Things to Do

We have such a great variety of things to do in Harstad and the surroundings near Senja, Lofoten, Tromsø and Vesterålen that you can already start booking your second trip!

Attractions

Looking for an attraction with a flair of history?

The Trondenes peninsula houses the world northernmost medieval church built in 1250, the Trondenes Church. Have a look at the church wall, the interior and feel the fresh air whilst daydreaming how the area looked like for almost 1000 years ago! Also at Trondenes you find one of the largest battleship cannons on land in Europe during WW2.

Visit the Trondenes Historical centre to learn more about the Viking Age and the Viking settlements in the area. Followed by a nice stroll on the ocean path towards the city.

Spend a day in the centre with its green garden, the General Garden, where you also find statues which tributes the heroic efforts made during World War II in the Harstad area.

Culture

Harstad Cultural House hosts many major events and concerts throughout the year. In the same building, you find the library and one of our hotels – right next to the ocean! Stroll down the harbour and take your coffee to go from one of our many cafés whilst enjoying the scenery. Visit our festivals or go for a spontaneous music experience in one of our churches – just as the locals do!

In Harstad we have many local shops with Norwegian brands as well as international brands. In the city centre you can stroll down Storgata and enjoy the shops and cafes, visit the city square with its surrounding shops or one of our many shopping malls in the city centre as well as outside the city.

Ocean adventures

Why not visit the northernmost inhabited archipelago when you are here?

Just outside the Fjord from Harstad you find hundreds of small islands, birdlife, arctic whales, the island of Grytøya, Bjarkøya, Senja as well as spectacular scenery! Book your trip with B&B Touring, Valhall or MS Strønstad. They promise you an adventure of a lifetime!

Harstad also houses one of the worlds oldest schooner: Anna Rogde. She was launched in 1868 and still travels the coastline! She is a beautiful attraction which often can be seen at her anchorage at the Cultural Centre wharf at the harbour in Harstad.

The express boat leaves several times each day to the small islands around Harstad. If you want to visit Tromsø while staying in Harstad, the express boat leaves two times per day – both ways. The boat takes 3 hours and travels under bridges, passes small villages and takes you to the Paris of the north – Tromsø!

Children’s world

There are lot's of children-friendly things to do in Harstad!

The recreation area, Folkeparken, has many small huts (free of charge) along the trail. At the small lake, Grunnvannet, children love to play, have a bonfire, try fishing or feed the local ducks!

The library is free of charge and has its own children area with books, toys, internet and puzzles. It is situated at the Cultural House at the harbour.

Swimming in the mountain? Yes, it’s correct. We have an indoor swimming pool in the city centre, inside a mountain! Grottebadet is situated metres under the ground in a cave (cave=Grotte in Norwegian). Here you can swim, relax in a bubble bath, try the slide, swim towards the waves and simply have a blast!

A few hours from Harstad you can visit a Polar Park! When in Norway, you must see a wolf, moose and reindeer. Sometimes you even get to see them wild, also in the city of Harstad! (Not wolf of course). At the Polar Park you can even get really close to a wolf and sleep in a small cabin with windows facing the wolfs – if you dare!

Get natural

Something Norwegians are good at is: Sunday strolling!

We often take our families with us to go hiking, visit Folkeparken, walk up mount Keipen and use the outdoor areas. The Harstad Hiking Association has many marked tracks and hiking areas, for the beginners to the more advanced.

Love biking but did not bring your bike? At Sykkel & Motor situated by the harbour in Harstad you can rent a bike – even electric bikes! Imagine biking to a ferry, bike around an island and then come back home again the same day. It is possible in Harstad!

Lofoten and areas nearby

If your interests lie in industrial history, you can visit Helleren Power Plant Museum in the municipality of Skånland. The museum teaches an important part of Norwegian technical development over the last 90 years. Within the same municipality, you will find the sculpture “7 Magical Points”, which is a part of Artscape Nordland.

The Harstad area is a perfect area to start or end your arctic adventure – the Lofoten and Vesterålen Islands are only 2 hours away by car! With selfie stops you must calculate with a few hours more. If you want to combine your trip with a day in Tromsø – there are daily departures with the express boat from and to Harstad.

Natural attractions

If you are in the romantic mood, outside of Harstad lies Nupen, a popular area to gaze at the midnight sun. The area was awarded “Norway’s most romantic place to see the Midnight Sun” by a renowned travel magazine! You can also choose from many mountaintops and recreation areas to charge your batteries with fresh air.

As well as the midnight sun, another light, which is perfect to spot in Harstad, is the northern lights. In the winter months of total darkness the green and purple aurora borealis together with the moonlight will make you gaze.

We promise!