//
Region of Norway
Photo: User: (WT-shared) Tensaibuta at wts wikivoyage, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Northern Norway (Nord-Norge) is Europe's northernmost region mostly north of the Arctic Circle. Northern Norway has an endless and very rugged coastline, yet landscape varies from incredible jagged island mountains to endless open plateaus. Summers have non-stop daylight (and midnight sun) while during the darker season there is frequent display of northern lights (aurora borealis). Northern Norway covers 50% of Norway's area but is generally sparsely populated with only 10% of Norway's population.
The largest and the northernmost continental Norwegian region lies entirely above the Arctic Circle. The main attractions include the North Cape, the petrogliphs in Alta, and the Sami municipalities of Karasjok and Kautokeino. There are no trees on the coast of the northernmost fjords, and the landscape are sometimes like on the Moon.
Troms county includes Tromsø, the main city of Northern Norway, as well as four barely accessible national parks. Wild alpine mountains around fjords and along coast, as well as big valleys in the interior.
The main attractions here are Lofoten and Vesterålen, the Svartisen glacier, the Helgeland coast, more great fjords, as well as multiple national parks along the Swedish border.
By plane
The following cities/airports have non-stop flights to Southern Norway
By car
E6 is the main route to Northern Norway when driving from the southern parts of the country (Oslo, Trondheim). Oslo is about 800 km from the southernmost part of Northern Norway.
By bus
There is no bus connection between Northern and Southern Norway, except for a few local routes in the border area.
By train
Trains to Northern Norway depart from Trondheim. There is usually two trains per day, one leaves in the morning and the other leaves in the late evening.
By boat
The Hurtigruten (Coastal Express) sails along the coast of Norway, from Bergen in the south to Kirkenes close to the Russian border.
By plane
The distances are long, and air planes are important to get around for longer distances in Northern Norway.
By boat
Hurtigruten follows the entire coast and calls at all major ports, except Mosjøen, Mo i Rana, Narvik and Alta (which are all situated in the innermost parts of long fjords which would be too far to…
By car
Travel by own car or rental car is the most practical, as there are road connection to virtually every small village, and buses are not frequent outside cities.
By bus
Without a car, travel by scheduled bus routes is the most economical. They have sparse schedules.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Sørkjosen · Regional · SOJ
Loading places around the airport…
Alta is the largest town in the county of Finnmark, in Northern Norway. Alta is the regional hub and has some 21,000 inhabitants (2022).
Bodø is the seat of Nordland county in Norway. With more than 50,000 inhabitants, it is the second largest city in Northern Norway, on a peninsula facing the open sea, and infamously windy.
Hammerfest in Finnmark lays claim to being the northernmost town in the world, with over 9,000 inhabitants at a latitude above 70°. There are some villages farther north, but none larger than 2,000 people.
Harstad is a city and municipality in the county of Troms in Northern Norway 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 a national park on the island: Møysalen National Park.
Kirkenes is a town in the Finnmark region of Norway, far east near the Russian border, more or less in the end of mainland Norway. This is the last port for Hurtigruten and the end of Norway's main road E6, 2,500 km (1,600 mi) from Oslo and 3,120 km (1,940 mi) from Trelleborg (Sweden).
Mo i Rana is a town in the municipality of Rana, Helgeland, Nordland, located 80 km south of the Arctic Circle. It is the second largest town in Nordland.
Narvik is a city in Nordland in northern Norway. The town of Narvik has a population of about 14,000, while the entire municipality has a population of about 18,000.
Lofoten is a group of islands in the northern part of Norway. With its postcard-looking small fishing villages nestled in fjords dotting a very rugged coast with abrupt peaks rising directly from the ocean, the archipelago is often described as one of the most scenic parts of Norway.
Tromsø (Northern Sámi: Romsa, Kven and Finnish: Tromssa) is a city of around 78,000 people (2023) in the very northernmost part of Norway. It is almost 350 km north of the Arctic Circle and is one of the best places to view the spectacular Northern Lights in winter.
Helgeland is the southern part of Nordland in Norway, between Trøndelag and the Arctic Circle right in the centre of Norway. The Helgeland coast is characterised by a wide belt of islands stretching some 50 km into the Atlantic and fjords that cut deep into the mainland.
Jan Mayen is an island between Greenland and Norway in the Arctic Ocean, administered by Norway. The island has 18 inhabitants, employed by the Norwegian Armed Forces or the Norwegian Institute of Meteorology.
Lofoten is a group of islands in the northern part of Norway. With its postcard-looking small fishing villages nestled in fjords dotting a very rugged coast with abrupt peaks rising directly from the ocean, the archipelago is often described as one of the most scenic parts of Norway.
Lyngen is a municipality in the Region of Troms in Northern Norway. The municipality is characterized by the towering, alpine mountains that rise 1833 metres right up from the Arctic Ocean.
Nordkapp (North Cape) is a 307-m-high (1007-ft) cliff rising above the Arctic Ocean, located in Finnmark county in Norway. It is the northernmost point in Europe reachable by car, and the northernmost place connected with the international road network.
Senja is the second largest island in Norway. The island is in Northern Norway, between the city of Tromsø and the town of Harstad.
Varangerhalvøya National Park (Varanger National Park or Varanger Peninsula National Park) is in the Finnmark region of Nordland.
Vesterålen is an archipelago in northern Norway, north of the Lofoten islands. Most of the islands are wilderness.
Articles and travel topics about Northern Norway and Norway.
InspirationExplore the best places to visit in February across snow festivals, world-famous carnivals, tropical island beaches, and polar night aurora displays.
6 min read
Nature & adventureWhere to see the northern lights in 2026 and 2027 during Solar Cycle 25, comparing weather in Tromsø, Abisko, Fairbanks and Iceland.
7 min read
InspirationThe best places to visit in January for winter sun, deep powder snow and wildlife, comparing Niseko, Sri Lanka, Tromsø and New Zealand.
7 min read
Nature & adventureDiscover the best nature retreats and farm stays for a relaxing break, featuring Tuscan agriturismi, cloud forest lodges, and fjord cabins.
7 min read
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.