Vardø Travel Guide: Exploring Norway’s Easternmost Town

Sometimes I don’t write about a place because I don’t think it has much to offer or it is highly overrated. And sometimes I don’t write about a place because I don’t possibly think words can do it justice. Vardø, Norway is the latter.

But, at the end of the day, I want more people to see Vardø and not by stopping through on a cruise ship. There is an astounding number of things to do in Vardø that warrants an overnight stay.

In this guide, I will discuss my favorite Vardø travel tips, things to do, and why you should visit this colorful destination that just so happens to earn the title of Norway’s easternmost town!

If you have any questions about visiting Vardø, Norway, let me know in the comments. Thanks!

About Vardø, Norway

Vardø’s history is extremely rich and hard to detail in just a paragraph or two, but here are some things it is known for (or facts you should know before your trip):

• It is Norway’s easternmost town and is located further east than Istanbul and St. Petersburg.
• It is located at the tip-top of Norway on the Varanger Peninsula (Varangerhalvøya).
• It has 1,700ish residents and is located on an island off of Svartnes (which is where the airport is located). It is connected by an undersea tunnel.
• Vardø was historically a major fishing hub and trading post with the Russians.
• There is a deep Pomor history (you can learn more at their Pomor Museum).
• Vardø was the center of many witch trials which are even discussed today (most notably the 1621 and 1662 witch trials).
• It used to have a tundra climate but is now considered subarctic due to climate change.
• Hornøya (an island off Vardø’s coast) is one of the best places in Norway to see puffins – and you can see them in the snow as they arrive in April usually!

During the winters, Vardø experiences polar night and during the summer it experiences the midnight sun.

I have never been there during the winter months, so please know that every photo in this guide was taken in either July or at the end of August. I have been multiple times.

Best Time to Visit Vardø, Norway

So far, I have only visited during the summer months. And while I am keen to visit Vardø in winter, I also think that the summer is probably the best time to go there.

The midnight sun offers long days and the wildlife is at its best. The puffins on Hornøya tend to arrive in mid-April and stay until the end of July and early August.

During this time, you can visit Hornøya and if you visit at the beginning of puffin season (late March) you can even see them in the snow which is a rare sight for photographers).

Nevertheless, with the harsh climate in Vardø playing a huge role in its offerings, I suggest visiting in late May to early July. Just be aware that this is the high season and accommodation needs to be booked as soon as possible since options are limited.

If you are visiting Vardø in winter, you will have a chance to see the northern lights, which is pretty cool!

Weather Information

Rather than listing every month here, I can tell you some of the most important weather information below:

• Warmest month in Vardø: August (average temperature is 10C/50F)
• Coldest month in Vardø: February (average temperature is -4C/25F)
• Rainiest month in Vardø: October (fall is the stormy season)
• Windiest month in Vardø: January (but expect wind at any time of the year – there are no trees)

Another thing I want to mention here is that it can be foggy there. On one of my Vardø trips, the town was enshrouded in fog the ENTIRE time. For days. I was stunned.

When I left and drove past Domen toward Vadsø, it lifted. But just beware that this can happen (it was in July).

I wear wool in Vardø even during the summer months. It is pretty chilly even with the midnight sun.

How Much Time You Need in Vardø

If you are doing a road trip, I think two full days in Vardo is great to ensure you enjoy everything there is to do there. This will include spending time on Hornøya. I would, however, recommend three days for an optimal experience!

You can spend half a day in Hamningberg, half a day or so on Hornøya, and then some time enjoying coastal hikes and the scenery on this part of the Varanger Peninsula.

There are also king crab safaris that go out from Vardø that offer an exciting excursion!

How to Get to Vardø

You have a few options for getting to Vardø but I will detail the three most popular ones which are driving by car, the Hurtigruten, or flying into Vardø Airport in Svartnes (VAW).

Driving to Vardø

You can take the E75 from Varangerbotn to Vardø (and further to Hamningberg). This is one of Norway’s eighteen National Scenic Routes (Nasjonale Turistveger) and is nothing short of spectacular.

In Varangerbotn, you need to ensure you take the E75 which will take you left of the fjord (if you hop on the E6 on the righthand side, you will end up in Kirkenes).

If you choose this option, be sure to fill up on gas in Varangerbotn because the next station is not until Vadsø (and then there is a YX in Vardø near the Vardø Hotel).

The drive from Varangerbotn to Vardø is 124 kilometers, or 77 miles (about 1 hour and 45 minutes without stops).

Beware of the sheep on the roads – especially in the villages right past Vadsø. There are some reindeer further along but this is mainly a sheep route.

Hurtigruten to Vardø

The Hurtigruten makes a stop in Vardø. Learn more about it here.

Flying into Vardø Airport (VAW)

There is a small airport in Svartnes that you can fly into. This is the main airport that serves Vardø, but beware – it is small and expensive.

