Another place I had on my Varanger bucket list was Berlevåg. I had ignored this part of the peninsula on previous trips and I knew this trip was going to make visiting Berlevåg a top priority. And I loved it!
Berlevåg sits at the end of Route 890 except a small road that will take you further to Store Mølvik. But on this trip, it was my endpoint.
The road from Båtsfjord to Berlevåg was a journey within itself (and a beautiful one), so I was surprised to find a village just as jaw-dropping as the road that led me there.
In this guide, I will detail the best things to do in Berlevåg, where to eat, and where to stay overnight. It will also include some travel tips to know before you visit Berlevåg.
If you have any questions or would like some Berlevåg travel tips, let me know in the comments. Thanks!
In this post...
About Berlevåg, Norway
Berlevåg is a small village on the Varanger Peninsula that is home to around 868 people. The Finnmark village was established in 1914 and is renowned for its fishing industry, like many other places in the north of Norway.
It is also known for its extensive destruction during WWII (which took place as the Germans retreated in 1944) and the rebuilding of the community in the 1950s.
But, what has made Berlevåg famous in its own right is its harbor. Or perhaps the issues they had when building it (which took 44 years!). Because of its unique breakwaters, they eventually had to use Tetrapods to protect the harbor.
While those worked, they still had to dredge the harbor more years later to allow for larger ships to enter. Needless to say, it was an extensive (and expensive!) project. I learned about it at the Berlevåg Havnemuseum which I discuss more about below.
Another Berlevåg ‘claim to fame’ is its male choir, the Berlevåg Mannsangforening.
I had never heard about them before visiting but I quickly heard about them from locals and there is a little sign in front of Restaurant Oliver where you can put your face into a wooden cutout to look like you’re a member of the choir.
Berlevåg has a lot going for it for a village of such few people – and I hope you can pay it a visit on your trip to Northern Norway!
How to Get to Berlevåg
There are a couple of ways to get to Berlevåg. You can reach the village by plane (Berlevåg Airport: BVG), the Hurtigruten, or by car. I drove there with a rental car from Finland.
Flying there will be pretty expensive so unless you’re doing a ride along Wideroe’s milk run, it will not be the most feasible option. You can reach there on the Hurtigruten which is one of the stops on the Barents Sea.
If you drive to Berlevåg, you will first need to get to Tana, Norway, and then head straight until you see a sign that will tell you to turn left for Berlevåg (or to continue straight for Batsfjord).
From Tana Bru (the bridge), it is 1 hour and 50 minutes, or 135 kilometers (84 miles).
Are you visiting Berlevåg in winter? You will need to plan your road trip around the Kolonnetider (fixed queue schedule).
This type of convoy driving is typical on Varangerhalvøya and other parts of Norway and kolonnekjøring will help guide your car to your destination during the harsh winter months. You can view the Kolonnekjøring schedule here.
Things to Do in Berlevåg
While I do find there is a lot to do for a village of such few residents, there is not enough to keep you busy for weeks, naturally.
Here are some of the top things to do in Berlevåg that should be part of your itinerary:
- Check out the tetrapods along Svartoksmoloen (there are over 11,000 tetrapods in Berlevåg!)
- Visit the Havnemuseum (more about this below)
- Check out Kvitbrakka (This is a home museum, cultural center, artist hub, and second-hand shop. They were closed when I was in Berlevåg but it looks so creative and cool. Their Facebook has updates of events and more.)
- Take a drive to Sandfjordstranden (this is a large sandy beach close to the village – there is a trail there called Sandfjordfjellet that is great for hikers)
- Explore the Kjølnes Fyr (Lighthouse)
- Peruse the Arctic Glasstudio
- Hike Gaksevikneset in Store Molvik (requires a drive to get there)
- See the kittiwakes around the harbor (this is seasonal)
- Photograph the Berlevåg Church (also has great views from its location)
The Havnemuseum serves as the village’s unofficial tourism office. When there, you will want to watch the 20-minute documentary about the history of the town and its harbor. It is so insightful and will make you understand the museum and place a bit better!
The Berlevåg Havnemuseum is open year-round with the following schedule:
August 16 to June 14 (fall, winter, spring)
- Monday – Friday: 10am to 3pm
- Saturday and Sunday: closed
June 15 to August 15 (summer)
- Monday – Friday: 10am to 6pm
- Saturday and Sunday: 11am to 4pm
The museum also has a pretty cool little gift shop! An entrance ticket is 50 NOK (about $5). Card is accepted.
Where to Eat in Berlevåg
When I was there, I saw two places that offered meals: Restaurant Oliver and Oh Yeah! Street Kitchen.
Oh Yeah! had previously been located across the street and when I didn’t see it in the building it is listed on Google Maps, I assumed it had closed… but it hadn’t!
It is now located in the same building as Restaurant Oliver. You can order at their window in the summer months or even inside Restaurant Oliver.
I ate at Oliver and the food was delicious. They had a limited lunch menu and were sold out of the one thing I wanted to eat, but I ordered their fish soup and was left very satisfied.
Their dinner menu is larger and looks incredible.
Where to Stay in Berlevåg
To be honest, I saw a few signs on buildings that seemed to offer accommodation, but when I researched, the only place I saw that offered consistent accommodation with reviews was the Berlevåg Motell.
I was staying in Kongsfjord at the Kongsfjord Arctic Lodge for a few days and visited Berlevåg as a day trip, so I did not stay overnight in the village, unfortunately.
If you are planning a day trip to Berlevåg like the one I did, I can highly recommend staying at Kongsfjord Arctic Lodge. I loved it so much!
Coming by RV or planning to camp? Berlevåg Motell offers a fairly spacious camping site (in my opinion). I saw a few RVs parked there. You can inquire directly for more information.
Berlevåg Travel Tips
Here are a few travel tips for Berlevåg that will help you plan your trip with ease!
☔ Weather: When I was in the village, it was warmer than usual (20C in August) and pretty sunny. The hottest month tends to be July (average of 52F/11C). The coldest month tends to be January (average of 24F/-4C). The wettest month tends to be March and the windiest month tends to be March.
☀️ Daylight: Berlevåg experiences the midnight sun from around May 12 until July 30. The village experiences the polar night from around November 20 until January 21.
⛽ Gas: There is one gas station in Berlevåg. It is a YX, takes card, and is self-service (24 hours).
🍎 Grocery stores: There is one grocery store in Berlevåg. It is a SPAR and it is situated right by the gas station (and across the street from Neptun Evensen pub). Like most Norwegian grocery stores, it is closed on Sundays.
Should you visit Berlevåg, Norway?
Yes! For some reason, I struggled to capture the beauty of Berlevåg in my photos and I felt a bit rushed on my trip. But, trust me, it is a gorgeous Norwegian village that deserves more attention!
I hope to make it back there in winter one of these days but I think it is a fantastic summer destination if you want to see untouched scenery at the top of the world!
If you have any questions about traveling to Berlevåg, Norway, let me know in the comments. Thanks!
More Varanger Peninsula Travel Guides
- Varanger road trip itinerary
- Båtsfjord to Berlevåg itinerary
- Båtsfjord travel guide
- Visiting Kongsfjord, Norway
- Steilneset in Vardø
- Vardø travel guide
- Things to see in Vardø
- Hamningberg from Vardø
- Things to do in Kirkenes
- Where to stay in Kirkenes
- Bugøynes travel guide
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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.