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Voykit pocket guide · Norway
Tana
Deatnu
Half a day to one night: cross the famous bridge, see the river, eat salmon. Not a base unless you fish.
Tana is a small municipality in Finnmark, named after Europe's most important salmon river. The main village, Tana bru, sits on the E6 bridge over the river. It's a hub for Sami culture and a stop between Kirkenes and Karasjok, not a destination on its own. Most travellers pass through in under a day.
- Country
- Norway
- Local name
- Deatnu
- Best months
- Jun–Aug
- Avoid
- Nov–Mar (dark, cold, limited services)
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- NOK
- Money
- Currency is the Norwegian krone (NOK, kr); the euro is not used. About 11.5 NOK to €1 — check.
- Daily spend
- Budget kr 600–1,000 excl. bed · Mid kr 1,200–2,000 excl. bed · High kr 2,500+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- EEA roaming applies: EU and EEA SIMs work at home prices.
- Emergency
- Police 112 · Fire 110 · Ambulance 113 · Out-of-hours doctor 116 117
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · European two-pin; UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: Included; round up or add 5–10% for good service.; Café and bar: Nothing expected.; Taxi: Round up.; Guides: Optional.
- Water
- Tap water is excellent; streams in the mountains are usually drinkable, but avoid water below farms and grazing.
- Toilets
- Free or card-paid (NOK 10–20) in towns; trailheads often have pit toilets.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | kr 35–50 |
| Lunch (sandwich or soup) | kr 120–180 |
| Dinner (main course) | kr 250–400 |
| Beer (pint) | kr 80–120 |
| Petrol (1 litre) | kr 20–22 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- KKN · Kirkenes Airport, Høybuktmoen
- About 1 h 30 min drive; check bus connections
- LKL · Lakselv Airport, Banak
- About 1 h 45 min drive; check bus connections
- IVL · Ivalo Airport
- In Finland, about 1 h 30 min drive; summer coach to Tana bru
Typical fares
- Tana bru → Kirkenes (coach)
- about kr 250–350, 1 h 30 min (check)
- Tana bru → Karasjok (coach)
- about kr 200–300, 1 h 15 min (check)
- Taxi Tana bru → Polmak
- kr 400–600
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Tana bru is walkable. A car is needed to reach fishing spots or guesthouses outside the village. Summer coaches run the E6 and to Finland.
See and do
Known for
- Tana River salmon fishing
- Sami culture centre
- E6 bridge over the Tana River
- Gateway to Finnmark
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Kirkenes | Car or coach on the E6, about 1 h 30 min | About 1 h 30 min |
| Karasjok | Car or coach on the E6, about 1 h 15 min | About 1 h 15 min |
| Vadsø | Car on the E75, about 1 h | About 1 h |
| Vardø | Car on the E75, about 1 h 30 min | About 1 h 30 min |
| Utsjoki (Finland) | Car or summer coach, about 30 min | About 30 min |
Sleep
- Tana bru
- The main village; Hotel Tana and a few guesthouses. Most services here.
- Polmak
- About 20 min from Tana bru; Polmakmoen Gjestegård (guest house) is a quieter option.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Heihei |
| Thank you | Takktakk |
| How much is it? | Hvor mye koster det?vor mye koster de |
| Do you speak English? | Snakker du engelsk?snakker du engelsk |
| Where is the toilet? | Hvor er toalettet?vor er toalettet |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake, first names; avoid: Small talk that is too personal
- Nature: Greet other hikers, close gates, carry litter out; avoid: Loud music on trails
- Home visit: Shoes off; bring flowers or chocolates; 'takk for maten' after the meal; avoid: Arriving late
- Conversation: Modest, factual, humorous; avoid: Showing off wealth — Norwegians are rich but understated
- 17 May: Dress up, join the crowds, wave a flag; avoid: Treating the parades as a tourist show
- Queues: Take a number; avoid: Pushing in
Scams and watch-outs
- Check bus schedules ahead: services are sparse, especially outside summer.
- Salmon fishing requires a licence; buy it in advance from the Tana River Fishing Association.
- The village has limited shops and restaurants; stock up in Kirkenes or Lakselv.
- Winter driving: the E6 is ploughed but conditions can be severe; check the weather.
Tana is a safe rural area. The main risks are winter driving on the E6 and the cold. In summer, the river is cold and fast: wading or boating without a guide is not advised.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Tana yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Tana River salmon fishing
- Sami culture centre
- E6 bridge over the Tana River
- Gateway to Finnmark
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Tana municipality official website: www.tana.kommune.no/
- Wikivoyage: Tana, revision 4689028 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4689028
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/tana). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.