Bjørnevatn, Norway
Snowhotel Kirkenes offers a year-round Arctic adventure with snow suites, king crab dining, and Northern Lights views in Norway's northeastern frontier.
Snowhotel Kirkenes stands 23 km from the Russian border, offering a surreal Arctic experience. The hotel features snow and ice suites, rebuilt annually with new artistic sculptures, and Gamme Northern Lights Cabins inspired by traditional Sámi architecture. The surrounding landscape is a winter wonderland, perfect for viewing the Northern Lights. The hotel's philosophy centers on creating a complete Arctic adventure ecosystem. Guests can engage in activities like husky sledding, king crab fishing, and Northern Lights safaris. The design blends traditional Sámi elements with modern comforts, providing a cinematic experience crafted in snow and memory.
At Snowhotel Kirkenes, winter activities include mushing husky teams across snow-covered plateaus and snowmobiling on frozen fjords. Guests can also snowshoe through quiet forests to chase the Northern Lights. In summer, the landscape transforms, revealing hiking trails and opportunities for kayaking and fishing in the Barents Sea. The hotel offers guided wildlife safaris, king crab fishing, and foraging walks, ensuring a year-round Arctic immersion. With access to extreme nature, the hotel provides a true Arctic experience, combining tradition with modern adventure.
Explore additional experiences in the surrounding area.
Straight-line distance from hotel: 7.9 km directSeason: Year-roundAndersgrotta is Kirkenes’ largest bomb shelter, built in 1941 during World War II. It is open to visitors on guided tours, with a daily tour listed at 12:30 and a duration of about 30 minutes.
Route length: 38.2km loopEstimated time: 8.5hLoop routeKirkeneshalvøya dyrelivsfredning is a protected nature reserve established on October 20, 1961. It is designated as a dyrelivsfredning, a wildlife protection area, managed by Statsforvalteren i Finnmark. The area is classified under protection class 4, emphasizing conservation of local wildlife.
Area sceneryRoute length: 2.5km linearEstimated time: 11minDifficulty: HardLinear routeLangøra-Elvenes is a path with an earth surface designed for walking and cycling. It features a mountain bike singletrack trail rated at difficulty scale 2 and prohibits motor vehicles.
Route length: 33.8km loopEstimated time: 7.5hLoop routeNeiden- og Munkefjord naturreservat is a protected nature reserve established on December 20, 1991. It is classified as a class 1a protected area and focuses on wetland conservation. The reserve is operated by Statsforvalteren i Finnmark and is recognized under Norwegian law.
Route length: 5.4km linearEstimated time: 25minDifficulty: MediumLinear routeTelegrafdalen-Ketilvarden is an earth path allowing foot and bicycle access with a mountain hiking classification. The trail is mtb type trial with scale 2 and allows permissive motor vehicle use.
Route length: 2.9km linearEstimated time: 13minDifficulty: EasyLinear routeDemingveien is a gravel track accommodating foot, bicycle, and horse traffic, featuring a very bad smoothness rating. It is designated as a mountain bike track with a 0 difficulty scale.
Route length: 1.5km linearEstimated time: 7minDifficulty: MediumLinear routeVerigas-Huehøgda is an earth surface path that permits both foot and bicycle traffic. It is classified for mountain hiking and medium difficulty mountain biking at mtb scale 2.
Route length: 3.3km linearEstimated time: 15minDifficulty: MediumLinear routeLangvannet Anleggsveien is a ground surface track with no motor vehicle access, designed for foot and bicycle use. Its mtb scale 1 and track type classify it as accessible for beginner to intermediate mountain biking.
Route length: 2km linearEstimated time: 9minDifficulty: HardLinear routeVerigas-Appelsinsteien is a singletrack mountain bike path on an earth surface open to foot traffic and cycling. It has a moderate difficulty rating of 2 and restricts motor vehicles.
Area sceneryRoute length: 0.6km linearDifficulty: EasyLinear routeLysløypa Bjørnevatn-Skihytta is a gravel-surfaced cycleway with a width of 3 meters that supports classic and skating Nordic skiing styles. The path is not segregated and is groomed for easy skiing difficulty. It also supports mountain biking with a scale 0 track suitable for beginner riders.
Låven, the restaurant at Snowhotel Kirkenes, offers a rustic-modern dining experience with views of the Arctic wilderness. The menu features king crab from the Barents Sea, reindeer, and local berries, embracing the seasonal shifts of the region. Guests can enjoy multi-course dinners with Nordic wine pairings, all in a warm atmosphere with wooden beams and soft lighting.
Snowhotel Kirkenes offers an Arctic wellness experience with a wood-fired sauna and outdoor jacuzzi, surrounded by snowfields and birch trees. Guests can enjoy massages in cozy cabins, focusing on recovery after outdoor adventures. The wellness concept emphasizes contrast, blending cold and warmth, silence and steam, for a sensory Arctic experience.
Snowhotel Kirkenes operates as the first snowhotel open 365 days a year, emphasizing eco-conscious practices. The hotel promotes Arctic nature immersion, allowing guests to connect deeply with the environment while minimising their footprint. The hotel's sustainability efforts include using locally sourced materials and ingredients, reducing waste, and supporting local communities. These practices ensure that the unique Arctic ecosystem remains preserved for future generations to experience.
kirkenes-snow-resort offers 6 accommodation types.
Snow Room
An individually sculpted ice-and-snow room inside the Snowhotel, rebuilt each year and decorated with unique snow and ice artwork. Guests sleep on insulated mattresses framed by ice blocks and use thermal sleeping bags, with curtains rather than doors to help…
Snow Family Room
A larger snow accommodation option designed for families or small groups staying in the Snowhotel. Like the other ice rooms, it is individually shaped and decorated, offering a memorable stay surrounded by snow sculptures and an Arctic atmosphere. The room…
Snow Double Room
A snow hotel room configured for two guests, offering the classic Kirkenes Snowhotel experience in a more intimate format. It is one of the ice rooms carved from snow and decorated differently each season, with an insulated bed setup and…
Cottage
A warm cabin-style accommodation option located alongside the snow hotel, intended for guests who want comfort after visiting the ice rooms or prefer a less extreme overnight stay. The cottage is part of the resort’s mixed accommodation offering and is…
Gamme Cabin
A warm, traditional-style cabin available as an alternative to sleeping in the snow hotel itself. The Gamme cabins are presented as a cozy option for one- to three-night stays and are designed for comfort in the Arctic climate. They are…
Snow Suite
A premium snow-hotel sleeping option listed in the resort’s booking and partner information. The Snow Suite is a themed ice-room experience, meaning it combines the sculpted, one-of-a-kind design of the Snowhotel with a higher-category room label. It is typically associated…
Experience the magic of Snowhotel Kirkenes with its snow and ice suites and Gamme cabins. Engage in Arctic adventures and savor king crab dining under the Northern Lights. Visit our website to book your stay.
Metsa AI is an independent travel directory platform. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by this hotel. All trademarks and brand names belong to their respective owners. For inquiries, please contact us at info@metsa.ai. Any stated affiliation or endorsement will be clearly indicated.