Things to do & places to visit in Northern Norway, Norway

Home to both the midnight sun (with constant daylight from April to July) and the northern lights, North Norway is a rugged land of steep mountains, deep fjords and scenic coastline, making it a great place for outdoor adventures like dog sledding, snowmobiling and wildlife safaris. It's also the ancient home of the Sami people, 3,000 of whom live (along with 100,000 reindeer) at Kautokeino, Norway's largest municipality at over 3,700 square miles.

Northern Norway #3 destination in Norway 2023. The average rating score is 4.23 based on 29.3k traveler reviews, of 102 attractions. Timezone: Europe/Oslo, current date and time: Sunday, May 05, 2024, 0:09.

Top things to do (35)

Top places to visit (30 attractions) view more »

5.0 Lofoten Island (370 reviews)
- Great place!
Islands

We recently came back from Norway. We spent 5 days near Hakaland beach. The weather was not great as it was cloudy all the time or raining. However, we still made the most of it. We had a hired car and we covered most of the Lofoten. One day we went for the Eagle safari from Svolvaer which I would absolutely recommend. We had an Airbnb so dinner was mostly at home. Food / restaurant doesn’t seem to be readily available in all the places in Lofoten. So, do plan your meals. We didn’t get a chance to hike due to the weather. See more..
5.0 Steilneset Memorial (115 reviews)
- Fabulous - but you have to be quick
Sunday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Spent < 1 hour Historic Sites • Monuments & Statues

Steilneset Memorial or 'The Witches' Monument" commemorates the victims of the witches' trials in Finnmark during the 17th century. It consist of the House of Flames, with an artwork of French-American artist Louise Bourgeois, and the Memorial Hall designed by Swiss architect Peter Zumthor. The Memorial was opened by Her Royal Higness Queen Sonja in 2011. See more..
4.5 Fjellheisen Tromsø (2.713 reviews)
- Must do in Tromso - Amazing views
Sunday: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Trams

The Cable Car is Tromsø’s most popular tourist destination. It runs from Solliveien in Tromsdalen up to the mountain ledge Storsteinen. The lower station is located on Tromsø’s mainland, 50 m above sea level, while the upper station, Fjellstua, is situated at an altitude of 421 m above sea level. The trip up takes just four minutes. From the large outdoor terrace, you can enjoy the spectacular panoramic view of Tromsø and the virtually endless sight of islands, fjords, mountains and the open sea. Fjellheisen was built in 1961 by Brødrene Jakobsens Rederi, a local shipping company that was a major player in arctic hunting/trapping, fishing and expeditions to the arctic and Antarctic. The gondolas proudly convey this tradition by bearing the shipping company’s symbols: the polar bear and the seal. See more..
4.5 Nordkapphallen (1.697 reviews)
- Beautiful and spectacular
Spent 2-3 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks • Historic Walking Areas • Geologic Formations

Spectacular spot to visit. This place is magical and have very nice crew:) lots of information about history and nature. Landscape itself is worth to see but with a nice weather Midnight Sun brings you to another level of happiness. Road trip to North Cape is worth every single minute and every single penny. See more..
4.5 Tromsø Tourist Information (1.554 reviews)
- Well equipped and located tourist information office in the centre of Tromsø with excellent staff
Visitor Centers

Welcome to Visit Tromsø, the Tromso Tourist Information Centre. We look forward to help plan your stay and offer extensive knowledge of the area. Our knowledgeable hosts speak many languages. You can book activities, car rental, accommodation and trips with Hurtigruten. You can buy Polar certificates, stamps, postcards, souvenirs, hiking and road maps. Tromsø - a world-class Arctic adventure. See more..
4.5 Tromso Fjords (1.022 reviews)
- Stunning
Geologic Formations

We went on a tour around the Tromso fjords and they are just beautiful. We also took a couple of boat rides around the area also, and it's stunning from the water as well as the land. Definitely worth seeing when in the area. See more..
4.5 Saltstraumen (682 reviews)
- Unique
Spent 2-3 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks • Scenic Walking Areas

Since we don’t have a car, took the bus from Bodø busterminal to Saltstraumen. Takes about 50-55 minutes. Only few departures per day (10 or so) and you pay with ‘Nordland Billet’ app. For bus schedule use ‘Nordland’ app. There is a bus stop on either side of the bridge. The maelstrom itself is a spectacular viewing from the waterside or the bridge. If you have fear of heights, the bridge may be bit challenging. Restaurant and supermarket next to the bridge. Bring your fishing rod to catch some here! See more..
4.5 Alta Museum - World Heritage Rock Art Centre (587 reviews)
- This place is so important!
Sunday: 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Speciality Museums • Historic Sites • Natural History Museums

WORLD HERITAGE ROCK ART CENTRE - ALTA MUSEUM Experience one of Northern Europe's largest rock carving sites, inscribed on UNESCO World Heritage list. The carvings were made by hunters and gatherers, the oldest carvings are over 7000 years. The rock art park is available in the snow free period. The museum is open all year and features exhibitions on rock art in Alta and other cultural history exhibitions. Temporary exhibitions on themes such as the Northern Lights, angling and art exhibitions. Cafe with a panoramic view over the Altafjord and souvenir shop. Guided tours for groups by prior arrangement. Audioguides available in Norwegian, English, German and French. See more..
4.5 Northern Lights Cathedral (416 reviews)
- Wonderful church in the Arctic
Spent < 1 hour Churches & Cathedrals

