Narvik
A small harbour town on the Ofotfjord, where the Narvikfjellet cable car looks out over the fjord and northern lights, and the Ofoten Line winds through the mountains to Abisko in Sweden.
Narvik sits on the shore of the Ofotfjord in northern Nordland county, Norway, about 220 km north of the Arctic Circle. The town grew up as an iron ore export port: the Ofoten Line, completed in 1902, carries ore from the mines of Kiruna in Sweden to this ice-free harbour. The compact centre is home to the Narvik War Museum, which tells the story of the 1940 battle between Allied and German forces for the port, and the Narvikfjellet cable car offers views over the fjord and the Hålogaland Bridge. Around town: ride the Ofoten Line up the cliffs above the Rombaksfjord on a day trip to Bjørnfjell or Abisko in Sweden; in summer, hike the Rallarvegen trail or drive along the Skjomen fjord; Polar Park in Bardu, about 85 km north, lets you see wolves and other Arctic animals. Seasons: November–March is for skiing and the northern lights, with about a month of polar night in December; the midnight sun shines from late May to mid-July, ideal for hiking and fjord activities. Getting there: fly to Harstad/Narvik Airport Evenes (about an hour's drive), or take the train from Stockholm or Kiruna in Sweden via the Ofoten Line; the E6 and E10 highways connect to Lofoten and Tromsø. Plan on 2–3 days. Note: train and cable car timetables change with the seasons and weather, so check the latest information before you go.
Top sights
- Narvikfjellet Gondola & Ski Resort – A cable car runs from the town to a mountain top at 656 metres, offering views over Ofotfjord. In winter it is a ski area where you can ski…
- Ofoten Line (Ofotbanen) – A railway that climbs along the cliffs of a fjord to the Swedish border, one of the most spectacular train routes in Scandinavia.
- Narvik War Museum – A museum telling the story of the 1940 Battle of Narvik, where the Allies first defeated German forces on land during the Second World War.
- Rombaksfjord – A narrow branch of the Ofoten Fjord reaching east into the mountains. Steep snow-capped cliffs and a bridge across the fjord make it a clas…
- Hålogaland Bridge – A suspension bridge opened in 2018, with a main span of 1,145 metres, crossing Rombaksfjord. It is one of the longest suspension bridges wi…
- Polar Park – Said to be the world's northernmost wildlife park, where wolves, bears, lynx, wolverines and musk oxen can be observed in large forest encl…
- Narvik Church – A red-brick church completed in 1925 on a hill in the town, with altarpieces by Norwegian artists.
- Rallarveien (Navvy Road) – A construction track opened by workers during the building of the Ofoten Line. It runs downhill from the Swedish border to Rombaksfjord and…
- Bjørnfjell – A high mountain plateau on the Norway–Sweden border, known for snowmobiling and cross-country skiing in winter. It also has a memorial to t…
- Skjomen Fjord – A deep fjord south-west of Narvik, surrounded by glaciers and snowy peaks. Driving along the fjord reveals waterfalls and glacier scenery.
Where to eat
- Fiskehallen Restaurant – A fish shop and restaurant in the old market hall downtown, known for its fish soup and fish and chips, with a hot menu…
- Furu Gastropub – A gastropub inside the Wivel hotel, ranked No. 1 for restaurants in Narvik on Tripadvisor, with praise for its burgers…
Itineraries
- Tromsø to Stockholm via the Inlandsbanan – Head south from the Norwegian Arctic in summer via the Ofoten Line, the King's Trail, and the Inlandsbanan
- Swedish Icehotel to Narvik: 4-Day Arctic Railway Itinerary – Ride the historic Iron Ore Line across the Sweden-Norway border, connecting the Icehotel, Abisko's auroras, and the Nar…