Tromsø – Narvik – Svolvær
Best for travellers who want to combine a stay in Tromsø with the most straightforward overland journey to Lofoten, while including time to experience Narvik along the way.
Explore Tromsø, Narvik and Lofoten on this 8-day independent Northern Norway itinerary without renting a car.
Spend three nights in Tromsø before travelling south through the fjord and mountain landscapes to Narvik. Stay overnight, use the following morning to experience some of Narvik’s main attractions, then continue to Svolvær for three nights in Lofoten.
Along the way, experience Arctic city life, dramatic fjords and mountains, the historic Ofoten Railway, Lofoten’s fishing villages and island landscapes, and multiple opportunities to see the Northern Lights. The journey is deliberately designed so you can recreate it yourself. Use our suggested route, choose your own accommodation and activities, and book each part independently.
Looking for a scenic coastal journey?
Travel via Senja, Harstad and Vesterålen instead, combining express boats, the Coastal Express and guided excursions on the way to Lofoten.
Tromsø to Lofoten Without a Car – Via Senja, Harstad & Vesterålen
Prefer to Drive?
The same Tromsø–Narvik–Lofoten corridor also works well as a winter road trip, allowing more flexibility for stops along the way.
Tromsø to Lofoten Winter Road Trip
Compare all ways to travel between Tromsø and Lofoten
Prefer some help?
Contact Hinnøya Travel and we can help you adapt the itinerary around your travel dates, interests and preferred pace.
Trip Overview
Duration: 8 days / 7 nights
Best for: Winter and Northern Lights season
Travel style: Independent, car-free
Start: Tromsø
Finish: Svolvær / Evenes Airport
Optional return: Harstad and express boat to Tromsø
Main bases: Tromsø, Narvik and Svolvær
Transport: Scheduled public transport and airport bus
Car required: No
Overnight Stays
Tromsø: 3 nights
Narvik: 1 nights
Svolvær: 3 nights
Route at a Glance - Recreate This Journey
This itinerary has been designed so you can recreate the journey independently.
You don’t need a rental car. Tromsø, Narvik and Svolvær are connected by scheduled public transport, while guided excursions provide access to many of the landscapes and experiences beyond the towns.
Always check current public transport connections for your actual travel dates on Entur.no before booking accommodation and activities.
Book the individual parts yourself using the links below, adapt the itinerary to your interests, or contact Hinnøya Travel if you would like help creating your own Northern Norway journey.
Your Journey at a Glance
8 days / 7 nights
Tromsø – Narvik – Svolvær – onward journey
Booking note: Links on this page may take you to Hinnøya Travel’s own booking portal, to selected third-party experiences we recommend, or to public transport information such as Entur and Flybussen. When you book selected third-party experiences through our links, Hinnøya Travel may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.
Day 1
Arrive in Tromsø
Arrive in Tromsø and settle into the city. Explore the harbour and compact city centre.
Overnight: Tromsø
Day 2
Explore Tromsø
Choose one of Tromsø’s classic Arctic experiences, such as dog sledding, reindeer and Sámi culture, a fjord excursion or whale watching in season.
Keep the evening available for the Northern Lights.
Overnight: Tromsø
Day 3
Tromsø & Northern Lights
Use your second full day for another Arctic experience or explore Tromsø at a slower pace.
In the evening, join a Northern Lights chase or keep the night flexible according to weather conditions.
Overnight: Tromsø
Day 4
Tromsø – Narvik
Travel south from Tromsø to Narvik through the fjord, mountain and inland landscapes of Northern Norway.
Check the current connection on Entur for your travel date.
Overnight: Narvik
Day 5
Explore Narvik – Continue to Lofoten
Spend the morning exploring Narvik. Ride the Arctic Train, visit Narvik War Museum or explore the town before continuing towards Lofoten in the afternoon.
Travel by scheduled public transport to Svolvær.
