Live in Vardø

Vardø municipality is an exciting and unique municipality in Troms og Finnmark county. The municipality is located at the eastern end of the Varanger Peninsula, and has Norway’s easternmost point on Hornøya. Vardø is also Norway’s only city with an Arctic climate, and has a long and dramatic history as a border city against Russia. In this article you will learn more about Vardø municipality, and why it is a great place to live and work.

Vardø municipality has an area of 608 km², and had 1 900 inhabitants as of the third quarter of 2022 . Of these, 1 700 lived in the administrative center Vardø, which is located on the island of Vardøya. Vardø is the oldest city in Northern Norway, and received city status in 1789. The city is also known as “The Pompeii of the North”, because it has been destroyed by fire several times. The last major fire was in 1944, when the Germans burned down the city during World War II.

Vardø municipality has a rich and diverse culture, which is influenced by Kvens, Sami, Russians and Norwegians. The municipality has several cultural monuments and attractions, such as Vardøhus Fortress, which is the world’s northernmost fortress, Pomor Museum, which tells about the trade between Norway and Russia, Steilneset Memorial, which is a monument to the victims of the witch trials in the 17th century, and Vardø Church, which is an octagonal wooden church from 1958. The municipality also has an active cultural life, with among others Vardø Museum, Vardø Library, Vardø Cinema, Vardø Blues Club and Vardø Revue Group.

Vardø municipality is also an attractive destination for tourists who want to experience the nature, wildlife and culture of Finnmark. The municipality has several natural experiences, such as Hornøya Bird Reserve, which is a paradise for bird enthusiasts, Hamningberg, which is an old fishing village with well-preserved buildings from before the war, Kibergneset Nature Reserve, which is an important breeding area for seabirds, and Persfjorden Landscape Protection Area, which has a varied landscape with mountains, forests and marshes. The municipality also has several festivals and events, such as Komafest, which is a street art festival with international artists, Varanger Festival, which is a music festival with a focus on jazz and world music, Barents Bird Festival, which is a bird festival with lectures and tours to Hornøya, and Vardødagan, which is a folk festival with concerts, exhibitions and activities.

Vardø municipality has a varied economic structure, with public sector as the largest employer. The municipality also has a growing private sector, with among others trade, service, fish industry, tourism and technology. Vardø has several fish companies that produce fresh and frozen fish for the national and international market. Vardø also has an innovative technology environment, with among others Spaceport Norway AS, which deals with space technology and satellite communication. Vardø is also an important education and competence center in the region, with among others UiT The Arctic University of Norway – Campus Vardø, secondary school and several kindergartens and primary schools.

Vardø municipality is a municipality with many opportunities to live and work. The municipality has a varied and growing economic structure, a rich and active cultural life, an exciting and diverse natural life, and a good education and competence offer. Vardø municipality is also a municipality with a strong identity, a long history, and an open and inclusive attitude. If you want to experience something new and different, Vardø municipality is the place for you. We warmly welcome you to Vardø municipality!