7 Havila Excursions That Are Actually Worth Your Money

Choosing which Havila excursions on the Norway Coastal Express are actually worth your money is surprisingly hard, right?

Some sound incredible, some feel way overpriced or overhyped, and some you can absolutely do on your own for half the cost.

When I booked my own Havila round-trip Coastal Express voyage this past winter, I remember staring at the long excursion list and feeling totally overwhelmed by all the choice (and the prices on top of an already expensive cruise!)

And if, like me, you’re sailing the Coastal Express route solo, there’s even more pressure to get it right – with no one to bounce ideas off of or go with you.

So, this is the guide I wish I’d had back then, from the excursions I did and truly loved, the ones that were great value, the ones that surprised me, and the ones I’d skip without hesitation.

Ready? Let’s go through all of the Havila excursions that are actually worth booking!

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Havila vs Hurtigruten Excursions – What’s the Difference?

If you’ve been trying to compare Havila vs Hurtigruten excursions to figure out which offers the best experiences, you should know that there’s basically no difference.

Both follow the same Coastal Express route and stop in the same ports, and the excursions offered are either identical or so similar you’d never notice a difference anyway.

It’s the same destinations, timings and experiences, just offered by two different brands.

And this is actually good news for us travellers! As it means you can read both Havila excursion reviews and Hurtigruten excursion reviews, because the practical experience is the same.

Katie’s Top Tip: When searching online for reviews, make sure the review you are reading is for your season (this is especially important for winter excursions).

How Much Do Havila Excursions Cost?

How much do Havila excursions cost? More than you would probably expect!

And I can tell you now, when you’re already on an expensive cruise through Norway, adding extra hundreds on top for excursions definitely feels painful!

The prices vary a lot depending on the activity, but here’s a rough guide:

• Smaller, local excursions: £40–£90
• Longer, nature-focused excursions: £100–£160
• Arctic “bucket list” excursions: £180–£250+

But not all excursions are created equal, and not all expensive ones are actually worth it, especially when you’re travelling solo. So this guide focuses on which Havila excursions are worth it, the ones I’d skip, and the ones that feel magical even though they’re pricey.

Katie’s Top Tip: I will be giving general excursion costs throughout this guide, based on what I paid for each excursion, to help you make an informed choice. I will also aim to update these prices as regularly as I can. But you can always find the most current, up-to-date price list on Havila’s website.

The 7 Havila Excursions That Are Actually Worth Your Money (In Itinerary Order)

1. Trondheim Vintage Tram + Nidaros Cathedral

Cost: £91

Day: 3 Northbound

Port: Trondheim

Season: All year

Trondheim is one of the port stops on the Norway Coastal Express where you can explore solo really easily, with charming cafés, colourful riverside neighbourhoods and the famous Nidaros Cathedral easily walkable.

And that is why I nearly skipped this excursion entirely. (Yes, really!)

But on the day, the weather was truly awful. As in, sheets of rain that will soak you through in seconds, all outdoor excursions (like the walking tour or boat trip) cancelled, and the idea of sightseeing feeling more than a bit depressing!

So I booked the vintage tram tour last-minute, and actually really enjoyed it!

The “Northernmost tram in the world” is adorable, with traditional signs inside, a carriage from the 1950s, old-fashioned seating, and a lovely vintage yellow and blue exterior.

Plus, the 8.8km journey takes you through neighbourhoods you wouldn’t normally get to explore alone (especially in bad weather!), and it gives you a cosy break from the cold.

The tram’s destination is Lian, with a beautiful lake that is frozen over in winter and surrounded by trees.

There is also a bus tour through Trondheim itself, where you’ll learn all about the history of this colourful Norwegian city.

And after that, there is a photo stop at Nidaros Cathedral to admire Trondheim’s iconic cathedral from the outside.

But I do want to be honest here and say there is a downside: you don’t visit Bakklandet, the colourful riverside neighbourhood that you’ve probably seen all over Pinterest!

So, if good photos are your priority, you’ll need to explore that part on your own.