The flights are part of Widerøe’s milk run and often have multiple stops on the way to Vardø. It is an adventure, but it might be easier to rent a car in Kirkenes and drive there.

Things to Do in Vardø

I have broken this section into two – the first is some of the main attractions in town and the second part is dedicated to day trips (and half-day trips) from Vardø.

This is why I encourage a stay that is a few days long. Trust me, it is worth it! You can see my full things to do in Vardø guide here.

➡️ Pomor Museum: Part of the Varanger Museum department. Essential for those interested in Pomor history (like me!). During the summers, the building is a nesting site for black-legged kittiwakes, one of my favorite birds.

➡️ See the street art: One of Vardø’s biggest attractions is its street art. It all started with Komafest (a festival) and has been a part of the town since. You’ll find murals all over Vardø.

➡️ Steilneset: I have a whole post about the Vardø witch trials memorial here.

➡️ Vardø Fortress: Called Vardøhus Festning in Norwegian, the Vardø Fortress is a must-visit when in the town. It dates back to 1306 and was used as recently as WWII during the German invasion of Norway. Today, it is a landmark that you can walk around and it looks similar to what it did in the 1700s. 

➡️ Drakkar: A wooden sculpture built in 2016 on the northern part of the island in Vardø (can drive there but beware of potholes). It is a combination of a whale, a Viking ship, and more. During the summer there are also cloudberries surrounding it!

➡️ Go to the lighthouse: This is a short hike from the Østervågen area. It is not impressive but the views are.

➡️ Nordpol Kro: Northern Norway’s oldest pub. Dates back to 1886 and has a museum inside. This is an essential stop, even for non-drinkers.

➡️ Vardo Church: A very imposing structure that is hard to miss! Built in 1958 and used as a landmark for sailors at sea (it is very tall).

➡️ Floating sauna in Vardø: There is a floating sauna just outside the Vardø Visitor Center called FLYT.

Places to Visit Near Vardø

One of the top things to do in Vardø is to drive to cool places nearby (or take a boat, in the case of Hornøya). Here are some of the best day and half-day trips from Vardø: 

➡️ Hornøya: This is one of the most popular reasons to visit Vardø! Sadly, I haven’t been! It’s either out of season or closed for the bird flu when I have gone, so I hope to finally get there in 2025. Over 80,000 seabirds (including Atlantic Puffins) call the island home. You can also stay at the lighthouse on the island.

➡️ Hamningberg: The last stop on the Varanger scenic route road trip. I have a post dedicated to visiting Hamningberg here.

➡️ Domen: Vardø is a key birdwatching spot in Northern Norway. You will cross Domen before entering into Svartnes and there is a beautiful birding hut up there. It offers views of Vardø from there, too.

Where to Eat in Vardø

Vardø is not teeming with restaurants and there are limited places to eat there.

It is a small town that is still finding its feet with tourism outside of cruise ship passengers, so I suspect the restaurant scene will develop a bit over time. Here are a few places I have eaten at in town:

• Varangerkokken: Located at the Vardø Hotel and offers fresh seafood in a relaxed, yet modern setting.
• ABC Thai: There is always a Thai restaurant in towns in Northern Norway and they are always pretty decent. This is a good spot if you want to change things up a bit.
• Vardø Visitor Center: They are only open during the summer season but they had coffee and waffles when I was there. I think this may be operated by Varangerkokken.
• MIX Søndrevåg Kiosk: They have hot dogs. And more…
• Nordpol Kro: The pub also serves simple dishes and pizza (I have only had drinks there).

There are a few other places to eat in Vardø, but I haven’t been to them (yet) so I am not going to put them on here until I do.

If you are visiting Vardø on a budget and want to get groceries at a store, there is a Rema1000 at Rødmoen 1 (open from 7am until 11pm daily except Sundays when it is closed).

There is also Knut Bye Kolonial which has groceries and take-away food. They are open from 7am until 11pm daily except on Sundays when closed.

Where to Stay in Vardø

The best place to stay in Vardø is the Vardø Hotel. It is one of the few places to stay in the area and it is where I stayed on my last trip there.

Previously, it was sold out so I wasn’t able to get in, unfortunately. I ended up staying in a random Airbnb that I do NOT recommend.

I met a nice guy at the Vardø Hotel who is a Tromso transplant and lives in nearby Kiberg. He told me his neighbor has a wonderful guesthouse there called Cape East Homestay so I am going to include that as well (because I almost booked it before changing to the Vardø Hotel). I switched merely out of convenience.

I also previously looked at the Varanger View cabins that you can see in Svartnes before entering the tunnel to Vardø. I have bookmarked them for my next stay (they get incredible ratings).

Do you have any questions or are looking for any additional Vardø travel tips or advice? Let me know in the comments. Thanks!

More Varanger Travel Guides

• Things to do in Vardø
• Steilneset in Vardø
• Hamningberg travel guide
• Varanger 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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