Murmansk Arctic Ocean Aurora Guide: This is the cheapest place in the world to see the Aurora
Preface
"You are the North Atlantic Current, and I am Murmansk. Because of your arrival, my world has become an ice-free port." As the cheapest place in the world to see the aurora, Murmansk has become increasingly popular in recent years. This article will discuss the city of Murmansk, places within a half-hour walk or taxi ride, and explore every popular and lesser-known attraction.
Murmansk city
Murmansk, located over 300 kilometers deep within the Arctic Circle, was the last city established by Tsarist Russia in 1899. Today, with a population of over 300,000, it is the most populous city within the Arctic Circle.
When you see the city's latitude (68°58′N 33°03′O) sign while riding in a car, it means you are about to enter the city.
Murmanskcheck the details
Murmansk, the ice-free port and capital of Russia's Murmansk Oblast, is the largest port city on the Arctic Ocean coast. It lies northeast of the Kola Peninsula, bordering the Kola Bay of the Barents Sea. Influenced by the North Atlantic Current, Murmansk remains ice-free year-round despite its location at 69° north latitude. Over 1,300 kilometers south of St. Petersburg, a landmark tower stands in the southwest of the city, inscribed with the words 68°58'N, 33°03'E.
Recommended months: December to January
6846 recommendations, 5088 visits
Polar Night and Polar Day
Murmansk experiences one month of long nights and two months of long days. From December 2nd to January 18th, the sun sets below the horizon, while the North Star hangs almost vertically high in the sky. During the two months around the summer solstice, the sun never sets, creating a dark night.
This may not give you a clear impression, so here are some pictures: At 10am in late December or early January, it's still dark, but you can see the twinkling lights of thousands of houses. 12pm is the brightest time of the day.
After mid-January, the daytime will gradually get longer, and you can see sunrise and sunset until the summer solstice when it becomes polar day.
During the polar day, the electricity consumption at home is almost zero because there is no need to turn on lights or air conditioners. However, the electricity saved will be spent during the polar night.
【city center】
The Azimut Hotel, located in the center of the city and the tallest building in Murmansk, has rooms and an executive lounge that are great places to take photos of the night view.
There are many colorful light sculptures and an ice slide in the Pentagon Square in front of the hotel, where locals come to play.
The ice slides are so much fun, I'd spend half an hour every day playing there with the local kids. Russians are incredibly easygoing with their children, and even in the snow and ice, I'd see two- and three-year-olds playing on the slides by themselves. I bet they'll all grow up to be strong and sturdy, able to withstand the cold.
Although not as dazzling as Moscow, the lights in several streets and parks in the city center are also shining brightly.
【Northernmost McDonald's】
Across from the hotel is the world's northernmost McDonald's, which is a popular spot for tourists to check in.
【TRAIN STATION】
The train station is not far from McDonald's, right by the harbor, about a 15-minute walk in winter. The railway and trains are covered in snow.
Russian train stations are open to the public. Security checks are only set up at the main gates, and there are no barriers between the station platforms, so you can stand on the platform of any station without a ticket, but someone will check your ticket when you get on the train.
The station entrance is also the bus terminal, and buses to Loparskaya, the airport, Teriberka and other places depart from here.
Lenin
Across the train station is the Kola Bay port, and the Lenin appears before your eyes.
The Lenin is open from 12:00 PM Wednesday to Friday, and from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM on Saturdays and Sundays. You'll usually have to queue up to buy tickets, so it's best to arrive early. You can enter the ship's cabins, kitchen, captain's room, medical room, and even the actual nuclear reactor.
While waiting to buy my ticket, I noticed many love locks and family locks on the railings. Everyone knows about love locks, but family locks are a popular Russian practice. When a child is born, parents attach a lock symbolizing the child to the same lock they once had. This symbolizes the fruitfulness of marriage and family happiness.
【Kola Bay & Ice-free Port】
Because of the warm North Atlantic Current, the seawater never freezes even in the coldest months, hence the name "miracle ice-free port." The water here flows into the Barents Sea and directly into the Arctic Ocean, making it Russia's important gateway to the Arctic.
As a result, Russia has the world's earliest ice-resistant oil platform, the world's first nuclear-powered submarine, the world's only nuclear-powered icebreaker fleet and the world's only year-round Arctic shipping route.
