Introduction to Hammerfest & The Polar Bear Club

by coach & on foot

This leisurely tour offers a glimpse of Hammerfest’s most notable sights and varied history.

Hammerfest is one of the northernmost towns in the world, and whilst shrouded in darkness from November to January, it basks in the midnight sun during the summer months. A small but modern town, the main industries have long been fishing and trade, but more recently it has also become the central point for the petroleum industry in northern Norway.

Join your coach at the pier, and set off on a sightseeing drive through this intriguing town. As your coach travels through the town’s suburbs, you will see many homes that were built after the town was destroyed during World War 2. Keep your eyes peeled for reindeer grazing in the meadows of the Finnmark Mountain Plains as you make your way to the charming fishing village of Forsøl. A short stop will be made here to capture the coastal views before continuing to the Mount Salen viewpoint to snap panoramic views over Hammerfest, the fjord and the surrounding islands.

A drive back through the town centre brings you to your final destination – the Royal and Ancient Polar Bear Society. The Society was founded in 1963 with the goal of preserving Hammerfest and its proud heritage as a base for fishing and hunting voyages in Arctic waters. Today, it is the second largest club in the world, with almost 300,000 members. The exhibition here features a collection of artefacts from polar expeditions, including an exhibit on Adolf Henrik Lindstrøm, a Hammerfest-born cook who accompanied Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen – completing more polar expeditions than any other person.

After browsing the collections, you may wish to visit the shop to purchase a souvenir of your visit, or perhaps even join the society for yourself, before returning to the pier and your awaiting ship.