Overnight: Svolvær
Day 6
Explore Lofoten
Use Svolvær as your base for a full-day scenic tour through Lofoten or choose a winter sea safari towards Trollfjord.
Overnight: Svolvær
Day 7
Lofoten & Northern Lights
Choose another Lofoten experience, explore Svolvær and its surroundings, or keep the day flexible.
Use your final evening for another opportunity to see the Northern Lights.
Overnight: Svolvær
Day 8
Continue Your Journey
Fly onwards via Harstad/Narvik Airport, Evenes or one of Lofoten’s regional airports, continue farther through Lofoten, or travel back towards Tromsø via Harstad and the express boat.
Accommodation
Tromsø – 3 nights
Your base for Arctic activities, Northern Lights experiences and the beginning of the journey south.
Narvik – 1 night
A practical overnight stop that gives you time to experience the Arctic Train, Narvik War Museum and the fjord and mountain landscapes around Ofoten.
Svolvær – 3 nights
Your base for exploring the Lofoten Islands without a car.
Book accommodation with Hinnøya Travel
Getting Around
Tromsø – Narvik
Travel from Tromsø to Narvik by scheduled public transport.
Check public transport on Entur
Narvik – Svolvær
Continue from Narvik towards Svolvær by scheduled public transport.
Check public transport on Entur
Svolvær – Evenes Airport
If you are flying from Harstad/Narvik Airport, Evenes, check the airport bus connection from Lofoten against your flight departure.
Recommended Experiences
Book Tromsø Tours with Hinnøya Travel
Husky Sled Ride with transfer from Tromso
Book Lofoten Tours with Hinnøya Travel
Winter Sea Eagle Safari to Trollfjord
See All Tours Available with Hinnøya Travel
Full Itinerary – Day by Day
Day 1 – Tromsø
Day 1 – Arrive in Tromsø
Arrive in Tromsø and check into your accommodation.
Tromsø is Northern Norway’s largest visitor hub and gives you the widest choice of Arctic activities before beginning the overland journey towards Narvik and Lofoten.
Its compact centre is easy to explore on foot, with the harbour, restaurants, cafés and many departure points for tours within walking distance.
Ideas for the Evening
Explore the city centre and waterfront, have dinner in town or keep your first evening flexible for the Northern Lights.
Stay
Tromsø – Night 1 of 3
Recommended Stay – Thon Hotel Tromsø
Stay in central Tromsø within easy walking distance of the city centre, restaurants and many of the departure points for Arctic experiences.
Day 2 – Experience Tromsø
Start your stay by getting to know Tromsø and the landscapes surrounding the city. Choose a city experience if you want history and local context, or head beyond the city for fjords, islands and Arctic scenery.
Recommended experiences:
Tromsø City & Island Tour
Explore Tromsø by minibus, including the Arctic Cathedral, Tromsø University Museum and viewpoints around the island. A good introduction if this is your first visit to the city.
Book with Hinnøya Travel: Tromsø Island Tour
Kvaløya & Sommarøy Fjord Tour
Leave the city behind for the fjords, beaches and mountains of Kvaløya and Sommarøy. The route includes scenic stops and a warm lunch on Sommarøy.
Book with Hinnøya Travel: Kvaløya & Sommarøy Fjord Tour
Aurora Husky Visit
Spend an evening outside Tromsø combining two Arctic favourites: huskies and the Northern Lights. Visit Tromsø Villmarkssenter, home to around 200 Alaskan huskies, where you can meet the dogs and puppies before settling in for an evening away from the city lights.
This is a good choice for families or travellers who want to meet the huskies without taking part in dog sledding.
Book with Hinnøya Travel: Aurora Husky Visit
Stay
Tromsø – Night 2 of 3
Day 3 – Choose Your Arctic Adventure
Use your second day for one of the classic winter experiences around Tromsø. Most of these excursions take you well outside the city, so I would choose one main daytime activity rather than trying to combine several separate tours.
Depending on how late or early you are in the season, you could choose whale watching or snow winter activity or simply spend more time exploring the city.
