Norwegian Scenic
Route Varanger

A local's guide to the route

Ottar Zahl Jonassen, CEO of Visit Varanger, grew up in Varanger and now lives in Vadsø, in the south of the Varanger peninsula.

"One of the unique things about this area is its flat landscape and endless horizons, which is not what typically comes to mind when you think of Norway, with its high peaks. This is also a very spacious area. You can be all alone with nature, if you want," says Ottar.

Ottar has a burning passion for showcasing everything the Varanger area has to offer. Below, he guides us to some of the very best highlights on the National Scenic Route Varanger.

Sami culture in Varanger

The mighty fjord abundant in fish, and plateaus and forests full of game, berries and freshwater fish, drew the first human settlers to Varanger 10,000 years ago. Since then, people from different cultures have been living in the area continuously.

The earliest known remnants of Sami culture in Varanger are the Sami graves at Mortensnes Cultural Heritage site, which date back about 3,000 years.

The Sami culture is still strong in Varanger, and Nesseby is a Sami municipality.

You will notice that the road signs in Varanger are written in both Norwegian and Northern Sami, which is the most widely used Sami language, and it's not uncommon to encounter reindeer by the road.

Learn more about the Sami culture in the area:

Norwegian Finns

Varanger has a rich diversity and you'll also find a Norwegian-Finnish culture here.

In the 19th century, there was massive immigration from Northern Finland and Sweden. These immigrants were called Kvens in Norway, or Norwegian Finns, as many prefer to be called today. The possibility to combine agriculture with fjord fishing and fishing in rivers was part of the reasons behind the migration.

The areas of Vestre Jakobselv, Vadsø, and Skallelv were particularly influenced by the Finnish settlers. Even today, Vadsø is still known as "the Kven town". In the 1860s, Vadsø had a Finnish-speaking majority, and many still speak Finnish and Kven there.

"There is a monument in honour of Finnish and Kven immigration in the city centre of Vadsø," says Ottar, our local guide.

Vadsø

Vadsø is one of the main cities along the scenic route, and is a good place to use as a base when exploring Varanger. Here, you'll find a rental car company, a hotel, and other accommodation options, such as The Icehouse.

The town is located by the fjord on the southern side of the peninsula on the island of Vadsøya, connected to the mainland by a bridge.

Vadsø also hosts an annual music festival called Varangerfestivalen, and numerous other cultural events. Learn more at Varanger Tourist Information, Vadsø.

More idyllic coastal villages

The road continues eastwards from Ekkerøy, with several small communities along the way, each with its own charm and history.

Skallelv is one of the very few villages in Finnmark county that was not destroyed by the Second World War. As a result, you can see wooden buildings dated back to 1860 and older, including Varangerhus.

"Varangerhus is a traditional type of house in the Varanger area. They were built as a barn and house in one unit. The reason for building farmhouses like this was simple: to avoid having to go out to do chores in the barn when it was freezing outside. You can see them all over Varanger," says Ottar.

Here, you also find the Skallelv river, a popular place for fishing, and a favourite among locals for its long, sandy beach.

"The locals call this area 'Skallorca', a word-play on Mallorca, due to its incredible beach. This area is a paradise in summer, even though the water might not be the warmest," says our local guide Ottar.

Komagvær is one of the main gateways to Varangerhalvøya National Park. Here, you can go hiking in incredible nature, and, of course, experience the rich birdlife.

Kiberg is located in the east of the Varanger Peninsula, by the Barents Sea. It's home to Cape East, the easternmost point on the Norwegian mainland. At the Partisan Museum in Kiberg, you can learn more about the dramatic story of the young people who left Eastern Finnmark to receive training to help fight for their country.

The mighty king crab roams the sea of Northern Norway. Another must in the Varanger area is a king crab safari! Most tours include plenty of cooking and tasting, too. You can join a guided tour at the harbour in Kiberg.

The oldest town in Northern Norway

A historic fort, cutting edge street art, amazing birdwatching sites, and the site of some of the most notorious witch trials in Northern Europe. You have now arrived in Vardø, the only Norwegian city in the Arctic climate zone.

As you can imagine, it's a good idea to stay a while in Vardø to experience everything the city and surrounding area has to offer.

Hornøya birdwatching site

If you are a birdwatcher, wildlife photographer, or just someone who appreciates fascinating wildlife experiences, you must plan for a trip to Hornøya island, just outside Vardø.

Hornøya is the easternmost protected nature reserve in Norway, and home to an impressive 80,000 seabirds, including super cute Atlantic Puffins!

You can reach it by boat from Vardø harbour, which runs every day between 1 April and 31 August.

Street art in Vardø

The streets of Vardø have become a gallery for some of the world's best street art, largely owing to the festival Komafest.

The festival was established as a collaboration between the Vardø-based urban renewers in Vardø Restored and Norwegian artist Pøbel. In 2012, Komafest invited 11 of the world's top street artists to put their mark on the city.

Explore the city on foot and see pieces by E.B. Itso, Ken Sortais, Pøbel, Steve Powers, Husk mit navn, Atle Østrem, Roa, Remed, and Vhils, to name but a few!

Vardøhus fortress

If you are interested in history and historical sites, a visit to the world's northernmost fortress, Vardøhus, is a must. Built between 1734 and 1738, large parts of the fortress remain untouched since 1738.

Today, command of the fortress is the responsibility of the Royal Norwegian Navy, which has a commander and soldiers stationed there. The fortress primarily serves a symbolic function.

Steilneset Memorial

Some chapters of history are darker than others. The witch hunts in Europe are one such example, which also occurred in Finnmark.

From 1600 to 1692, 91 people were sentenced to death in Finnmark, accused of witchcraft. Most of them lived in Vardø, Vadsø, or nearby places, and both Norwegians and Sami people suffered from the persecution.

By the sea in Vardø, the memorial hall Steilneset was built to commemorate those who were executed.

Hamningberg

As the road gets steadily narrower, you arrive at the final stop (or the beginning!) of the Norwegian Scenic Route Varanger. What an epic finale.

"Hamningberg is a real gem with its small houses and incredible location. Some call it 'The end of Europe'," says Ottar.

The abandoned fishing village of Hamningberg has a dramatic location along the northern coast of the Varanger Peninsula. As you walk through what was once a thriving fishing village, you'll be met by colourful houses and stunning views of the Barents Sea. Suddenly its nickname, "the end of Europe", makes a lot of sense.

"Hamningberg is no longer an active fishing village, but some of the houses are still in use as cabins, and it's a popular place full of life in summer," says Ottar.

This is also where you'll find a special rest stop created by the architectural firm KAP/Asplan Viak AS. The style of the toilet buildings is inspired by the Pomor-style log house technique, which was used to build many of the old houses in Hamningberg.

Here, you'll also find an incredible birdwatching hide designed by Biotope. The area is a favourite among birdwatchers, especially during the migration in May. If you're lucky, you can also spot porpoises, and killer whales and mink whales from Hamningberg.

"If you want to spend the night in Hamningberg, it's also possible to book accommodation. You can even stay in a traditional Varanger house," says Ottar.

Due to the weather, the road out to Hamningberg is closed during winter. It normally opens in mid-May and closes when the snow starts to fall in autumn.