Destination Harstad official travel guide
Official touristinformation for: Harstad, Kvæfjord, Bjarkøy, Tjeldsund, Skånland.
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Nature
When you visit Harstad, you will discover a surrounding region that is rich in culture and nature-based experiences. The mountain landscape is accessible, the view is majestic and the archipelago is just waiting to be discovered. Here, you can find your own relaxing spot, drink pure river water and fish in idyllic mountain lakes or the sea.
Surrounding Harstad you will discover an exciting region: Kvæfjord with its world famous strawberries and the Viking island of Bjarkøy with its 523 islets and rocks. The area around the region’s airport - Harstad / Narvik Airport Evenes (Lofoten International Airport) – offers fantastic countryside for hiking, white sandy beaches and beautiful fjords. Here, you will also find ancient Sami places of residence and a cultural landscape that bears witness to settlement dating back thousands of years.
Steder verdt å besøke i Harstad og omland;
- Keipen - a wonderful short mountain hike offering a fantastic view
- The bird cliff in Sundsvollsundet - a round-trip by express boat
- Valhall - the world's northernmost inhabited archipelago
- Vilgesvarrè - a restored Sami settlement in extremely beautiful surroundings
- Røkenes Manor - an historic 16th century trading post and guest house
- Sandtorgholmen Hotel - an authentic building collection dating back more than 250 years
- The Adolf Gun - the world's largest land-based gun built by the Germans in World War II
- Grottebadet - Northern Norway's most popular indoor water park built inside the mountain
- Trastad Samlinger - Norway's only gallery of art created by people with mental disabilities
Archipelago
Offshore from Harstad you will discover a multitude of islands, islets and rocks with fantastic white sandy beaches and rocky coastlines. Wildlife here includes bird cliffs with thousands of nesting sea birds every spring, a large colony of white-tailed eagles, seals and whales.
You can explore this eldorado by cycle, bus, car or boat.
The mountain
The nature around Harstad and the surrounding region is beautiful, varied and offers hikes to suit most people.
We have steep, tough mountains for those who want to get exhausted and be alone in the spectacular nature. Friendlier routes are also available for less experienced hikers.
We recommend that you contact Destination Harstad and Harstad Turlag, the local hiking association, for hiking tips, maps and descriptions in the area. We have a wealth of knowledge about local routes, hiking tips and local weather and trial conditions.
Read some of our hike descriptions on-line. Scroll up this page and click on “See and do – summer activities”.
Happy hiking!
Animal life
There is an unbelievably rich animal life in Northern Norway. We have the four big predators – brown bear, lynx, wolverine and wolf – as well as countless different fish, birds and mammals.
Northern Norway is a huge source of food in spring when migratory birds and marine animals come in large flocks to eat and breed.
We recommend a trip to the bird cliff "Krykkjeberget" near Bjarkøy or to the archipelago off Krøttøy where you can observe seals. The chances of seeing white-tailed eagles are high virtually throughout our entire region.
If you talk to the local, you may be able to get tips about where to see moose.