When I arrived back in Trondheim on the southbound voyage, the weather was dry and sunny, so I got up at 6am, walked the city alone, and ticked off everything I missed!

Katie’s Top Tip: If you want the best photos of Trondheim, especially the beautiful Bakklandet neighbourhood, skip the tram excursion if the weather is fine. Or, if you’re doing the round-trip and want to do both, commit to waking up early southbound to see what you missed. Both the northbound and southbound stops in Trondheim are 3 hours, so you don’t miss any time. You just have to get up early!

2. Saltstraumen Tidal Current

Cost: £78

Day: 4 Northbound

Port: Bodø

Season: All year

Saltstraumen wasn’t on my original list of which Havila excursions are worth it. And in fact, I didn’t think much about it at all when I was originally booking.

But the night before we arrived in Bodø, the onboard briefing mentioned that the tidal current would be at its absolute peak during the excursion time… so I booked it on the spot.

And wow. This is the one that surprised me the most. I would 100% recommend it!

Saltstraumen is home to the strongest tidal current in the world, with dramatically swirling whirlpools up to 10m wide and 5m deep, and a ridiculous amount of power in the water beneath your feet.

There are two viewing platforms: one right next to the tidal current, near a small lighthouse, and the other up on the bridge looking down on the swirling water below.

You have time for both viewpoints, and I would absolutely recommend you see both. But my favourite was looking down from the bridge at the water churning beneath my feet.

Just know that the strength of the current changes with the tides throughout the day, and if you go at the wrong time, you’ll essentially be staring at a gently moving river! (Which is interesting, sure, but definitely not worth the fee!)

This is why the daily on-board briefing matters so much. They’ll tell you honestly whether you’re hitting the peak or not.

Katie’s Top Tip: Don’t pre-book this one. Wait for the daily briefing and only book it if the current will be at or near peak strength. It really makes all the difference between the reviews that say the current looks like “disturbed bath water” and the reviews, like mine, that truly appreciate the power of this maelstrom!

3. North Cape Plateau

Cost: £120

Day: 6 Northbound

Port: Honningsvåg

Season: All year

This is the big question, right: is the North Cape worth the money… for a globe?

Yep, I thought the same thing. And then a relative of mine insisted I go, and even kindly gifted it to me. So I booked it thinking it would be an okay experience, but not worth the money.

And it ended up being one of the absolute highlights of my entire Havila voyage.

(So thank you for convincing me, Linda!)

Because yes, the iconic globe is the big attraction at North Cape, but the real beauty (and what makes this place so special and worth visiting) is the scenery around it.

Dramatic cliffs, beautiful thick snow in winter, the brutal but atmospheric wind, and the roaring Arctic Ocean behind the globe all make this place an iconic Arctic experience.

I felt like I was standing at the end of the world (and I kind of was, as this is Norway’s northernmost point!)

Plus, the on-site exhibition hall is genuinely interesting (even if you’re not usually a museum person). And the short film about the seasons at the North Cape is really beautiful, giving you a sense of how harsh and wild this part of Norway really is.

Don’t get me wrong, North Cape definitely isn’t cheap, but it is one of those bucket list, once-in-a-lifetime places to visit in Norway that is really hard to reach on your own.

And for me, when I got there, it finally made sense why the North Cape Plateau is considered one of the must-do Havila excursions – especially in winter!

Katie’s Top Tip: Don’t go directly to the globe first. Everyone does, so it’s packed for the first 10–15 minutes of the excursion. A fellow photographer on my trip recommended walking a little way to the left, toward a smaller cliff viewpoint that sticks out into the sea. The photos of the globe from there were so much better, with a dramatic snowy foreground, no one else around, and the perspective of the jagged cliffs! Then, walk back to the globe once most people have gone inside. (Just watch your footing if the snow is thick).

4. Husky Sledding, Reindeer Feeding + Snow Hotel (Kirkenes)

Cost: £200

Day: 7 Northbound

Port: Kirkenes            

Season: Winter and Spring

If there’s one experience I was determined to have on this trip to Norway, it was husky sledding in the Arctic!