We visited this astonishing church while on a cruise a few week's ago - yes it is a church and not a cathedral despite its name. From the outside it is meant to represent the swirling of the Northern Lights in the sky wrapped in a titanium outer skin. Inside it is just drop dead gorgeous - a bronze Jesus, colourful font and candle holders plus a magnificent organ. Our expectations of this wonderful building were more than met and I am not at all religious. Totally unique as a church. And we had four nights of clear skies with the lights dancing their way across the night sky See more..
4.5 Narvik Krigsmuseum (378 reviews)
- Excellent and informative
Sunday: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours History Museums

The museum has a large collection from WWII. The museum tells the stories of WWII in North Norway and the dramatic fight for Narvik i 1940. The museum has a section devoted to universal questions related to war and human rights. The quality and design of the exhibition is exquisite and must be experienced! See more..
4.5 Lofoten Krigsminne Museum (370 reviews)
- Great museum - so much to see!
Sunday: 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM, 6:30 PM - 10:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Speciality Museums

Lofoten Krigsminnemuseum See more..
4.5 Haukland Beach (369 reviews)
- Great beach to spend a little time
Sunday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Spent 2-3 hours Beaches

Haukland is one of Lofoten's most famous beaches and voted to Norway's best beach. It is located only 10 minutes drive from Leknes. Popular area for hiking for all levels and ages! See more..
4.5 Norwegian Aviation Museum (369 reviews)
- Really large aviation museum
Sunday: 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Military Museums

Experience the thrilling history of aviation up close. Did you know that aviation played a major role in shaping Norway as a nation; it has influenced our people, our landscape and our way of life. See famous and even some infamous planes, including the Spitfire, Starfighter or faithful work horses and passenger aircraft, including the Ju52 and the Twin Otter. The Norwegian Aviation Museum is among the largest aviation museums in Europe. Our collections include more than 40 aircraft and helicopters. See more..
4.5 Tromso Botaniske Hage (333 reviews)
- Beautiful Gardens - free and close to pier
Gardens

This wonderful botanic garden is free to enter and open 24 hours. It was a 1.7 mile walk from our Viking ship docked at pier 24. The gardens meander up a hillside, with displays organized by region. The plantings are among rocks, giving it an authentic look. Everything is labelled. I was quite surprised how many beautiful flowers were on display. They have a coffee shop that opens at 11:00, but there is no gated entry so the gardens are open 24/7. I completed my visit, dock to dock, in 1 1/2 hours. Very worthwhile! See more..
4.5 North Cape Tourist Information (272 reviews)
- So worth it
Sunday: Visitor Centers

Welcome to the tourist information located in Honningsvag. Honningsvag is a town in the municipality of Nordkapp which is located on the island Magerøya. With Honningsvag as the town centre, Magerøya also includes four picturesque fishing villages which we highly recommend you to visit: Skarsvag, Gjesvær, Kamøyvær and Nordvagen. North Cape is our main attraction and it's the northernmost point in Europe that can be reached by car. Population: 3,219. Area, municipality: 924 km² Location: Honningsvag Harbour, in the centre of Honningsvag. See more..
4.5 Reinebringen (268 reviews)
- midnight sun
Hiking Trails

Temporary Closed Because Of Renovation See more..
4.5 The Polar Bear Society (267 reviews)
- Educational and FREE!
Sunday: History Museums

The Polar Bear Society is located on the coastal steamer pier, together with Hammerfest’s Tourist Information. Join the world famous and exclusive society, and receive the Polar Bear Pin as proof that you visited the World’s Northernmost Town – Hammerfest! Our museum showcases our proud traditions with fishing and hunting in arctic conditions. There is also a gift shop. You can only become a member in the Polar Bear Society when you visit Hammerfest in person. A membership costs NOK 220,00 as a one time fee. The money supports the exhibition and pays the components of the membership: the Polar Bear pin in silver and enamel, a sticker with our logo on, a diploma with your name on signed by the mayor of Hammerfest, a membership card with your own membership number. See more..
4.5 Northern Norwegian Science Center (221 reviews)
- Great
Sunday: 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Speciality Museums • Science Museums • Observatories & Planetariums

The Science Centre offers northern lights planetarium shows every day. In addition there are close to a hundred interactive exhibits where everyone can have fun with popular science, exploring both regional and universal questions. The Science Centre is open about 359 days of the year. Check our website for opening hours, planetarium schedules and prices. See more..
4.5 Grenselandmuseet (205 reviews)
- Terrific WW2 Museum, Plus...
Sunday: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Speciality Museums • History Museums

