This coastal town in northern Norway is known for its King Crab fishing and strong Finnish cultural influence. The midnight sun shines here from May to July.
Vadsø lies along the Varanger Fjord in Norway's northeastern Finnmark county. You can watch the midnight sun from May to July, and see northern lights dance across the winter sky. Walk through streets lined with 19th-century wooden buildings, visit the Esbensen and Tuomainen houses, or explore Vadsøya island where the historic airship mast reminds visitors of Amundsen's polar expedition. The town's Finnish influence shows in its architecture, local customs, and the Finnish language you'll still hear spoken in its streets.
Natural Phenomena and Climate
From May 17 to July 28, the midnight sun stays above the horizon, creating continuous daylight that extends even longer. The polar night occurs from November 26 to January 17. During spring and fall evenings, you can observe the Belt of Venus - a pink glow stretching across the horizon, with Earth's shadow appearing as a blue band below it.
Getting Around
Vadsø Airport in Kiby connects the town with other Norwegian cities. The European route E75 highway runs through Vadsø, and Hurtigruten coastal ships stop at the Vadsøya island pier. The town spreads across both mainland and Vadsøya island, linked by a bridge. Most attractions are within a 15-minute walk from the town center, with the museum and airship mast about 20 minutes apart.
Wildlife and Nature
At Store Ekkerøy, you'll find colonies of Arctic seabirds including puffins, guillemots, and various gull species. Birch forests grow up to 200 meters above sea level, with willow shrubs scattered throughout the area. Above the treeline, alpine tundra vegetation dominates the landscape. The Jakobselva river forms the western border of Vadsø, where you can fish for salmon with a permit from the local authorities.
Finnish Culture and Museums
The Vadsø Museum displays fishing equipment and everyday items from Finnish immigrants who settled here in the 1800s. Two original wooden buildings that survived World War II now house part of the museum collection. In the town center, you'll find a memorial sculpture by Ensio Seppänen honoring Finnish settlers. In nearby Vestre-Jakobselv, many residents still speak Finnish and continue traditional customs like Finnish sauna.
Arctic Exploration History
The metal airship mast on Vadsøya island played a role in two historic polar expeditions. Roald Amundsen and Umberto Nobile anchored their airship Norge here in 1926 during their North Pole expedition. Nobile returned with the airship Italia in 1928. You can walk around the mast site and read information panels about these early Arctic flights.
