Car Hire Narvik

Narvik Mini Guide

What’s Narvik Like?
It’s a small city built on the shores of Narvik Fjord. With a milder climate than one would expect from such a location, the city is kept mild by the waters of the Gulf Stream that lap the shores of the fjord. It still gets cold in winter giving the city its excellent ski facilities. With its wealth based on iron ore which is now running out, the authorities are looking to its other natural resource – stunning scenery – to provide for the city in the future.

What’s There to see in Narvik?
The city doesn’t have any old buildings having been virtually destroyed in the intense fighting in the Second World War. For the historian, the best attraction is the War Memorial Museum, a chilling and poignant reminder of the hardships the city’s people were put through and the tales of the soldiers who lost their lives fighting for control of the city in the depths of an Arctic winter. Outside the city there are spectacular views to be had from the tops of the mountains, many of them reachable by car or ski lifts and cable cars.

I’ve Heard There is a lot to do There?
Yes, in winter it’s one of the top alpine ski destinations and even for the non skiers the resort is beautiful with the slopes illuminated at night. During the summer you can mountain bike on the marked trails around the city. If golf is your game, the world’s northernmost golf course is nearby whilst the really adventurous can wreck dive in the fjord where dozens of wrecks from over the centuries lay undisturbed.

What’s the Shopping Like?
Quite limited. There are plenty of shops in Narvik but apart from one or two national chains, there are only local shops selling little that is reminiscent of the area. For souvenirs, the best option is some of the items for sale at the museum.

What Should we Eat in the City?
Being a shoreline city, fish is a very popular dish here and especially pickled fish such as herring and mackerel. Methods of cooking aren’t particularly haute cuisine with boiled fish or smoked fish accompanied by mashed potatoes being the staple diet here. Bread is heavy, dark and hard too and accompanies most meals.

And if we Want to Party?
There are plenty of bars and clubs in the city but for traditional entertainment you should visit in March when the Narvik Winter Festival takes place celebrating the end of winter with music, dance and story telling.

There are many reasons to come to Narvik and one of the main ones is to visit the sites of the fierce battles fought here in World War II. Narvik was strategically very important and a key target for both the Germans and the Allies. If you’ve hired a car, visit the War Memorial Museum for the fascinating and dramatic accounts of the battles.

Others come here for the skiing for which Norvik is renowned as one of the best Norwegian destinations for alpine skiing. In summer, skis are replaced by bikes and boots to walk the local trails.