I actually booked this excursion the same day I booked my entire Havila voyage. In fact, husky sledding was one of the main reasons I even had this Norway voyage on my bucket list in the first place.

And honestly? It completely lived up to the dream and hype I’d built in my head!

This is one of those Havila excursions that’s worth every single penny because you’re getting three unforgettable, bucket-list Arctic experiences in one: dog sledding, reindeer feeding, and a visit to the magical Snow Hotel in Kirkenes.

The day itself was so well organised. You’ll be split into smaller groups so you’re not rushed, and then each group rotates between the three activities.

I personally started with reindeer feeding, then moved on to meeting the adorable huskies, then had my sled ride, and finally visited the iconic Snow Hotel.

The husky sled itself is driven by an experienced musher (the idea of steering myself was not at all fun!), so your only job is to sit back, enjoy the scenery, and watch the dogs run.

And they really do love running!

I’m always wary of animal activities, but you can tell instantly how well cared for they are, how bonded they are with their mushers, and how much joy they get from running.

The scenery around the frozen lake is stunning too, especially the untouched snow surrounding the track.

But my absolute favourite part of the day was cuddling the dogs!

I was seriously missing my own dog, Cookie, by that point in the trip, so getting to fuss over some of the fluffiest huskies I’ve ever seen gave me such a boost. (And especially as a solo female traveller, if you’re missing connection, this is great for that!)

Katie’s Top Tip: This is one of the most popular Havila excursions in winter, and it did sell out on my sailing, so it’s definitely one to book in advance if it’s on your Norway bucket list.

5. Hammerfest Sightseeing Tour

Cost: £67

Day: 8 Southbound

Port: Hammerfest

Season: All year

Hammerfest (Norway’s northernmost town) was one of the ports I never expected to enjoy, mostly because I had no idea what was actually there.

But if you want to visit the famous Polar Bear viewpoint (and it genuinely is the best thing to do in Hammerfest), you have to join the official excursion, as there’s no other easy way up in the limited time you have.

And since this excursion is one of the more affordable ones, I’d say it’s absolutely worth it if you want to explore the best of each port and take amazing photos.

After the viewpoint overlooking the harbour, there’s also a relaxed bus ride around the town, with genuinely interesting commentary about the local history and modern life in Hammerfest from the local guide.

Then a stop at the Meridian Column, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site marking the first exact measure of the Earth.

It’s a simple excursion, but worth it to not miss out on the best of Hammerfest.

I especially loved the viewpoint, standing up there and looking down on our ship (Havila Polaris), the snowy town, and the mountains behind it.

I would say that if you’re being selective and your budget is tight, this isn’t a must-do excursion like Husky Sledding or North Cape, for example.

But if you want to make the most of each port and you enjoy calmer, more informative sightseeing excursions, it is worth considering. And I’m glad I ended up booking it!

Katie’s Top Tip: Sit on the right-hand side of the bus if you can, as the views on the way up to the viewpoint are much better from that side, especially for photos out the window.

6. Tromsø Midnight Concert

Cost: £40

Day: 8 Southbound

Port: Tromsø

Season: All year

I’m not gonna lie, I went into this one feeling kinda grumpy!

When you hear “midnight concert,” it sounds romantic and like a dreamy experience. Until you realise your ship actually docks at midnight. Meaning you’re out walking through the snow at a time when you’d usually be asleep!

But my mum insisted it would be special, so I booked it and by the end of the night, I was so happy I listened to her!

Tromsø Cathedral itself is beautiful, lit up from the outside, which looks magical in the snow. And then on the inside, it’s warm, softly lit, and very peaceful.

The concert itself is short but beautiful, with a mix of traditional Norwegian folk tunes, gentle hymns, ballads, and even a couple of Sami cultural songs.

As a solo traveller, I was a bit worried about walking through Tromsø alone at night. But it was an easy walk, well lit from the harbour, and everyone stuck together.

I had even recommended the tour to another one of my fellow travellers at dinner a few days before, so I ended up walking and sitting with her!

