Narvik (Norway) is a small town and municipality in the north of the country, in the county of Nordland. It is located on a peninsula surrounded by fjords and mountains. Narvik has a population of approximately 18,700 people.
Officially, the city has existed since 1902. It was founded as the port of Narvik, and it still plays an important role as a transportation hub.
The port plays a central role in the city’s development as Norway’s transportation and logistics hub. The harbor is never covered by ice and is well-protected from the wind. The mild climate and weather in the area are influenced by the warm Gulf Stream.
Every year, 18-20 million tons of cargo pass through the port of Narvik. Most of it is ore from Swedish mines in industrial Kiruna and Kaunisvaara, but with the strategic location of the port and its good infrastructure, it is suitable for all types of containerized cargo. From Narvik, iron ore is shipped to land all over the world.
Unique opportunities for winter holidays
Narvik is home to the popular Narvikfjella ski resort. Its main features include:
- guaranteed snow cover;
- excellent conditions for winter sports (total length of the slopes is 20 km, with 75 descents);
- the best conditions for skiing on virgin snow not only in Norway, but throughout Scandinavia;
- no queues at the ski lifts (the Narvikfjellet cable car is located at Skistua 7 and has a capacity of 23,000 people per hour);
- a ski school with professional instructors is open;
- You can rent ski equipment here.
If you buy a ski pass, you can ski not only in Narvikfjell, but also in other resorts in Norway and Sweden: Riksgransen, Abisko, and Bjørkli.
The skiing season lasts from late November to May, but the best time to visit is in February and March.
What else is waiting for tourists in Narvik
In addition to winter skiing, Narvik offers a variety of outdoor activities, including rock climbing, mountain biking, paragliding, and fishing. There are also opportunities for wreck diving, and the lake’s bottom is home to the remains of 1940s ships, including a German fighter jet!
There is a unique attraction in Narvik: 700 meters from the city center, in the Brennholtet area, you can see cave paintings! You can find them using a tourist map or following the signs on the streets. The paintings of people and animals cover a large stone that lies right on the street, and travelers often take photos of this archaeological site in Narvik.
If you want to visit the northernmost zoo on the planet, you can do so by traveling to Narvik. From this city in Norway, there is a regular bus service to the Polar Zoo, which is located in the Salangsdalen Valley.
There are several bars (8) and restaurants (12) in Narvik, where you can not only enjoy delicious food (mostly Scandinavian cuisine), but also play bowling. The magnificent restaurant, which has an observation deck, is located 656 meters above sea level.
Even in the summer, there is one Narvikfjellet cable car line that takes visitors to this restaurant and observation deck. There are several hiking trails available, each with a different level of difficulty.
Shopping in Narvik
Next to the bus station, on Bolags gate 1, there is a large shopping center, Amfi Narvik. It is open on weekdays from 10:00 to 20:00, and on weekends from 9:00 to 18:00.
There is a Narvik Storsenter at Kongens gate 66. It houses a post office that operates on the same schedule. There is also a Vinmonopol store in this center, where you can buy alcoholic beverages. Vinmonopol is open until 18:00, on Saturday until 15:00, and on Sunday it is closed.
Weather conditions
Narvik is an amazing place in Norway. The city is located very close to the North Pole, but the warm Gulf Stream makes the climate here incredibly comfortable.
From the second half of October until May, Narvik experiences winter, the darkest period of the year. From mid-November until the end of January, the sun completely disappears, but the northern lights are often visible. Even during winter, the weather in Narvik is very mild, with temperatures ranging from -5°C to +15°C.
White nights begin in Narvik in the second half of May. They end by the end of July.
How to get to Narvik
By plane
Narvik has a flight from Framnes Airport, which lands daily from Andenes (once a day) and Bude (2 flights on weekends, 3 on weekdays).
Evenes Airport, located 86 km from Narvik, receives flights from the Norwegian cities of Oslo, the large Trondheim, Bude, the more northern Tromsø. There are also flights to international destinations: Burgas, Munich, the Spanish Palma de Mallorca in the Mediterranean Sea, Antalya, Chania. From this airport, the Flybussen bus runs to Narvik.
By train
The mountainous terrain makes it impossible to connect Narvik to other Norwegian cities by rail. The nearest train station is in Bude.
The Malmbanan railway line connects Narvik to the Swedish railway system, with the city of Kiruna and further to Luleå. Passenger trains run daily on this railway line, which is considered the most busy in the Nordic countries.
By bus
The easiest way to get to Narvik is by bus: there are several daily departures from the Norwegian cities of Tromsø (a 4-hour journey), Bodø, and Haslum.
Transport in Narvik
The city of Narvik (Norway) occupies a small area, so you can get around on foot. Alternatively, you can take a taxi (call the taxi service at 07550) or use the city bus.
The central bus runs on two routes alternately a couple of times a day, starting and ending at the bus station. The bus stops at the request of passengers, who can press a button or tell the driver where they want to stop.
Interesting facts
- The city is also known for a historical fact. During the Second World War (April-June 1940), a series of battles took place near the city, which became known as the Battle of Narvik.
- In the Narvik area, Norway’s landmass is the smallest, measuring only 7.75 kilometers.
- There are about 2,000 students at the local university, and about 20% of them are foreigners.
