Vardø, Norway is one of my favorite places in the country (if not my very favorite) and I think what surprises visitors most is how much there is to do in this small town!
This guide is a list of my favorite things to do in Vardø, Norway, and it will prove that there is something for everyone. Vardø sits close to the end of Norway’s National Scenic Road trip of the Varanger Peninsula and is 100% worth the journey.
If youʻre booking your trip to Vardø last minute, I have you covered. Below are some of the top places to stay when there!
🛌 Top places to stay in Vardø, Norway:
- Vardø Hotel (located in the center and has views of the harbor)
- Cape East Guesthouse (located nearby in Kiberg; can arrange tours)
- Varanger View (in Svartnes; beautiful, modern cottages)
🚗 Looking to travel around Norway independently? Click here to check Norway rental car rates!
After I discuss some of the best attractions and half-day trips from Vardø, I will list a few places to eat when you’re in the city.
If you’re not sure if traveling to this part of Norway is for you, please check out my Vardø travel guide which will give you additional information to help you make the decision!
Please let me know if you have any questions about what to do in Vardø in the comments. Thanks!
In this post...
Best Things to Do in Vardø, Norway
1. Learn about Vardø’s Pomor history at the Pomor Museum.
I have a keen interest in Pomor history and have learned about it even as far as Barentsburg on Svalbard!
Located on the harbor in an area referred to as Storsjåen, the Pomor Museum is a two-part museum.
The first part details the history of the Pomors and their daily life and the second part is about the era of time when Pomor trading declined and the North of Norway and Russia relations at the time.
When I visited in the summer, the Pomor Museum was open daily from 12pm until 6pm. But, I think this may change in the winter as it seemed that they just stuck a sign overtop of the old sign with ‘newer hours’.
If visiting the Pomor Museum is a must on your Vardø itinerary, I would send them an email a few days before your trip to find out the visitor hours during that time. You can find their contact information on Varanger Museum’s website.
The ticket price when I visited was 100 NOK (about $9.15). They have information in English, Russian, Finnish, German, and Norwegian. There is a small gift shop in the reception area that has additional information that you can take home with you.
Address: Kaigata 2, 9950 Vardø, Norway
2. Peruse the streets in search of colorful street art.
Something that most visitors don’t realize until they arrive in Vardø is that the town is home to a lot of colorful street art.
This is one of my favorite things about the destination and one that I think makes it unique to other towns in Northern Norway.
It all started in 2012 when famous Norwegian street artist, Pøbel, invited a bunch of renowned street artists from around the world to Vardø to create vibrant murals across many of the buildings.
You will find several in the center of town and others on the residential outskirts.
Pøbel’s project was called Komafest and its spirit lives on and continues as the street art in Vardø has become one of its main lures.
3. Visit Steilneset and honor those killed during the Vardø witch trials.
Steilneset is a memorial to the trials and executions of 91 people (mostly women) who perished between 1060 and 1692 in the name of witchcraft.
The memorial was designed by Peter Zumthor (the memorial hall) and Louise Bourgeois.
Steilneset is open 24 hours a day and is free to visit. It is a haunting experience that beautifully pays respects to those who perished during this time.
In my post linked below, I also share two books that were inspired by the Vardø witch trials and offer a humanized perspective (although both are fiction).
You can check out my guide to visiting Steilneset here.
Address: Andreas Lies gate, 9950 Vardø, Norway
4. See puffins and other seabirds at Hornøya.
It makes me so sad that I have not yet had a chance to visit Hornøya and I have been to Vardø multiple times! I will explain a bit more below.
Hornøya is an island right off the coast of Vardø that is renowned for its seabird colonies! Over 80,000 seabirds are residing here during the summer months.
You can find Atlantic puffins, razorbills, guillemots, and more. There are also 500 pairs of Arctic foxes hanging out on the island year-round. Interestingly, it is one of the few places in the world where you can see Atlantic puffins in the snow (they tend to arrive in mid-April).
Hornøya and nearby Reinøya have been protected since 1983 but you can visit on a ferry during the summer months. There is also a lighthouse there that you can stay overnight in (book this through the tourism office by the harbor).
I attempted to go to Hornøya twice – once in July and once in August. In August, the birds had just left by the time I got to Vardø. And in July, it was shut at the last minute due to cases of bird flu. Nature is unpredictable and things happen – but I will try again next summer.
If you want to learn more about visiting Hornøya or how to get there, check out the island’s official webpage.
5. Walk through the Vardø Fortress (Vardøhus Festning).
Close to the center of Vardø is Vardøhus Festning, or Vardøhus Fortress. This landmark dates all the way back to the 1300s and the octagonal fortress you can see today was built between the years 1734 and 1738.
It is free to walk around Vardøhus Fortress and it is one of the best places to see in town. It was used as recently as WWII and is a key part of the history of the Varanger Peninsula.
Address: Festningsgaten 20, 9950 Vardø, Norway
6. Take in the views from Drakkar.
One of the most iconic landmarks in Vardø is Drakkar-Leviathan, a sculpture that resembles a Viking ship and whale at the same time.
Drakkar was unveiled in 2016 by a small group of Arkhangelsk (Russia) craftsmen during the Pomor Festival. It offers views over Bussesundet and during the summer months, you can find cloudberries around it!
Visiting Drakkar is easy; you can either drive or walk there from Vardø’s center. There is not a parking lot there, but plenty of space to pull over. Beware that there are so many potholes on this road so drive slowly!
If you opt to walk there, you will need about 1 hour in total and the road is 1.1km (0.7 miles) long.
It is a road where vehicles drive, so stand to the side and be sure to wear reflectors if it is during the dark season. There is no elevation change along the way.
