Kirkenes is located close to both the Russian and Finnish borders. The neighbours to the east are part of everyday life here, just as the Sami are part of life in the northern hemisphere.

Kirkenes is a melting pot of different countries and cultures, and the weather and seasons there can vary greatly. The winter is long and cold with lots of snowy and Northern Lights dancing through the Arctic night. Summer is short but intense and has the midnight sun.  

War memorial

This bus tour takes you on a journey through the domestic and international history of Kirkenes. One stop is at Andersgrotta. Due to its strategic location, Kirkenes was one of the most bombed towns in the world during World War II. Andersgrotta is the largest bomb shelter in the town, and you see a film here about what it was like seeking shelter and safety in the cave.  On the tour we also stop at various monuments and statues in Kirkenes, including the Russian Monument which is a memorial to the red army that liberated Sør-Varanger in the autumn of 1944. 

We also stop at the "Insta-friendly" viewpoint overlooking all of Kirkenes.   But the stop that is the highlight of this tour for many people is the stop at the Russian border. Here you are just a few metres away from the powerful neighbour to the East.