Husky Sled Ride on Kvaløya
Travel just outside Tromsø to Kvaløya to Tromsø Villmarkssenter for a guided husky sled ride through the snowy Arctic landscape.
Book with Hinnøya Travel: Husky Sled Ride with transfer from Tromso
Snowmobiling at Camp Tamok
Ride through snow-covered valleys, frozen landscapes and mountain scenery on a guided snowmobile excursion.
Book with Hinnøya Travel: Snowmobiling at Camp Tamok
Reindeer Sledding & Sámi Culture
Travel to Camp Tamok for reindeer sledding, feeding the animals and an introduction to Sámi traditions, followed by a warm meal in a lavvu.
Book with Hinnøya Travel: Reindeer Sledding
Whale Watching
During the winter whale season, another option is to spend the day at sea looking for humpback whales and orcas in the fjords north of Tromsø. Choose this if wildlife is more important to you than snow-based activities.
Book with Hinnøya Travel: Whale Watching Tours
Stay
Tromsø – Night 3 of 3
Day 4 – Tromsø to Narvik
Today, leave Tromsø and travel south towards Narvik.
The journey takes you through changing Northern Norwegian landscapes of fjords, mountains and Arctic valleys and forms part of the experience rather than simply being a transfer between destinations.
Getting There
Tromsø – Narvik
Travel by scheduled public transport. Check the connection for your actual date on Entur.
Check Tromsø–Narvik connections on Entur
Arrive in Narvik
Check into your accommodation and spend the evening exploring central Narvik.
Narvik sits between Ofotfjord and steep mountains and has a very different character from both Tromsø and Lofoten.
The town centre is compact, making one overnight stay practical even without a car.
Evening – Northern Lights
Keep the evening available for the Northern Lights.
Joining a guided excursion gives you the advantage of mobility if local cloud cover makes viewing difficult around Narvik itself.
Stay
Narvik – 1 night
Day 5 – Explore Narvik and Continue to Lofoten
Depending on your onward connection, use the morning or early part of the day to experience one of Narvik’s main attractions before continuing west towards Lofoten. Check your Narvik–Svolvær connection on Entur before booking a timed activity.
Recommended – Arctic Train
Travel from Narvik along the historic Ofoten Railway towards the Swedish border.
Built to transport iron ore from northern Sweden to Narvik’s ice-free harbour, the railway climbs from the fjord into the mountains and offers one of Northern Norway’s most distinctive railway journeys. For travellers exploring the region without a car, this is one of the strongest reasons to spend a full day in Narvik.
Culture & History – Narvik War Museum
Narvik’s strategic importance during the Second World War makes the town one of Northern Norway’s most significant wartime destinations. The Narvik War Museum explores the Battles of Narvik, the iron-ore route and the wider history of the conflict in Northern Norway.
Alternative – Narvikfjellet
Note: The cable car is currently closed and is scheduled to reopen in January 2027.
Continue to Svolvær
After exploring Narvik, continue west towards the Lofoten Islands.
Public transport connections vary, so check your actual travel date on Entur before deciding how much time you have available in Narvik.
Check Narvik–Svolvær connections on Entur
Arrive in Svolvær
Svolvær is the main activity hub in eastern Lofoten and works particularly well as a base for travellers without a car.
You’ll spend three nights here, giving you two full days to explore beyond the town.
Stay
Svolvær – Night 1 of 3
Day 6 – Explore Lofoten
Today, head beyond Svolvær and explore the landscapes that make Lofoten famous.
For travellers without a car, we strongly recommend joining a guided sightseeing tour rather than spending the entire stay around Svolvær
Lofoten Island Hopping – Henningsvær & Skrova
See Lofoten from the water on a scenic island-hopping journey between Henningsvær and Skrova, combining dramatic coastal scenery with time to explore two very different island communities. This is a good choice for travellers who want to experience more of Lofoten without a car, with the boat journey itself offering a different perspective on the islands, fishing villages and mountain landscape.
