Travel tips Kirkenes

Just like you, I was just a guest at first, exploring Kirkenes and the surrounding area. From my love for this area and the people here, my passion arose to offer my guests the best experience. On this page I would like to give you a few personal travel tips. I would like to point out that these are my personal opinions! I really hope that you will have a nice stay with us. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us.

What to do in Kirkenes?

It all depends on how much time you have. Are you traveling by the ship Hurtigruten / Havila and you’re only here for 3 hours (ship arrives every day at 09.00 and departs at 12.30)?
Then I recommend a walking tour of the city. There are information boards in various places explaining various topics: history, climate, people, etc.

Visit the pedestrian zone (Dr Wesselsgate) and our shop where you can get free maps and other information. There are also various small shops and at the end of the street is the Amfi shopping center with shops and a pharmacy.

In the pedestrian zone you can visit Terminal B: Terminal B is a project and exhibition space in the middle of Kirkenes’ pedestrian street. At Terminal B you can see art exhibitions by professional artists, catch concerts by local and touring musicians, take part in a discussion on topics relevant to the High North, learn new things at workshops and guided tours or buy unique gifts, artworks and books in the store. The program is always changing so discover more at this website.

I also recommend to visit the Andersgrotta – Kirkenes largest bomb shelter, built in 1941. Kirkenes was one of the most strategically important places in Europe during World War 2, and was one of the most bombed cities in the world. Learn about the lives of civilians during wartime. The visit lasts approximately 45 minutes. A film will be shown (10 minutes) about Kirkenes during the 2nd WW.

A visit to the Grenseland Museum is well worth it. It is open from 09.00 – 15.00 (in summer until 17.00). About 15 minutes walk from the center.
At the Museum one can explore theme exhibitions connected to local history. We present the history of the settlement and development of the region, from its origin as a common territory between Russia, Finland and Norway, to a Norwegian border municipality with a complex culture. We also document the industrial history of the firm A/S Sydvaranger, the mining company that, through the extraction of iron ore from open pit mines, led the local development from a traditional, self-sufficient community into a centre of industry. The Museum’s war exhibition contains, among other things the Russian fighter plane Ilyushin; and presents the war history of Kirkenes and the border regions. During the Second World War, Fortress Kirkenes was the main base for the German forces, and the city became a target for allied bombers.

Or book an informativ city walk with a local guide, 1 hour:
in summer (from May – Nov): www.bookingkirkenes.no/produkt/ks02-guided-walk-kirkenes-town-with-local-guide/
in winter (from Dec-April): www.bookingkirkenes.no/produkt/ki90-kirkenes-sightseeing-walking-kick-sledge-tour-in-kirkenes-centrum/

We also offer tour “Kirkenes sightseeing and Borderland sightseeing” with minibus and local guide (English, German, French or Norwegian language). We offer 2 departures, one in the morning (fits for all travellers on Hurtigruten/Havila boats) and one in the afternoon:
Click here for more information:
Kirkenes sightseeing in summer (from May – Nov)
Kirkenes sightseeing in winter (Dec – April)

If you stay with us for one or several days, a King crab safari is a must and in the period Sep-March a Northern light hunt
We recommend also a visit to the Pasvik valley and the National Park Visitor Center www.visitkirkenes.info/en/a-leverandr/visitor-centre-ovre-pasvik-national-park/
Or go to Bugøynes and Neiden. My favorite place in summer is Grense Jakobselv with the white sandy beach and the azure sea. You can find a good overview here: www.visitkirkenes.info/en/arctic-living/

Where to stay?

