Vardø has two unmissable sights and one remarkable natural spectacle. The Vardøhus Fortress, the world's northernmost star fort, anchors the western tip of the island. The Steilneset Memorial, a stark collaboration between architect Peter Zumthor and artist Louise Bourgeois, commemorates the 91 people burned as witches in Finnmark in the 17th century — one of the most powerful pieces of public art in Norway. The third reason to come is Hornøya island, a short boat ride away, where one of the country's largest seabird colonies nests from April through August.
Beyond these, the town itself is worth a slow walk: the colourful wooden houses, the working harbour with its fish-drying racks, and the constant presence of wind and open sea give Vardø an atmosphere entirely its own. The GLOBUS II radar installation — a large dome visible on the island's eastern shore — is a reminder that this remote corner of Norway sits in a strategically sensitive position facing Russia across the Barents Sea.