Discover Hammerfest: the coast, Salen and culture
Accommodation in Hammerfest
Mountains, sandy beaches and striking coastal scenery surround Hammerfest. From Mount Salen, you can look out over the entire city centre. The coast and panoramic views give your stay different points of focus, from nature to the cityscape.
Coast, views and trails on Salen
At Fuglenes, the Meridianstøtten marks the northernmost survey point and was one of 13 locations used for astronomical observations. The monument is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. This single survey point thus points to a wider scientific heritage.
For time outdoors, the trails on Salen offer different experiences: Gammelveien is an approximately 4 km circular route around the mountain and includes remains from the Second World War. Sikksakkveien is a gravel path with steps leading up Salen; at the top are a viewpoint and the Turistua lodge, with a café or restaurant. A circular route and a trail with a section of steps offer different options for planning your day.
You can reach the viewpoint on Salen on foot via the Zigzag road from Hammerfest city centre, or by car via Idrettsveien and Turistveien. Road conditions can vary seasonally; check them before you drive. You should also check in advance whether the café or restaurant at the Turistua lodge will be open during your visit. On Tyven, there is a day-use tourist cabin; an unpaved road leads to the summit.
Photography, polar history and cinema
A permanent display of 34 photographs by Kåre Kivijärvi is housed in the Hammerfest library. Information about the exhibition is available in Norwegian and English. This makes it easy to combine a visit to the library with a specific photographic collection.
In the wider destination of Hammerfest, Kåre Kivijärvi (1938–1991) was a Kven artist from Hammerfest. He is now considered Norway’s first fine-art photographer and a pioneer in his field. The Royal and Ancient Polar Bear Society presents an exhibition on Arctic hunting, wildlife and polar expeditions. There is a cinema at the Arctic Culture Centre; check the current programme before visiting.
Winter activities and travel
At Prærien in Hammerfest, Hammerfest Alpine offers a ski lift, a steep downhill run, and opportunities for sledding or jumping. Check whether it is operating during your travel dates. This lets you include a winter-focused activity in your plans without conflating it with the hiking trails or a visit to the city.
Hammerfest Airport is a regional airport at Prærien in Hammerfest. Flights connect it with Tromsø, Alta, Honningsvåg and other destinations in Finnmark. Flight routes may change; check current services before travelling.
In the wider destination of Hammerfest
For hiking enthusiasts, the wider Hammerfest destination offers a total of 40 Perletur hiking routes. They are free and open to everyone; their destinations are usually signposted and marked. Akkarfjord also has hiking trails, nature experiences, Storsand and Sandfjellet. These regional options offer a different focus from the specific trails on Salen.
The Struve Geodetic Arc also offers a broad historical perspective across the wider Hammerfest destination: it extends from Hammerfest in Norway through ten countries to the Black Sea and is more than 2,820 km long. Its survey points were established between 1816 and 1855 under the direction of astronomer Friedrich Georg Wilhelm Struve. They enabled the first accurate measurement of a long segment of a meridian.
If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Hammerfest, you can use your preferred focus as a starting point: for example, views and trails on Salen, photography and polar history, or winter activities.
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To the overview of the wider destination: Hammerfest.
