Kirkenes is a town situated in the Sør-Varanger Municipality within the Finnmark county of northeastern Norway. It is known by the names Girkonjárga in Northern Sami and Kirkkoniemi in Kven.
The town is located on a peninsula along the Bøkfjorden, which serves as an arm of the Varangerfjorden. Its geographical position is notable for being situated just a few kilometres from the border between Norway and Russia.