One of the many incredible things to do in Narvik!

Swedish Railways & Evenes Airport [How To Get To Narvik]

Narvik is very easily accessible despite the fact that it’s above the Arctic Circle. The best ways to get to Narvik are as follows:

• • • Swedish Railways: If you’re coming from Sweden, Swedish Railways is definitely your best option! We personally boarded the train from Kiruna to Narvik, Norway. What we didn’t realize when we booked our tickets was that the train ride would be a sightseeing activity in and of itself; watch as the geography changes from the flatlands to the mountains and be sure to have a camera in hand! I highly recommend taking this route. 
    • Fly to Evenes Airport: Evenes Airport is about 45 minutes from Narvik city center, and serves Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim, Bodo, Andenes, and Tromso by direct flight. There are multiple flights daily, and the main carriers are SAS and Norwegian Air. At the end of our trip, we flew from Evenes Airport to Oslo Airport, where we made a connection for our International flights home. Search the best deals on flights here.

Take in the views on Swedish Railways from Kiruna, Sweden to Narvik, Norway

Narvik Car Rental [Hertz Narvik]

The thing about Norway is that it’s very spread out, so renting a car is absolutely crucial if you want to explore outside of the city center! You will find car rentals available at the Evenes Airport and within the city. After researching all of our options for Narvik car rentals, we decided to rent our car from Hertz Narvik, and couldn’t have been happier! Their communication was superb, signing the agreements was quick and easy, and they had a large variety of cars on site. Hertz Narvik is particularly well-known for having great winter car options, which was incredibly important to us. We ended up with a Nissan SUV and it drove as smooth as could be, even on narrow icy roads. We will certainly be renting with Hertz Narvik next time we are in the region, and urge you to do so as well! Secure the best rental car deals in Narvik here. 

A great car for a great road trip

Things to do in Narvik

Now that you’ve made it to Narvik and have the keys to your rental car, it’s time to get out and explore!

1. Sleep in an Arctic Dome. The Arctic Dome is located just five minutes from city center, and offers a fantastic view over the city of Narvik and the surrounding mountains! The dome is only partially covered so that you can take in the views without sacrificing your warmth. It is a fun, quirky, and comfortable way to experience Narvik. If you have a clear night, you may even have the possibility of seeing the Northern Lights dance overhead! 

A look inside our Arctic Dome in Narvik

2. Go Dogsledding. Deep Forest Husky will take you “deep” into the forests of Gratangen. You will have the ability to drive your own dog team, however, I must admit that I preferred sitting on the dog sled over steering! Unlike other dog sled experiences that I have had, I loved that this experience brought us up right beside the mountains; talk about a beautiful backdrop! 

Have you ever wanted to dogsled?

3. Experience a Sami Northern Lights Ceremony: Following the dog sled, I recommend sticking around to experience a traditional Sami Northern Lights ceremony. The experience is held in a warm lavvo (a Sami tent) by a Sami shaman, and paired with a chaga tea and a local Sami dish. It was absolutely fascinating! We learned of the relationship between the Sami, nature, and the Aurora Borealis; in fact, we watched our Sami shaman call on the Northern Lights. No, he didn’t snap his fingers and “turn on” the Northern Lights but, rather, the Sami believe that the souls of their ancestors live in the Northern Lights. 

Sami Northern Lights Experience

4. Take the Cable Car. Narvik looks best from above! The Cable Car at Narvikfjellet offers spectacular views of Narvik and the surrounding areas, no matter what time of year you visit. Interested in skiing? This is the place! Looking for a hike? You bet there are hiking trails! Just want to take in the views? There’s no better spot! 

Such beautiful views from Narvikfjellet!

5. Eat a Linken Waffle. Any country that says “it’s always waffle-time” is bound to steal my carb-loving heart. Actually, most of Norway’s waffles are even served in the shape of a heart too! The famous Linken Waffle is served with jam, sour cream, and brown cheese… and absolutely delicious. Waffles can be found just about anytime, anywhere, as they are such a staple in Norwegian culture. We had our first Linken Waffle at the Narvikfjellet Restaurant with the most beautiful views, so I’d say that our first Norwegian waffle experience was a top notch! 

Linken Waffle made with LOVE in Narvik!

6. Pop into the War Museum. When thinking of World War II, very rarely do we think of Norway. Growing up, I never learned about the Battles of Narvik from April 9 to June 8, 1940. The Nazis invaded Narvik because they provided an ice-free harbor from which to transport the iron ore coming from Kiruna, Sweden. The War Museum walks each visitor through the Battles of Narvik and the lasting effects that it has had on Norway today.  

