City guide · Мурманск Murmansk
Murmansk
The largest city inside the Arctic Circle: an ice-free port, icebreakers and the aurora over the Barents Sea
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
Los orígenes de la ciudad
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.
- 1916Founded as Romanov-on-Murman
- 1917Renamed Murmansk
- 1941–1945Hit by 792 German air raids in the Second World War
- Cold WarCentre for Soviet submarines and icebreakers
Stories
Historias de la ciudad
Historia · 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.
Historia · 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.
Before you go
Normas que debe conocer en Murmansk
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.
Verificado el 19 oct 2026Fuente: GOV.UK: Russia travel advice — warnings and insurance