a town with a ski slope in the background

Narvik

Narvik is an Arctic port town on the Ofotfjorden, known for Second World War history, its museums and the Ofoten Line railway to Sweden.

Find a room in Narvik Start with the essentials Plan a trip to Narvik

We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.

Narvik is a port town in Nordland county in northern Norway, on the Ofotfjorden in the Ofoten region. The town is also called Áhkánjárga in Northern Sami. It sits on a peninsula between the Rombaken fjord and the Beisfjorden, and road bridges cross both. The town covers about 6.93 square kilometers and had 14,051 residents in 2023.

Narvik is best known as an iron-ore port, and its harbor stays ice-free thanks to the Gulf Stream. Trains on the Ofoten Line reach the Swedish border, and the Iron Ore Line continues to Riksgränsen in Sweden. There is no railway north of Narvik or south to Bodø. Harstad/Narvik Airport, Evenes lies about 57 kilometers by road from the town, with flights to Oslo, Trondheim, Bodø, Tromsø and Andenes. The Narvik War Museum covers the Second World War and the years since. Germany invaded Norway on 9 April 1940, and Allied forces recaptured Narvik on 28 May 1940.

Narvik in five

Ride the Ofoten Line into the mountainsThe line opened in 1902 and was built to move iron ore to the ice-free port. Visit Norway lists an Arctic Train year round, a Northern Lights Train in winter and a Midnight Sun Train in summer.
Take the Narvikfjellet cable car for the viewThe cable car rises to Mount Narvikfjellet for fjord views, with midnight sun in summer and northern lights in winter. A gondola runs in summer.
Spend an hour at the Narvik War MuseumThe museum at Kongens gate 39 covers the two-month Battle of Narvik after the invasion on 9 April 1940 and the German occupation that followed.
Arrive from Sweden by SJ train if you canVisit Norway notes that SJ's daily scheduled train between Stockholm and Narvik is another way to ride the Ofoten Line, one way, from Sweden.
Keep a separate stretch for LofotenNarvik is a gateway to the islands, but cars, ferries and weather decide that leg, so read the Lofoten guide before you set the dates.Lofoten

Things to do in Narvik

See all attractions in Narvik

a wooden building with snow on the ground and a body of water in the background

Sight · NarvikRed Cross War Museum

a pole sticking out of the rocks on a beach

Sight · NarvikWater Spout

Sight · NarvikOfoten Museum

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to NarvikPut the places you like in Narvik on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Harstad/Narvik Airport, Evenes (EVE), then road or bus
Getting there: Ofoten Line from Sweden, E6 by road, or flights to the region
Getting around: Compact town center; the cable car sits above the town
Best base: Town center near the station and the harbor
Time needed: 1 to 2 days; 3 as a Lofoten stopover

Weather by month

Rainy days
Snowy days
Festival

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuarySnow17 rainy days10 snowy daysHigh-3°Low-8°Polar dusk
FebruarySnow16 rainy days8 snowy daysHigh-2°Low-7°Skiing
MarchSnow19 rainy days12 snowy daysHigh-1°Low-6°Light returns
AprilSnow18 rainy days7 snowy daysHigh3°Low-3°Spring melt
MayRain19 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh8°Low2°Light nights
JuneRain19 rainy daysHigh13°Low7°Midnight sun
JulyRain16 rainy daysHigh17°Low10°Warmest
AugustRain21 rainy daysHigh16°Low9°Long days
SeptemberRain18 rainy daysHigh12°Low6°Autumn color
OctoberRain17 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh5°Low1°Dark returns
NovemberSnow16 rainy days6 snowy daysHigh1°Low-3°Northern lights
DecemberSnow17 rainy days9 snowy daysHigh-2°Low-6°Dark, snow

Average daily high and low in Narvik, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Festivals: Jul Márkomeannu

Right now in Narvik

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: -1°
Humidity: 93%
Wind: 17 km/h
Chance of rain: 100%

Narvik

09:46 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+1

Today4°3°100%Monday: Rain. High 4°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 100%.
Tue6°1°100%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 6°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 100%.
Wed6°3°100%Wednesday: Rain. High 6°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 100%.
Thu3°1°100%Thursday: Snow. High 3°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 100%.
Fri5°1°100%Friday: Snow. High 5°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 100%.
Sat1°-2°100%Saturday: Snow. High 1°, Low -2°. Chance of rain 100%.
Sun5°-2°93%Sunday: Snow. High 5°, Low -2°. Chance of rain 93%.

Updated 06:33 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 9.213 NOK

Amount

Converted to

NOK · Norwegian Krone

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Narvik

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Every year

JulMárkomeannuNarvik

Day trips by train

Bjørnfjell on the Ofoten Lineby train up the mountain valleyThe line climbs almost all the way to Bjørnfjell station through tunnels and bridges.
Stetindwith a local guideThe mountain voted Norway's national mountain by NRK listeners, climbed with a guide.
Lofotena long drive or ferry day westPlan an overnight rather than a day trip; weather and ferries decide the timing.Read the guide

Before you go to Narvik

Ofoten Line train ridesArctic, lights and midnight sun trainsCompare tours

Hotels near the harborStation and harbor in the same quarterCheck availability

eSIM for NorwaySignal gaps on mountain rail sectionsRead the guide

Travel insurance for NorwayWinter rail and flight changesRead the guide

We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.

Rules for Narvik, checked

Norway is in the Schengen area. Check the entry rules for your passport on udi.no before you book, since some nationalities need a visa.Source
Check Norwegian customs rules at toll.no before you bring in alcohol, food or medicines, since Norway limits several of these.Source
Dial 112 for police, 113 for an ambulance and 110 for the fire service.
Service is included in Norwegian restaurant bills, so tipping is not expected. Rounding up the bill is the usual custom.

Plan around Narvik

Nordland

The Arctic Circle, Bodø and Saltstraumen to the south

Read the guide Lofoten

Peaks and fishing villages west of Narvik

Read the guide Tromsø

Northern lights base to the north

Read the guide Western Finnmark

Alta and the North Cape beyond Tromsø

Read the guide Night trains in Europe

How to book sleeper and long-distance trains

Read the guide All of Norway

The Arctic route from Narvik to Tromsø and beyond

Read the guide

Narvik FAQ

What is Narvik known for?

The Ofoten Line, Europe's northernmost railway, built to ship iron ore to the ice-free port, and the 1940 Battle of Narvik. Today it is also a ski resort at Narvikfjellet, with Arctic views from the cable car.

How many days do you need in Narvik?

One day covers the war museum and the cable car; two days add a train ride on the Ofoten Line or a guided mountain outing. Treat it as a stopover on a longer Nordland and Lofoten route.

Can you see the northern lights in Narvik?

Visit Norway says the cable car view includes northern lights in winter. Lights depend on clear skies and solar activity, so allow several nights and do not plan around a single evening.

Can you take a train to Narvik from Sweden?

Yes. Visit Norway lists an SJ daily scheduled train between Stockholm and Narvik on the Ofoten Line. Check SJ and Entur for the timetable and any seasonal changes before you book.

Is Narvik worth visiting?

Yes if you value rail history, wartime history and skiing or cable car views. It is not a fjord-cruise or village destination, so pair it with Lofoten or Tromsø rather than staying a week.