Winter in Kirkenes is long, crisp, and full of Arctic magic. Blanketed in deep snow and bathed in the soft light of the Polar Night, the landscape becomes a dreamlike world of white. From mid-November to mid-January, the sun doesn’t rise above the horizon, but the sky glows in shades of blue, pink, and orange, and the Northern Lights often dance overhead. The Aurora Borealis can be seen regularly until around April 15th, lighting up the dark Arctic skies in brilliant displays of green and purple. This is the season for unforgettable adventures: glide across frozen lakes on a dog sled, chase the aurora across the tundra, or venture out on a snowmobile through the silent wilderness. Guests can sleep in the Snowhotel’s glittering ice suites, dine on fresh king crab, or relax in a warm glass-roofed cabin under the aurora. With stable weather, still air, and temperatures ranging from –5 °C to –30 °C, winter here feels pure and timeless.

Summer transforms Kirkenes into a land of endless light. Under the Midnight Sun, the sun never sets from mid-May to late July, and days stretch into nights without darkness, allowing limitless time for exploration. Lush green forests, mirror-like lakes, and blooming tundra invite hiking, canoeing, and RIB boat tours along the fjords. Visitors can join a king crab safari or explore the region’s border culture and wartime history. Even in summer, you can sleep at –4 °C in the year-round open Snowhotel 365 – a truly unique experience. Or stay close to nature in our wilderness luxury chalets, the Gamme cabins, with reindeer grazing in the forest outside. A visit to the dog farm is also included, making for an unforgettable Arctic adventure. With temperatures around 10–15 °C and a golden glow in the air, summer in Kirkenes is short but bursting with life.