One coast, two companies
Hurtigruten is the name of the traditional postal route along the Norwegian coast and also of a shipping company. The company Hurtigruten and the company Havila both publish their own trips and timetables between Bergen and Kirkenes. The route on the map is the same, the offers are not. Keep that in mind when you read prices or durations, because a figure from one company says nothing about the other.
This page is an independent overview, not a booking site and not run by either company. It covers the part of the route north of Trøndelag: Bodø, the Lofoten stops, Tromsø, Hammerfest, Honningsvåg and Kirkenes. Fares, cabins and cancellation terms differ by company and date, so they belong on the company's own booking page.
Trip length and ports compared
Figures come from each company's own pages, which are not dated.
| Item | Hurtigruten | Havila |
|---|---|---|
| Round trip Bergen-Kirkenes-Bergen | 12 days | – |
| Northbound Bergen-Kirkenes | 7 days | Day 1 at 20:30 to day 7 at 09:00 |
| Southbound Kirkenes-Bergen | 6 days | – |
| Ports | 34 distinct ports on the round trip, 34 northbound, 33 southbound | Own timetable, with 25 stops listed from Brønnøysund to Kirkenes |
| Price example | Advertised from EUR 1,907 per person for the round trip, full board, lowest month shown December 2026 | – |
Hurtigruten counts travel days, not full 24-hour blocks, so seven northbound days are not seven full days at sea. The price is a promotional from-price seen in autumn 2026, not a yearly fare, and it does not show cabin type, occupancy or availability.
Coastal and fjord tours along the route
Boat trips and excursions at stops such as Svolvær, Tromsø and Honningsvåg, with live prices and availability.
The northern part of the route
Ports and stays from the Havila timetable.
Ports north of Brønnøysund
Havila lists Brønnøysund, Sandnessjøen, Nesna, Ørnes, Bodø, Stamsund, Svolvær, Stokmarknes, Sortland, Risøyhamn, Harstad, Finnsnes, Tromsø, Skjervøy, Øksfjord, Hammerfest, Havøysund, Honningsvåg, Kjøllefjord, Mehamn, Berlevåg, Båtsfjord, Vardø, Vadsø and Kirkenes. Narvik and Alta do not appear as regular ports on that timetable.
Selected northbound stays
The timetable shows Bodø from 13:05 to 15:20, Svolvær from 21:20 to 22:15, Tromsø from 14:15 to 18:15 and Honningsvåg from 10:55 to 14:30. These are timetable values and no guarantee that an excursion fits between arrival and departure.
Bodø guide →Lofoten stops
Svolvær and Stamsund are on the route, so the ship touches the islands without a car. A late evening stop in Svolvær leaves little time ashore.
Lofoten guide →Honningsvåg and the North Cape
Honningsvåg is the port for the North Cape area. Whether a visit fits depends on the stay, the weather and the operator's excursion, and the cape has its own rules for tickets and parking.
North Cape guide →What to check before you book
Wording and dates matter more than the headline price.
Days or hours
Compare the same unit. Hurtigruten's 7 days and Havila's 5 days 12 hours 30 minutes can describe nearly the same stretch of sea, counted differently.
Ship out of service
Havila announced that the ship Havila Capella is out of service for maintenance from 29 October to 30 November 2026, with a return planned for 1 December 2026. Check which ship is sailing on your dates.
Check-in
Havila asks you to be ready to board at least 15 minutes before departure, and in Bergen to enter the terminal at the latest 30 minutes before. Other companies set their own times.
Fares and extras
Child, senior and student fares, vehicle carriage and cancellation terms differ by company, package and date. No general rule applies, so read the terms of your booking.
Northern lights
A winter voyage passes through the dark season, but a sighting depends on cloud and activity and cannot be promised. See northern lights in Norway.
Plan the rest of your trip
Where the route touches the places in this guide.
Lofoten
Villages, hikes and the way from Bodø.
North Cape
Tickets, parking and winter access.
Bodø
Saltstraumen and the ferry to the Lofoten.
The route starts in Bergen, which is covered by Bergen and the fjords. For a longer stay in the city on the way, Tromsø has its own guide.
Hurtigruten coastal voyage: frequently asked questions
Are Hurtigruten and Havila the same thing?
No. They are two companies that each publish trips and timetables between Bergen and Kirkenes. The coastal route is shared, but ships, prices and conditions belong to each company.
How long does the trip take?
Hurtigruten describes the round trip as 12 days, 7 days northbound and 6 days southbound, counted as travel days. Havila's timetable runs from day 1 at 20:30 in Bergen to day 7 at 09:00 in Kirkenes, which is 5 days 12 hours 30 minutes.
How many ports does the route have?
Hurtigruten counts 34 distinct ports on the round trip, 34 northbound and 33 southbound. Havila's timetable lists 25 stops from Brønnøysund to Kirkenes. The numbers differ because the companies count differently.
Does the ship stop in Narvik or Alta?
Not on Havila's timetable, where neither town appears as a regular port. For these places, see the Narvik and Alta guides for other ways to get there.
How much does it cost?
One advertised from-price for the 12-day round trip with full board was EUR 1,907 per person in autumn 2026, for the lowest month shown, December 2026. It is a promotional figure, not a fare for your cabin and dates.