Mehamn: Harbour, Whaling History and Tours

Mehamn combines life by the harbour with a rich whaling history and tours that offer very different experiences depending on the season. The town is the northernmost port on the Bergen–Kirkenes coastal route; Mehamn also has an airport with four daily departures. For anyone choosing a holiday destination, this makes Mehamn a place where arrival, local history and activities can each take centre stage in different ways.

A Harbour Town and Gateway to Nordkyn

Hurtigruten calls at the port of Mehamn. The airport has four daily departures. Many package tours on Nordkyn also start in Mehamn. If you are considering a holiday rental in town, you can weigh up whether the harbour atmosphere and character of a traditional fishing settlement suit your travel interests.

Whaling History in the Townscape

The whaling monument in the market square commemorates the Mehamn battle, which took place on 2 June 1903. The town’s history is also linked to whaling: one of the largest whaling stations in the Finnmark region was located in Mehamn and operated by Svend Foyn. The monument and the station tell different aspects of the same local history—a tangible point of interest for anyone who is interested not only in activities while travelling, but also in a place’s past.

Winter Tours and Activities in the Warmer Months

Nordic Safari offers snowmobile safaris, snowshoe tours, ice-fishing trips and ski tours in winter. There is also a snowmobile safari to Finland from Adventure Camp Mehamn. These options offer different ways to experience winter: snowshoes, skis, ice fishing and snowmobiles each represent a distinct activity. Tours from Adventure Camp with Nordic Safari last from two hours to one week. This range can help when planning a trip, making it easier to choose between shorter tours and longer excursions.

In summer and autumn, Nordic Safari offers all-terrain vehicle safaris, personal watercraft tours, deep-sea fishing trips, boat tours, birdwatching and hiking. There are also canoe and kayak trips under the midnight sun. The range therefore extends from trips on the water to wildlife watching, hikes and all-terrain vehicle excursions. This distinction is useful when choosing when to travel: the winter activities listed here and the tours in summer and autumn each cater to different interests.

Local Specialities and Special Places

The local surroundings are reflected in the food, too. King Crab Restaurant Mehamn serves king crab caught in the fjords of the Barents Sea just outside the harbour. Mehamn Arctic Hotell offers crispy fried cod tongues as a regional speciality. Nissehuset has a pub on the quay, with outdoor seating on fine summer days. The town thus offers both seafood and a place to take a break outdoors when summer conditions allow.

Holmen in Mehamn is a place to experience the midnight sun. Nearby, on Mikkelbergodden, there is a labyrinth known as the northernmost known labyrinth in the world. It was probably built sometime between 1200 and 1700 AD.

Mehamn can be an especially good holiday destination if you want to combine harbour life, historical connections and tours that vary with the season. When looking for a holiday rental, it helps to first consider which of these aspects matters most for your trip: the whaling history, winter activities, or what is on offer in summer and autumn. If you would like to explore another destination page, you can also visit Gamvik.

Go to the main travel overview: Gamvik.