We are getting off the Havila ship in Kirkenes, Norway at 0900h and a flight to Copenhagen leaves at 1130h. Thus we are not sure if we can make it, Any thoughts?
Thus we may need a hotel in Kirkenes, Any thoughts?
Thanks much
Rich
Posted by
Lake District, England
5752 posts
The airport bus meets the Hurtigruten ship, departing from the port at 0920, arriving at the airport at 0955.
The hurtigruten is known for good timekeeping.
It's a small airport. That is ample time.
Posted by
255 posts
Hi Richard,
I think you will love your experience with Havila! My husband and I loved that “new boat smell” when we took the Bergen-Kirkenes route in September 2022. The staff were amazing and the food was gourmet.
We were booked for a flight out from Kirkenes to Oslo with a short two hour window from docking in the morning. Our ship was running behind schedule so we were quite concerned with making our flight. Havila put the coals to it overnight to make sure we docked on time. Many passengers are vested in Havila for outbound flights. The flights are also invested in both Havila and Hurtigurten as the passengers are mostly departing from the ships. I had the impression flights may delay if necessary.
The airport is tiny though they were modernizing it when we were there. It only opens up for a couple flights a day. Do yourself a favor, don’t book the Havila airport transfer. Walk straight off the boat and grab a taxi to the airport. It cost us about half the price of the big bus everyone else was piling on. We got a great local point of view from our driver. Plus we got to the airport 20 minutes before the Havila charter bus showed up putting us at the line when they finally did open up.
I wouldn’t spend the night in Kirkenes unless you’re staying at the ice hotel. Besides seeing the Russian border or the novelty of the ice hotel, it’s a snooze.
Hope you see the Northern Lights!