Teriberka
Териберка Teriberka · Murmansk Oblast, Russia (Barents Sea coast)
A fishing village on the Barents Sea: filming location of Leviathan, an aurora coast with no city lights.
Know before you go
- Don't enter abandoned buildings or dangerous old boats
- in winter don't walk out alone onto the rocks by the sea
This article is Not yet verified. Please check official announcements for prices, opening hours and dates.
Stories & people
Stories & people
History
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.
Source: Wikipedia: Leviathan (2014 film); Wikipedia: Teriberka
Culture
Culture & customs
Background
Teriberka is a village on the Barents Sea coast at the mouth of the Teriberka River. In the early 20th century its cod and shark fisheries flourished, run mainly by Norwegians; in the Soviet era the village had a collective farm, fisheries, reindeer herds and a shipyard. As ocean-going fleets took over, the coastal fishery declined and the village lost much of its population. In 2014 Andrey Zvyagintsev's film Leviathan was shot here; it won the Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film, and the bleak coast became widely known. In winter, far from city lights, it is a popular place to see the aurora on the Kola Peninsula.
Local customs
- The village has very few people, and many old houses and fishing boats are abandoned
- the wrecks of wooden boats lie along the shore
Etiquette
Etiquette & taboos
Rules that apply here
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
Don’t DON'T
- Don't enter abandoned buildings or dangerous old boats
- in winter don't walk out alone onto the rocks by the sea
Locals appreciate DO
Villagers appreciate visitors who don't wander into private homes or leave litter.
Plan your visit
Practical info
| Best time | December–March, at night |
|---|---|
| Time needed | 1 day |
Travel tips
- It is about a 2–3-hour drive from Murmansk, and winter roads can be very poor, so join a tour or hire a car with driver. The UK Foreign Office and many other governments currently advise against all travel to Russia
- check your own government's latest safety advice before you go. The aurora depends on solar activity and weather, so check the aurora forecast (Kp index) and cloud cover before you go
- chances are usually best between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. Get away from city lights, bring a tripod and dress very warmly.
Photos
Photos
Ted.ns · CC BY 4.0
Nimuel23 · CC BY-SA 4.0
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