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City in Sør-Varanger, Finnmark, Norway
Photo: User:Clemensfranz Edits by Cornischong at lb.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Kirkenes is a town in the Finnmark region of Norway, far east near the Russian border, more or less in the end of mainland Norway. This is the last port for Hurtigruten and the end of Norway's main road E6, 2500 km from Oslo and 3120 km from Trelleborg (Sweden).
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The Border Area Museum
Showcases history and lifestyle of the far north of Norway including a section devoted to the devastating effects of Second World War on Kirkenes. Also has a fine exhibition of woodcuts by the Sami artist Jon Savio
A museum about Eastern / Skolt Sámi people. First opened in June 2017.
Kirkenes Snøhotell
A range of activities, some of which vary by the season (you do not have to stay at the hotel to participate): king crab excursions, including catching and eating, husky tours, reindeer watching.
The largest area of primeval forest in Norway, part of the Russian taiga. Forested hills, lakes and bogs. Also eastern species seldom seen in western Europe. Bears. Some open wilderness huts, wild camping allowed. The visitor centre (nasjonalparksentre) is in Svanhovd, Svanvik, and features also a botanic garden, best visited in Jul-Aug.
The Piilola trail (35 km, 21 mi) leads from Sortbrysttjern to the Kessintie road in Finland and has information boards telling about the nature and cultural history of the area. To get to Sortbrysttjern, take the road towards the tripoint, but turn to the right after the lake Vaggatem and drive that small road for some 10 km. Crossing to the Finnish side is allowed, as long as you stay out of the border zone (far from the trail; about from Krokfjellet and southward along the Russian border) and have cleared with customs if needed.
A Chinese restaurant in Kirkenes. Spacious with stylish decor. A speciality dish is steamed king crab, although this is subject to availability.
Has a good restaurant.
Opened in 2010 directly along the waterfront
By car
By bus
By sea
Kirkenes is the northern terminus port (Bergen being the southern) of the Hurtigruten, arguably the most beautiful sea voyage in the world, covering most of the Norwegian coast in 5–6 days.
By plane
On certain occasions it is considerably cheaper to fly into Ivalo in Finland, some 240 km away, mainly if you are a small group or a family and plan to rent a car anyway.
By train
There are no passenger trains to Kirkenes, but it is possible to go by public bus from cities with railway station.
By bicycle
Sør-Varanger is finally (2025) being signposted as part of the all-through-Europe route 13.
Local buses. Long distance buses leave outside the main shopping center in the middle of town. Some buses only take cash, however there is an ATM inside the shopping center.
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Kirkenes · Regional · KKN
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