Vardø – gateway to the Northeast Passage

Located on the island of Vardøya, Vardø is connected to the Norwegian mainland by one of the country’s oldest subsea road tunnels. With roughly 2,200 residents, it offers Norway's best vantage point toward the Norwegian-Russian Arctic and the Northeast Passage. It is also the only town in Norway situated in the Arctic climate zone, which has a significant impact on the area's vegetation and wildlife.

Attractions in Vardø include the Varanger Museum, the Pomor Museum, Vardøhus Fortress and the witch-burning memorial. Visitors can also take the coastal promenade to see the Brodtkorbsjåene, some of the region’s oldest preserved sea houses.

From the eastern side of Vardøya, you’ll get a great view of Hornøya, the easternmost island in Norway. This is where you’ll also find Vardø Lighthouse, built in 1896, which marks the country’s easternmost point. Today, Hornøya is an uninhabited protected nature reserve and its steep cliffs serve as nesting grounds for around 40,000 birds.

Along with Hammerfest, Vardø is the oldest town in northern Norway and also one of the oldest in the Arctic region. Archaeological findings show settlements here that date back between 900 and 9,000 years, naturally centred around fishing. The Old Norse form of the town's name was Vargøy, meaning “Wolf Island”, but the first part of the name was replaced (around 1500) with Varda, meaning “beacon”.

After the construction of Vardøhus Fortress in the early 1300s, the town became an important trading post between Norwegians in Finnmark and the Russians. During the 1600s, Vardø was the site of several witch trials. Trade with the Russians was significant in the 1700s, and as a result Vardø was granted town status in 1789.