Vardø
Vardø is a town in Finnmark. It is the easternmost point in Norway and, strange as it may seem, it lies east of Istanbul! Vardø should not be confused with the neighbouring town with a similar name, Vadsø. Vardø is one of the few towns with an Arctic climate within Norway. Annual average temperature is 1.3 °C (34.3 °F), while monthly average for July is 9 °C (48 °F). Because of the rough climate there are no natural trees in Vardø.
Get in
By plane
- 1 Vardø Airport, Svartnes (VAW IATA). a small airport, which has flights from Alta and Kirkenes.
By car
Vardø is the endpoint for E75. It is the only road from other regions, but it is possible to transport a car (not a motorhome) and yourself on Hurtigruten.
By bus
Search 177.no [dead link] for bus connections. There are buses from Vadsø, Kirkenes and Tana. From Tana there are buses to Finland.
By boat
Vardø is a port on Hurtigruten, and a quick visit to the fort can just be managed on the southbound voyage.
Get around
See
- The fort is impressive and has a 700 year history, but has never fired a shot in battle – only as a welcome for the return of the sun in February after the season of continual darkness.
- The Lutheran Church.
- Steilneset Memorial [formerly dead link] by Peter Zumthor and Louise Bourgeois to the victims of being accused of witchcraft.
- Hamningberg. Hamningberg is a small fishing village 40 km north of Vardø which was unharmed in World War II, when most of Finnmark and Vardø was destroyed.
Do
Visit Vardo church – it is even possible to walk there and back from the Hurtigruten! Interesting church in the vestibule of which is a model of the previous building which was destroyed. Warm welcome from the local guide who explained both the history of the building and the symbolism of the architecture depicting the Trinity and the relevance for today.
Buy
Eat
Drink
Sleep
Budget
- Gjestegården Pensjonat, Strandgata 72, ☏ +47 78987529.
Mid-range
- Vardø Hotel, Kaigata 8, ☏ +47 78987761, fax: +47 78988397, post@vardohotel.no.
Connect
Go next
| Routes through Vardø |
| END ← | N  S |
→ Vadsø → Rovaniemi |