Alyosha
During World War II, Hitler once dreamed of conquering Murmansk in three days. However, the Battle of Murmansk lasted 40 months, during which the Germans dropped 207,000 bombs, destroying nearly every building in the city. However, they were never able to enter the city. After the war, the people of Murmansk erected a statue of Alyosha on a hillside facing the Kola Bay, commemorating the victory in World War II.
In front of the statue is an eternal flame, commemorating the heroes of World War II. In Russia, every city, big or small, has an eternal flame and a monument to the unknown soldier. Cities, streets, and more are named after heroes.
Russia is a country that worships heroes (strong people), respects veterans, defends their homes, and loves their motherland. This idea is instilled in children from a very young age.
Polar Museum
The Polar Museum, also known as the State Museum, has three floors and focuses on the culture, geology, nature, and history of the Murmansk Oblast. It also features numerous specimens of minerals, animals, and birds.
The exhibits in the "Nature" exhibition hall were obtained from the seabed of 100-12,000 meters through deep-sea drilling technology, which is very unique in the whole of Russia.
Tips:
Opening Hours:
11:00-18:00;
Rest day: Thursday;
Ticket price: 250 rubles. If you are interested, or just bored like me, you can go and have a look.
【other】
Murmansk has many ups and downs (like Chongqing), and in winter these large slopes become natural slides. There is an ice rink on Shabalin Street.
The tree house on the road is a home made by the citizens for the birds, with bread crumbs inside.
Downtown Restaurants
Kruzhka restaurant chain in Murmansk
Type this name into the map and you'll find a lot of places. They offer Thai food, Japanese sushi, pizza, pasta, and steak. It's a Russian restaurant that caters to Chinese palates, and the prices are affordable. I brought three friends here, and they all praised the food. Picture 1 shows the appetizer bread with a large piece of pork fat, a Russian specialty. The tiramisu, with rum, was delicious.
Northernmost McDonald's
There are also a lot of people here. The breakfast items such as shrimp rolls, hash browns, fish fillet burgers, and a small yogurt are also delicious. At Russian McDonald's, the sauce and yogurt spoons are all charged.
Tundra Grill & Bar
Half an hour walk from the city center
Address: Ulitsa Polyarnyye Zori, 49 корпус 2, Murmansk, Murmansk Oblast
The food is delicious and reasonably priced, so it's best to call ahead to make reservations. If there aren't any seats available, ask the waiter for a table at the bar. Tipping is expected, especially at the bar, so remember to tip when you pay.
Recommended: venison, crab salad, mulled wine, steak
Hunter Restaurant
Internet-famous restaurants are known for their long lines. I recommend an award-winning blueberry cake. You can check TripAdvisor for details.
A popular local dessert shop
Recommended by locals, this McDonald's is a 5-minute walk away. They have a wide variety of desserts, so you can eat a different one for a week straight, and most are priced between RMB 8 and 25. Don't miss this place if you love sweets; it's sure to boost your happiness!
Public Transportation
The city is not big and several places can be reached on foot. You can take a taxi to the Alyosha Monument which is a little further away, or use a taxi app.
supermarkets and shopping malls
1. It is about 20 meters away from McDonald's. There is a large supermarket on the lower floor nearby. Please note that you need to weigh the bulk fruits yourself when buying them here. You can just pay attention to how the locals do it and follow their instructions.
Two large supermarkets, O'key and Lena
About a quarter kilometer from the city center, the recommended Kruzhka is right where the supermarket meets the mall. Inside, there are dozens of yogurt and wine cabinets! Many of the clothes are made in China.
I recommend the "Guo Quintessence" ice cream, the same kind used in Russian national gifts. The supermarket also has tons of wine and yogurt. And the wine is super cheap. We ended up buying a bottle a day.
Surrounding attractions and aurora high-incidence areas
The closest location is near the Abram Mosque on Mount Kola, offering a great panoramic view of the city. There's also a monument to the Air Defense Forces, featuring fighter planes and artillery batteries. It's located directly across the mountain from Lenin Bay, and you'll pass the Arctic Circle marker on your way there.
You need to wear thicker clothes here than in the city because it is very cold due to the strong wind. If you come here in winter, you can choose to go after 8 o'clock. If the weather is good, there is a high probability of seeing the aurora.
Husky Base
As soon as you get here, you can hear the barking of Huskies one after another. The dog is tied to the hillside. If you tease it, it will play with you. It is super cute.
If you want to go sledding, an experienced driver will teach you how to drive a dog sled. When you get on the sled, you must always be prepared, because as soon as the sled starts (as soon as the coach lets go of the rope), the dogs will rush forward.
