Visit Vadsø
Welcome to Vadsø!
Far from mass tourism and off the beaten track, Vadsø is a small municipality on the Varanger Peninsula, located in Finnmark County in Norwegian Lapland. Vadsø has a lot to offer visitors: breathtaking scenery, many cultural landmarks, and typical Arctic phenomena such as the northern lights and the midnight sun. In Vadsø, experience life differently, fully immersed in the true rhythm of the Arctic.
I’m Sergiu from Aurora Labs, and I invite you to discover this beautiful Arctic region! Scroll down to begin the story…
The best place in the world to see the Northern Lights
The regions where the aurora appears are shown as oval rings around the Earth’s north and south magnetic poles, where minimal solar activity is enough for the aurora to appear. Vadsø lies right in the middle of this oval, making it one of the best places on Earth to see the northern lights.
That’s one of the reasons I chose this place to create Aurora Labs. There are others… keep scrolling to discover them!
Chase the Northern Lights
Hunting the northern lights means moving and continuously scanning the sky with a professional like Sergiu from Aurora Labs, to increase your chances of observing the aurora.
The probability of seeing this beautiful phenomenon is increased by the mobile nature of the tour, as well as by the route chosen by your experienced guide, based on weather conditions and aurora forecasts (even under cloudy skies!).
In summer, listen to the Northern Lights
And if you come to Vadsø, you can even encounter the northern lights in summer – by listening to them with specialized equipment!
Longing for endless nights?
For the people of Vadsø, the Polar Night is as normal as any other time of year. Life continues completely as if nothing unusual were happening!
The Polar Night in Vadsø isn’t the pitch-black night you might imagine; it still allows for many activities and for discovering the region under a surreal blue light.
Visit Vadsø during the Polar Night season, between November 25 and January 17, and experience it for yourself.
It’s the Arctic, but not as cold as you think
Vadsø is well above the Arctic Circle, in the middle of the Arctic region. So you might think that means it’s very cold here… but that’s not the case! Well, it is cold – but not that cold compared to other parts of the Arctic located inland.
These milder temperatures are due to the warm Norwegian branch of the Gulf Stream ocean current, which can raise temperatures by 10–15 degrees compared to places less than an hour’s drive inland.
It’s quite common that if it’s –30 °C in Varangerbotn, in Vadsø it’s about –10 °C!
Or… craving endless days?
During the Polar Day, the sun never sets. The sun lights up the sky 24 hours a day. It’s there in the sky in the day, in the evening, at midnight, and all night long.
Come see the Midnight Sun in Vadsø between May 17 and July 27 and lose track of time in an out-of-this-world experience!
The Belt of Venus
If you look just opposite the place where the sun sets, you’ll notice, just after sunset, a faint pinkish glow stretching along the horizon like a belt or an arc. This is called the Belt of Venus.
In Vadsø, before and after the start of the Polar Day, the Belt of Venus is visible in the sky for very long periods, because the sun doesn’t dip very far below the horizon—you can experience the phenomenon throughout the whole “night”!
A town in the heart of the Arctic
Between two “nature” activities, relax in downtown Vadsø and explore its many shops and restaurants.
Discover its picturesque little streets – from the Arctic Sea Church, past the Immigration Monument, and down to the seafront – and feel for yourself the calm atmosphere typical of this Arctic town.
Vadsøya Island
Then, cross the bridge to Store Vadsøya Island. Originally, the village of Vadsø was located on this island. A church was also found here.
The cultural park (Kulturpark) on the island also illustrates other periods in Vadsø’s history, where you can enjoy lovely walks and come across reindeer and birds!
The island is also home to the airship mast of the Norge, used by Roald Amundsen in 1926, and of the Italia, used by Umberto Nobile in 1928 during their Arctic expeditions.
One of the best birdwatching spots in the world
Store Vadsøya Island, as well as Vadsø and the Varanger region, are well known to birdwatchers around the world.
Not only is it a place where you can find a remarkable number of bird species, it’s also one of the most accessible destinations for birdwatching in the Arctic.
Even though this region lies well above the Arctic Circle, winters are milder here than in other parts of the Arctic. That’s why some bird species choose to come here from higher latitudes to spend the winter.
Wildlife observatories
When you’re in Varanger, make sure to look out for these striking shelters for birdwatchers: they’re strategically placed to observe nature at its best!
Will you find all the locations of these observatories throughout the region?
Ekkerøy
Another place to watch birds is the seabird cliff at Ekkerøy. Cross the isthmus that connects the mainland to Ekkerøy Island and its village of the same name, and wander around to discover the remains of the Second World War still present amid the island’s curious natural landscape.
The peat soil and the “multe” cloudberries – found only in the Arctic – make this place unique!
Vestre Jakobselv
Vestre Jakobselv is another beautiful and authentic village in Vadsø Municipality.
