Harstad (Hinnoya Island Lofoten Norway)

Harstad is a port town in Troms County, and the 3rd-largest in Northern Norway by population (around 25,000). It is located on Hinnoya Island (Vesteralen Islands/Lofoten). Part of the Harstad Municipality are the villages Fauskevag, Elgsnes, Gausvik, Grotavaer, Lundenes, Kasfjord, Sorvika, Nergarden.

Annually, the city hosts the week-long Festival of North Norway in June, every year. Harstad University College, with nearly 1,100 students, has a foreign exchange program with students from all over the world. The Harstad hospital is part of the University Hospital of North Norway.

Harstad is homeport for the world's oldest sailship Anna Rogde (1868-built, MMSI 257344500), dubbed as the "sailing queen of Norway". The Church of Norway features five parishes within the municipality of Harstad. It's part of Trondenes deanery in Diocese of Nord-Halogaland.

Harstad-Narvik Airport is at approx 45-min drive distance from downtown. The airport serves mainly regular domestic flights linking to Oslo (7-9 flights daily), Bergen, Tromso, Trondheim. The airline Wizz Air offers regular flights to Poland (Gdansk). Most flights are served by the Norwegian airlines Wideroe and Norwegian Air Shuttle.

In 2021, Port Harstad invested ~EUR 10 million (~USD 11,8M) in upgrading/expanding its cruise ship dock Larsneset Quay. The project allows now to be handled larger-sized vessels - with max 9,5 m (31 ft) and LOA length 280 m (920 ft).

Harstad cruise terminal