Kilpisjärvi – Skibotn border crossing

The Kilpisjärvi (FI) – Skibotn (NO) border crossing is 10 km from Kilpisjärvi and is relatively remote. It is not without interest however being a time zone border and an EU border. No controls here, although there is a large customs facility before Kilpisjärvi.

There is plenty to keep a border enthusiast interested in. As an international border there are several national and local signs. The Norway – Finland border is well demarcated with stone cairns and it is easy to spot a number near the road and along the border in both directions.

I visited this point as part of the IBRG ARTEX-24 expedition.

We visited this point en route back to Tromsø. We had just completed the Malla Trail (11 km) back from the FINOSE tripoint, were heading for something to eat and it was raining with loads of mosquitos around, this was very much a quick visit.

Looking into Norway

The Border

The Finland–Norway border is open, as both countries are part of the Schengen Area. It is legal to cross the border anywhere if no customs declaration or passport check is needed. An 8-meter wide clear-cut zone straddles the land border. This border crossing is the furthest west for Finland. Since Norway uses Central European Time and Finland uses Eastern European Time, the time zone on the east side of the border is one hour behind the time zone on the west side.