'''Kirkenes''' is a city in the Finnmark region of Norway.
Get in
By Road
Kirkenes is at the very end of the all-through-Norway (and half of Europe) highway E6. You can also enter by road from northern Finland, and northwestern Russia. If you want to come from southern Norway by car, cutting through Sweden and Finland is actually faster.
Long distance buses [http://www.ffr.no/tmpl/ExtensionPage____19778.aspx?epslanguage=ML], with connections to most of Norway.
By Sea
Kirkenes is the northern turnaround port ([Bergen] being the southern) of the Coastal Express [http://hurtigruten.no/], arguably the most beautiful sea voyage of the planet, covering most of the Norwegian coast in 5-6 days.
By Air
Due to its distance from the rest of the civilized world, most people choose to arrive and depart by plane, at Hoybuktmoen airport[http://www.avinor.no/lufthavn/kirkenes/] ({{IATA|KKN}}) some 15 km outside town. Daily flights by Norwegian [http://www.norwegian.no/sw7127.asp], SAS[http://www.sas.no/Default.aspx?vst=true&epslanguage=EN] and Wideroe [http://wideroe.no/index.asp]. Also flights to Russia and Germany (summer only). All flights from [Oslo] have a bus to town waiting outside. A taxi will set you back some NOK 200.
By Train
Although there is a railroad here, it is for ore only. Real adventurous spirits should be aware that you can connect to the russian network in the border town of Nikel, travelling as far as Moscow, Vladivostok, Ulan Bator and Beijing.
Get around
Local buses [http://www.ffr.no/uploadConnex/ffr.pdf], including to the airport.
See
The midnight sun in summer
The Aurora Borealis
The Russian border, including the three-borders-mark, where also Finland joins in.
The Grenselandmuseet, a museum that includes a fine exhibition of woodcuts by the Sami artist Jon Savio as well as much on the history and lifestyle of the far north of Norway.
Do
Fishing, both salt and fresh water, including salmon. Hiking.
Buy
Eat
Vin og Vilt. First class. Moderately priced.
Drink
Try Ritz or Ofelas.
Sleep
Budget
There is a camping site between the airport and town, up the hill after the bridge as you drive towards town. Tel (+47) 78 99 80 28.
Mid-range
Rica Arctic Hotel. ongens gate 1. 47 78995900. 47 78991159
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Rica Hotel Kirkenes. asvikveien 63. 47 78991491. 47 78991356
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Wessel Hotell. r Wessels gate 3. 47 78998600. ost@hotellwessel.no. 47 78998601. ttp://www.hotellwessel.no/.
Get out
Go up the '''Pasvik''' valley for quite a change of fauna. Here you find the last bit of the enormous Russian Taiga, a pine forest that stretches all the way to Siberia.
At '''Grense Jakobselv''', the open Barents Sea washes a beautiful sandy shore. Never gets above 8 celsius, though!