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NORWAY | Nordland, Norway Travel Guide
Thursday, December 26, 2024
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Narvik
Narvik
Narvik is a good place to visit year-round though most visit in the summer when the weather is normally nice. Winter is popular thanks to the skiing opportunities here and many visitors in the fall come for the exciting killer whale safaris. There are many outdoor activities to pursue in the Narvik area and hiking is popular in the summer. What makes hiking particularly good are the short distances between the coast and the mountains, providing the best of both worlds.
Narvik, although a young city, has an interesting history. It was founded in 1902 when a port was needed for exporting all the iron ore from the mine that had opened in Kiruna Sweden a few years earlier. Sweden had its own harbors on the Baltic Coast but Narvik was better suited, partly because of quicker access to other parts of Europe, and since it’s an ice-free port year-round thanks to the Gulf Stream.
Narvik is certainly not one of the prettiest cities in Norway. It was rebuilt after suffering greatly from bombings during WorldWar II. Both the Germans and the allied countries realized the importance of the port where iron ore was shipped from the mines in Kiruna.
Sightseeing in Narvik
Narvik is on a little peninsula at the base of the 1,200-m (3,600-foot) Mount Fagernes right at the edge of the sea. While the city itself does not have too much to offer, you can get an incredible view by taking the cableway up to the top of the mountain. The cableway starts about a 10-minute walk from downtown Narvik and takes you up to 600 m (1,800 feet) above sea level. A second lift can take you all the way up to the top and is mostly used by skiers in the winter; the skiing season starts in December and lasts until late May.
The trip up the first lift to the midway point costs 100 kr/$15.70 in the summer. This may sound pretty expensive and if the weather is anything less than great with clear skies and warm temperatures, it’s not really worth it. Apart from the view, people come here for activities such as hiking and biking. There’s also a good restaurant wedged into the slope. As for dining and nightlife in downtown Narvik, there is a limited supply of restaurants and, if you’re looking for bars and nightclubs, you’re better off heading up to Tromsø, a four-hour drive north by car or bus.
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