North Cape & Honningsvåg
Europe's northernmost clifftop landmark, where you watch the midnight sun from a 307 m sea cliff, with the fishing port of Honningsvåg serving as a Hurtigruten and cruise ship stop.
The North Cape (Nordkapp) sits at the northern tip of Magerøya island in Finnmark, Norway's northernmost county, where a 307 m black sea cliff plunges into the Barents Sea. The steel globe monument on the clifftop is the classic must-have photo of the northernmost point of Europe (strictly speaking, the true northernmost point is the neighbouring Knivskjellodden headland, and Magerøya itself is an island). Honningsvåg, the island's only town, lies about 34 km from the North Cape; it is a port of call for the Hurtigruten coastal voyage and large cruise ships, and the hub for accommodation, dining and tour buses.
The best season is the midnight sun period from mid-May to late July, when the sun stays up all night, and watching it skim the horizon from the North Cape cliffs at midnight is the highlight of the trip; June–August is also puffin season on the bird cliffs of Gjesværstappan. From September there is a chance of northern lights, but polar night lasts from late November to January. In winter (roughly October–April), the last 13 km or so of the E69 road can only be driven in a convoy behind a snowplough, with a few fixed departures a day that may be cancelled at any time in a blizzard; in winter, joining a tour from Honningsvåg is recommended.
Getting there: the nearest airport is the small Honningsvåg Airport, or fly to Alta and drive about 3.5 hours, reaching the island through the undersea North Cape Tunnel. In summer, buses run from Honningsvåg to the North Cape, and shuttle tours meet cruise ships in port. The North Cape visitor centre (North Cape Hall) charges an admission fee, and booking tickets in advance on its official website is recommended.
Plan on 1–2 days: one day for the midnight sun at the North Cape (leave in the evening, return in the early hours), and another to hike to Knivskjellodden or take a boat to Gjesvær to see puffins, stopping at the fishing villages of Kamøyvær and Skarsvåg along the way. Even in summer, the North Cape often has strong winds and thick fog, with temperatures of only 5–10°C, so bring a windproof, warm jacket; seeing the sun isn't guaranteed, so consider an extra night as a backup.
Top sights
- North Cape Globe Monument – A steel globe monument on a 307-meter sea cliff, marking Europe's “northernmost point.” In summer, you can watch the midnight sun.
- Gjesværstappan – One of the largest seabird breeding grounds in northern Norway. In summer, you can take a boat from Gjesvær for close-up views of puffins…
- North Cape Hall – A visitor centre built into the clifftop and rock, with a panoramic cinema, a historical exhibition, a small chapel, and a restaurant with…
- Knivskjellodden – A low, flat headland about 1.5 km further north than North Cape, reachable by an 18 km round-trip hike.
- Gjesvær – A traditional small fishing village on the northwestern coast of Magerøya, and the departure point for the Gjesvær bird-watching boats and…
- Kamøyvær – A fishing village with colorful wooden houses around a small harbor, and a photo stop between Honningsvåg and North Cape.
- Honningsvåg Harbour – One of the world's most northerly towns, a port for express boats and large cruise ships, where you can eat king crab. It is the base camp…
- North Cape Museum – A small museum by the harbor covering coastal fishing in Finnmark, the 1944 scorched-earth burning of the town and its postwar reconstructi…
- Honningsvåg Church – A wooden church built in 1885, and the only building in town to survive the scorched-earth retreat of 1944.
- Skarsvåg – Said to be the world's northernmost fishing village, about 13 km from North Cape, with Christmas-themed gift shops and fishermen's lodgings…
- Kirkeporten – A natural rock arch on the coast outside Skarsvåg, reachable in a half-hour walk. Looking through the arch frames the distant cliffs of Nor…
- North Cape Tunnel – The only road link between mainland Norway and Magerøya, about 6.9 km long, with its deepest point 212 meters below sea level.
Where to eat
- Havly Restaurant – A cozy restaurant in the center of Honningsvåg, serving traditional Norwegian dishes and local seafood, and ranked amon…
- Corner Harbourside Restaurant – A popular seafood spot beside the cruise terminal, where king crab and cod are visitors' favorites, with simple options…
- Aurora Restaurant at North Cape Hall – A restaurant in the visitor center on the North Cape cliffs, overlooking the Arctic Ocean and serving king crab and rei…
Itineraries
- West Coast, Arctic Highway & North Cape Road Trip – Drive north from Turku along the west coast, passing through Oulu, Rovaniemi, and Inari, all the way to the North Cape…
- North Cape Midnight Sun: 7-Day Summer Road Trip – Drive from Tromsø via the Lyngen Alps and Alta to the North Cape to witness Europe's northernmost midnight sun.
- Kirkenes Snowhotel & Coastal Cruise to Tromsø – Stay in a snow hotel and catch king crabs in the border town of Kirkenes, then cruise south to Tromsø.