❄️Kirkenes and Finnmark: the far north without the crowds

In the far north-east, there is rare silence, dry frost and deep skies. Here, it is easy to combine remote work with short periods of daylight and evenings by the fire in a lavvu. This cheat sheet offers three practical answers: how to structure your winter routine, where to set up your workspace if there are few coworking spaces, and what forms of engagement with Sami culture are appropriate after work — without exoticisation and with respect for people and traditions.

🕰️ How to structure your daily routine in winter with short daylight hours? [Winter][Lockdown]

The polar night lasts from around the end of November to the third week of January — the sun does not rise, but there is a ‘twilight window’ in the middle of the day. Set your focus tasks for early morning/evening, and use the daytime ‘twilight’ (usually around noon) for a 30-60 minute walk and errands outside the home. Keep a light therapy lamp handy and stick to your weekday sleep schedule even on weekends. For quiet slots, your local library is a good option: standard hours are supplemented by meråpent, extended access with a card (usually from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.), which is convenient before and after the working day.

📚 Where to work if there are few coworking spaces — libraries/centres?

The basic option is Sør-Varanger bibliotek in the centre: desks, power sockets, Wi-Fi, long Thursday hours and meråpent so you can drop in early in the morning or in the evening. The address and opening hours are published on the website, and news about extended access is posted on the library's feed.

One of the ‘rare but effective’ places is Tivoli North: a compact coworking space near the central square (Parkveien 2) with Wi-Fi, phone booths and advertised 24/7 access; convenient for a short session ‘between trips’.

As a backup plan, consider coworking passes at hotels: the Scandic chain offers daily/weekly/monthly passes without a subscription (in the city itself — Scandic Kirkenes), and meeting rooms can be booked on request. Conference rooms are also available at Thon Hotel Kirkenes — useful for team briefings lasting an hour or two.

🦌 What Sámi activities are appropriate after work and ethical?

Focus on operators from the communities themselves and meaningful formats: short meetings in a lavvu with storytelling, yoiking, an introduction to reindeer herding and tundra cuisine with local guides. In Kirkenes, there is Sámi Experience at the Snowhotel: an hour-long programme with reindeer feeding and a chat in a chum — convenient to fit into the evening slot (check the schedule). When buying souvenirs, look for the Sámi Duodji or Sámi Made labels, which indicate that the item was made by a Sámi craftsman. Important: ask permission before taking photos of people, do not wear gákti ‘as a costume’ and keep your distance from reindeer in the wild. For a deeper insight, plan a visit to the Grenselandmuseet (in conjunction with the museum of Sámi artist John Savio) or the Várjjat Sámi Musea in Varangerbotn — daytime hours fit well into the ‘end of the world.’

The formula for the north is simple: morning/evening — deep work, midday — a little light and movement, and for quiet — a library with meråpent or a small co-working space near the square. Choose your introduction to Sámi culture carefully: a short, lively programme in a lavvu, buying authentic duodji crafts, and showing respect for people and animals. With this approach, the far north reveals itself gently and generously, without crowds or rush.

Share your favourite places to work and stories about what particularly touched you on your trip in the comments.