Harstad

Harstad is a city and municipality in the county of Troms in Northern Norway. Harstad is situated on Norway's largest coastal island, Hinnøya. The region is very varied, with coastal mountains, fjords, some agriculture (dairy farming, sheep and the northernmost strawberry farming on the planet) and even a national park on the island itself - Møysalen National Park. Svolvær in Lofoten is only 2h 20 min drive south of Harstad.

Get in

By plane

The closest airport to Harstad is Evenes (EVE IATA Harstad/Narvik airport), which lies 45 kilometres away. This airport sees multiple daily flights to/from Oslo, as well as regular domestic flights to/from Trondheim, Tromsø, Bodø, and Andenes. A number of international destinations can also be reached seasonally, e.g. Copenhagen and Zurich. The primary airlines flying to Evenes are Norwegian Air Shuttle, Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), and Widerøe. From the airport, multiple buses run daily, which take approximately 55 minutes. Check with Flybussen for ticket information and times. The only other major airport in the vicinity is Tromsø Airport (TOS IATA), which requires a ferry to reach Harstad (see below).

Evenes Airport has been ranked as having one of the top 10 airport approaches in the world. With jaw-dropping mountain views, landing or taking off at this airport is a unique experience. Stetind, Norway's national mountain is easily viewed from the aeroplane.

By boat

An express ferry (Hurtigbåt, line 2) links Harstad and Tromsø (3 hours), and takes several stops along the route, including Finnsnes. As of 2025, a ticket between Tromsø and Harstad will set you back 672kr, 295kr on Saturdays. There are 2 departures each day, except for Thursdays and Fridays when there are 4. Check with Svipper for ferry information.

Another express ferry, line 6, connects Harstad with some surrounding islands, including Kjøtta, Bjarkøy, and Krøttøy. Departures are more infrequent and for some stops they only stop by request.

The coastal route (Hurtigruten) between Bergen and Kirkenes calls in at Harstad.

By car

Driving in and around Harstad gives you flexibility in travelling around the region. Keep in mind, however, both the significant distance to Harstad from other major cities and that roads in winter can be covered in ice. If you rent a car in winter, ensure that it is equipped with winter tyres. If you plan to hire a car, Evenes Airport has a number of choices, as does Harstad city (although slightly less).

By train

The Norwegian train network does not reach Harstad. The nearest stations are that of Narvik, which is connected to the Swedish train network, or Bodø, which is the northern terminus of the Norwegian train network. From Narvik, a bus can be booked to Harstad. From Bodø, public transport is not great but possible, e.g. one can take a ferry to Lofoten, and then a bus to Harstad, or several buses via Narvik. For buses in Nordland, check the official website.

Get around

On foot

The centre of Harstad is very walkable. Important locations such as the ferry terminal, primary bus station, and the majority of the town’s cafes and restaurants all lie within easy walking distance.

By public transport

Harstad has a surprisingly extensive bus network for a small town. Operated by Troms County’s public transport authority, Svipper. Through their app, you can search for bus timetables, stops, and purchase tickets.

Route maps are found on the official website.

By Taxi

Harstad Taxi is the main taxi provider in town. Taxis can be ordered, by the app Taxifix, online or by calling. The easiest way to see the price is to input your trip either online or in the app. As of Jan 2025, the app states that you need a profile to order, but you can check the price without making a profile.

See

  • Trondenes church. The world's northernmost medieval stone church. (updated Feb 2018)
  • 🌍 Trondenes historical center, Trondenesveien 122. Displaying more than 2,000 years of history in the region, which was a Viking power centre (Tore Hund from Bjarkøy just north of Harstad killed St Olav at the Battle of Stiklestad, according to the saga). (updated Feb 2018)
  • The Adolf gun. From much more recent history - the world's largest land-based gun. (updated Feb 2018)

Do

  • Grottebadet - tropical swimming inside the Norwegian bedrock.
  • The Vågsfjord area outside Harstad is a wide and fairly sheltered bay with many small and large islands, some with mountains up to 1,200 m (4200 ft) above sea level, and with a view to Senja island as well as to the mainland. The fishing is usually excellent.
  • Anna Rogde - the authentic sailing schooner - which take tourists and locals out on the fjord.
  • Play golf in the midnight sun at the local golf course
  • Gamnes Gård

Buy

  • Smoked salmon is a good local product
  • Strawberries, if you are here in the season (roughly mid-July to mid-August). The locals claim that these strawberries are the sweetest there is due to the unique environment - slow ripening in mostly not to warm summer temperatures in 24-hr daylight.

Eat

  • Peppe's Pizza - popular pizza chain in Norway
  • Dolly Dimple's - popular pizza chain in Norway
  • Milano. You can try pizzas, hamburgers and kebabs at this Italian restaurant. 
  • De 4 roser. Both a restaurant and a café. In the cafe you have a busy life and a lot of lauguhs, while watching the city life outside the door. 

Drink

There are several pubs which get quite lively Friday and Saturday nights, and also some places with dancing floor.

Sleep

There are several hotels in Harstad, as well as camping facilities.

Go next


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