The wind was blowing so sharply against my face and body that I had to wrap myself up tightly with clothes. It was a refreshing feeling that I would never forget once I experienced it.
The base is a 40-minute drive from the city center, and a taxi costs about 380 rubles. There are no cars back to the city center, so you need to use an app or call a taxi. The one-way trip will be more expensive, about 700 rubles. You can also negotiate a round-trip price with the driver.
The base is very popular and usually requires reservations. You can't play without a reservation, but if you are lucky and wait for a while until there are fewer people, you may be able to play. You can ask the hotel front desk or B&B owner to help you make a reservation. Sometimes the phone will be unanswered for a long time.
Lovozero Ловозеро
The town is divided into the Old Sami Village and the New Sami Village. The journey from the city center is a normal two-hour journey, while the airport fare is around 3,000-3,800 rubles. The journey from the city center is a few hundred rubles cheaper. You can book a day trip in advance, which includes transfers from the city center.
There are several pillars in the village. Four of them represent the gods of the four elements: water, fire, air, and earth. The other five are dedicated to blessing people's love, marriage, career, health, and destiny.
Walking further in, you'll see the Sami people's homes. They build conical tents with deerskin and branches. They use fires to keep warm, so they leave a vent above the tents.
Wear traditional costumes and play traditional Sami games. Afterwards, the staff will give you bread and let you feed the reindeer.
In addition to being able to have close contact with reindeer, there are also rabbits and Arctic foxes, and you can also pet the three silly animals in the snow. The animals here are super cute.
If you stay a few more days, there are other snow activities here, such as banana boats, snowmobiles, mountain climbing, fishing, and most importantly, watching the aurora at night.
Jieli
Jieli is divided into Old Jieli and New Jieli. Old Jieli refers to the area with the bridge, bay, red house, and swings. The shipwreck is located a few hundred meters from the Old Jieli Bridge toward New Jieli, quite close.
There is a school in Xinjieli, which is close to the Bazhron Sea in the Arctic Ocean.
1. The polar bear logo and whale skeleton are gone. They were taken away six months after the filming.
2. Pebble Beach: It's a one-hour hike from Xinjieli. It's better to get there by car or snowmobile.
There's a small shop in both the old and new Jieli streets. They don't have a wide selection, but they do have shrimp, dumplings, and other goodies. It's best to bring some food from a supermarket downtown before you arrive. You can make your own food and have plenty to eat. Let's have a hot pot, some vodka, and a pack of Chinese spicy noodles. May the Sino-Russian friendship live on forever.
If you don't have a reservation, you can still book one in the past.
It takes quite a long time to walk between the new and old Jieli, with ups and downs, especially at night. There are no street lights in many places, so remember to bring a flashlight.
Remember to check out the places you are going during the day, don't go based on your impressions from passing by. At night, it is dark and snowy, and the road conditions will be different.
The aurora is flowing, and the red house, the bay, the shipwreck, the pebble beach and the back mountain are all good foregrounds for photographing the aurora.
Chartering a car from the city (you can use a taxi app) typically takes 2.5 hours and costs 3,000-4,000 rubles.
You can also take the bus from the bus terminal. The bus stops at Laojieli Bridge and the final stop is Xinjieli School. You can also buy the return ticket there.
Departure time from the city:
Every Monday at 17:35;
Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday are at 18:00;
The drive takes 4 hours and we arrive at around 10pm;
The return to the city is at 07:00 on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings, arriving in the city around 11:00 noon.
Kirovsk Ski Resort
Kirovsk has several ski resorts. We went to Khibiny Korzhny Ski Resort, about a three-hour drive from the city. We took a cable car to the summit of the snowy mountain and, from the start of the trail, looked down at the magnificent, winding, endless snow trails.
After it gets dark at 2 p.m., you can see villages and towns with bright lights.
Lapland Nature Reserve
The protected area boasts the oldest tundra and forests, trees over 600 years old, lakes, and rivers. It's also home to a variety of wildlife: moose, brown bears, wolves, foxes, minks, lemmings, beavers, and more.
Only a portion of the reserve is open to the public, with the main activity area being around Lake Imandra in Monchegorsk. One attraction is the Ebr Chorr waterfall, which never freezes even in winter. However, the weather here is similar to that in Terezí: snow falls without warning.
This route can be combined with a tour of Kirovsk. If you need to stay overnight, there are many single-family villas available for reservation by the lake. This is also one of the most common places for aurora borealis.