Katie’s Top Tip: Bring your warmest coat and layers for the walk. It’s only short, but the nighttime temperatures in Tromsø are a lot more brutal than during the day! I would also recommend that you at least bring slip-on crampons in your bag, as the pavements are more icy at night, before they’ve been maintained.

7. The Hurtigruten Museum (Stokmarknes)

Cost: £7

Day: 9 Southbound

Port: Stokmarknes

Season: All year

This museum might be one of the biggest surprises of my entire Havila excursions review!

You can’t pre-book this, and it’s not marketed like the bigger experiences, and yet it ended up being one of the most fascinating stops of my whole voyage.

If you love understanding the places you’re travelling through, and want to know more about the actual history behind the route you’re sailing, you’re going to love this!

And the cool part is that this museum isn’t just overwhelming written exhibits and a few artefacts.

You can actually step aboard a preserved Hurtigruten ship, MS Finnmarken, and walk through everything, from the cabins and lounges to the decks and even the control room!

As someone who spends more time photographing landscapes on trips than visiting museums, I didn’t expect to enjoy this nearly as much as I did. But it’s honestly wild seeing how different the older ships were compared to modern Havila. (I felt very grateful to be sailing in 2025!)

Plus, you can go down to the ground floor and stand underneath the historic ship towering above you, which is just an incredible sight!

The museum is well set out and not overwhelming, so you have plenty of time to explore independently, even though the port stop is only an hour.

Katie’s Top Tip: Havila passengers get a discount for showing their lanyard, so don’t book this one in advance. During my voyage, the visit cost around £7.

Which Havila Excursions Are Not Worth It

1. Trondheim Excursions

Northbound: Day 3 – 9:45am to 12:45pm

Southbound: Day 11 – 6:30am to 9:30am

If you’ve already read the earlier section of this guide, you’ll know I do recommend the Trondheim Vintage Tram excursion in specific situations (like bad weather or if you want to explore Trondheim on both the northbound and southbound voyages).

But in my opinion, most of the Trondheim excursions aren’t worth the cost, as you can so easily explore this colourful little city independently for free.

On my northbound voyage, the weather was absolutely awful, with sideways rain, so the Vintage Tram excursion saved me from getting soaked and miserable (or not seeing anything at all).

But when I came back southbound with clear skies, I walked Trondheim on my own, and it instantly became one of my favourite ports!

The city centre is charming, colourful, and easy to navigate, and walking gives you so much more freedom to stop at the viewpoints, bridges, and the iconic Nidaros Cathedral.

The only thing to keep in mind is that the southbound stop is early (06:30–09:30am), and the walk from the port to the city centre takes around 30 minutes.

But this beautiful city is absolutely worth it!

If you want my honest opinion? Save your money unless the weather is truly awful or you’re doing one organised tour northbound and then a DIY walk southbound.

Both are great (and I did exactly that!), but if the weather is nice enough, walking in Trondheim is without doubt the better way to experience it.

Katie’s Top Tip: If you’re exploring Trondheim independently, plan your route before you leave the ship. The Old Town Bridge, Nidaros Cathedral and Bakklandet’s colourful houses were three of my highlights, but you can read my blog post for a full guide to things to do in Trondheim!

2. Tromsø Excursions

Northbound: Day 5 – 2:15pm to 6:15pm

Southbound: Day 8 – 11:45pm to 1:30am (Midnight Concert)

Tromsø is a truly beautiful city to explore alone. It’s safe, compact, easy to navigate and full of beautiful spots you’ll just want to explore at your own pace!

And that’s why, in my opinion, most Havila excursions in Tromsø aren’t worth it.

With a few exceptions (I’ll get to these in a minute), you can do almost everything independently for a fraction of the cost.

The biggest selling point on the sightseeing excursion around Tromsø is the Fjellheisen cable car, which is 100% worth doing – but absolutely not worth paying Havila’s markup for!

You can get the same experience (same cable car, same viewpoint) by walking across the Tromsø Bridge or taking the local bus and buying your ticket directly.

