In mid-December within the Arctic Circle, although it's the polar night with no sunrise or sunset, the sky isn't completely dark either. From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., the sky takes on a dark blue hue, reminiscent of pre-dawn, giving the Arctic Circle a unique feel. So we made the most of those three hours for sightseeing. Narvik is a significant port city in the Arctic Circle and is also located along the famous Norwegian fjords. Due to the closure of one attraction, we ended up gaining an unexpected bonus — hiking up a mountain to enjoy a panoramic view of the entire city.
??
Our first stop was by the seaside, where the surroundings were dim. As someone visiting the Arctic Circle for the first time, I was thrilled, though I imagine the residents here must feel quite the opposite, enduring months without seeing the sun.
?
The weather here is much warmer than in the inland areas of the Arctic Circle, which is why it's called a ice-free port and has become an important harbor in the region.
?
However, it often rains here. The moment we crossed the Norwegian border from sunny Sweden, the weather turned terrible.
?
The next stop was the fish market. Though called a fish market, it’s actually just a single shop — there are no multiple stalls like at other fish markets.
?
Since we’re in Norway, of course we had to buy some famous Norwegian salmon.
?
Actually, because Abisko doesn’t have a supermarket, many tour group members bought fish here to cook for dinner.
?
Coming from Abisko, which only has a few small houses, arriving in this city felt like stepping out of a small town into the big city.
?
Even though we were in the Arctic Circle, even during the polar night, even though it was cold, there was still a functioning city here, which shattered my previous impression of the Arctic Circle.
?
The original next stop was supposed to be the observation deck at the Skybar, but it turned out the Skybar was closed. So the guide changed the itinerary and personally took us up the mountain to enjoy the panoramic view. A silver lining — we got to visit an unusual, normally unavailable spot.
?
Narvik is an important port, so cargo ships are constantly coming and going.
?
Later, we went to an even higher scenic mountain and saw the full panorama of the city. A spot we wouldn’t normally visit.
?
It was my first time in Norway, my first time at the fjords — the scenery was truly beautiful, but living through the polar night is definitely not easy.
?
Original text:
【Swedish Abisko Aurora Trip 2 | Norwegian Narvik】Norway’s Fjords in the Arctic Circle Without Sunrise
SwedenAbiskoAurora Journey
【SwedenAbiskoAurora Journey1】Seventeen-hour Train Ride to the Arctic Circle & Aurora Photography Tour in Heavy Rain
【Swedish Abisko Aurora Trip 2 | Norwegian Narvik】Norway’s Fjords in the Arctic Circle Without Sunrise
【Swedish Abisko Aurora Trip 3】Icehotel & Forest Polar Dog Sledding
【Swedish Abisko Aurora Trip 4】First Encounter with Aurora Goddess – An Amazing Night Under the Northern Lights
【Swedish Abisko Aurora Trip 5】Scandinavian Airlines – Domestic Flight in Sweden, Mini Kiruna Airport
More travel stories atFacebook page: Only Once in a Lifetime: World Travel Diary
Instagram: travis_to
Email: travis_to@yahoo.com
Text and photos by Travis To