Vardø

Introducing Vardø

It’s a pancake-flat 75km drive between Vadsø and Vardø, well off the beaten track for all but the most die-hard travellers. But the ribbon of road has a lonely charm as it threads its way between the shoreline, hardy grasses and tough, low shrubs.

Vardø qualifies as Norway’s easternmost town. Although this butterfly-shaped island is connected to the mainland by the 2.9km-long Ishavstunnelen (Arctic Ocean tunnel), locals maintain that theirs is the only ‘mainland’ Norwegian town lying within the Arctic climatic zone (its average temperature is below 10°C). Once a stronghold of trade with the Russian Pomors, it’s now a major fishing port and home to many Russian and Sri Lankan immigrants.

The tourist office (78 98 69 07; www.varanger.com; 10am-7pm Mon-Fri, noon-7pm Sat & Sun Jun–mid-Aug) is in a smart wooden building beside the Hurtigruten quay.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009