Kirkenes

Turning Point and Borderland in the Northeast

Stunning landscapes, fresh air, and midnight sun. High-quality local ingredients like king crab, reindeer, fish, and berries.

Kirkenes is a border town with Russia and the turnaround point for Hurtigruten before its return to Bergen. Rich in history, Kirkenes was the most bombed town on the European mainland during WWII, and Andersgrotta, a wartime shelter, is now a museum.

In the town center, you’ll find the tourist office, Booking Kirkenes, along with several cafes, restaurants, and shops. The street signs are written in both Norwegian and Russian, reflecting the long history this town has shared with its neighbor to the east.

Today, most visitors come to Kirkenes to experience the stunning nature. The Snowhotel, located just a few kilometers from the town center, is very popular. It’s open year-round, and here you can sleep surrounded by ice—in cozy sleeping bags! You can also take a cycling trip to the Pasvik Valley outside Kirkenes, home to Norway’s largest population of brown bears. The landscape and climate change as you travel further inland, and along the river, you can see across to Russia.

Midnight Sun between May 17 to July 21.