One of the War Museum Exhibits

7. Snowshoe in the Mountains. I couldn’t recommend snowshoeing enough! Our epic snowshoe with Anna from Narvik Aktiv very well may have been my favorite experience in Narvik. Rather than following a specific trail, we clipped on snowshoes, grabbed our poles, and took off hiking in the backcountry. There was something incredibly freeing about making our own way through untouched snow up a mountain. We ultimately found ourselves on top of Olbogfjellet, which offered absolutely outstanding views! It’s definitely windy up there though, so make sure you bring an extra layer for the mountaintop. 

Snowshoeing with Narvik Aktiv was one of our highlights in Narvik!

8. Have a Local Meal at Fiskekroken. Fiskekroken is one of the most popular fish restaurants in the city. It’s a laid back atmosphere with a variety of delicious dishes and Norwegian delicacies. I had the “Signature Dish” of grilled boknafisk, green pea purée, beetroot sauce, crispy cured whale, and potatoes, and it was the perfect choice. 

Simply delicious meal at Fiskekroken

9. Check out the Polar Park. The Polar Park is the world’s most northern animal park. You could spend hours walking around trying to spot the bears, moose, reindeer, and wolves, but my personally favorite was the Lynx. It was such a beautiful creature and didn’t appear scared of humans. The Polar Park is particularly well-known for its wolf visit where you get up close and personal with the wolves on site, on the wolf’s terms of course. We, unfortunately, weren’t able to partake in the wolf visit this time around, but hopefully next time! 

What a beauty!

10. Stay at Garsnes Brygge. Hop in that rental car and drive about an hour north to Garsnes Brygge in Salangen, Norway. In Norway it’s particularly important to fully immerse yourself in nature, and the Fisherman’s Cottages at Garsnes Brygge allow you exactly that. The cottages are fully equipped and located directly on the fjord. If you’re looking to wind down, you can even rent out the jacuzzi and keep your fingers crossed that you’ll see the Northern Lights overhead. Garsnes Brygge is also a fantastic place to stop and enjoy if you’re road tripping from Narvik to Dyroy or Senja. 

Garsnes Brygge is located right on a fjord!

Narvik Map

I’ve provided a Narvik map for you below where you can see all of the above listed activities. Should you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment!

Know Before You Visit Narvik

Packing for Narvik

Now that you have a map on hand and have read about all of the things to do in Narvik, make sure you’re prepared! While you definitely need the right gear and layers, I highly recommend Hestra Gloves, Floa Baselayers, LOWA Boots, and Burton Snow Pants. All of the gear I linked to, I own and recommend personally. Of course, there are many more things that I recommend packing for your trip though, and I highly recommend that you check out my “137 Travel Essentials” to pack for your trip to Narvik. 

The Best Travel Card for your Visit to Narvik

Before you leave for your next trip, I highly recommend opening a free Charles Schwab High Yield Investor Checking account. I know that might sound a bit overwhelming, but don’t worry, you don’t need to be an investor to open an account! This provides you with your own Schwab Bank Visa Platinum Debit Card, which offers a ton of benefits both at home and overseas. I’ve been using a Charles Schwab Debit Card since 2011, and it’s honestly the best free travel card out there. Why is that so? Well, you can withdraw from any ATM around the world, and Charles Schwab will reimburse you any ATM fees! They also don’t charge foreign transaction fees either, which is, of course, important when you travel. It’s also worth noting that there is no minimum balance requirement and that they offer free online transfers between accounts (so it’s totally fine if you have another credit card, debit card, or bank account with another company) Open your Charles Schwab account today – FOR FREE – by following this link. 

Purchase Travel Insurance for your Trip to Narvik

I hope you don’t embark without travel insurance! If you do, you better think again. Travel insurance is arguably the most important thing to have on hand (after your passports and visas) for a trip like this. I’ve had to use my travel insurance multiple times on the road, even though I’m healthy. You never know when something might happen; take comfort in knowing that whether your flight gets cancelled or you wind up sick and in the hospital, you will be covered. I recommend World Nomads Travel Insurance for each and every one of you travelers. You can get a free quote here. Do note: I learned on this trip that Travel Insurance does not cover pandemics and I do not recommend traveling during the currently COVID-19 outbreak. 

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