And since the rest of the tour mostly includes sights you can explore on your own, like the picturesque harbour, the Arctic and Tromsø cathedrals and the city centre streets, it’s hard to justify spending so much money.

The one exception that I talked about earlier is if you want to do something unique, like dog sledding or reindeer sledding. But even then, I honestly preferred doing these experiences in Kirkenes!

In Tromsø, save your money and time by exploring the city at your own pace.

Katie’s Top Tip: If the weather is good, walk across the Tromsø Bridge to the cable car for the most beautiful view of the water, mountains, city, and even your ship, docked in port! But if it’s snowing or icy, get bus 26 instead, as it drops you right near the base station.

3. The Harstad to Sortland Excursion

This is one of those Havila excursions that sounds great, taking you to Trondenes Church, a medieval farm, and lots of beautiful photo stops along the way, before arriving in Sortland.

But in reality, you miss some of the best moments happening on board the ship!

First, you miss sailing through the Risøy Channel, which is one of the narrowest, most beautiful stretches of the whole Norway Coastal Express route.

It’s such a surreal feeling watching the ship sail through such tight passages (especially from the bow viewpoint), so you’ll definitely want to be out on deck for this!

And then there’s this fun moment where the ship sails under the Sortland Bridge and everyone who stayed on board heads out to wave flags up at the excursion bus passing above.

It sounds small and a bit silly, but it was honestly such a fun, unique and special experience!

For me, this was an easy skip. The incredible scenery and fun experiences on board absolutely convinced me that this Havila excursion is worth a miss.

Katie’s Top Tip: Bundle up in your layers and head outside to the front of deck 9 or the bow viewpoint for the sailing through the Risøy Channel. The scenery is unforgettable, and it’s genuinely thrilling watching the captain navigate the ship safely through the narrow waters!

How to Choose the Right Havila Excursions for Winter

Choosing the right Havila excursions in winter can feel extra overwhelming, especially with prices so high and short daylight hours. You want to make the most of every moment.

Plus, the excursions that feel worth it in summer may not be the best use of your port time between December and March.

My advice would be to prioritise experiences you cannot easily recreate on your own. (Especially anything that needs specialist gear, expert guides, or safe transport in snowy conditions).

In winter, I focused on true Arctic experiences, like dog sledding, reindeer sledding, Sami cultural experiences, the North Cape visit, and anything involving remote landscapes you can’t safely reach solo.

Havila excursions I don’t recommend in winter are city sightseeing excursions you can do independently, especially in places like Tromsø, Ålesund or Trondheim, which are easy to navigate alone.

Quick note about Ålesund: I did book the Geirangerfjord excursion, but it was sadly cancelled due to wind. As a result, I explored independently and hiked up Mount Aksla. The only tour I would recommend in Ålesund is the Geirangerfjord, as the rest is easy to explore.

Katie’s Top Tip: If you’re travelling in winter, book your bucket-list excursions in advance (like dog or reindeer sledding, snowmobiling or the North Cape visit), as spots do sell out. But with everything else, leave it flexible until you’ve seen the weather forecast.

Example 12-Day Coastal Express Round-Trip Itinerary With Excursions

The hardest part of planning a coastal voyage in Norway is figuring out where excursions realistically fit into your 12-day round-trip without making the trip feel rushed, overwhelmingly busy or crazy expensive.

So this sample itinerary is based on what I personally did, plus what I wish I’d known before I went!

Northbound (Heading Toward Kirkenes)

Day 1 – Depart Bergen

Day 2 – Ålesund

Explore independently or take the winter cruise to the Geirangerfjord. If the excursion is cancelled or you just want to stay in town, Ålesund is pretty, very compact and walkable, and you can also climb Mount Aksla for incredible views, if the weather allows.

Day 3 – Trondheim

Choose between a DIY walk to the colourful Bakklandet neighbourhood, Nidaros Cathedral, and Trondheim city centre (which is the best option if the weather is dry). Or, join the Trondheim Vintage Tram excursion in poor weather or if you plan to explore Trondheim again southbound.

