14 Best Things to Do in Narvik in Winter

Winter is Narvik's best season. From late September, the darkness returns and the aurora starts, making narvik northern lights experiences a highlight of the season. Snow settles across the mountains, and a working Arctic town of 20,000 people becomes one of the most rewarding places in Northern Norway to spend a week.

Here is what is genuinely worth doing, from people who live and guide here.

1. Chase the northern lights

The obvious one, and rightly so. Narvik sits at 68 degrees north directly under the auroral oval, and the season runs from early September to mid-April, with October through March strongest.

What makes Narvik particularly good is its geography. Deep fjords, steep mountains and the Swedish border less than an hour away create pronounced microclimates. This means that when clouds cover the town, it is often clear somewhere within driving distance. Chasing these clear-sky gaps is most of the work on a guided evening. If you are planning your visit and wondering how many days in Narvik are enough, staying for at least 2–3 days gives you more opportunities to experience the Northern Lights and enjoy the surrounding Arctic scenery.

Our aurora evenings run nightly through the season in groups of no more than eight, with a fire, waffles, hot drinks, and photographs taken of you under the lights.

2. Snowshoe along the fjord

The most underrated winter activity here. Snowshoes let you walk into terrain that is completely inaccessible on foot in deep snow, and the learning curve is about five minutes long.

Our snowshoe days head into quiet country along the fjord, well away from anything resembling mass tourism, with a traditional Norwegian lunch cooked over an open fire. No previous experience needed - you just need to be comfortable being outdoors in the cold.

3. Electric biking along the fjord

Yes you read correct! Probably the most unique activity you will find in the Arctic. In the winter, we change the tyres to our electric bikes and thanks to the spikes, we can keep riding on the snow and ice. Rent a bike or join us on a scenic tour along the fjord.

4. Ski at Narvikfjellet

Narvikfjellet is Northern Norway's largest ski resort, with one of Scandinavia's biggest vertical drops at around 885 metres, dropping towards the fjord. It is a serious off-piste and freeride destination as well as a family resort.

Important for 2026: the resort is being rebuilt ahead of the 2029 Alpine World Ski Championships. The cable car is closed through December 2026 with a new one due in January 2027, and lift availability has been changing season to season. Check current status directly with the resort before planning a ski trip.

5. Ride the Arctic Train across the border

The Ofoten Line is one of Europe's great railway journeys - a route built to carry Swedish iron ore to an ice-free port, climbing from sea level into high mountains in a short distance.

The Arctic Train runs the scenic stretch towards Abisko in Sweden. In winter the landscape is completely transformed, and on late services in aurora season you have a reasonable chance of watching the sky perform from a heated seat.

6. Experience the polar night

From roughly early December to early January, the sun does not clear the horizon in Narvik at all.

This is not the total darkness people imagine. What you get instead is several hours of extraordinary blue twilight in the middle of the day, when snow takes on a deep glassy colour that photographs unlike anything else. Locals call it the blue hour and many of us think it is the most beautiful light of the year.

7. Visit the Narvik War Museum

Narvik was the site of some of the most significant fighting of the 1940 Norwegian campaign, involving Norwegian, German, British, French and Polish forces, and a naval battle in the fjord.

Narvik november is a great time to learn more about the city's history while experiencing its quiet winter atmosphere. The War Museum tells that story with unusual honesty, focusing on civilian experiences as much as military history. It is the right place to spend a couple of hours when the weather closes in.

8. Go ski touring or freeriding

For experienced skiers, the terrain around Narvik is exceptional and far less tracked than better-known destinations. Long descents, genuine Arctic conditions and the fjord below you the whole way down.

This is avalanche terrain and should be treated as such. Go with a qualified local guide unless you have solid Arctic backcountry experience and the right equipment.

9. Dog-sledding

Close to Narvik are several options for dog-sledding. It is even possible to be picked up right at your hotel if needed. And yes, that's something you absolutely want to try during your stay. We can organise a private tour for you to a small-scale farm for a high quality and intimate experience.

10. See the Hallogaland Bridge in winter

The longest suspension bridge in the Arctic, spanning the Rombaksfjord just outside town. In winter, with snow on the peaks either side and low sun catching the cables, it is a genuinely striking piece of engineering in an extraordinary setting. Easily combined with a drive or a short walk to a viewpoint.

11. Visit Polar Park

About an hour from Narvik, Polar Park is the world's northernmost animal park, opened in 1994. It houses Norway's large predators - brown bear, lynx, wolf and wolverine - in very large enclosures.

Winter visits, with the animals in full coat and snow on the ground, are the best time to go. Buses between Tromso and Narvik stop here, which makes it easy to build into a transfer day.

12. Photograph the aurora properly

Narvik gives you something many aurora destinations do not: sharp mountain silhouettes for the foreground. Open water and flat horizons make for weaker compositions.

If you are serious about the photography, come for several nights and go out with a guide who shoots. Getting the settings right in the dark and the cold with numb fingers is much harder than the tutorials suggest, and a bit of hands-on help usually makes the difference.

13. Take a winter hike

Not every day needs to be an expedition. Funnhytta, the gravel mountain road climbing from town, stays walkable through much of the winter as the snow compacts, and the views over the Ofotfjord in low winter light are superb. Bring proper footwear and traction spikes.

14. Do nothing much, in a town that is not a resort

This deserves a place on the list. Narvik has not been packaged for visitors. It is a working town with a harbour, a railway, a hospital and a university campus, and that ordinariness is precisely what people who have found Tromsø overwhelming tend to appreciate.

You can walk the whole centre in twenty minutes, eat somewhere without a reservation made three weeks ago, and stand at a viewpoint with nobody else there.

Planning your winter trip

How long to stay: three to five nights minimum if the aurora is your priority. Cloud cover, not aurora activity, is what usually stops people seeing it, and more nights means better odds.

What to pack: proper insulated winter boots, thermal base layers, a windproof outer shell, hat, gloves, and a spare pair of gloves. Temperatures commonly sit between 0 and minus 10, and standing still outdoors for a couple of hours is very different from walking. Most operators here, ourselves included, rent thermal suits and boots if you would rather not buy them.

Getting here: fly to Harstad/Narvik Airport Evenes via Oslo, then take the airport bus. Buses also run from Tromsø in about four hours, and trains arrive from Sweden on the Ofoten Line.

Booking: winter tours here run in small groups, which means limited spaces. Christmas, New Year and February half-term book out well in advance.

Is Narvik worth visiting? Absolutely! Narvik is worth visiting for its beautiful Arctic scenery, snowy winter landscapes, and opportunities to experience the Northern Lights. With the right winter clothing and preparation, you can enjoy the outdoor activities and make the most of your Arctic adventure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Narvik worth visiting in winter?

Yes. Winter is the strongest season, with northern lights from September to April, reliable snow, excellent skiing and snowshoeing, and far fewer visitors than Tromsø.

How cold does Narvik get in winter?

Typically between 0 and minus 10 degrees Celsius, though the coastal location makes it milder than inland Arctic areas at the same latitude.

What is there to do in Narvik besides the northern lights?

Snowshoeing, electric biking with spike tyres, skiing at Narvikfjellet, the Arctic Train to Sweden, the Narvik War Museum, dog-sledding, Polar Park, winter hiking and ski touring.

How many days should I spend in Narvik in winter?

Three to five nights if you want to see the aurora, which gives you enough attempts to work around cloudy nights.