Our exhibitions reflects life and culture in the borderland between Norway, Russia and Finland, with a special emphasis on World War II. See more..
4.5 Tromsø Public library and City Archives (172 reviews)
- lovely public space
Spent < 1 hour Libraries

great place to chill and read. great vibe. lots of activities for kids and families. not at all like the nyc public libraries of my youth in the 70s - getting shushed all the time by fussy librarians. See more..
4.5 Kjerringoy Trading Post (163 reviews)
- A Magical Place
Sunday: Spent 2-3 hours History Museums

A visit to northern Norway`s best preserved trading post is a journey back in time. Here you can feel the past, with "jektefart" and fish trading, Herring and the daily life in northern Norway coastal communities in the 19 century. Kjerringoy Trading Post is a unique example of coastal heritage set in magnificent scenery. It consists of 15 old buildings retaining many of their original contents. It is one of the country's most important collections of buildings from the nineteenth century. The beautiful slide-show "Anna Elisabeth of Kjerringoy" provides an excellent introduction to a visit. It lasts about 20 minutes. Guided tours are then available around the various yards and buildings. You can shop in the store ("Kramboden") or enjoy refreshments in Nyfjosen Cafe or in the garden. In the museumshop in Nyfjosen you can buy gifts and souvernirs, local design and crafts. See more..
4.5 Uttakleiv Beach (145 reviews)
- One of the best places to view the midsummer sunsets
Spent 1-2 hours Beaches • Scenic Drives

This beach offers a stunning view with mountains rising all around it. The positioning is perfect as the sun sets and rises right towards the beach in the summer. We had the pleasure of witnessing a midsummer sunset after heavy rain and the place really lit up. It's very popular area for campers and hikers with tents and rightfully so. If you want to experience the view from heights, you can take the Veggen mountain hike with the trail starting right behind the parking lot. See more..
4.5 Torghatten (140 reviews)
- One of those mountains with a queue going up
Spent 1-2 hours Mountains • Geologic Formations

Torghatten, with its distinctive hole through it, is known both nationally and internationally. Petter Dass, our famous clergyman and poet, described the mountain as “an eye that keeps watch over Nordland’s people and riches – and which never sleeps. Torghatten offers the wild and untouched, excitement and atmosphere and people appear tiny as they walk through the 160 m long, 25-75 m high and 12-27 m wide hole, like in an enormous hall. See more..
4.5 Troll Museum (138 reviews)
- Tromso troll Museum
Sunday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Speciality Museums

Welcome to the first Troll Museum with augmented reality. This is the first and only museum about trolls and fairytales in Norway, and must-do experience. Centrally located in Tromsø city, the Troll Museum is the only place where you can meet with the trolls and discover the magic world of norwegian tales. See more..
4.5 Grotfjord (135 reviews)
- Amazing beaxh
Bodies of Water

Have been here twice last year during the winter nights and it is a good spot to catch the glimpse of the auroras if you’re lucky. Went back this year again during winter and tried to see how it looks like in the morning twilight and I was really in awe of how beautiful the place is in the day. (Really dark at night hence you can’t really make out the details of the buildings / fjords / surroundings of the beach) See more..
4.5 Kvalvika Beach (132 reviews)
- Place to dream away...
Beaches

A place to dream away. The ocean is blue like in carribean but rough, surrounded by beautiful mountains. I stayed here and meditated for 2 hours, it was amazing! The south Trail to this beach is also beautiful, it feels like you would be very high in the alps, bypassing also two "mountain lakes", then next moment you are at the ocean... Can only recommend this place! See more..
4.5 Telegrafbukta Beach (115 reviews)
- Beautiful scenery
Spent 2-3 hours Beaches • Nature & Wildlife Areas

Short - 30mins walk from centrum of tromsø. Beautiful views, like others mention its quite windy. Lots of people with dogs. Spaces for grill/ fireplace with benches as well. Recommend! See more..
4.5 Tirpitz Museum (113 reviews)
- Worth the effort!
Sunday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Speciality Museums

Tirpitz Museum is a war museum that is located in Kåfjord outside the city of Alta in Finnmark county, Norway. Tirpitz Museum is open from 10.00 to 17.00 every day from 1 June to 1 September. Out of season we open on request for groups or other special occasions. See more..
4.5 Prestvannet Lake (111 reviews)
- Saw the Lights here!
Sunday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Spent 1-2 hours Bodies of Water • Parks

We took the bus here at 7pm as the hotel receptionsit said you could see the northern lights there....and we did! Spectacular views and experience of the lights dancing over the frozen and snowy lake. Didn't even have to pay to take a tour there, just a local bus! See more..
4.5 The Historical Sjoegata Street (105 reviews)
- One of the most charming places I’ve been to
Neighborhoods

The area around the Sjoegata street in Mosjoen town center is historical. By building, living, shopping and working in the Sjoegata street, people are making history there every day, too, just as they did in the old days. The old buildings in the street are being taken care of as an integral part of the pulsating city life there, giving character to this small town. On your tour of exploration you will find architectural gems and elegantly preserved buildings. Additionally, you will find galleries, an authentic general store, restaurants and a beautiful hotel garden from where you can fish. Architectural conservation work in the Sjoegata street has been honored with a national architecture award and a national environmental award. See more..