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Panorama of Murmansk

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City guide · Мурманск Murmansk

Murmansk

The largest city inside the Arctic Circle: an ice-free port, icebreakers and the aurora over the Barents Sea

Photo: kallerna · CC BY-SA 3.0

Murmansk is the most populous city in the world north of the Arctic Circle and home port of Russia's fleet of nuclear icebreakers. In winter you can travel from here to Teriberka on the Barents Sea to see the aurora. Note: the UK Foreign Office and many other governments currently advise against all travel to Russia.

History

How the city came to be

During the First World War, Russia built a railway to the ice-free harbour on the Murman coast in 1915 to receive military supplies from its allies. In 1916 the railhead was granted town status and named 'Romanov-on-Murman' after the ruling dynasty, with a founding ceremony on 4 October; after the February Revolution of 1917 it was renamed Murmansk. German aircraft raided it 792 times in the Second World War. In the Cold War, Murmansk was the centre for Soviet submarines and icebreakers. The nuclear icebreaker Lenin, moored in the harbour today, is now a museum; since 2018 the Northern Sea Route has been managed by the state nuclear corporation Rosatom.

  1. 1916Founded as Romanov-on-Murman
  2. 1917Renamed Murmansk
  3. 1941–1945Hit by 792 German air raids in the Second World War
  4. Cold WarCentre for Soviet submarines and icebreakers

Stories

Stories of the city

History · Teriberka

The bleak coast of Leviathan

In 2014 the Russian director Andrey Zvyagintsev filmed 'Leviathan' on the Kola Peninsula, mainly in towns such as Kirovsk, with seaside exteriors shot in Teriberka. The film won Best Screenplay at Cannes and the Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film. This fishing village, once living on cod and later in decline, became better known thanks to the film and is now a popular place to see the aurora on the Kola Peninsula.

History · Murmansk

First called Romanov, only later Murmansk

In 1915, to receive Allied supplies during the First World War, Russia built a railway to an ice-free port on the Murman Coast. In 1916 the railhead was granted town status and named 'Romanov-on-Murman' after the ruling Romanov dynasty, with a founding ceremony on 4 October. But the name lasted only a few months: the February Revolution of 1917 overthrew the Tsar, and in April the town was renamed Murmansk.

Must see

Places you shouldn’t miss

Aurora over the Barents Sea coast

Hidden gemMurmansk Oblast, Russia (Barents Sea coast)

Teriberka

A fishing village on the Barents Sea: filming location of Leviathan, an aurora coast with no city lights.

Panorama of Murmansk

Regional favouriteMurmansk Oblast, Russia (Kola Peninsula)

Murmansk

The most populous city north of the Arctic Circle: an ice-free port in the polar night, a nuclear icebreaker and the aurora.

Before you go

Rules to know in Murmansk

All etiquette & taboos →

Red lineSafetyRussia

Russia: many governments advise against all travel

  • Before you leave, check your own government's latest safety advice
  • Check whether your travel insurance covers you
  • Ignoring official travel warnings and going anyway

Because of the risks from Russia's continuing invasion of Ukraine (drone attacks, air-defence activity, limited return flights and more), the UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to Russia; the risk of foreigners being detained has also increased. If you travel against official advice, your travel insurance may be invalid.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Russia travel advice — warnings and insurance

Sources