Kirkenes Snow Hotel
The Kirkenes Snow Hotel is one of the prime attractions of the town. It is situated close to the border and was opened in 2006. The hotel has 20 rooms and the largest snow dome in Norway. Artists from Finland and Japan were hired to intricately decorate all the rooms individually with great detail and precision.
The famous Snow Hall of the hotel was decorated by a local sculptor called Arild Wara. A reindeer park and a husky farm in the hotel area add to the charm of the snow hotel and guests can even experience special dinners cooked in the open air on select days. The hotel offers a sauna to all guests before and after their stay.
Planning A Visit To Grenselandsmuseet
Grenselandsmuseet is the Border Country Museum that shows the history of pregion along the Norwegian and Russian border. There are masterpieces of the Sami art by John Savio and a historical depiction of the mining industry in the area. There is also a small shop and a cafeteria inside the museum to allow the visitors to refresh themselves and buy souvenirs.
The Thursday Market
Every last Thursday of the month, the town plays host to the Russian Market. The market is set-up at the central square, where the traders sell the goods and merchandise. This market is an excellent opportunity to hunt for artefacts and memorabilia and one can find things like matryoshkas, handicrafts and Russian crystal. The linen clothes and the porcelain dishes also make for a unique shopping experience.
Unearthing The Andersgrotta
Andersgrotta is located in the city centre of Kirkenes. It is a colossal underground bunker built during World War II. The bunker is said to have provided shelter to 9000 residents of the town. Regular tours to the bunker are available for the interested visitors.
Travelling to Hoybuktmoen
Hoybuktmoen is a military base situated just outside Kirkenes and makes for a great day visit. There are six border stations connected to the base, all of which are based along the Russian border. The base is primarily used to check the flow of illegal immigrants from across the border.