Murmansk
Discover Murmansk
Murmansk (Russian: Му́рманск) is a city in the extreme northwest of Russia and the world's largest city north of the Arctic Circle. It lies in the Kola Bay on the Kola Peninsula, by the Barents Sea. With a population of 270,000 (as of 2021, down from 470,000 in 1989, and 310,000 in 2010), Murmansk is the largest city in the Arctic and an important Russian naval base and commercial port. Unlike Arkhangelsk on the White Sea, its harbor does not freeze in winter. It was the last city founded by the Russian Empire. In World War II, known to Russians as the Great Patriotic War, Murmansk served as a port for the arctic convoys, and after the war became the Soviet Union's most important submarine base. This history provides a major reason to visit the city, museums and port.
What to Experience in Murmansk
Taste of Murmansk...
Some neighbourhoods may be unsafe at night, particularly Rostu and Zhilstroy. Packs of stray dogs roam around suburban areas and have been known to attack humans carrying food. There are also bear sightings along the road leading to the airport. Although bears usually flee upon contact, mothers protecting cubs may be aggressive. The wilderness of the Kola peninsula and Murmansk Oblast is perfect for camping, fishing or hunting. Many visitors continue out in the wild from here. There are several large national parks nearby and there are several companies to organize your trip. Or you can head north; Murmansk is a great place to start for your icebreaker cruise to the Arctic Sea and the North Pole.
Climate
In the Far North, Murmansk experiences cold winters with temperatures routinely dropping below −20 °C (−4 °F). The brief summer offers mild temperatures between 10–15 °C (50–59 °F). Strong winds are common, especially at the higher parts of the city. 68.783832.7559471 Murmansk Airport (MMK ). Has multiple daily flights to Moscow and Saint Petersburg, and limited services to other Russian cities including Arkhangelsk, Sochi and Rostov-on-the-Don. Seasonal flights operate from Minsk in the summer months. The airport is about 40 km (25 mi) south of Murmansk, near the town of Murmashi. Taxis to the city center cost 600-700 руб and make the trip in about 40 minutes. Catching a taxi waiting outside the airport is more expensive, expect to pay up to 800 руб, depending on your language and negotiation skills. For cheaper (and official) taxi service, you have to order a taxi, expect to wait up to 30–40 minutes for it to arrive, though.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple Options68.783832.7559471 Murmansk Airport (MMK ). Has multiple daily flights to Moscow and Saint Petersburg, and limited services to other Russian cities including Arkhangelsk, Sochi and Rostov-on-the-Don. Seasonal flights operate from Minsk in the summer months. The airport is about 40 km (25 mi) south of Murmansk, near the town of Murmashi. Taxis to the city center cost 600-700 руб and make the trip in about 40 minutes. Catching a taxi waiting outside the airport is more expensive, expect to pay up to 800 руб, depending on your language and negotiation skills. For cheaper (and official) taxi service, you have to order a taxi, expect to wait up to 30–40 minutes for it to arrive, though. Bus 106 goes to the train station, stopping at Detsky Mir near the Poliarnie Zori Hotel on its way, is less expensive but much more sluggish than a taxi. During the summer months, 68.97388933.0760462 Murmansk Shipping Company offers occasional trips to and from Barentsburg on Svalbard....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Although Murmansk is long and thin, most sites of interest to visitors are within a fairly compact area in the city center. 68.96400533.0731141 Prospekt Lenina is the main north-south thoroughfare through the city center and the central Five Corners Square. Avid walkers could cover the entire stretch of the central area from the Poliarnie Zori Hotel on the south end of the city center to the Alyosha Statue, on a plateau on the north side of the city, in less than two hours. Trolleybuses are available on most larger streets and generally follows a north-south route, if you are heading east ("up the hill") you have to rely on the small marshrutka buses. Both buses and trolleybuses can be much delayed during rush hours due to traffic jams. A route planner showing real time location of trolleybuses on the most used lines is available online, the catch is it's in Russian only. The Murmansk trolleybus is the northernmost trolleybus system in the world.
Where to Stay
Some neighbourhoods may be unsafe at night, particularly Rostu and Zhilstroy. Packs of stray dogs roam around suburban areas and have been known to attack humans carrying food. There are also bear sightings along the road leading to the airport. Although bears usually flee upon contact, mothers protecting cubs may be aggressive. The wilderness of the Kola peninsula and Murmansk Oblast is perfect for camping, fishing or hunting. Many visitors continue out in the wild from here. There are several large national parks nearby and there are several companies to organize your trip. Or you can head north; Murmansk is a great place to start for your icebreaker cruise to the Arctic Sea and the North Pole.
Money & Budget
Some neighbourhoods may be unsafe at night, particularly Rostu and Zhilstroy. Packs of stray dogs roam around suburban areas and have been known to attack humans carrying food. There are also bear sightings along the road leading to the airport. Although bears usually flee upon contact, mothers protecting cubs may be aggressive. The wilderness of the Kola peninsula and Murmansk Oblast is perfect for camping, fishing or hunting. Many visitors continue out in the wild from here. There are several large national parks nearby and there are several companies to organize your trip. Or you can head north; Murmansk is a great place to start for your icebreaker cruise to the Arctic Sea and the North Pole.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
Some neighbourhoods may be unsafe at night, particularly Rostu and Zhilstroy. Packs of stray dogs roam around suburban areas and have been known to attack humans carrying food. There are also bear sightings along the road leading to the airport. Although bears usually flee upon contact, mothers protecting cubs may be aggressive. The wilderness of the Kola peninsula and Murmansk Oblast is perfect for camping, fishing or hunting. Many visitors continue out in the wild from here. There are several large national parks nearby and there are several companies to organize your trip. Or you can head north; Murmansk is a great place to start for your icebreaker cruise to the Arctic Sea and the North Pole.
Glimpses of Murmansk
Colorful autumn landscape in mountains
person standing on rock under green sky during night time
a boat sitting on top of a sandy beach under a green sky
brown mountain beside body of water under blue sky during daytime
instagram: @auchynnikau
instagram: @auchynnikau
The lonely man walking in the northernmost corner of the world
a rocky landscape with a body of water in the distance
a snow covered mountain overlooks a body of water
instagram: @auchynnikau
Colorful autumn landscape in mountains
person standing on rock under green sky during night time
a boat sitting on top of a sandy beach under a green sky