Here, the Jakobselv River flows through the village and into the Varanger Fjord. You can meet fishermen at the small harbor and also enjoy lovely walks along the trails that start from the village and lead into the birch forest.
Skallelv
Another village in Vadsø Municipality is Skallelv. This small village is located near the boundary of Vadsø Municipality, at the mouth of another of the region’s rivers flowing into the Varanger Fjord.
Skallelv is one of the very few villages in Finnmark that was not burned by Nazi troops during the Second World War. Thus, on a short walk you can spot wooden houses dating from the 1800s.
Skallelv is also home to Skallelv Chapel, one of the municipality’s three churches; the others are in Vestre Jakobselv and the Arctic Sea Church in the town of Vadsø.
Meet reindeer and moose in the wild
Besides birds, reindeer can also be seen – and even photographed – by the roadside around Vadsø, or on Vadsøya Island. They roam freely in the tundra and boreal forests, and even along the seashore.
Sometimes you even have to stop the car because a reindeer has decided to rest right in the middle of the road!
Or… will you be lucky enough to encounter an elk (moose)?
Visit a Sami reindeer farm
And if you want to touch or feed reindeer, or if you’d like to be photographed with them, then you’ll need to visit a Sami reindeer farm!
Reindeer herding is an important part of Sami culture and has a long history in northern Scandinavia, including the region around the Varanger Fjord.
The Varanger Fjord
And speaking of the Varanger Fjord: it lies at Norway’s far east, in Finnmark, close to the Russian and Finnish borders. The Varanger National Tourist Route runs along the fjord’s northern shore from Varangerbotn to Vardø, offering a breathtaking, stark Arctic landscape rich in contrasts and full of color.
The scenic Varanger National Tourist Route
This road is one of Norway’s most famous scenic routes. From one end to the other – stretching from Varangerbotn to Hamningberg – you’ll cross an Arctic landscape full of contrasts: birch forests, cliffs, and lunar scenery, giving the impression of a journey to the end of the world.
Did you know that almost all of Finnmark was destroyed during the Second World War? However, a few old buildings with typical Finnmark architecture still remain. Discover them on a guided road trip along this scenic route!
Two Arctic vegetation zones
Taking the famous Varanger National Tourist Route, you’ll cross two very different vegetation zones typical of the Arctic region.
In less than an hour, you’ll pass from boreal forest to vast Arctic tundra, and you’ll be surprised by a spectacular natural boundary separating these two vegetation zones, called the “tree line.”
Explore Vadsø at your own pace
Back in Vadsø, there are numerous hiking, cross-country skiing, and/or cycling trails to the north of town: the Pavelstien Trail, the Svanerunden circular trail, the Fossen–Basis A trail, the Byvannet circular trail, or the Fossen–Torsvarden trail. The common starting point for all these routes is the signpost you’ll find by following the road that heads north from the Myrullveien/Idrettsvegen intersection. You will eventually reach the sign and see a detailed map of all these trails, along with their difficulty levels and the appropriate season to use them.
Arctic cuisine
After a full day in and around Vadsø (or to start a day packed with activities!), it’s mealtime! Here are a few dishes to discover Norwegian and Arctic cuisine:
Lutefisk – a typically Viking dish, served with pea purée, potatoes, bacon, mustard, goat cheese, and an alcoholic drink.
Reindeer and moose meat – try them and see how delicious they are!
King crab – typical of the Varanger region, and quite dangerous to catch.
King crab fishing and safaris
Speaking of king crab… you can book an activity with a partner, catch the king crab yourself in the Arctic Sea, and then enjoy it during a boat trip on the Varanger Fjord!
And, if you like fishing, you can discover Varanger’s best fishing spots on an Arctic fishing activity.
Or maybe you simply want to sail on the Arctic Sea?
Dog sledding
Another typical activity in the Varanger region is dog sledding. Discover the Arctic tundra accompanied by a musher, a partner of Aurora Labs. It’s an extraordinary way to reach otherwise inaccessible places. The contact with nature, the silence, and the joy of a team of dogs eager to carry you across the tundra are indescribable!
Snowmobiling
Why not explore the Arctic tundra by snowmobile with one of Aurora Labs’ partners? For fans of motor sports, nothing beats a snowmobile escape off the beaten track and into the wild nature of the Arctic! Let the adrenaline flow and set off with your small group on an expedition!
Gaze at the Arctic sky
After a day full of activities, and before you go to bed, there’s one more thing you can do. Know that Vadsø, like the entire Varanger region, is one of the best places on Earth to observe the night sky, because there are few towns around – so few lights. Air pollution is also low, which helps provide a clearer view of the sky. The Milky Way passes right overhead and is clearly visible! Fancy a guided stargazing session?
So… are you convinced?
If so, discover the programme that my partners and I offer in Vadsø and, if you wish, enquire about your private Arctic stay now!
Safe travels,
–Sergiu from Aurora Labs.