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City guide

Kirkenes, Norway

Kirkenes, known as Girkonjárga in Northern Sami and Kirkkoniemi in Kven, is a town in Sør-Varanger Municipality in Finnmark county, in the far northeastern part of Norway. The town lies on a peninsula along the Bøkfjorden, an arm of the large Varangerfjorden, and is located just a few kilometres from the Norway–Russia border.

Type City

Why go

  • City in Sør-Varanger, Finnmark, Norway.
  • Served by Vadsø Airport (VDS).

History

Kirkenes, known as Girkonjárga in Northern Sami and Kirkkoniemi in Kven, is a town in Sør-Varanger Municipality in Finnmark county, in the far northeastern part of Norway. The town lies on a peninsula along the Bøkfjorden, an arm of the large Varangerfjorden, and is located just a few kilometres from the Norway–Russia border.

Airports

Kirkenes Airport, Høybuktmoen (KKN) 6.5 km to the centre
Kirkenes, 56, NO — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day. ✈ 3 airlines (Widerøe, Norwegian Air Shuttle, Scandinavian Airlines System) · direct flights to 6 destinations incl. Oslo, Alta, Lakselv, Tromso, Vadsø… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 3 airlines, 6 direct destinations
  • Widerøe WF (Dash 8-200, Dash 8-100, Dash 8-400, Dash 8-300) · 5 routes: Alta, Lakselv, Tromso, Vadsø, Vardø
  • Norwegian Air Shuttle DY (737-300) · 1 route: Oslo
  • Scandinavian Airlines System SK (736, 737-700, 737-700) · 1 route: Oslo

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor | Outdoor
Vadsø Airport (VDS) 39 km to the centre
Vadsø, 56, NO — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day. ✈ 1 airline (Widerøe) · direct flights to 7 destinations incl. Alta, Batsfjord, Hammerfest, Kirkenes, Mehamn… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 1 airline, 7 direct destinations

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor | Outdoor
Båtsfjord Airport (BJF) 99 km to the centre
Båtsfjord, 56, NO — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day. ✈ 1 airline (Widerøe) · direct flights to 5 destinations incl. Berlevag, Hammerfest, Mehamn, Vadsø, Vardø (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 1 airline, 5 direct destinations

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor | Outdoor
Vardø Airport, Svartnes (VAW) 80 km to the centre
Vardø, 56, NO — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day. ✈ 1 airline (Widerøe) · direct flights to 3 destinations incl. Batsfjord, Kirkenes, Vadsø (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 1 airline, 3 direct destinations

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor | Outdoor

Getting there by ferry

Hurtigruten Kirkenes
Ferry terminal · 0.9 km from the centre · Hurtigruten
Outdoor
Kystruten / Hurtigruten (northbound)
Ferry route
Outdoor
Kystruten / Hurtigruten (southbound)
Ferry route
Outdoor
Kystruten Bergen-Kirkenes
Ferry route · Hurtigruten AS;Havila Kysruten AS
Outdoor

Where things are

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Photographs

When to go

Tourist season
May – September

The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.

Shoulder season
April, October

Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.

Worth avoiding
Deep winter

Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.

Getting there & around

Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Vadsø Airport (VDS); 4 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: VDS has direct flights to 7 destinations on 1 airline (incl. Alta, Batsfjord, Hammerfest, Kirkenes, Mehamn…). By water: 1 ferry terminal within 20 km (nearest: Hurtigruten Kirkenes, 0.9 km); routes include Kystruten / Hurtigruten (northbound), Kystruten / Hurtigruten (southbound), Kystruten Bergen-Kirkenes.

Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Kirkenes, Norway. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.

Trains & rail

National rail

Tours & experiences