Troms district, Troms, Norway

Places to visit near Harstad

Harstad is a town in Troms district, Troms, Norway, home to about 19,433 people. Within 50 km by road there are 209 places to visit — 50 lakes, dams & reservoirs, 36 hill stations & viewpoints, 20 rivers, islands & mangroves and 25 wildlife, forests & gardens. The must-see places are Harstad Kirke (1 km), Trondenes Historiske Senter (3 km) and Adolf Gun (5 km).

Updated · Distances are road estimates · Open Harstad on the map

Harstad, Troms
Harstad, Troms district, Troms, Norway. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Harstad at a glance

Location
Troms district, Troms, Norway
Population
about 19,433
Coordinates
68.7983° N, 16.5417° E
Places within 50 km
209 (20 must-see)
Best time to visit
August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open for lakes, dams & reservoirs; October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints

Top places to visit near Harstad

Ranked by how worth the drive they are from Harstad: must-see places and the closest well-loved spots first. Open a place for photos, today’s visitor status, timings and directions.

More places near Harstad

Things to see near Harstad, by type

Lakes, dams & reservoirs near Harstad

63 lakes, dams & reservoirs within 100 km of Harstad. The closest is Grunnvatnet (3 km). Best time: august to december when reservoirs are full and gates may open.

All lakes, dams & reservoirs in Troms →

Hill stations & viewpoints near Harstad

45 hill stations & viewpoints within 100 km of Harstad. The closest is Harstadåsen (1 km); the best-known is Nupen (17 km). Best time: october to february for cool, clear air.

All hill stations & viewpoints in Troms →

Rivers, islands & mangroves near Harstad

31 rivers, islands & mangroves within 100 km of Harstad. The closest is Store Kjeøya (8 km); the best-known is Grytøya (19 km). Best time: september to february.

  • Grytøya · river spot · Troms · ~19 km · Must-see
  • Kveøya · river spot · Troms · ~21 km · Must-see
  • Sandsøya · river spot · Troms · ~23 km · Must-see
  • Rolla · river spot · Troms · ~23 km · Must-see
  • Gapøya · river spot · Troms · ~28 km · Must-see
  • Bjarkøya · river spot · Troms · ~28 km · Must-see

All rivers, islands & mangroves in Troms →

Wildlife, forests & gardens near Harstad

30 wildlife, forests & gardens within 100 km of Harstad. The closest is Laugen Landskapsvernområde (3 km). Best time: november to march for sightings.

All wildlife, forests & gardens in Troms →

Waterfalls near Harstad

27 waterfalls within 100 km of Harstad. The closest is Høgfossen (16 km). Best time: july to january, best august to november right after rains.

All waterfalls in Troms →

Churches near Harstad

21 churches within 100 km of Harstad. The closest is Harstad Kirke (1 km). Best time: year-round.

All churches in Troms →

A one-day trip from Harstad

5 of the best places within 60 km, in driving order so you don’t double back: about 53 km on the road.

  1. Start in Harstad
  2. 1 km Galleri Nord-Norge · museum, Troms
  3. 3 km Trondenes Historiske Senter · museum, Troms
  4. 17 km Grytøya · river spot, Troms
  5. 15 km Nupen · viewpoint, Troms
  6. 16 km Harstad Kirke · church, Troms
  7. 1 km Back to Harstad

Plan a longer trip from Harstad — the planner adds a place to stay each night and keeps the route to one loop.

From travellers near Harstad

No traveller has reported from around Harstad yet. Been to one of these places recently? Open it and post what you found — is the waterfall flowing, how crowded was the temple, is the beach safe — so the next visitor knows before they drive.

Post an update from the map →

How to reach Harstad

    All places near Harstad by distance

    Within 15 km of Harstad

    15–50 km — half-day trips

    50–100 km — one-day trips

    Count by type (within 100 km)

    Places near Harstad by type
    TypeWithin 50 kmWithin 100 kmNearest
    Lakes, dams & reservoirs5063Grunnvatnet (3 km)
    Hill stations & viewpoints3645Harstadåsen (1 km)
    Rivers, islands & mangroves2031Store Kjeøya (8 km)
    Wildlife, forests & gardens2530Laugen Landskapsvernområde (3 km)
    Waterfalls2727Høgfossen (16 km)
    Churches2121Harstad Kirke (1 km)
    Beaches & coast1113Straumsbotn - Strávvevuotna (17 km)
    Museums810Galleri Nord-Norge (1 km)
    Other attractions56Rikard Kaarbø (1 km)
    Forts & heritage45World War Ii Prisoner Camp Ruins and Memorial (4 km)
    Parks11Folkeparken (2 km)
    Caves11Trollkirka (43 km)

    Harstad: questions travellers ask

    What are the best places to visit near Harstad?

    Harstad Kirke (church, about 1 km), Trondenes Historiske Senter (museum, about 3 km), Adolf Gun (attraction, about 5 km), Nupen (viewpoint, about 17 km), Grytøya (river spot, about 19 km), Rikard Kaarbø (attraction, about 1 km).

    How many tourist places are there within 50 km of Harstad?

    209 places on Spotwander: 50 lakes, dams & reservoirs, 36 hill stations & viewpoints, 20 rivers, islands & mangroves, 25 wildlife, forests & gardens, 27 waterfalls.

    Which is the nearest lake to Harstad?

    Grunnvatnet, about 3 km by road; Møkkelandsvatnet (6 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest viewpoint to Harstad?

    Harstadåsen, about 1 km by road; Gangsås (2 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest river spot to Harstad?

    Store Kjeøya, about 8 km by road; Store Rogla (11 km) is next.

    What is a good one-day trip from Harstad?

    Start in Harstad, visit Galleri Nord-Norge, then Trondenes Historiske Senter, then Grytøya, then Nupen, then Harstad Kirke, and drive back — about 53 km by road in all.

    What is the best time to visit places near Harstad?

    August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open for lakes, dams & reservoirs; October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints.

    Towns near Harstad

    Sources: places from OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata and GeoNames; Harstad’s location and population from GeoNames; see also Harstad on Wikipedia. Data sources & credits.