A Brief History of the Pomor Trade
Discover the Pomor Trade: Uncover how Russian settlers shaped Northern Norway. Learn about the heritage left by the Pomor, a ethnographic group from Novgorod, at Vardø.
The Hidden North
North European travel guide
Population 1,897 / 70.2 degrees north
Vardø, Norway
Vardø is Norway’s easternmost city. It is further east than St. Petersburg and Kiev, and is at roughly the same longitude as Cairo’s western suburbs. it is also the only city on the Norwegian mainland that lies within the Arctic climactic zone. Vardø is also very historic; along with Hammerfest, it is the oldest city in Northern Norway. Vardø is a wonderful place to visit!
Fun Facts About Vardø
Latitude: 70.2 degrees north
Population: 1,897
Hottest month: August
Coldest month: February
Wettest month: October
Windiest month: January
Annual precipitation: 575mm
Vardø Municipality
In this Travel Guide...
Things to See & Do
Here’s an overview of some of the best things to see and do in Vardø
Vardøhus Fortress
The earliest fortification in Vardø is from 1307, but the current fortification was completed in 1738. Almost all the buildings inside the fortress are from before 1825 and it is an active military base today.
Pomor Museum
The Pomor Museum is a unique museum dedicated to the history of the trade between Norway and Russia throughout the late 19th/early 20th centuries.
Hikes, Day Trips & Experiences
Looking to go for a hike or take part in a unique experience? Here are my recommendations!
Hamningberg
Located one hour out of Vardø, Hamningberg is a gorgeous abandoned fishing village in an incredible landscape.
Bird Watching
The islands around Vardø are famous bird cliffs, and it is possible to visit them on a guided tour.
Road-Trips
Follow my road-trip guides for scenic trips around Vardø
Kirkenes to Vardø on the E6 & E75
Follow the four hour drive from Kirkenes to Vardø, via Varangerbotn and Vadsø.
Varanger Tourist Road
The Varanger Tourist Road is one of Norway’s 18 national tourist roads and runs from Varangerbotn to Hamningberg, passing through Vadsø.
Self-Guided Walks
Vardø Self-Guided Walking Tour
Follow this self-guided walk around Vardø, passing the important historic sites.
Vardø on YouTube
Watch my YouTube videos featuring Vardø
Hamningberg Walking Tour
Join me for a short walk around the abandoned fishing village of Hamningberg, which is located about an hour from Vardø.
Kirkenes to Vardø on the E6 & E75
Follow this rainy day drive from Kirkenes to Vardø
Varanger Tourist Road
The Varanger Tourist Road is one of Norway’s 18 national tourist roads.
Uniquely Vardø
Here are some things that you must do and try in Vardø
Steilneset Memorial
Steilneset is a memorial to the 90 victims of witchcraft in Vardø and the surrounding area. The memorial opened in 2011 and contains a light for every victim.
Street Art
Vardø has a large number of street artworks as the result of the Komafest festival.
Nordpol Kro
Nordpol Kro is one of the oldest pubs in Finnmark. It has a fascinating story; it was the last stop for Fridtjof Nansen before he set out for the North Pole on the Fram in 1889. The pub has a unique atmosphere and small museum.
History of Vardø
Archaeological excavations show evidence of settlements in the area around Vardø that are more than 4,500 years old. Vardø, however, was mentioned for the first time in history in 1307, when a church and fortress were built here.
Vardø received its town charter on the 17th of July 1789, making it one of the oldest towns in Northern Norway. Until 1850, Vardø was a small fishing community, however during the years 1850-1910 the population increased dramatically. The good fishing stocks and the Pomor Trade gave grounds for optimism in the area.
Vardø was of great importance to the Nazi forces during World War II and was the last place in Norway to surrender to the Nazis after the occupation in April 1940. The town became a strategic location for monitoring the movement of the Allied shipping to Russia. Two thirds of the town was destroyed during the war years, and Vardø was subject ot Soviet air raids. When the Nazis retreated, they did burn down large parts of the town.
Vardø Today
Today Vardø is an important place for fishing and fish processing. The population has declined since World War II, but the town is currently undergoing a transitional phase with new jobs and new industries coming here. For example, a new shipping traffic control centre has been built here, and tourism is becoming more and more important.
Travel Information
Getting Here
Fly: Vardø has an airport with flights connecting the town to other coastal towns in Finnmark as well as Tromsø and Kirkenes.
Drive: Vardø is located at the end of the E75, a major highway running from Crete in Greece all the way to Finland and then over into Norway. Vardø is about 120km from the E6, the major highway running through Norway.
Train: No train access
Ferry: Vardø is a port of call on the coastal ferry. The northbound ferry stops very early in the morning, while the southbound ferry stops at around 4pm and allows for one hour in port.
Getting Around
It’s very easy to walk around Vardø, but you will need a car if you want to go out exploring.
Shops
Places to Eat
Cafes & Bakeries
Quick Bites
Reasonable Restaurants
ABC Thai is a delicious Thai restaurant in town.
High End & Unique Eats
Places to Stay
All my hotel recommendations are based on research and experience. I don’t recommend somewhere unless I think it is wonderful! The Hidden North focuses on accommodation that provides good quality for price or offer local or unique experiences.
Camping
Cabins & B&Bs
Kiberg Bed & Boat is located in Kiberg, back on the mainland. The rooms are tidy and it’s a great place to eat king crab.
Chains & Mid-Range
Vardø Hotel is wonderful! It is recently renovated, the rooms are huge, and the breakfast is great. I stayed here on my most recent visit and loved it.
High End & Unique Properties
Hornøya Lighthouse is a unique stay – you can stay out on the island of Hornøya (no road access) in a lighthouse.
Sunrise/Sunset & Weather Averages
January
Polar night until 19 January
Average Temperature: -5C (24F)
February
Sunrise: 7:34am
Sunset: 2:46pm
Average Temperature: -5C (23F)
March
Sunrise: 5:20am
Sunset: 4:51pm
Average Temperature: -3C (26F)
April
Sunrise: 3:50am
Sunset: 8:03pm
Average Temperature: 0C (31F)
May
Midnight sun from the 16th of May
Average Temperature: 3C (38F)
June
Midnight sun
Average Temperature: 7C (44F)
July
Midnight sun until 29 July
Average Temperature: 10C (49F)
August
Sunrise: 2:44am
Sunset: 9:11pm
Average Temperature: 10C (50F)
September
Sunrise: 5:05am
Sunset: 6:33pm
Average Temperature: 7C (45F)
October
Sunrise: 7:08am
Sunset: 4:12pm
Average Temperature: 3C (37F)
November
Sunrise: 8:51am
Sunset: 12:27pm
Average Temperature: -1C (30F)
December
Polar night
Average Temperature: -3C (27F)
All Posts About Vardø
Explore Vardø on a Self-Guided Walking Tour
This self-guided walk passes by Vardø’s historic sites, including the fortress, witch memorial, and trade warehouses.
The Witchcraft Trials of Vardø
Learn about an often forgotten part in Norwegian history, the witchcraft trials of Vardø.
Drive it Yourself: Varanger Tourist Road
Follow Norway’s northernmost tourist road along the east coast of the Varanger peninsula from Hamningberg to Varangerbotn.
Drive it Yourself: Kirkenes to Vardø via the E6 and E75
This guide crosses the far-north of Norway from Kirkenes to Vardø via the Varangerfjord and Varanger peninsula.
Vardø Photo Diary
February 2019
February 2019
September 2019
March 2023
March 2023
September 2023