THE NORTH CAPE

The northernmost point in Europe

Imagine a place far above the Arctic Circle, with months of never-ending daylightin the summer.

With a 307-meter high cliff that plunges into the sea, and where the only dry land between you and the North Pole is the Svalbard archipelago.

A magical place where thousands of puffins, gannets, and cormorants congregate on the bird cliff at Gjesværstappan.

That place is Nordkapp (the North Cape) in Western Finnmark, Northern Norway.

The North Cape has achieved the certification Sustainable Destination. Although this does not mean that the destination is completely sustainable, it has made a commitment to work systematically to reduce the negative effects of tourism, while strengthening its positive ripple effects.

Hike to the natural arch Kirkeporten (the Church Door), which offers an impressive window to the North Cape Plateau.

A more challenging hike will take you to cape Knivskjellodden, technically the northernmost point in Europe, from where you can see the seaside cliff face of the North Cape Plateau.

You can go fishing for giant king crabs on a RIB boat (and feast on fresh, tasty crab afterwards!).

In winter, explore the white, treeless landscape on a snowmobile. Go fishing or dog sledding, go on an ATV safari or try snowshoeing – ever on the lookout for the sometimes elusive yet always spectacular northern lights.

Don't miss the colourful fishing villages in this stark, barren landscape. Skarsvåg is the world’s northernmost fishing village. Kamøyvær is home to the art gallery West of the Moon.

The North Cape is a 3.5-hour drive from Alta. You may encounter some unusual traffic along the way!

The cosy little town of Honningsvåg is a gateway for cruise passengers visiting the North Cape. Here, you will find quaint shops and delicious Arctic food experiences.

The most popular activity is of course a visit to the North Cape Plateau. Hurtigruten offers its own excursions to the plateau.

That was just a small sample of what you can experience in the North Cape Plateau area.

For more tips, scroll down to explore accommodation, activities,and dining.

www.nordkapp.no/en/

Things to do in the North Cape

Northern Lights activities

Where to stay

Getting here and around

Get in-depth travel information at North Cape’s official website.
Plan your trip to the North Cape with Entur.

Plan your trip and buy tickets for public transportation with Entur, Norway's national travel planner.

Experience the North Cape with Hurtigruten

Seasons and climate

Although the North Cape is located at the northernmost tip of Europe, it has a subarctic climate, thanks to the Gulf Stream.

The average temperature in summer is 10 degrees Celsius, while temperatures may reach 25 degrees Celsius at the hottest. In winter, the average temperature is about minus 3 degrees Celsius. Temperatures can fall to about minus 15 degrees Celsius on the coldest.

The wettest months are from October to January, when the average precipitation is 85 millimetres per month. The driest months are from May to July, when the average precipitation is 43 millimetres per month.

The sun is up for 24 hours per day between 14 May and 29 July. In winter, the sun remains below the horizon from 21 November until 21 January, creating the polar night.

Get the latest weather forecast on yr.no.