North Cape

Visit the northern end of continental Europe - North Cape at the Magerøya island in Norway

Every year many thousands tourist from all over the world visit North Cape in Norway and the European route E69 highway has its northern terminus here, and it is possible to see both the Midnight Sun in the summer and the Northern Lights in the winter.

You will find this most northerly point in Europe around 71 degrees north and approximately 2,000 km from the North Pole, and located on Magerøya at the very end of the European landmass.

The plateau itself rises 307 metres almost straight up from the Arctic Sea, but it is flat at the top. A little way down the mountain slope stands the rock formation known as the “North Cape Horn”, which is an ancient Sami people site of sacrifice.

Why is it called North Cape

The North Cape has been a coveted attraction for centuries. The name "North Cape" was given by the English Captain Richard Chancellor, when he sailed around the North Cape on an expedition searching for the North-East Passage to Asia. When he discovered the dramatic 307-metre-high headland, he named it the North Cape.

The first person who travelled north with the purpose to reach the North Cape was the Franciscan Minister Francesco Negri. After a journey lasting several years, he finally was able to look out over the Arctic Sea from the plateau in the winter of 1664.

From the end of the 1800 century, tourists have been travelling to the North Cape, often with a cruise ship.

In 1965 was the road to the North Cape was completed, and it is now much easier to visit "the end of Europe". Today around 200,000 people visit the North Cape during the busy summer season, and a few hardy souls are starting to make the trip in winter, too.

Midnight Sun is a fantastic experience

Nowhere in the country, the seasonally Midnight Sun can be experienced more delightful. From about 14 May until 29 July you will have the opportunity to see the Midnight Sun here, but there is no guarantee because there also is a good deal of fog coming from the Arctic Sea. Positively this means that it is even more beautiful when the sun hangs high in the sky above a bronze-coloured sea.

Some travellers use an evening to visit the North Cape, and the experience can quickly become too hectic and even a disappointment, if the weather is poor. To make the most of your visit, set aside a little more time to go exploring the North Cape.

The Northern Lights in North Cape

It is best to see the Northern Lights between 6 and 10 pm from October to March on clear nights.

How to go to North Cape?

By plane:
You find five airports in the region: Alta Airport, Hasvik five-port, Hammerfest Airport, Honningsvåg Airport and Lakselv Airport.

By road:
In Western Finnmark, the roads are good, and you will meet a few problems. In the winter the passes in the mountains can be closed for some days. You find buses to many inhabited places here, but careful planning is useful because the departures can be infrequent.

By boat:
Many take the Hurtigruten from Tromsø to Hammerfest or the North Cape. Hurtigruten also offers a "Norwegian Coastal Cruise" along the scenic fjords of Norway, and many think that this cruise is one of the most beautiful tours in the world and here you also visit Øksfjord, Hammerfest, Havøysund and Honningsvåg.