A place I have not written much about on this blog (despite multiple trips) is the Varanger Peninsula (Varangerhalvøya) in Northern Norway.
This region is one of my favorites in the entire country and I do want to encourage more people to visit and trade out some of Norway’s most popular places for this one that is a bit more off the beaten path.
One place that I hadn’t visited until recently was Båtsfjord, Norway.
This small village of just over 2,000 people is located on the Syltefjord and is renowned for its fishing. In the fjord, you will find a teeming population of fish, but it is also known for its salmon fishing in the Syltefjord River.
Other animals that call Båtsfjord home are seals and sea eagles. But, it may be most known for its king eider colony! This is one of the best places in the world to see the king eider up close as they hang around the harbor during later winter into early spring.
I planned an overnight in Båtsfjord to check out what the village had to offer (although I forgot my telephoto lens for my camera, so birdwatching was most definitely out).
In this guide, I will detail everything you need to know before you visit Båtsfjord. It will also discuss the best things to do in Båtsfjord, where to stay, eat, and more!
If you have any questions or want some Båtsfjord travel tips, let me know in the comments. Thanks!
In this post...
About Båtsfjord, Norway
Båtsfjord is located in Finnmark County, Norway on the northern tip of the Varanger Peninsula (but not as far north as a few other places like Berlevåg).
It was established in 1839 and the city’s history is very closely tied with the fishing industry in Norway. Today, it is renowned for its fishing industry and it brings in a lot of cod (skrei) and other fish from the Arctic.
Like many places in Norway, Båtsfjord suffered severe damage during WWII. Today, however, the town thrives as a fishing community that also offers some of Norway’s best birdwatching opportunities!
How to Get to Båtsfjord
There are a few ways to get to Båtsfjord and they are by plane (to Båtsfjord Airport: BJF), the Hurtigruten, or by car. I enjoyed getting there by car because the drive there is otherworldly, to put it mildly.
The airport serves a little over 14,000 passengers annually and is part of the ‘Milk Run’, a series of tiny airports in the far north of Norway that are connected on Widerøe routes.
This means that a plane ticket may have 4-5 layovers on it as it simply drops passengers off and takes them back off to the next stop. These tickets, as expected, can be a little pricey.
I drove to Båtsfjord from my home in Finnish Lapland.
No matter where you’re driving from, you will need to get to Tana, Norway, and then start heading toward Båtsfjord from there. It is 107 kilometers (66 miles) and takes around 1.5 hours without stops. But, the drive is most definitely worth the stops!
When on the 890 going toward Berlevåg/Båtsfjord, you will need to ensure you keep straight and don’t take the left toward Båtsfjord.
Are you visiting Båtsfjord in winter? If you are driving to Båtsfjord during the winter months, you will need to plan your trip around the Kolonnetider – or fixed queue schedule.
The mountain passes are windy and subject to some ugly winter weather and convoy driving is common in Finnmark and other parts of Norway.
Kolonnekjøring is a guided drive to the place. You will have a lead vehicle (often a plow) and vehicles behind it until the destination is reached. There is kolonnekjøring along the 890 and 891. You can view the schedule here.
Things to Do in Båtsfjord
Since Båtsfjord is small, there is not an overabundance to do, but you will find a few cool day trips, excursions, and places to see.
Here are some of the best things to do in Båtsfjord:
- Walk along the Båtsfjord Harbor
- Check out the Båtsfjord Church (has a pretty cool design on the outside and inside)
- Go birdwatching at Syltefjorden (this road is inaccessible during the winter so this is only an option in summer)
- Take a day trip to Hamningberg (a summer option by boat)
- King eider safari (available from February-April; goes by RIB boat)
- Go on a birdwatching RIB tour to Syltefjordstauran (this is a good way to see Finnmark’s largest bird cliffs in person from the sea)
- Enjoy a king crab safari (a RIB boat tour)
If you are into hiking, I saw a trail at the end of Nordskogvegen to Skrovnes that I didn’t have time to hike but there is a lighthouse, shelter area, and a beach out that way! There is also a trail across the water at Sherpatrappa.
