysund

There are not a ton of things to do in Havøysund, given how small it is, and the drive there is one of the best reasons to visit. Here is what to do in Havøysund if you find yourself there for a day or two:

➡️ Drive up to Arctic View Cafe: This place is seasonal and only open in the summer.

It is a drive up Havøygavlen mountain where the wind farm is – the views are so worth the trip. Open from 3pm until 9pm during the high season.

➡️ Stop by the Havøysund Church: Beautiful design and the most recognizable building in the village from the sea. Built in 1960 by plans from architect Esben Poulsson after being burned in 1944.

➡️ See the Havøysund Artwork: Over at Ørahaugen is an art installation created by American Roni Horn. It is two large glass objects located in a wooden (and covered) hut that overlooks the village.

These glass objects are supposed to represent silence in a remote corner of the world that is exposed to variations of light (winter darkness, aurora, and the midnight sun). You only need 5 minutes up there, but still worth checking out.

➡️ Admire the wildlife nearby: The drive to Havøysund is pretty remarkable, but some of the areas situated closer to the village offer some wildlife opportunities (if you’re lucky). In the village, you can often see porpoises in the water. I have seen them from the Hurtigruten and I also saw them while overnighting for a few nights.

Over in Eitarfjorden (the long fjord you drive beside on the way into Havøysund), there are also porpoises, minke whales, puffins, and gulls.

As you drive over the mountains away from the village, there is a lake called Heastajávri, which often has reindeer hanging around, as well as a bunch of little waterfalls and streams.

And another place not too far from Havøysund to check out is Selvika. It is known for the concrete structure (created by Reiulf Ramstad Arkitektur AS) that has a toilet and shelter, but the real excitement is in the water over there.

What looks like a quiet teal cove is actually home to a lot of marine life, including seals. Lille Sandbukta (the small beach where Selvika’s shelter is) and Stor Sandbukta (the one on the other side of it that is larger) have a lot of seabirds, ducks, and seals. I saw a couple of harbor seals swimming around when there.

➡️ Have a drink at Kroa Havøysund: Local pub that is open daily from 11am until 8pm (stays open until 9:30pm on Saturdays). On Sundays it is open from 4pm until 8pm.

➡️ Check out the Måsøy Museum: This is a local museum that was closed when I was there (temporary renovations). It is located in an old rectory, and there is a small ticket fee for entering.

➡️ Go fishing: This is why most people visit.

➡️ Visit Rolvsøya, Ingøya, or Måsøya: Honestly, I came to Havøysund for as long as I did so I could take a ferry to Måsøya (a small island just a 15-minute boat ride away).

When I checked the weather a few days before arriving, it looked a bit crappy (turns out, the weather was not wrong!). I opted to forego Måsøya this trip and postpone until next summer. Ferries visit all islands mentioned above, but you will need to call to book the Måsøya one.

Where to Eat in Havøysund

Honestly, there are not a lot of options. Here is what is currently available (take note that Arctic View and Havets Smak are seasonal):

• Arctic View Cafe (only open in summer)
• Havets Smak (only open in summer)
• Kroa Havøysund (pub food)

I also see that the Havøysund Hotell & Rorbuer has food, but I didn’t go there and can’t find any reviews about it specifically.

There is a grocery store in the village (Coop Prix) where you can buy food, however. They have all of the standard offerings of Norwegian grocery stores.

Where to Stay in Havøysund

Like most places in this part of Norway, there are limited accommodation options. I stayed in an apartment I found on Booking.com. I loved its location and it was small, warm, and comfortable for a few nights.

There is also the Havøysund Hotell & Rorbuer that I mentioned above. These look fine but a lot of reviews say that they smell like fish (since the people that tend to stay there are on fishing excursions). I can’t recommend or not recommend them. But, I can recommend where I stayed for a solo traveler or a couple.

Havøysund Travel Tips

Here are a few travel tips for Havøysund that can help you when planning your trip!

☔ Weather: I visited Havøysund in mid-August. It felt very autumnal and it rained off and on the entire time I was there, which I always expect this time of year. The temperatures stay fairly mild in winter here thanks to the Gulf Stream.

The hottest months are July and August (highs of 12C and lows of 8C) and the coldest months are January and February (highs of 0C and lows of -4C). The wettest month is December, when it rains/snows approximately 19 days of the month. Summer is the driest season here.

☀️ Daylight: Havøysund experiences the midnight sun from around May 11 until August 1. Båtsfjord experiences the polar night from around November 21 until January 20.

🍎 Grocery stores: As mentioned above, there is one grocery store in Havøysund, a Coop Prix. It has everything, including a small home goods shop as well as an outdoor shop inside. It is open from 8am until 8pm daily (but opens at 9am on Saturdays) and is closed on Sundays. The post office can also be found inside.

⛽ Gas: There is one gas station in Havøysund… a Circle K. It is located a short distance from the harbor at Strandgata 139. The nearest gas station to Havøysund is in Olderfjord (where you should fill up before getting onto the National Tourist Route).

Should you visit Havøysund, Norway

If you want to experience an epic road trip in Norway, and one without the masses that visit Lofoten and other parts of Northern Norway, visiting Havøysund is definitely a great option!

I found just enough to do here to keep occupied, and the area surrounding the village lends itself to hiking and wildlife opportunities.

Let me know if you have any questions in the comments. Thanks!

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