Finnmark · Norway
The 307-meter cliff above the Barents Sea on the island of Magerøya: the metal globe, the visitor centre, the midnight sun and the birds of Gjesværstappan.
In the photo: Nordkapp
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Get to know the place
The North Cape, Nordkapp in Norwegian, is a cliff of about 307 meters above the Barents Sea, on the island of Magerøya, in Finnmark county. It lies at 71 degrees north latitude, roughly 2,000 km from Oslo, and is known as the northernmost point in Europe you can reach by car. Since the 16th century, when English sailors named it, it has welcomed travellers who come to see the edge of the continent.
On top of the cliff there is a plateau of rock and moss, treeless, with the metal globe that became the symbol of the place and the Nordkapphallen, a visitor centre partly carved into the rock, with a panoramic film, exhibitions, a chapel, a restaurant and windows to the sea. The island also has Knivskjellodden, the promontory that reaches a bit further north and can only be reached on foot, and the cliffs of Gjesværstappan, with colonies of puffins in summer.
Honningsvåg, the fishing village on the south of the island, about 34 km from the cape, is the base, with a Hurtigruten port, a small airport and hotels. The island is linked to the mainland by an undersea tunnel, and the E69 road crosses the tundra between the village and the cape, passing reindeer herds of the Sámi who take the animals to the island in summer.
From late November to late January it's polar night, with no sun. In winter the road often runs with a convoy; check before going.
This destination brings together 1 city: Honningsvåg.
One destination, many paths
Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.
Contornos: © Kartverket (CC BY 4.0), divisas de 2024; costa via geoBoundaries. Adaptação do Cidade Turismo.
✈ Honningsvåg lufthavn, Valan (HVG), in Valan · 4 km to Honningsvåg
Check before booking. Honningsvåg airport receives small domestic flights, connecting in Tromsø or Hammerfest; Alta airport is about a three-and-a-half-hour drive away. The Hurtigruten calls at Honningsvåg, and tour buses run from the port to the cape.
The local experience
The plateau atop the 307-metre cliff of the North Cape, with the metal globe, the Nordkapphallen carved into the rock, the chapel, the panoramic film and the view over the Barents Sea.
The rock point west of the North Cape that juts a little further north, at 71°11', reached by a trail of about 18 km round trip across the Magerøya tundra down to sea level.
Rocky islands off the village of Gjesvær, northwest of the North Cape, with colonies of puffins, kittiwakes, barnacle geese and white-tailed eagles, visited on boat trips in summer.
Before you go
A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.
From mid-May to the end of July the midnight sun usually stays above the horizon; from June to August the road is generally clear and the reindeer are on the island. From September to March the Northern Lights are often visible on clear nights. In winter, from November to April, the road between Skarsvåg and the cape typically operates with a convoy on set schedules and can close in storms; check in advance.
The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.
One day is enough for Honningsvåg and the cape, with an evening visit in summer to see the midnight sun. With two days you can include the Knivskjellodden hike and the boat trip to the birds of Gjesværstappan.
Honningsvåg, on the south of the island, has most of the hotels, guesthouses and restaurants, 34 km from the cape. The fishing villages of Skarsvåg and Gjesvær, closer to the cape, offer small guesthouses and cabins. In all cases it’s wise to book in summer.
Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.
Get your questions answered
From May to July for the midnight sun; from September to March for the Northern Lights on clear nights. In winter the road often operates with a convoy and can close in storms.
It is the northernmost point you can reach by car. the neighbouring headland Knivskjellodden is slightly further north and can only be reached on foot.
By car on the E69, using the undersea tunnel to Magerøya; by tour bus from Honningsvåg; or by Hurtigruten, which calls at Honningsvåg.
It helps, because there are few buses. In summer there are usually regular buses and tour services between Honningsvåg and the cape.
One day for the cape; two to include Knivskjellodden and the birds of Gjesværstappan.
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