Narvik itineraries for one to three days

6 min read Updated October 2026 Compare all tours

Narvik is small, and its main sights in town are close together. What decides a plan here is the season and the daylight. In winter the useful hours run from late morning to early afternoon, and the evenings belong to the aurora. In summer the light never ends and the timing matters less. The plans below assume you arrive without a car and use tours with pickup where possible.

One day in Narvik

Start at the Narvik War Museum on Kongens gate when it opens at 10:00. The exhibition on the fighting of 1940 needs about one and a half to two hours, and our war history page gives the background. In the afternoon, take the Arctic Train from the station up the ore railway to Bjørnfjell, the last stop before the Swedish border. The return trip takes about two to four hours depending on the departure. Times vary by day, so you may also ride first and see the museum afterwards.

Reviews of the train are mixed. Trees, tunnels and a poor window seat can block the view, and low cloud or snow can hide the mountains. A clear day makes the biggest difference. From January 2027, when the new gondola opens, you can add the eight-minute ride up Narvikfjellet to 656 metres.

Two days in winter

Use the first day as above and keep the first evening for the aurora. The private aurora drive collects you at your hotel and follows the clearest sky, sometimes into Sweden. It also offers a free second night if the lights do not appear, which is a reason to book it early in your stay; on that second night you may share the car with other guests.

On the second day, choose between huskies and the fjords. Husky Isogaisa runs its self-drive sledding tour on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 09:00 and 14:00 from 1 December to 30 April, about half an hour north of Narvik. There is no transfer, so plan a rental car or a taxi. The alternative is a fjord day with a guide, who collects you at your hotel and drives the coast around Narvik with photo stops and a visit to a reindeer farm, in about four hours. Reviewers describe the farm as small.

Three days

A third day gives you a spare evening if cloud spoils the aurora, and room for something else. From 3 January 2027 you can ski at Narvikfjellet, with the lifts open until 20:00 on weekdays. The evening aurora trip with photographer guides leaves Dronningensgate at 19:00 from October to March. A daytime fjord road trip leaves at 10:00, with the guide choosing Tysfjord, Efjord or Skjomen depending on light and weather; see fjords and road trips.

Or cross the border. SJ trains run every day between Narvik and Kiruna, and Kiruna Buss line 950 serves Riksgränsen, Björkliden and Abisko. Buy train tickets online in advance, because the station and the train do not sell them.

Planning a night across the border? abiskotourism.com covers Abisko and its tours.

A cruise or Hurtigruten call

Hurtigruten ships on the southbound North Cape Line stay about five hours in Narvik, and cruise ships berth at the port in the town centre. The museum and the train both start in town, and the train fits into a short stop. Reviewers who came off cruise ships mention that a large part of some trains was booked for ship passengers. In the dark season, aurora tours from the harbour return passengers to their ship; see the northern lights page.

Summer

From 25 May to 20 July 2027 the sun does not set. The museum and the Arctic Train run as in winter, and the gondola is planned to run all year once it reopens. One summer option is a private puffin boat from the Harstad area, which also looks for whales and dolphins, collects you at your hotel and only sails in good weather. The seasons are compared on the best time to visit page.