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Hornoya

Finnmark  >  Norway

Thousands of seabirds breed on this rocky island. You can take a short boattrip from Vardo. Prepare for an astonishing trip.

Added* by Marc Mangelschots
Most recent update 27 maj 2026

Description

Perched off mainland Norway’s easternmost point, Hornøya is a wild island inhabited by 80 000 seabirds, hunted by eagles and protected as a nature reserve since 1983. Over 100 species of bird have been recorded on the island, a list which includes Havørn, breeding Rødstrubet Piber, 15000 pairs of Lomvie. Over 7500 pairs of Lunde breed inside burrows on Hornøya’s grassy slopes and clifftops. You can walk very close to the thousands of breeding seabirds like Alk, Lunde, Polarlomvie, Topskarv, Ride. It's a rocky island, but easy to visit.

Details

Access

Hornøya is just a 10-minute boat trip from Vardø harbour. Since 2026 boat tours during the season from 1st April - 1st September need to be reserved. There is no longer a regular daily ferry service to the island. You must book your trip in advance. The previous drop-in system with buying a ticket at the counter before departure is no longer available. For more info see the link below.

Terrain and Habitat

Sea

Conditions

Rocky , Slippery , Hilly

Circular trail

Yes

Is a telescope useful?

No

Good birding season

Spring , Summer

Best time to visit

Spring

Route

Unpaved road , Narrow trail

Difficulty walking trail

Average walk

Accessible by

Foot , Boat

Birdwatching hide / platform

Yes

Links

View other birding spots in the area that are published on Birdingplaces

Map

Top 5 birds

Other birds you can see here

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