Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
For magnificent vistas of Hammerfest and coastal Norway, climb Salen
Hill at 86m (282 ft.) by taking a zigzagging footpath from the center. Most vis-
itors reach the top in about 15 minutes. On a clear day, you can see offshore
islands as well.
If you arrive at noon, you can order lunch at the on-site Turistua ( & 78-
42-96-00 ), Salen, which offers a big Norwegian buffet for 190NOK ($27) per
person. Although tourists flock here, the name Turistua doesn't come from that.
The place was named for a local woman with the last name of “Turi.”
There is also a Sami “turf hut” here, Mikkelgammen, which can be booked
2 days in advance if you'd like to have a Lappish meal here. Guests gather around
a campfire for a three-course meal called bidos. Naturally, reindeer is the main
course of choice. You'll get reindeer soup as well as reindeer meat for your main
course, followed by Arctic cloudberries in whipped cream. The cost of the meal
is 245NOK ($35) per person, followed by a Sami program called Joik, includ-
ing singing (more like chanting) and stories told of life in the far north.
The tourist office also organizes boat trips in the area for those who want to
go deep-sea fishing and bird-watching. Offerings can change from week to week,
but these 3-hour outings require a minimum of eight people, costing 315NOK
($45) per person.
WHERE TO STAY
Quality Hammerfest Hotel This guesthouse opens onto views of the har-
bor, standing right on the Rådhusplassen (Town Hall Square). Built in 1964, it
received its last big renovation in 1992 and is still shipshape today. Its small to
midsize bedrooms are tastefully and comfortably furnished, each with a small
bathroom with a shower. If you can afford it, go for a suite here as they not only
open onto views of the harbor, but they have more luxurious bathrooms with a
tub and a shower. The hotel has drinking and dining facilities, making it one of
the major social hubs of the town. The staff can arrange such adventures as rides
in a snowmobile or on horseback, and can advise about fishing in local waters.
Strandgt. 2-4, N-9600 Hammerfest. & 78-42-96-00. Fax 78-42-96-60. www.hammerfesthotel.no. 53 units.
935NOK-1,250NOK ($133-$178) double; from 1,650NOK ($234) minisuite. Rates include buffet breakfast.
AE, DC, MC, V. Closed Dec 20-Jan 2. Amenities: Restaurant; bar; 2 pubs; sauna; limited room service; solar-
ium; nonsmoking rooms. In room: TV, dataport, minibar, hair dryer, iron/ironing board.
Rica Hotel Hammerfest This is the largest hotel in town and the preferred
place to stay in the area. It's in the town center, opening directly onto the water-
front. Built in the mid-1970s on steeply sloping land, the hotel was completely
redecorated in 1989 and has been regularly spruced up since then. The small,
modern guest rooms are decorated with Nordic-inspired pastels, but the look is
strictly functional. Bathrooms tend to be small and each unit contains a
tub/shower combination.
Sørøygata 15, N-9600 Hammerfest. & 78-41-13-33. Fax 78-41-13-11. www.rica.no. 80 units.
960NOK-1,325NOK ($136-$188) double; 1,500NOK ($213) suite. AE, DC, MC, V. Amenities: Restaurant; bar;
fitness center; sauna; babysitting; laundry service/dry cleaning. In room: TV, minibar, hair dryer.
WHERE TO DINE
Odd's Mat og Vinhus NORTHERN NORWEGIAN Since it opened
in 1992, this rustic restaurant became famous in the late 1990s thanks to a sur-
vey by a Trondheim radio station that voted it the best restaurant in Norway. It's
adjacent to the town's largest pier, overlooking the harbor. Inside, every effort
has been made to simulate the wild splendor of Finnmark (northern Norway),
with the use of roughly textured wood, stone, and many yards of natural hemp
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