Can you see the northern lights in Kirkenes tonight?

Visit Kirkenes describes a dry inland climate with low rainfall all year, while Northern Norway's tourism board describes a dry and stable winter climate where frequent clear skies give excellent chances of seeing the aurora. You can reach the town by scheduled flights, on the coastal route ships, or by road from Norway and neighbouring Finland.

When to see the northern lights in Kirkenes

According to Visit Kirkenes and Hurtigruten, the northern lights can be seen from late August to late March. Northern Norway's tourism board notes that the green rays of the northern lights are often visible above Kirkenes.

Weather conditions here differ from much of the Norwegian coast. Visit Kirkenes states that the town has a dry inland climate with low rainfall all year, rather than the damper weather found at other coastal destinations. Northern Norway's tourism board also describes the winter climate in Kirkenes as dry and stable, noting that frequent clear skies provide excellent chances of seeing the aurora. For a broader comparison across the region, read our guide to the best places to see the northern lights.

Visit Kirkenes reports an average temperature of 10 °C in July and -13 °C in January. The tourism board notes that the climate brings freezing temperatures from November to April and is rarely mild compared with other parts of Northern Norway. Visit Kirkenes says snow is guaranteed from November or December to April, which is also the season for winter excursions such as dog sledding and snowmobiling.

Travellers must also plan for winter weather disruption. Looking at climate change, Visit Kirkenes says a few more snowstorms and strong winds could affect transport and planning, with periodic road closures or cancelled flights and ships.

How to get to Kirkenes

By air

Kirkenes Airport is located at Høybuktmoen outside the town. SAS and Norwegian operate direct flights between Oslo and Kirkenes. Visit Kirkenes confirms there are daily flights connecting Kirkenes to Oslo, Tromsø, and regional destinations across Finnmark. An airport bus runs between Kirkenes Airport and the town.

By sea

Kirkenes serves as the turning point for the Coastal Express route from Bergen. Passengers can join or leave the vessel here. Hurtigruten notes that the walk between the port and the town centre takes only 20 minutes.

The coastal route sails from Kirkenes every day around noon and reaches Honningsvåg, close to the North Cape, early the next morning; depending on the day it is operated by Havila or Hurtigruten. If you plan to continue along the coast, see our guide to the North Cape.

By road

The E6 ends in Kirkenes, and you can drive there all year. Northern Norway's tourism board states that driving from Oslo entirely through Norway covers 2,380 km and takes 34 hours. The tourism board advises that winter driving in the region is manageable for those accustomed to snow, ice, and narrow roads, but suggests public transport can be a better option otherwise.

Travellers arriving from Finnish Lapland can cross the border by car. Lapland North notes that the closest road link from the Inari and Saariselkä areas to Kirkenes crosses the national border at Näätämö. You can combine a trip here with visits to Inari or Saariselkä.

Where to stand to see the aurora

Northern Norway's tourism board notes that visitors can look for the aurora on organised tours by dog sled or snowmobile, or independently on skis along marked trails surrounding the settlements. For guests remaining at their accommodation, the Kirkenes Snow Hotel monitors the night sky and alerts guests whenever the aurora appears.

A northern lights tour by minibus listed by Visit Kirkenes follows the weather and aurora forecasts, chooses the direction with the clearest sky that evening, and takes a small group. The operator stops by a fire under the stars, far from the town's lights, though it says the northern lights are a natural phenomenon and can never be guaranteed. For these excursions, the operator advises dressing warmly, in wool, a windproof jacket, a hat, mittens and good shoes, and lends a winter suit if needed.

Visit Kirkenes describes the Pasvik Valley as home to Norway's largest continuous pine forest, offering the northern lights and the silence of the snow-covered landscape in winter. A dog-sledding tour listed by Visit Kirkenes drives about 40 minutes from Kirkenes to a kennel and sleds through the dark Pasvik Valley with a chance of the northern lights, stopping if they appear.

Further south in the valley lies Øvre Pasvik National Park, which DarkSky International certified as Norway's first International Dark Sky Place. The national park sits approximately 100 km south of Kirkenes, and its official visitor centre, Svanhovd, is located at Svanvik, 45 km south of Kirkenes.