Kirkenes is a border city
Kirkenes’s multi-ethnic origins are visible in the Cyrillic street signs around the city, in the Orthodox St. Georgs Chapel of the eastern Sami, in the Art Nuevo churches in Neiden and Svanhold and in the Finnish language speaking Bugøynes to the west. The dramatic history of this frontier appears in many war memoirs, as the city lay right at the front line for three years, being only km from the Russian Border. Kven culture also has strong historical roots here.
King crab tastes better than it looks
King crab is a huge newcomer in the depths of the fjords in Kirkenes. Despite the scary features, they taste amazing. Fishing takes place both summer and winter, and afterwards they are eaten freshly cooked.
Head into the Taiga forests
The Taiga, or boreal forest, creeps into this region just south of Kirkenes. In the large pine forests you can go snowmobiling, join a dog sled team, hike and take a river boat ride. Maybe you’ll even see a bear!
3 points of interest to understand Kirkenes
3 activities to do in Kirkenes
Visit Kirkenes
Your guide to all activities in Kirkenes