• Understand
• Get around
• See
• Do
• Buy
• Eat
• Drink
• Sleep
• Get out

The Alesha Statue

Murmansk (Му́рманск) is a city in the extreme northwest of Russia, the largest city north of the Arctic Circle.

[edit] Understand

With a population of over 300,000, Murmansk is the largest city in the Arctic and an important Russian naval base and commercial port. In World War II (known to Russias 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.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

Murmansk Airport (MMK, [1]) has multiple daily flights to Moscow and Saint Petersburg, and limited services to other Russian cities including Sochi and Rostov-on-Don. There are also several flights per week to Tromso and Kirkenes, Norway.

The airport is located about 40km south of Murmansk, near the town of Murmashi. Taxis cost 420-500 Rubles from the city center and make the trip in about 40 minutes. The 106 bus from the train station (stopping at Detsky Mir near the Poliarnie Zori Hotel) is less expensive but much more sluggish than a taxi.

[edit] By boat

A bus and catamaran service connects to Kirkenes at the northeasternmost tip of Norway. There are also occasional boats to Barentsburg, Svalbard.

[edit] By train

The Railway Station

By train, Murmansk is 35-40 hours from Moscow and 27-30 hours from St. Petersburg, depending on the train. The train station is located in the city center, one block downhill from Five Corners Square.

[edit] By bus

Murmansk can be reached by bus from Finland (Rovaniemi and Ivalo) and Norway (Kirkenes).

[edit] Get around

Although Murmansk is long and thin, most sites of interest to visitors are within a fairly compact area in the city center. Buses and taxis are available on the major streets, and Prospekt Lenina is the main north-south thoroughfare through the city center. 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.

[edit] See

• <see name="Regional History Museum" alt="" address="Prospekt Lenina 90" directions="" phone="42 26 17" email="" fax="" url="http://www.murman.ru/culture/museum" hours="11am to 5:45pm, daily except Thursday" price="25 Rubles">Contains displays on various themes, including ethnography of local peoples, a taxidermy display of local flora and fauna (including polar bear and moose), arctic explorations, and an extensive display on Murmansk's role in World War II. All displays in Russian only, cashier closes at 5:00pm.</see>

• <see name="Alyosha Statue" alt="" address="" directions="on the hill near Lake Semyonovskaya" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">30-meter-tall statue of a soldier overlooking the city. It is common for wedding parties in Murmansk to visit the statue and drink a bottle of champagne there. To reach the statue, follow the road that curves around the north of the lake (Buses 3 and 10 go at least part of the way, then one must walk), or, in good weather, hikers can cut through the hills and across the south side of the lake on the dirt footpath that begins across the street from the Savior-on-the-Water Cathedral and the lighthouse.</see>

• <see name="Regional Arts Museum" alt="" address="Ul. Kominterna 13" directions="" phone="45 03 85" email="" fax="" url="http://www.murman.ru/culture/art_museum" hours="11am to 6pm, Wed-Sun" price=""></see>

• <see name="Northern Navy Museum" alt="" address="Ul. Tortseva 15" directions="" phone="22 14 45" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price=""></see>

• <see name="Shipping History Museum" alt="" address="Ul Volodarskovo 6" directions="" phone="48 13 56" email="" fax="" url="" hours="9am to 5pm, daily except Saturday" price=""></see>

• <see name="Arctic Research Institute Exposition" alt="" address="Ul. Knipovicha 6" directions="" phone="47 23 97" email="" fax="" url="" hours="9am to 4pm, Mon-Fri" price="">Viewing apparently by appointment only; call and ask for Tatiana at least a few days in advance.</see>

[edit] Do

[edit] Buy

[edit] Eat

[edit] Drink

[edit] Sleep

Five Corners Square, with the Meridian Hotel on the left

[edit] Get out

• Icebreaker cruises to the North Pole [2].