Address: Vardøya, 9950 Vardø, Norway
7. Spend half the day in Hamningberg.
Hamningberg is another amazing half-day trip option alongside Hornøya. This is a (semi?) abandoned fishing village at the end of the road. You can only access it half the year as the road there is closed during the winter months.
The road to Hamningberg is as alluring as the village itself! It makes you feel like you’ve landed on the moon and it will blow your mind. It is a single-lane road and is not for the beginner driver.
I have written an entire guide about how to visit Hamningberg, so please check it out and squeeze this cool destination into your Vardø itinerary!
8. Take a short coastal walk to the lighthouse.
There is not much to say about this except that it offers really pretty views (if it is not foggy like when I did it).
I don’t even know if this is a lighthouse, but whatever it is, it is beautiful. I have marked on the map where to walk from so you can drive down that way and head out. It is located by Østervågen.
9. Have a drink in Northern Norway’s oldest pub.
On my first trip to Vardø, I visited Nordpol Kro with my partner (who is British) and he was so in love with this pub because it reminded him of the ones back home.
I loved it because everyone was so friendly and inviting and it reminded me of how warm the north of Norway is compared to the south and my years spent in Oslo (and Bergen).
Nordpol Kro is the oldest pub in Northern Norway and it dates back to 1886. It used to offer lodging and was even the last stop for Fridtjof Nansen before his FRAM2 expedition in 1889. How cool is this?!
While the drinking and small food options (pizza and other pub food) make it a worthwhile stop, the pub museum is what really makes it unique.
The entire pub is a cozy museum with photos and memorabilia from the old days. The bartender even showed me some old photos of Vardø so I could see what the town used to look like back in the day. Be sure to try their own brewed ale before leaving.
Whether you’re a drinker or not (I don’t drink), this is a MUST on your trip to Vardø.
Nordpol Kro is open during the following times:
- Monday: 10:30am to 2pm
- Tuesday – Thursday: 10:30am to 2pm; 8pm until 12:30am
- Friday: 10:30am to 2pm; 8pm to 1am
- Saturday: 8pm to 12:30am
- Sunday: 8pm to 11pm
Address: Kaigata 21, 9950 Vardø, Norway
10. Marvel at the Vardø Church’s unique architecture.
There is not much to say here except it is a beautiful place to photograph from outside! The Vardø Church was opened in 1958 and its tall stature was helpful for fishermen coming in from the sea as they could see it easily.
It was designed by Eivind Moestue and is an iconic place to visit in Vardø!
Address: Søndre Langgate 1, 9950 Vardø, Norway
11. Rejuvenate at FLYT floating sauna.
Located in the harbor on a ramp from the tourism office is FLYT’s floating sauna in Vardø. Flyt means ‘flow’ in Norwegian and the sauna is an amazing way to get your body revived from the harsh climate and temperatures of the Norwegian Arctic!
You can chat with Varanger View about booking a slot or you can book directly on their website. They are open from 6am until 8pm daily.
Prices are pretty affordable at only 800 NOK (around $73) for 1 hour and 45 minutes for 1-4 people!
12. Go birdwatching on Domen.
If you are new to the Varanger area, one thing you will quickly notice is that the entire peninsula is a birdwatcher’s paradise!
An architecture firm called Biotope built birdwatching huts all over the peninsula and one of my favorites (I have visited a few) is the gorgeous pink one atop of Domen right outside Vardø.
You can learn more on their website, but stopping by before or after you venture into Vardø is a must! If the skies are clear, you also get an incredible view over Vardø.
I have given the exact location of the Domen birdwatching hut on the map below.
Restaurants in Vardø
I am only including the ones I have personally eaten in this guide. There are a few others in town but I haven’t had a chance to check them out yet to give a recommendation (or not).
My favorite places to eat in Vardø are:
- Varangerkokken (Kaigata 8; located at the Vardø Hotel)
- ABC Thai (Kristian 4 gate 3)
- MIX Søndrevåg (has cheap hot dogs and other small bites; Kristian 4 gate 17)
- Nordpol Kro (Kaigata 21)
Map of Vardø Attractions and Landmarks
Where to Stay in Vardø
My favorite place to stay in the center of Vardø is the Vardø Hotel. It also is home to one of the best places to eat in town, Varangerkokken. They have quite a few rooms but the hotel books up quickly since there is limited accommodation in town.
If you are looking to stay outside Vardø a bit, Varanger View is a fantastic option in Svartnes and Cape East Homestay is a great option for Kiberg. I assume you will have a car if you’re traveling to Vardø and both are within easy reach of Vardø!
Do you have any questions about the best things to do in Vardø, Norway? Let me know in the comments. Thanks!
More Varanger Travel Guides
- Vardø travel guide
- Steilneset in Vardø
- Hamningberg travel guide
- Varanger scenic route itinerary
- Things to do in Kirkenes
- Where to stay in Kirkenes
- Bugøynes travel guide
- Båtsfjord to Berlevåg itinerary
- Båtsfjord travel guide
- Kongsfjord travel guide
- Berlevåg travel guide
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Megan is a travel blogger and writer with a background in digital marketing. Originally from Richmond, VA, she now lives in Finnish Lapland after previous stints in Norway, Germany, Armenia, and Kazakhstan. She has a passion for winter travel, as well as the Nordic countries, but you can also find her eating her way through Italy, perusing perfume stores in Paris, or taking road trips through the USA. Megan has written for or been featured by National Geographic, Forbes, Lonely Planet, the New York Times, and more. She co-authored Fodor’s Travel ‘Essential Norway’ (2020) and has visited 45 US states and 100+ countries.