Ski resort Огни Мурманска
Skiing is incredibly popular in Russia. From children to seniors, everyone enjoys it, and it's considered a national sport. This ski resort is the closest to the city center, an estimated 40-minute drive away.
Transportation, ticket booking, luggage, and Aurora hunting tips
Necessary software
1 and 3 are for chasing the Northern Lights, and 4 is for taking a taxi. Use Google Maps for navigation and mark the places you want to go in advance.
【Software Translation】
Murmansk and its surrounding areas don't have as many English speakers as Moscow. Commonly used software: Russian Translator, Google Translate, etc. However, Russian to Chinese translations can sometimes be inaccurate, so you can try translating into English first.
【Luggage Check-in】
Keep your money with you! Don't leave it in your suitcase! Keep other valuables on you if you can. Wrap your suitcase in multiple layers of plastic wrap, not just one!
【Keep warm】
During the day, a quick-drying layer/T-shirt/undershirt as a base layer, a fleece jacket or sweater, a double-layered windbreaker or thick down jacket, a hat, and gloves are all you need. Indoors, there's ample heating (30 degrees Celsius). If you're visiting the Jieri or base camp, high-top fleece boots are best. Crampons are unnecessary unless you're hiking.
If you're going out at night, you should wear an extra layer of warm clothing and pants, or use a heat pack. Heat packs should be preheated before going out; they won't be very useful if it's very cold outside.
【Airport】
1. Arrivals and boarding are two different places, so don't go the wrong way. The yellow one on the left is the bus stop, and the boarding gate is up the slope.
2. The airport is small, so you only need to arrive an hour early for check-in. There is no jet bridge, so we boarded the plane in the cold wind.
Airport to Murmansk city center
1. Public transportation
You have to pay when you get on the bus, and there is also a fee for luggage, but it is not expensive anyway. It takes about an hour to get to the city.
2. Take a taxi
If you take a taxi, you can pay an extra 100-50 rubles and ask the driver to stop at the Arctic Circle longitude and latitude sign to take a photo.
3. You can ask the hotel or B&B landlord to pick you up
Hiring a car to go to Czech Republic costs about 3,000-4,000 rubles. For a few hundred or a thousand rubles more, you can ask them to go to the supermarket, and the cost to go to the city center is about 700-800.
【stay】
Azimut is the best hotel in the city. The front desk can speak English. There are also water dispensers on each floor, with both hot and cold water. The breakfast is really rich.
If you book a B&B with a large group, it will be cheaper, but you have to book early, otherwise the good ones will be gone. You can check booking and airbnb.
【equipment】
Mobile phones: With the exception of a few newer models, most Apple phones are powered off. Android phones are not. Samsung phones are the most popular among locals. To power off your phone, try plugging it into a power bank and keeping the battery at 90% or above.
Camera: It needs a protective case. If you don’t have one, you can also bring a sealable plastic bag. When you enter indoors or in the car, put the camera in the bag and seal it for 10 minutes to prevent the lens from fogging.
Aerial photography: You can fly, but be careful in polar climates where snow can fall quickly. Preheat the aircraft battery. You can use a heat pad on your car's air vent or place a heat pad in your bag before departure. Hover for 2-3 minutes before takeoff to warm it up.
1. When taking pictures of snow scenes in winter, you can increase the exposure a little bit, and the pictures will be much brighter and clearer.
2. The exposure time for the aurora is generally 5-15 seconds, depending on the brightness.
3. What if the aurora is very bright, but the person in your photo appears dark? Bring a flashlight or a cell phone flashlight and point it at the person for 1-2 seconds during the exposure. This will ensure that the photo clearly shows you!
【Aurora viewing, chartered car】
The aurora is visible from the end of September to March. It is recommended to stay a few days to see it. There are two ways to see the aurora in Murmansk: one is the Aurora Hunter, and the other is the base or the accommodation in Terri.
1. There is a wall at the airport exit with contact information for many local aurora hunters.
2. When you check in, ask the hotel front desk or the owner of the accommodation if they have a reservation method. If you know how to use the Aurora app, you can also hire a local driver. They are familiar with the address and transportation.
3. Following China-TravelNote is the most convenient way to travel. You don’t have to worry about getting ripped off, and you can still take beautiful photos.
Polar night and polar day sunrise and sunset times http://m.24timemap.com/sun/russia_murmansk/2018-11.html
