North Cape - Capo Nord

North Cape (Nordkapp) is a territory belonging to the Finnmark County in Norway.

To know

North Cape is the northernmost point in Europe that can be reached by car, and is well connected to the international road network. About 300,000 tourists visit it every year, during the 2/3 summer months. The city Honningsvåg it is 34km south of the North Cape and a 30 minute drive.

A large one was built on the promontory blockhaus, the Nordkapphallen, an information and tourist facility. The economic resources of the municipality come from fishing, fish processing but above all from tourism and related services.

Geographical notes

Capo Nord is a cliff located on the northern tip of the island of Magerøya; in the northernmost part of Norway, in the Nord-Norge region. The cliff is 307 meters high, with a characteristic cliff overlooking the Arctic Sea.

North Cape is commonly considered the northernmost point in Europe, but this is inaccurate as the headland of Knivskjellodden, also located on the island of Magerøya, west of the North Cape, and clearly visible from the cliff itself, is located about 1450 meters further north.

But, the most northerly "geographical point" of continental Europe is to be considered in an effective sense the Nordkinn Cape (Kinnarodden), which is part of the municipality of Gamvik in the Nordkynn peninsula, which is located about 70 km east of the North Cape.

The municipality includes the island of Magerøya, the hinterland of the fjord of Porsanger and the towns of Nordvågen, Kamøyvær, Skarsvåg, Repvåg, Gjesvær, however most of the inhabitants are resident in Honningsvåg.

When to go

With the approach of the summer solstice, in the regions above the polar circles, the phenomenon of the midnight sun occurs: in these places the Sun never goes below the horizon for at least 24 hours and consequently never sets. the night. The Midnight Sun can be enjoyed from May 14th to July 29th, unless you are on a cloudy night.

On the contrary, in the winter period, even though the sun never rises above the horizon for about two and a half months, the promontory is extraneous to the phenomenon of the so-called polar night, as twilight prevents total darkness from occurring.

Furthermore, always in the winter months, in the North Cape (like all the areas located between the magnetic poles and 10 ° -20 ° away from the magnetic poles themselves) it is also possible to admire the phenomenon of the Northern Lights.

Background

North Cape, or Nordkapp, has always been a well-known and important point of reference for all the boats that were sailing those seas. The rock has had a great variety of names and it was not until the mid-16th century that it was given its present name.

Its name is due to the English explorer and commander Richard Chancellor who so named this cliff, after having landed there in 1553, during the expedition to search for the northeastern passage towards China. Since that time it has been called Nordkapp. It wasn't exactly a center of interest at the time. But only 100 years later the first "tourist" was reported to have climbed the plateau. He was an Italian priest named Francesco Negri. It took him over two years to get fromItaly on foot, by boat, on horseback, on sledges and on skis. Finally, in 1664, after reaching his destination, he noted in his travel diary:
"Here I am now on the north headland, at the very tip of Finnmark, actually at the end of the world. Here at the end of the world my curiosity ends, I go home satisfied".
The first actual tourist to the North Cape is considered the Ravenna Francesco Negri for the journey undertaken in the 17th century.

In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries a trip to the North Cape was still an adventure: an expensive one. This is why there were numerous high-ranking people among the first tourists: Prince Louis Philippe d'Orléans, King Oscar II of Norway is Sweden, the Chualalonkorn King of the Thailand and Emperor William II of Germany. The rock in which the names of illustrious visitors have been carved can be seen on the top of the plateau in the viewing room in front of the gift shop.

In 1875 the travel agent Londoner Thomas Cook organized the first group trip to the North Cape for 24 participants. At that time a trip to the North Cape was very different than it is now. There was no road leading to the island across the plateau. The travelers were taken there by rowing boat from Skarsvåg or Gjesvær in Hornvika, just below the north headland. From there they had to climb the steep and rocky ravine to reach the summit of the plateau. The first modest wooden buildings began to appear on the plateau. One of these huts was the "Stoppenbrink Champagne Pavilion".

Since the sixties, the North Cape has become the destination of numerous "pilgrimages" every year by tourists and adventure lovers, and travelers who undertake the journey by motorbike are frequent. Given the constant amount of tourists, even the North Cape has undergone an ever-increasing commercial exploitation.

