Vardø Airport, Svartnes: where to stay, areas and recommended hotels

Vardø is the easternmost town on mainland Norway, a fishing outpost on the Barents Sea linked to the mainland by the Vardøtunnelen; Svartnes airport is a few minutes by car from the centre and Widerøe connects it with a few flights a day via Kirkenes or Vadsø. With only one hotel in town the choice is a given: you sleep in the centre, close to the harbour and the star-shaped fortress. There is no bus to the airport, so it's best to arrange a transfer with the hotel or a taxi in advance.

Central Vardø

City centre · About 4 km from Svartnes airport, crossing the Vardøtunnelen: 8-10 minutes by taxi, the only option available since there is no bus linked to Widerøe flights.

Best for: The only useful base for those visiting the Vardøhus fortress or taking a boat to the island of Hornøya, home to thousands of puffins and gannets.

Pros

A hotel on the harbour, a short walk from the seventeenth-century Vardøhus fortress
A hearty breakfast noted by guests, handy before boat excursions or birdwatching at Hornøya

Cons

No bus to the airport: the taxi needs to be arranged in advance, especially for the first flights of the morning
Outside the harbour and the centre there are very few restaurants or shops open in low season

Recommended hotels in this area

Vardø Hotel by Destination Vardø: The town's only hotel, overlooking the harbour in the heart of Vardø, a few minutes on foot from the Vardøhus fortress and the Hurtigruten pier.

See more hotels in this area →