Vardø Lighthouse was established in 1896 and automated in 1991. The lighthouse was listed as a protected site in 1998.
The 20-metre (66 ft) tall white, square pyramidal, wooden tower has a red, metal, cylindrical light room on top. The light emits a white flash every 30 seconds. The 1,809,000 candela light can be seen for up to 23 nmi (43 km; 26 mi). The light is emitted at an altitude of 77.2 metres (253 ft) above sea level.
The light burns from 12 August until 24 April each year, but it is off during the summers due to the midnight sun. The site is located on a rocky island, just off the Vardø harbor. It is only accessible by boat, and it is closed to the public.