Kirkenes: History, Water and Winter Trails

Kirkenes combines compelling wartime history with experiences on the water and winter trails. You can get to know the town through its underground bunker, exhibitions and a monument, or focus on saunas, kayaking and snow activities. When choosing your holiday apartment, it helps to first consider which of these sides of Kirkenes makes it especially interesting for your trip.

Wartime History and Life in the Border Region

Andersgrotta is the largest Second World War bunker in the centre of Kirkenes. The underground bunker is now used as a museum. As visitor arrangements may change, check how visits are organised before you go.

The Borderland Museum features permanent exhibitions on industrial development, wartime history and the everyday lives of people in the border region throughout the ages. In summer, visitors can also explore an outdoor labyrinth. The combination of exhibitions and a seasonal outdoor area offers different ways to discover the region’s history.

The Russian Liberation Monument in Kirkenes commemorates the Red Army’s liberation of Finnmark in 1944. You can also explore Kirkenes’ history as a mining town associated with AS Sydvaranger and the town’s strategic role during the Cold War. Together, these topics provide insight into the changing industrial and geopolitical contexts of the place.

Water, Saunas and King Crab

Barentsbadet in Kirkenes has a swimming pool, saunas, changing rooms, slides, diving boards, a hot tub and a café. Check the current facilities and visitor arrangements before your trip. Kirkenes Badstuforening offers a different kind of sauna: it operates a wood-fired communal sauna in a Sámi lavvu. Booking and prices may change; contact the operator for details.

You can kayak on the calm fjord waters near Kirkenes and in Bøkfjord; the conditions are also suitable for beginners. Check the season and availability with local operators in advance. A king crab safari in Kirkenes includes catching, cooking and tasting king crabs from the Barents Sea. Here, too, it is worth asking the operator about seasonal arrangements and availability.

Winter Trails and Tours

From December to April, Kirkenes has well-maintained cross-country ski trails accessible to all ability levels. Snow conditions and trail grooming may vary by season. One specific longer route is the Lysløypa from Kirkenes to Bjørnevatn: the groomed trail is 15.1 kilometres long, and the journey takes approximately four to four and a half hours. This lets you distinguish shorter ski trails from a tour that requires considerably more time.

Northern Lights safaris are offered in Kirkenes from September to March. Outside Kirkenes, a guided snowshoe tour travels through snowy winter landscapes, along winter trails and to open viewpoints; huskies are also part of the tour. It is suitable for beginners as well as experienced outdoor enthusiasts. Check seasonal tour details and current availability with the operator.

Getting There and Excursions in Sør-Varanger

The E6 is the main road to Kirkenes and leads to the town centre; road conditions can vary in winter. Kirkenes is also the northernmost port of call on the classic Hurtigruten coastal route from Bergen. Check route patterns and departures before your trip. Depending on whether you are mainly planning to explore the town’s history, enjoy activities nearby or take excursions further afield, the season and how you travel may also affect your plans.

In the wider Sør-Varanger destination, there are marked hiking trails near Kirkenes that can be reached and accessed without a car. Nearby is King Oscar II’s Chapel in Grense Jakobselv. It was consecrated in 1869, named after King Oscar II’s visit in 1873, and built to affirm Norwegian sovereignty in the border region. Check seasonal access before making the trip.

Grense Jakobselv has a separate winter restriction: the final 25-kilometre stretch of road to the village is closed in winter, and Grense Jakobselv can only be reached by snowmobile. Bear this restriction in mind when planning an excursion there. This keeps choosing a base in Kirkenes distinct from the conditions for this separate excursion.

Discover more destinations: Neiden, Bjørnevatn, Svanvik.

Back to the main travel guide: Sør-Varanger.