Day 4 – Bodø

I would highly recommend you join the Saltstraumen Tidal Current excursion if the daily briefing the day before mentions the maelstrom being at its peak. It’s truly impressive!

Day 5 – Tromsø

Skip the sightseeing tour and explore beautiful Tromso harbour, town centre, and both cathedrals on an independent (and free!) walk. Then, book Fjellheisen cable car tickets and either take the public bus or walk the Tromsø bridge to get there.

Day 6 – Honningsvåg

North Cape is one of the few expensive Havila excursions that is actually worth every penny, especially in winter when you cannot do it safely or reliably on your own. Yes, it’s a globe – but it’s a very beautiful and iconic one, marking the northernmost point of Norway!

Day 7 – Kirkenes

If you want to splurge anywhere, make it here. The excursion combo of dog sledding, reindeer feeding, and the Snowhotel were just incredible. This was my favourite of all the excursions I did on board the Havila Coastal Express!

Southbound (Heading Back to Bergen)

Day 8 – Hammerfest and Tromso

A lot of today is spent on board the ship, but I would recommend you join the Hammerfest sightseeing excursion if you want to make the most of your time in Norway’s northernmost town (including the beautiful Polar Bear viewpoint!) Then, in the evening, the Arctic Nocturne concert in Tromso is a must-do.

Day 9 – Stokmarknes

Again, this is a day with few major stops but a lot of scenery. Get out on deck to admire the Risøy Channel and wave to excursion passengers on the Sortland bridge, before getting off in Stokmarknes to visit the incredible Hurtigruten museum and MS Finnmarken.

Day 10 – Brønnøysund

Brønnøysund is a beautiful port, with a charming harbour, a beautiful church and a lovely lake to walk around. No excursion needed! Then, back on deck, look out for the famous mountain Torghatten (with the hole in the middle). When I sailed in early March, we were lucky to just see it before sunset from the ship.

Day 11 – Trondheim and Kristiansund

This is the perfect day to have another go at DIY’ing a walk around Trondheim if you chose the excursion northbound or experienced bad weather. Just keep in mind that it is an early start! And for your final port, Kristiansund, simply enjoy a relaxing walk along the water.

Day 12 – Bergen Arrival

Final Thoughts: Are Havila Excursions Worth It?

If you’ve been staring at the long Havila excursion list, wondering which experiences are actually worth splurging on, you’re not alone – I did the same thing before my own trip.

The truth is, not every excursion matches the price tag or is worth your valuable port time – but the ones that are will create memories to last a lifetime!

For me, that was the husky sledding, reindeer feeding and Snow Hotel in Kirkenes. It was just a true dream come true moment – the one thing I’d always wanted to do!

The best Havila excursions will enhance your trip, not just replace simple exploring.

Choosing your excursions wisely saves you money, energy, and precious time in port, and now you know exactly where to invest and where to skip!

Havila Excursions: FAQ

Read More About Travel in Norway:

• Northbound vs Southbound Norway Coastal Express: Compared
• What to Wear in Norway in Winter? (+ Norway Packing List)
• How to Plan a Trip to Norway in Winter (Step-by-Step Guide)
• Norway vs Iceland in Winter: Ultimate Solo Travel Comparison
• Where to Stay in Bergen (+ Best Areas For Solo Travellers)
• Where to Stay in Tromsø (+ Best Areas For Solo Travellers)
• Hurtigruten vs Havila: Which is Best For Solo Travellers?
• Is Saltstraumen Worth Visiting from Bodø? (+ What to Expect)
• How to Get Around Norway in Winter (Without a Car!)
• How to Visit Trollfjord: Northern Norway’s Most Iconic Fjord
• How to Visit Mostraumen Fjord (Bergen’s Best Day Trip!)
• 7 Things To Do in Hammerfest (Hammerfest Travel Guide)
• Mount Aksla Hike: How to Find the Best Ålesund Viewpoint
• 8 BEST Things To Do in Brønnøysund, Norway: Havila Port Stop
• 21 Most Beautiful Places in Norway You Have To Visit

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