Book with Hinnøya Travel: Lofoten Island Hopping
Alternative - Lofoten Sightseeing Day Trip – Top Highlights
Starting in Svolvær, the small-group tour travels across the islands towards Å, visiting many of Lofoten’s best-known landscapes and fishing villages. The journey itself is a major part of the experience, following the E10 through mountains, fjords, beaches and fishing communities.
Explore the Lofoten Highlights Tour
Trollfjord & Sea Eagles
Travel by RIB from Svolvær towards Trollfjord through some of eastern Lofoten’s most dramatic coastal scenery.
The journey also gives you the opportunity to see sea eagles in their natural environment.
Book with Hinnøya Travel: Winter Sea Eagle Safari to Trollfjord
Stay
Svolvær – Night 2 of 3
Day 7 – Choose Your Lofoten Experience
Dedicate today to a more active Arctic experience around Svolvær.
Discover Svolvær on Foot
A guided walking tour provides an introduction to Svolvær’s harbour, fishing history and everyday life in modern Lofoten.
Explore Svinøya, traditional fishing environments and some of the quieter corners of town while learning about the cod fisheries that helped shape Lofoten.
Explore the Svolvær Walking Tour
Culture & History – Lofotr Viking Museum
For travellers interested in the history and culture of the islands, this small-group tour combines landscapes with a visit to the Lofotr Viking Museum at Borg. The reconstructed Viking longhouse stands on the site where archaeologists discovered the remains of one of the largest Viking-era buildings found in Norway.
Explore the Lofoten History & Viking Museum Tour
Evening Option – Northern Lights Tour
Your final evening in Lofoten gives you another opportunity to search for the Northern Lights.
Svolvær has some light pollution, while conditions can vary substantially across Lofoten because mountains and changing coastal weather create very localised cloud cover. A guided tour provides the advantage of mobility.
Explore Northern Lights tours from Svolvær
Stay
Svolvær – Night 3 of 3
Day 8 – Choose Your Onward Journey
Svolvær to Evenes Airport
Take the airport bus from Lofoten to Harstad/Narvik Airport, Evenes. Check departure times carefully against your flight as schedules may vary through the year.
Alternative – Make It a Circular Journey to Tromsø
Svolvær to Harstad, Harstad to Tromsø
Travel from Svolvær to Harstad by public transport. Continue from Harstad to Tromsø by express boat. Check the connection for your travel date on Entur. Complete Route: Tromsø – Narvik – Svolvær – Harstad – Tromsø
Ready to Recreate This Journey?
Book it yourself
Choose your accommodation, transport and activities using the recommendations in this itinerary.
Book with Hinnøya Travel – Accommodation & Experiences
Or create your own version
Want to spend longer in Tromsø, add more time in Narvik, explore farther into Lofoten or return via Harstad?
Hinnøya Travel can help you create an itinerary based on your dates, interests and preferred travel style.
Contact Hinnøya Travel
Accommodation
Tromsø – 3 nights
Your base for Arctic activities, Northern Lights experiences and the beginning of the journey south.
Narvik – 1 night
A practical overnight stop that gives you time to experience the Arctic Train, Narvik War Museum and the fjord and mountain landscapes around Ofoten.
Svolvær – 3 nights
Your base for exploring the Lofoten Islands without a car.
Book accommodation with Hinnøya Travel
Getting Around
Tromsø – Narvik
Travel from Tromsø to Narvik by scheduled public transport.
Check public transport on Entur
Narvik – Svolvær
Continue from Narvik towards Svolvær by scheduled public transport.
Check public transport on Entur
Svolvær – Evenes Airport
If you are flying from Harstad/Narvik Airport, Evenes, check the airport bus connection from Lofoten against your flight departure.
Recommended Experiences
Extend Your Journey
Not ready to leave Northern Norway?
Compare alternative routes, add another destination or continue planning your journey through Northern Norway.
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