Please note that availability for tours may depend on the season and capacity.
Where to Eat in Båtsfjord
I didn’t see too many places to eat there and I only ate a full meal at the Båtsfjord Brygge Arctic Resort’s restaurant. I ordered their fish and chips which is locally caught haddock and it was out of this world.
On the menu, you will also find reindeer, halibut, and more. Vegetarian and vegan options are readily available. At the resort, there is also a bar on the first floor, so be sure to pop by for a drink after your meal!
In addition to Båtsfjord Brygge, you can also find baked goods and cakes at Bakerigården and fast food at a place near the Circle K gas station (it was a kiosk and fast food place).
Where to Stay in Båtsfjord
There are 3 known places to stay in Båtsfjord: the Båtsfjord Brygge Arctic Resort, the Båtsfjord Hotell, and the Polar Hotell.
I did not see or visit the Polar Hotell, but I visited the Båtsfjord Brygge Arctic Resort for dinner and I stayed at the Båtsfjord Hotell.
I booked my stay there a few hours before showing up (I was planning to camp and got lazy) so there was no availability within my price range at the Arctic Resort.
Regarding my room at the Båtsfjord Hotell, it was very nice and quaint. I was a bit nervous as it is rated only a 7.7 on Booking.com, but I thought that was not warranted unless someone rated the place solely on its breakfast (which was a 2/10 on a good day).
My room had a small living room with a couch, chair, fridge, coffee machine, and more. There were two twin beds in a separate room that included a bathroom and a desk in a corner.
My only complaint about the room is that it was so dark! There was a small window in the bedroom but it was just a dark room in general.
At Båtsfjord Hotel, there are also camping spots right along the harbor. So, this is a great option for those with RVs. There is a spot to grill, a bathroom, and a kitchen available to camping guests.
There is also a restaurant at the Båtsfjord Hotell. Based on the quality of breakfast, I wasn’t down to give it a shot but hopefully, it would have proven me wrong.
Båtsfjord Travel Tips
Here are a few travel tips for Båtsfjord that can help you when planning your trip!
☔ Weather: When I was in the town, it was warmer than usual (21C in August) and somewhat sunny. The hottest month tends to be July (average of 52F/11C). The coldest month tends to be February (average of 21F/-6C). The wettest month tends to be October and the windiest month tends to be January.
☀️ Daylight: Båtsfjord experiences the midnight sun from around May 14 until July 29. Båtsfjord experiences the polar night from around November 22 until January 20.
⛽ Gas: there is a Circle K on your right as you enter town. There are limited gas stations in this part of Norway and I saw ones only in Tana, Båtsfjord, and Berlevåg (this does not include further east).
🍎 Grocery stores: Båtsfjord has two grocery stores (Rema 1000 and Extra). If you are heading around the region, this is one of the few places with large grocery stores so stock up on goods (and gas) there!
Should you visit Båtsfjord, Norway?
If you are visiting the Varanger Peninsula in Norway, you should absolutely add it to your itinerary!
It is a short drive from Berlevåg (one of the most beautiful drives in Northern Norway) and offers many unique excursions, including a chance to see the elusive king eiders!
If you have any questions about traveling to Båtsfjord, Norway, let me know in the comments. Thanks!
More Varanger Peninsula Travel Guides
- Things to do in Kirkenes
- Where to stay in Kirkenes
- Bugøynes travel guide
- Båtsfjord to Berlevåg itinerary
- Berlevåg travel guide
- What to do in Kongsfjord
- Steilneset Memorial
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Megan is a travel blogger and writer with a background in digital marketing. Originally from Richmond, VA, she now lives in Finnish Lapland after previous stints in Norway, Germany, Armenia, and Kazakhstan. She has a passion for winter travel, as well as the Nordic countries, but you can also find her eating her way through Italy, perusing perfume stores in Paris, or taking road trips through the USA. Megan has written for or been featured by National Geographic, Forbes, Lonely Planet, the New York Times, and more. She co-authored Fodor’s Travel ‘Essential Norway’ (2020) and has visited 45 US states and 100+ countries.