The Hidden North
North European travel guide
self-guided road-trips
The E6 Highway from Narvik to Kirkenes
Cross the top of Norway on this incredibly diverse highway.
What you get
Free interactive Google Map (with every place mentioned in the guide marked with an address) that can be loaded into your GPS, making finding that stave church or petrol station much easier.
Detailed overviews of all the major points of interest on the road.
Practical information (cafes, dining, museums, toilets, petrol, road-side rest areas, detours, alternate routes)
Historic, modern and practical information for every city, town, village, and farm you pass through
Modern and historic images of all the major points of interests
Distance between points (in kilometres and miles)
QR code & interactive links to museum websites, relevant pages on our website, ferry timetables, and more!
This guide is 28 pages and comes in a PDF format.
Why drive on this highway?
The E6 from Narvik to Kirkenes covers the most remote part of the country. The scenery varies from steep mountain peaks to flat, barren plains through birch forests and rocky coasts. It’s incredible. Along the way are a number of detours to some beautiful fishing villages. The road itself is fairly modern for a major highway; the western part was constructed in the 1960s, while the eastern part towards Kirkenes was constructed in the 1980s. There is currently work being done to build more tunnels in order to make the road safer in winter.
Trip Highlights
- Travel from forest-covered mountains to the treeless Finnmarksvidda Plateau
- Pass through Arctic cities like Alta, Lakselv and Karasjok
- Meet the indigenous Sami people
- Explore Norway's prehistoric sites
- Travel far above the Arctic Circle and end up just outside the Russian border
Distance
1037km / 644 miles
Start Location
Narvik
End Location
Kirkenes
This drive can easily be done in either direction.
This guide will:
- Answer the question “How do people live here?”
- Provide you with historic images and stories relevant to where you are
- Give you practical tips such as – where’s the nearest toilet? When can I get a hot dog? You know, the important stuff.
- Show you interesting points where you can stop to stretch your legs or get beautiful photos of Norway
- Give you information about museums (including opening hours), attractions, and major points of interests that you can visit
This guide won’t:
- Drive for you (Sorry, we aren’t that advanced yet)
- Give you accommodation tips (this guide assumes you know where you are staying already). If you want accommodation tips, visit our (free) online travel guide https://thehiddennorth.com/norway
The Route
An interactive version of this map is available upon purchase.
Example of what the guide looks like.
Resources for the E6 from Narvik to Kirkenes
Watch the drive on Youtube
Follow the stretch from Karasjok to Lakselv on the E6 highway.
Watch the drive on Youtube
This video goes from Kirkenes to Vardø using the E6 highway and E75 highway.
Watch the drive on Youtube
This video goes from Utsjoki in Finland to Kirkenes on the easternmost stretch of the E6 highway.