Vardøya (Norwegian), Várggáidsuolu (Northern Sami), or Vuoreansaari (Kven)[1] is an island in Vardø Municipality in Finnmark county, Norway.

The small island of Hornøya (where the Vardø Lighthouse sits) is 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) to the northeast of Vardøya.

[3] The island (and fortress) were made famous by the historic 1553 voyage in search of the fabled Northeast passage.

The Bona Esperanza was captained by Sir Hugh Willoughby, a man of 'goodly personage' but one who had absolutely no knowledge of navigation.

The expedition leader, Richard Chancellor had planned for such an eventuality, suggesting that the ships regroup at Vardöhuus.