Destination Vardø

Destination Vardø

Welcome to Ultima Thule

Founded in 1789, Vardø is the oldest town in Northern Norway. The first settlement in Vardø dates back to the 1330s when Håkon Magnusson had Vardøhus Fort built to defend Norway’s eastern border.
Today’s fort is the furthest north in the world and was completed in 1738. In the 17th century, some of the worst witch trials in northern Europe were held in Vardø. Almost 80 women were sentenced to death by burning for practicing witchcraft and magic. In August 1944 the Allies bombed the town. Although much of the town burnt down many buildings did not succumb to the flames. Pomor trade was conducted from 1740 until the Russian Revolution in 1917. Vardø was often called the Pomor capital (Link to map). Today Vardø has around 2,100 inhabitants.

Visit Varanger

Visit Varanger

Visit Varanger

Contact us here

Perfect location

We offer 90,000 square meters of prime land for resort development in Smelror, a historic fishing village at the top of Europe in Northern part of Norway. Surrounded by bird cliffs, shallow beaches, raw nature and endless adventure opportunities, it’s an ideal site for a world-class, year-round tourism destination.

Guests will experience unforgettable summer and winter adventures, from Hamningberg and East Cape to Nesseby and Tana, with activities like dogsledding, king crab fishing, birdwatching, and whale safaris. Join us in transforming Smelror into a premier Arctic escape.

 

Reason to go

Arctic nights – Aurora borealis
Arctic lights – The Midnight sun
Whale and King crab safaris
Sami culture and experience
Winter Wonderland with dogsledding
Virginity – untouched wild nature
Icebath in the Arctic Ocean with sauna
Geotourism
Old culture and history
Steilneset Witch Memorial
Hornøya bird cliff
Cultural heritage area
Snowshoeing and skiis
Varanger Peninsula National park
Wildlife
Varanger National scenic route
Varangerfjord and the Barents Sea
East Cape 
Snowmobile
Sea & fjord activities
Explore space, place and silence

Why invest here?

The Varanger region is a high-potential investment in the rapidly growing Arctic tourism market:

1. Strong Growth: Northern Norway’s tourism generated 1.6 billion NOK in 2022-2023, a 10% increase from pre-pandemic levels.

2. High Tourist Spending: Visitors spend up to 2,560 NOK daily on experiences like Northern Lights tours and king crab safaris 

3. Unique Attractions: Varanger´s natural beauty and Sami culture make it a top destination for nature-based tourism.

With growing demand and year-round potential, Varanger region offers excellent long-term returns for tourism investors.

 

Raw place with lots of space

Listen to the sound of silence

Local food / Seafood / Berries / Salmon

Arctic lights – Arctic nights

Part of Sápmi with Sami culture

Insta-friendly destination

Normal temperature

Fresh air and clean water

Only 8500 people in the region

Not so far away 

By airplane

SAS
Norwegian
Widerøe
Finnair (Finland)

Cruise t/r Tromsø – North Cape – Vardø

Hurtigruten – Coastal Express
Havila Voyages

Approximate travel times to or from the north are: 48 hours

Caring people, rural life, raw nature

Not so far away

By airplane

SAS
Norwegian
Widerøe
Finnair (Finland)

Cruise t/r Tromsø – North Cape – Varanger

Hurtigruten – Coastal Express
Havila Voyages

Approximate travel times to or from the north are: 35 hours

Greater Arctic Holding AS 
Marelius AS
.
Ottar Zahl Jonassen
m. +47 93824248
Ottar (a) marelius.no
.
The Icehouse
Postbox 101
NO-9811 Vadsø