Kirkenes
The best places to see the Northern Lights in Kirkenes
- Go deep into the Pasvikdalen valley.
- Set sail on one of Hurtigruten's cruise ships.
- From the city's rooftops, for example, from the rooftop terrace at Thon Hotel Kirkenes.
This small town is a cultural melting pot of Norwegian, Sami, Finnish, and Russian influences. Be sure to pack a balaclava and warm mittens, and get ready for arctic activities that are unique to the region.
The dry and clear winter climate increases the chance to experience the northern lights (more than in other coastal cities). Head out of town with a professional guide on a snowmobile, and hunt for the northern lights in the Siberian Taiga forest in the Pasvikdalen valley. The area is home to unique bird life and Norway’s densest population of brown bears.
If you are the adventurous type, a husky safari is strongly recommended.
Kirkenes is known as the capital of the Barents Region, and the Barents Sea is one of the world's best areas for deep sea fishing. Join a RIB tour out on the open sea, and get a chance to experience an abundance of wildlife, including eagles, seals and marine birds. Catch your own lunch on a king crab safari on the frozen fjord, and indulge in a crab feast afterwards!
Another unique experience to tick off on your bucket list is to spend a night in a hotel made of snow. Wrapped in warm expedition-style sleeping bags, you are guaranteed to have an unforgettable night at the Snowhotel Kirkenes, whether you're there with your partner or your whole family.
A stay at Gamme Northern Light Cabins is perfect if you just want a drink in an ice bar and don't wish to try spending the night in the cold. The traditional Gamme tents of the Sami people keep you warm, and include modern comforts and windows for viewing the northern lights.
Winter in Northern Norway
Did you know that you can experience the northern lights as early as late September until late March?
4-day tour including a cruise with Hurtigruten. Choose from a wide selection of winter activities including dog sledding and northern lights excursions.
Price from NOK 7 080Book Now
6-day tour, including a return cruise from Tromsø to Kirkenes with Hurtigruten. Visit the North Cape and try winter activities including dog sledding and snowmobiling.
Price from NOK 12 030Book Now
Join a northern lights cruise and enjoy delicious arctic tapas from our partner in Tromsø, while hunting for the northern lights!
Price from NOK 1 790Book Now
Spend 5 days in Alta at an Arctic wilderness resort, a forest chalet and an igloo-style dome. Enjoy dog sledding, snowmobiling, and ice-fishing.
Price from NOK 40 800Book Now
4-day winter break to Tromsø, including dog sledding and a northern lights chase by minibus. Additional winter activities can be added.
Price from NOK 9 060Book Now
4-day break to Tromsø with a cruise and hunt for the northern lights. With one free day, you can add winter activities like dog sledding, a reindeer safari, and more.
Price from NOK 7 690Book Now
This 6-day tour includes a guided day tour of Tromsø, sea kayaking, and a sea eagle safari. Stay in a small fishing village and learn how to capture the northern lights on camera.
Price from NOK 16 275Book Now
4-day trip with an aurora-chase guided tour, RIB boat tour, and accommodation in a traditional fisherman's cabin.
Price from NOK 9 498Book Now
6-day winter adventure. See the fjords and the Arctic city of Tromsø. Winter activities like dog sledding, a northern lights safari, and much more can be added.
Price from NOK 8 490Book Now
Explore the Tromsø fjords on a hybrid-electric boat with panoramic windows, while savouring a delicious dinner and keeping an eye out for the magical northern lights.
Price from NOK 1 590Book Now
Join a 6-day northern lights round trip. Fly from Oslo to Tromsø and experience all the highlights of the region, including several opportunities to chase the northern lights.
Price from NOK 27 995Book Now
6-night round trip from Oslo. Stay at an ice hotel, go on a king crab safari, take a reindeer sleigh ride, and enjoy an Arctic gourmet dinner.
Price from NOK 31 595Book Now
Round trip from Oslo including a scenic train ride to Trondheim, two nights onboard a cruise ship, a visit to Bodø, Tromsø, and a Viking feast on the Lofoten Islands.
Price from NOK 24 350Book Now
Fly from Oslo to Kirkenes and stay overnight at a snow hotel, then go wilderness dog sledding before taking a 5-night cruise to Bergen. Visit Trondheim's Nidaros Cathedral and Lofoten along the way.
Price from NOK 34 510Book Now
Join a 7-day adventure through Norway. Chase the northern lights, go on a king crab safari, experience dog sledding, and explore Flåm and the UNESCO fjords.
Price from NOK 26 890Book Now
7-hour trip. Your guide will choose the camp location with the highest chance of seeing the northern lights. All camps have shelters, toilets, campfires, and benches outside.
Price from NOK 1 590Book Now
Combine a northern lights experience with comfort and luxury. These once-in-a-lifetime stays are in prime locations for optimal aurora borealis viewing.
Price from NOK 3 000Book now
Hunt the northern lights along Norway's entire coastal route with 34 ports, 1,000 mountains, and more than 100 fjords. Enjoy insightful lectures from astronomers during the voyage.
Price from NOK 28 048Book Now
Spend a night in a private crystal Lavvo in the Lyngen Alps. Learn how to photograph the aurora and try snowshoeing. Return transfers, lunch, dinner, and breakfast are also included.
Price from NOK 3 390Book Now
Enjoy two nights in central Tromsø , including a northern lights tour. Stay in a Crystal Lavvo in the Lyngen Alps, with a view of the auroras. Local transfers, activities and meals included.
Price from NOK 11 220Book now
Try reindeer sledding, spend the night in a traditional Sami tent, feed reindeer, and enjoy Arctic landscapes. With some luck, the northern lights might appear!
Price from NOK 3 995Book now
Experience Tromsø, the gateway to the Arctic and a great place to witness the spectacular northern lights! This holiday package includes two nights stay in a cosy hotel and two unforgettable tours that maximise your chance of seeing the mighty aurora borealis.
Price from NOK 6 790Book nowWhat to do
Where to stay
Where to eat
Getting There
Kirkenes Airport is the nearest of the regional airports, offering several daily connections to Oslo, and connecting flights to many smaller communities such as Vadsø, Vardø, Båtsfjord, Berlevåg and Mehamn, as well as connections to Alta and Tromsø, among other destinations. You can also fly from Helsinki to Ivalo in Finland and rent a car to drive to Varanger from there.
Norwegian – cheap and direct flights in Norway and over 70 European destinations
Hurtigruten and Havila both call at harbours in Varanger: Berlevåg, Båtsfjord, Vardø and Vadsø.
The ships begin their return journey to Bergen in Fjord Norway in Kirkenes, calling at the same ports on the way back, with the exception of Vadsø.
Roads have a high standard, and are for the most part open all year, except for some mountain passes serving small fishing villages on the coast, which may occasionally be closed in winter. Read more about driving in Northern Norway.
Long-distance express buses connect the region to points beyond, but departures are not frequent, so research and planning are required.
