Known as the “Fishing Capital of Norway”, Båtsfjord is a small coastal village in Northern Lapland. It lies at the innermost end of the Båtsfjorden and on the doorstep of Varangerhalvøya National Park, which is renowned for its exceptional birdlife.
Twitchers can visit Syltefjordstauran, a three-kilometre-long cliff that provides a nesting site for gannets, kittiwakes and puffins. Relics of human occupation dating back to the Palaeolithic have been discovered on the surrounding coastline, while the nearby grasslands provide summer grazing for reindeer.
If you want to stretch your legs, you can follow the hiking trails that wind through the bogs and valleys of Varangerhalvøya National Park while keeping your eyes peeled for Arctic foxes. Anglers can head to one of the rivers or mountain lakes to try their luck at luring trout, salmon and arctic char.
Getting there
Båtsfjord Airport is a five-minute drive from the village and has flights to destinations across Norway. Kirkenes is around 3.5 hours’ drive from Båtsfjord and the village is served by the Hurtigruten coastal ship. Renting a car is the most convenient way of getting to Båtsfjord, which is small enough to explore on foot.