There's little choise of hotels in Kirkenes, but Rica Arctic Hotell is one of the two best hotels in this very little town. It's very conveniently located right in the middle of this small city. The reception desk is really very helpful, in spite of their rather gruffy approach towards clients. Must be the influence of nearby Russia, where some of the staff originally came from. The room we had was clean, spacious and located on the 4th floor, which gave us a nice view over the roof tops towards the fjords. Beds are good, bathroom clean and free Wifi available thoughout the hotel. Don't have your notebook? Than you've to pay for using their computer. Kind of silly, but the free coffe, tea and hot chocolat in the spacious soft seated lounch really made it up. Guests also have free access and use of the small, but very comfortable indoor swimming pool and sauna. A welcome treat after a walk in the frezing cold outside. Not a lot of entertainment going on in Kirkenes, but just enough restaurants available to make a different choise every 3-4 days. The hotel restaurant menu card looked good, but we went outside and had a very good experience in the Surf and Turf restaurant, just 5 minutes away from the hotel at the end of the pedestrian road. Really good payable food.
The hotel breakfast was excellent. Good quality fresh products, including fresh whole weat bread. According to my wife, the taste of the coffee could've been improved.
The hotel arranges all kinds of excursions and local trips to explore the are. Plenty of folders at hand and once you've made your selection, the reception desk arranges it all, free of charge.
We stayed 3 nights, so one day we did the Husky Tour (awesome!), followed by a visit to the nearby Snowhotel, where you can stay a night sleeping in a bag on a ice-bed. We'd a hot cup of coffee in stead. The next day we had a private tour to the Russian borden, only 10 km from Kirkes, visit the recently open iron-mine and toured the beautiful winter landscape. As being the turning point of the Hurtigruten, lots of tourist have find their way (and more will come in future) to Kirkenes and in spite of being a real small village (4000 inhabitants in the village, 10.000 in the whole area) There are lots of things to do and to explore in this area and staying in Rica Arctic Hotell is a very good choise.