Must-see attractions in Vesterålen

Around 1km south of the town entrance along the road to Bleik, this innovative space centre has a widescreen 16-minute movie and other exhibits about the…

The town's landmark red lighthouse, automated for many years, opened in 1859 and still shines on. To climb its 40m and 148 steps, arrange a guided tour…

Nyksund's small museum contains a number of local artefacts and before-and-after photos that chart the village's transformation. Then again, the whole…

Trondenes Church was built by King Øystein around 1150. For ages it was the northernmost church in Christendom, and still lays claim to being Norway's…

The whale centre provides a perspective for whale-watchers, with displays on whale research, hunting and the life cycle of these gentle giants. Most…

The quaint, Arctic- and polar-themed Museum Nord has displays on local hunting and fishing traditions. There's extensive coverage of the 38 winter hunting…

The Hurtigruten Museum portrays the history of the coastal-ferry line in text and image. Hitched to the quayside is the retired ship MS Finnmarken,…

Trondenes Historical Centre, just south of the church, has well-mounted and equally well-documented displays and artefacts illustrating the social history…

This complex of historical buildings now includes a couple of small galleries displaying the art and crafts of northern Norway, with visiting exhibitions…

Here's a biggest/furthest claim for Harstad: this formidable WWII weapon is the world's largest land-based big gun, with a calibre of more than 40cm and a…

In an abandoned herring-oil factory (romantically named Neptune despite its stark functionality), this museum traces the life of a fish from the deep sea…

It only opens for a month, and even then just three days a week so take advantage if you happen to be in town. It's a typically austere northern Norwegian…

This small turf museum is part of the historic Fargeklatten complex of restored buildings.