In Kirkenes we have a selection of hotels and private accommodation. In the outskirts there are guest houses, private accommodation and cabins. You can find an overview here:

Thon Hotel Kirkenes www.thonhotels.com
Scandic Hotel Kirkenes www.scandichotels.no
Private accommodation www.airbnb.no
Cabins at Snowhotel Kirkenes Winter (Dec-March)
Cabins at Snowhotel Kirkenes Summer (April-Nov)
Sleep at Snowhotel Kirkenes Winter (Dec-March)
Sleep at Snowhotel Kirkenes Summer (April-Nov)

Monikas private apartment house in Kirkenes with space for 4 persons:
Be my guest in Kirkenes! Our home is only 5 min from the center town in a calm and cosy area. House has an own entrance and our guests have the place on their own. In any case of questions we live right beside and will help. Otherwise you can stay there undisturbed. House has two floors with 2 bed rooms and Bathroom/WC upstairs. Well equipped kitchen and living room with TV downstairs. In total app. 90 m2.

A little insider tip is Birk’s guest house. I think this place is beautiful, situated on the Pasvik river. So nice that I celebrated my wedding here. This overnight stay can be booked directly with Birk.

Where to eat?

Where to eat in Kirkenes:
Kirkenes is small and the restaurants in town are all 10 minutes walk from the hotels in the pedestrian area and side streets

For dinner

Aurora Restobar in Dr Wesselsgate is a good tapas restaurant but also offers other dishes based on fish and meat. For more info: www.facebook.com/aurorarestokirkenes/
Surf & Turf in Dr Wesselsgate is good and cozy, there is everything from pasta, fish, meat or salads. For more info: https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063825819290
Thon Hotel is the only restaurant in town that offers fresh king crab food. And of course other dishes www.thonhotels.com/our-hotels/norway/kirkenes/thon-hotel-kirkenes/#Food-and-drink
Scandic Hotel Restaurant https://www.scandichotels.com/hotels/norway/kirkenes/scandic-kirkenes/restaurant-bar/
China Restaurant Shanghai, Dr Wesselsgate 3. Tasty chinese food. Also take away. https://www.facebook.com/ShanghaiKirkenes/
Thai food at Bangkok Restaurant. Dr Wesselsgate 9. Good thai food freshly made, also take away . www.facebook.com/BangkokRestaurantogTakeaway/
Ritz Ribago Dr Wesselsgate 17 offers pizza, salads, burgers and pasta. www.facebook.com/ritzkirkenes/
Snowhotel Restaurant: Good local food. 3 course menu. Very cozy (warm) restaurant by the fjord and located directly at the snow hotel. 6 km from Kirkenes. www.snowhotelkirkenes.com/restaurants or book a package including transfer, visit snowhotel and 3 course dinner here: www.bookingkirkenes.no/produkt/ki28-snowhotel-visit-incl-dinner/

For lunch or just a good cup of coffee

Cafe Visit, Havneveien 1. Open 10.00 – 17.00. Good homemade Norwegian food. www.facebook.com/kafevisitkirkenes/

A little insider tip is Johnnys Lunch Bar, Kjelland Torkildsensgate 7, with good Italian coffee and espresso. There are also small dishes, salads, focaccia and lots of delicious things, also sweets. Lunch at Johnny’s! I can only recommend www.facebook.com/johnnyslunchbar/

There are really good homemade cakes at Amundsens bakeri & konditori (GoBiten), Dr Wesselsgate 17. A cozy cafe in the heart of Kirkenes. Here you can also get small lunch dishes and good coffee. www.facebook.com/amundsensbakeri/

A good beer or a glass of wine after dinner?
Visit Pub1 in the heart of Kirkenes. Everyone meets there as it is the only pub in Kirkenes 🙂

Outside of Kirkenes there are the following restaurants and guesthouses that we are happy to recommend:

In Pasvik valley: Svanhovd, located 45 km south of Kirkenes in Svanvik. www.visitkirkenes.info/en/restauranter/svanhovd/
In Neiden: Neiden Fjellstue, located 40 km west of Kirkenes, close to the Finish border. www.visitkirkenes.info/en/restauranter/neiden-fjellstue/
In Bugøynes: Bistro, located 100 km west of Kirkenes, in the beautiful fishing village. www.visitbugoynes.no/restaurant-bistroen/