Our heritage stems from Norwegians, Sami, and Kven culture. Northern Norway is fishing, coastal culture, and modern cultural life. The activities up here emanate from the people in the north.
Read more about our interesting heritage
From rock carvings and Vikings to coastal culture and exciting Arctic fishing; the history of Northern Norway offers captivating insights into the past. Stories from the North, told by famous and beloved writers, painters and artists.
Northern Norway is a land of different cultures and languages
As far back as we can follow ethnic identities in the North, both Sami and Norse cultures have been present in Northern Norway. The connections with the Finnish speaking areas to our south east have always been strong, and they were reinforced with immigration in the 18th and 19th centuries. Thus, Northern Norway is rich in heritage, culture and languages.
Finnmarksvidda
Follow Marit Helene’s year as a Sami reindeer herder
Culture and history
Finnmarksvidda
Kautokeino local museum takes you on a journey through Sami history
Sami Culture
Finnmarksvidda
Sámiid Vuorká-Dávvirat – The Sami Collections
Sami Culture
Finnmarksvidda
The Sami Parliament at Karasjok
Sami Culture
Varanger
Old houses in Vadsø represents a multi-ethic, rich cultural history
Culture and history
Lyngenfjord
Manndalen preserves treasured trove of traditional crafts
Sami Culture
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At the important Viking trade centre Haithabu in Northern Germany the archaeologists found a dried cod from Lofoten, fished some 1100 year ago. Fish exports have been the economic foundation of Northern Norway ever since. Here are some suggestions on where to study history and culture around fishing and the culture of the coast.
Lofoten
Via Querinissima – the cultural route between Røst and Venice
Culture and history
Helgeland
Northern Norwegian coastal culture has a 1000 year old trading history
Culture and history
Bodø og Salten
Kjerringøy is a cultural gem outside of Bodø
Coastal Culture
Lofoten
Nusfjord in Lofoten is a pearl in red and ochre
Coastal Culture
Vesterålen
Nyksund is a fishing village that got an extra chance
Coastal Culture
Narvik
The Northern Norwegian Boat Museum takes you back to the region’s rustic routes
Culture and history
Lofoten Stockfish Museum in Å reveals how stockfish became such a craze
Lofoten
Henningsvær is the pulse of the Lofoten fishing
Natural highlights
Lofoten
See life in the Vestfjord at Lofoten Aquarium
Culture and history
Bodø og Salten
Norwegian Jekt Trade Museum shows 400 years of history from Northern Norway’s golden age
Coastal Culture
Senja
The Halibut Museum in Skrolsvik is consecrated to a sacred fish
Coastal Culture
Varanger
Kongsfjord is a historic fishing village in the far north
Coastal Culture
Varanger
Hamningberg is the fishing village that survived the ravages of war
Culture and history
Northern Norway
Bacalao, the clipfish of Northern Norway
Food in Northern Norway
Lofoten
The Lofoten Fishery is the richest in the world
Coastal Culture
Helgeland
Lånan is an outlying fishing community in the realm of the eider duck
Culture and history
Varanger
Ekkerøy is an Arctic Ocean community, with a lost fishing past
Coastal Culture
Harstad
Hemmestadbrygga is an old trading centre
Coastal Culture
Follow the drama of WWII in Northern Norway
On the 9th of April 1940, the battle of Narvik started, involving many nations. The ensuing occuation involved resistance and the use of slave labour from the Soviet Union and Serbia. At the end of 1944, the entire top end of Northern Norway was burned down and the people forcibly evacuated. Here are some WWII locations to visit.
Kirkenes
Kirkenes was a battleground in World War Two
World War II
Bodø og Salten
Batterie Dietl had the largest land based guns in the World
Culture and history
Hammerfest
The Museum of Reconstruction in Hammerfest tells the story of rebuilding from the ashes of war
World War II
Narvik
The War Museum in Narvik
World War II
Alta
Tirpitz played a major role in the war drama in Northern Norway
World War II
Harstad
The Adolf Gun is a giant in Harstad
Culture and history
Get to know our culture through experiences
Activities
Hildurs Urterarium is a herbarium of taste and scent!
Helgeland
Unique accommodations
Fru Haugans Hotel is Northern Norway’s oldest hotel
