The Ofoten region is characterised by a beautiful arctic coastal landscape and a long and dramatic history.
With its spectacular scenery and important history, Ofoten has much to offer as a holiday destination. Here you can take one of the finest train rides on the Ofotbanen attempt freestyle snowboarding in the mountains learn more about the local Sami culture or even go on a caving adventure of an almost religious nature.
Ofoten takes its name from Ofotfjorden, which was the scene of the famous battle of Narvik in 1940. This battle between the German, British and Norwegian forces was the first defeat for Germany during World War II, and the experience gained here proved important during the planning of D-Day in 1944. To learn more about this exciting part of the history for both Ofoten and Europe, visit Krigsmuseet i Narvik (War Museum in Narvik), which tells the story of the battle and of life in Northern Norway during WWII.
If you want to combine more historical lessons with beautiful scenery, take a train ride on the Ofotbanen, which runs from Narvik to the Swedish border. This route was a large part of the reason why Hitler wanted to control Northern Norway, as it enabled the transportation of iron ore from Sweden to Germany. However, Ofotbanen is used for far more peaceful purposes today and all aspects of travel on this railway are spectacular as it winds its way over high mountains passes and past deep fjords along the way.
To experience more of the mountains in the region, you can take your snowboard or slalom skis and drop in on Narvikfjellet, where you’ll find a first-class ski resort with pistes for ski and snowboard enthusiasts of all levels.
If you are travelling from Narvik to Evenes, you can obtain more insight into the local Sami culture by visiting Gállogieddi friluftsmuseum (Gállogieddi Open Air Museum), where you can see what life was like on a Sami farm in the mountains. Attractions in Evenes include Trollkjerka the underground cave, with a huge room known as “The Chapel” in the middle. A speleology guide must be booked in advance as it is not advisable to embark on a journey to Trollkjerka on your own.
A trip to Ofoten offers many, varied experiences. It is easiest to arrive by plane to Harstad/Narvik Airport in Evenes. The region also offers many accommodation options, from hotels and apartments by the fjords to B&Bs, so you can find the right place to stay.
