There's small cities, quaint villages and national parks to explore as you sail up towards the Arctic Circle. Quieter than the southern fjords, it's easy to find yourself alone with nature in these rugged, wild environments where steep mountains meet the sea, glaciers peek out at passers by and islands glisten in the invigorating North Sea. This article explores all the ports visited in Trøndelag and Nordland by the major cruise lines to help you choose the best itinerary for your next Norwegian Fjords cruise.
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Trøndelag
Tronheim
Named after the fjord upon which it sits, Trondheim is a city which prides itself on its forward-thinking and modern culture. Once the Viking capital of Norway, today it is known for its world-class cuisine, technology industry and cultural prowess. A great option for a day in port is to simply explore the city on foot. A great route begins at the Old Town Bridge, heading along the River Nivelda through parkland, spotting the Cathedral (a gothic gem) and finishing at Hadrian's Plass, home to St Olav's spring, where, legend has it, Olav Haraldsson drank in 1030 on his way to battle. The experience healed and rejuvenated him, making the spring an important pilgrimage for the next thousand years (and counting). Next, head to the old town of Bakklandet to shop, eat and wonder at the cobbled streets and gorgeous wooden architecture. It's also possible to hire bikes to see more of the city or kayaks to meander down its gorgeous river. A great hiking option is to follow the feet of pilgrims and take the tram to the Lian terminal, walking back to the city along the last seven kilometers of the route, which spans all the way from Trondheim to Oslo. After your chosen adventure, there's a wealth of options for some food, with a bounty of local produce to explore from the land and sea.
Nordland
Bodø
Bodø welcomes cruisers to an unexpected metropolis. Many choose to stay within the city for the day, enjoying the artworks and shopping on offer. NorlandiART initiative offers a variety of pieces hung on the city's buildings and is a fascinating, and free, cultural activity. Venture inside the shops to find local artisan clothing, chocolates, salt and beer or head for something to eat, not missing out on the local cinnamon buns or fresh grilled stockfish. For a better view of the city, head to one of the two sky bars for a cocktail. Top13 and Roast offer lovely Nordic hospitality and an amazing experience. Quick excursions from Bodø include the National Aviation Museum, with planes from WWII and the Cold War, and the Jekt Trade Museum, which tells the stories of Norway's relationship with the sea. Bodø is best known for the Saltstraumen, one of the world's strongest tidal flows that occurs four times a day. Lying 20 km east of the stream's centre, it's best explored with a RIB tour. The area also has the world's largest concentration of white-tailed eagles, which can often be seen above the Saltstraumen where fish are plentiful.
Gravdal
Gravdal lies on the island of Vestvågøy in the Lofoten Archipelago. Cruisers can explore the breathtaking scenery of the area that lies just above the Arctic Circle, created by mighty glaciers. There are some picture-perfect villages to explore, including Ballstad, which lies under the snow-capped mountains, the larger Henningsvær, which is a haven for art lovers, and Sund, surrounded by rocky cliffs. The largest town of the archipelago, Svolvær, offers more restaurants and shops, plus tours to see the region's sea eagles. For a glimpse of the area's past, the Viking Museum at Borg will take you back 1,000 years to the Viking era. The open-air museum has the world's longest reconstructed longhouse in which the Viking experience comes to life. Explore their love of sailing, farming and axe throwing, as well as a chance to shoot your own bow and arrow.
Leknes
Sitting proudly on the Loften islands, Leknes offers a chance to explore this beautiful part of the Nordic Arctic Circle. Its position means 24 hours of sunlight in the summer months and pure darkness in the winter, with great opportunities to see the Northern Lights from September through to April or the Midnight Sun from May to July. Nature lovers will be in their element with chances to see otters, puffins and sea eagles and the world's largest deep coral reef in nearby Rost. Adventure seekers will find opportunities for mountaineering, cycling, kayaking and surfing and for those looking to delve into this remote community's past, the Vestvågøy Museum is the perfect fit. To explore the history of the Loften islands further, an excursion to the Viking Museum at Borg offers finds from 600AD. Families will love the aquarium at Storvågan, where children can watch the daily otter and seal feeds and marvel at the local sea life in the huge tanks. After a day of exploring, the food options include stockfish (salted cod or haddock) and smørbrød open sandwiches to be washed down with local lager.
Narvik
Narvik is the place for all adventure lovers! With both gorgeous fjords and Arctic conditions, the winter activity options are endless, with dog sledding and skiing being particular highlights. Take to the slopes with the sea as your view or just enjoy the journey with the Narvikfjellet Cable Car, which leads to a delightful mountain-top restaurant. Experience local Sami culture as you get up close to the huskies, taking a dog sledding trip or learning to drive one yourself. For those preferring to keep warm in the wilderness, the Arctic Train, Norway's northernmost railway, will take you past fjords, mountains and frozen waterfalls along its 36km track. The Narvik Vehicle History Museum has exhibitions on the challenges of transport in the Arctic and history lovers will also enjoy the War Museum, which recounts the 1940 Battle of Narvik. A great experience for the family can be found at the Polar Park with its bears, wolves and lynx. Seeing these animals in their natural surroundings is a unique Arctic experience. There's also the opportunity to see the Northern Lights, which often flood the town during the long nights.
Sortland
The island of Langøya is home to Sortland, a curious town where the houses are painted blue to represent the impact of the fishing industry. To explore this side of the island further, a trip to the fish farm is highly recommended: exhibits show you the progression of the industry over the centuries; head on a boat to see one of the enclosures and taste some of the delicious salmon and trout. In the summer, the beaches in the area are stunning and it's easy to imagine yourself in the Caribbean, without the blazing temperatures. It's not only humans that are attracted to this remote area throughout the summer months - whales, seals and seabirds also call it home and there's a number of wildlife safari options to enthrall nature lovers. In the winter, Sortland is just as magic, but in a different way - the Northern Lights are a frequent occurrence, thrilling cruisers with their dance of colourful magic.
Svolvær
You will find Svolvær in the Lofoten Islands. It's the largest town in the area with plenty of culture and rugged nature to immerse yourself in. Being the unofficial capital of the islands, Svolvær has some excellent food options. The local speciality of stockfish is a highlight, made of dried Atlantic cod, which migrates right past the islands. When you're in the town, the island of Svinøya invites you to cross the bridge and explore. This easy walk takes you back 200 years to imagine what the whole area would have looked like before modernisation. For more of a challenge, there are plenty of hiking routes available, with a favourite being Kongstindan, translated as ‘the King of Mountains', which is well-signposted and rewards with a panoramic view of the Lofoten islands at the top. This walk will take around 3 hours and should only be attempted in dry weather. Another excellent, less challenging, excursion takes you to Trollfjord on a sea eagle safari on a super modern, electric boat where these magnificent creatures can be seen in all their glory in the skies and under the water with drones. In the winter, the area is famed for its fantastic Northern Lights and in the summer, the Midnight Sun is just as spectacular, when the golden light is just perfect for photographs.
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