Hammerfest

Claiming the title of northernmost town in the world, Hammerfest sits on the northwestern coast of Kvaløya island in Norway's Finnmark county, above 70° latitude. The midnight sun stays above the horizon from mid-May through late July, while polar night runs from late November to mid-January — two phenomena that draw cruise ships each summer. The town is also one of the centres of Sami culture, with an ice-free harbour, mountain terrain nearby, and a small central core with cafés and restaurants.

• Population11,448
• Nearest water0.5 km
• Nearest mountain0.7 km
• UNESCO within 50 km1