Finnair began its new route to Kirkenes in Northern Norway last month, becoming the only airline to offer a scheduled international flight to the town.
Located 400 miles north of the Arctic Circle just a few miles from the border with Russia, Kirkenes (known as King Crab City) sits at the meeting point between the Barents Sea and the Norwegian Sea.
The town is a popular destination for cruise lines such as Hurtigruten and Havila, which offer coastal sailings. It is one of the best places to experience both the midnight sun during the summer months, from around May 17 to July 21 (there is no sunlight from November 21 to January 21), and the Northern Lights in winter.
Popular winter activities include king crab safaris, snowmobiling, dog sledding and sleeping over in Snowhotel Kirkenes. Summer activities include boat trips, hiking, and exploring the surrounding nature reserves.
There is also a lot of WWII history in Kirkenes: the city’s proximity to the Russian border and position as a key trade port during the war made it a prime target for both German and Russian forces as they grappled back and forth. The Border Country Museum (Grenselandsmuseet) is well worth a visit exhibiting the history of war and peace between Russia and Norway.
Flights between Helsinki and Kirkenes operate three times a week, with timings scheduled to fit in with connections from the UK and Ireland (with transfers from 40 minutes in Helsinki).
Finnair flies year-round from London Heathrow, Manchester, and Edinburgh to Helsinki and operates six daily flights from London, double-daily flights from Manchester and up to seven weekly flights from Edinburgh.
Havila Voyages is currently offering savings of up to £220pp on Norwegian coastal voyages departing from October 2025 until the end of January 2026.
Guests booking a Round Voyage (Bergen/Kirkenes/ Bergen) will enjoy the full saving, whereas those booking a six-day Voyage North or five-day Voyage South will enjoy savings of £110 per person (£220 per cabin, based on two sharing).
Prices for the 12-day Round Voyage start from £906pp, on full-board basis, for a choice of departures in November or December 2025.
The six-day Voyage North (Bergen to Kirkenes) now costs from £827pp on a full-board basis for a choice of departures in November or December 2025.
The offer is valid for all cabin categories and for bookings made by June 15 2025.
