Season by season
Winter (November–March). Deep cold and reliable snow. Polar night from late November to mid-January; ice thick enough for crab fishing and sledding from about December. Northern lights on clear nights.
Spring (April–May). Bright days on snow in April, thaw in May. Seabirds pour back to Hornøya from March, and migrating waders and sea ducks fill Varangerfjorden.
Summer (June–August). Midnight sun from about 17 May to 27 July, temperatures of 12–18°C, open roads to Grense Jakobselv and Pasvik, and bird cliffs in full swing. Mosquitoes inland.
Autumn (September–October). Rich colours in the taiga, the first frosts and aurora, and very few visitors.
Month-by-month
| Month | Avg. high | Avg. low | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | -7°C / 19°F | -14°C / 7°F | Busy |
| February | -7°C / 19°F | -14°C / 7°F | Peak |
| March | -3°C / 27°F | -10°C / 14°F | Peak |
| April | 2°C / 36°F | -4°C / 25°F | Moderate |
| May | 7°C / 45°F | 1°C / 34°F | Quiet |
| June | 13°C / 55°F | 6°C / 43°F | Busy |
| July | 17°C / 63°F | 10°C / 50°F | Peak |
| August | 15°C / 59°F | 9°C / 48°F | Busy |
| September | 10°C / 50°F | 5°C / 41°F | Moderate |
| October | 3°C / 37°F | -1°C / 30°F | Quiet |
| November | -2°C / 28°F | -7°C / 19°F | Moderate |
| December | -5°C / 23°F | -11°C / 12°F | Busy |
Figures for: Kirkenes. Temperatures are rounded long-term averages for the place named above; real days vary widely, and wind makes it feel much colder. Crowd levels are our own estimate.
Events & festivals
- February: Barents Spektakel, a festival of art and debate about the borderland
- March–August: Seabird season on Hornøya
- Mid-May–late July: Midnight sun
- July: Pomor Festival in Vardø, recalling the old trade with northern Russia
- 25 October: Anniversary of the liberation of Kirkenes in 1944
