North European travel guide
self-guided walks
Hammerfest is one of the most historic towns in Northern Norway. Settled around the 13th century, the town grew thanks to polar hunting and trade. Today Hammerfest is a modern administrative centre and growing city.
This guide is 7 pages and comes in a PDF format.
Hammerfest is the world’s northernmost city with a population over 10,000. While the entire town was leveled after World War II, the new town that rose from the ashes is modern thanks to the income coming from the LNG plant just outside the town. There is a culture house, higher education centre, restaurants and shopping mall, and the iconic Royal and Ancient Polar Bear Society. The coastal ferry doesn’t dock in Hammerfest for long, but there is good time to catch all the highlights.
1km (0.6 miles)
Level 1 – flat path, no stairs, paved. Slight uphill towards the church.
Coastal Ferry Terminal
Hammerfest Church
Example of what the guide looks like.
This is a summarised itinerary. More stops are included in the walk.
Hammerfest Harbour
This is the main harbour area of Hammerfest. In 2019, when I visited here, the famous beluga whale Hvaldimir was seeking refuge in this harbour and there were staff here feeding him.
Royal & Ancient Polar Bear Society
Founded in 1963 by two local businessmen, it was somewhat a joke but quickly became very popular. Visitors are encouraged to join the society and are invited to the annual meeting every January. You have to be in-person to sign up.
Museum of Reconstruction
The Museum of Reconstruction is dedicated to the showing the rebuilding effort after the Nazi’s scorched earth policy destroyed the town.
Hammerfest Church
It’s believed the first church was built in Hammerfest around 1620, but the church from today is probably the sixth church to be on the site.