Territories and tourist destinations

Urban centers

Other destinations

How to get

By plane

Honningsvåg Airport (IATA: HVG) has three daily connections with Tromsø is Hammerfest. North Cape Airport (IATA: LKL) a Lakselv has five daily connections to Tromsø and Lakselv has two daily bus departures to Honningsvåg. This airport is classified as an international airport and handles most of the travelers arriving by plane to the North Cape. All regional flights are operated by Widerøe. International charter flights are operated by Condor, Spanair is SAS.

By car

North Cape is located at the end of the E69. The E69 is a branch of the E6 129 km away from Olderfjord. The road passes through a 7 km long underwater tunnel (212 m below sea level at the lowest point). Once paid, but from 29 June 2012 the tunnel, called North Cape Tunnel (Nordkapptunnelen), has become free. Note that the road leading to the North Cape is closed to private vehicles in winter, therefore in this period it is necessary to opt for the daily bus from Honningsvåg.

In front of the main entrance of the accommodation there is a large parking area capable of accommodating the means of transport of visitors.

On boat

Hurtigruten boats call at Honningsvåg. Several cruise ships visit Honningsvåg and the North Cape every year. It is possible to transport a car (but not a camper) on the Hurtigruten. This is an interesting option to reduce the distances traveled on the road for those going to the area of Mehamn, the continental area further north ofEurope.

On the train

Using the train it is useful to know that the Norwegian railway line, due to the winter ice, has its terminus at Bodø, beyond which, to continue towards the north of the country, there is a bus and coach service.

By bus

There is a network of bus routes in Finnmark, including two buses a day that shuttle between High is Honningsvåg. You see finnmark.no^{[link previously not working]}.

By bike

Those arriving by bicycle can take advantage of the underwater tunnel that comes from the continental area. Quite fun the first 3 km but it is important to remember the speed limit. You will need good tires once you get out, particularly on the road from Honningsvag to the North Cape plateau. Beware of the wind: it blows at 7/8 Bft with far stronger gusts which are anything but unusual. In the center of the North Cape, don't forget to sign the guest book reserved for cyclists.

Three itineraries of the EuroVelo project have North Cape as their final stop: EV1, EV7 and EV11.

How to get around

In the city center of Honningsvåg and in the North Cape area you can go around on foot. Virtually all traffic to and from the North Cape goes through Honningsvåg, 34km or half an hour south by car or bus. Travelers fromNorthern Europe they usually arrive with their own car or camper, while many travelers from more distant countries purchase a package that includes transportation to and from the North Cape.

By public transport

If you have simply bought a plane ticket to Honningsvåg airport, or by public buses, the only way to get to the North Cape is by hitchhiking or walking (only for the more adventurous, and bring your own tent as there is no accommodation whatsoever on the headland) is the 330 bus (see 177finnmark.no^{[link previously not working]}), which passes a couple of times a day in the summer but not it passes at all in winter.

Special buses that go to the North Cape can be hired on the Hurtigruten boats. Tickets can be purchased on board. The ship stays in Honningsvåg for several hours so there is time for such a trip.

By taxi

The taxi is an alternative to the bus for those arriving in the area without their own vehicle.

What see

• Gjesværstappan. It is an island barrier made up of about a hundred islands. Numerous sea birds nest on their cliffs (estimated at more than 3 million) and there is the largest colony of Puffins. 
• Hornet (Northwest side of Nordkapklippen, North Cape cliff). Horn-shaped rock formation. The place was considered the abode of the gods and therefore was a sacred place for the Sami inhabitants of the island of Magerøya. 

• Hornvika (About 2.5 km from the North Cape, to the east), ☎ 47 78477030, @[email protected]. from June to September. There are ruins and piers from the Second World War. To reach the North Cape you have to climb 1000 steps that lead to the plateau with a difference in height of about 300 meters above sea level. Only in 1956 was the road to the North Cape built and Hornvika ceased to be the tourist port for the North Cape. Flora and fauna have been protected since 1929. 

• Kirkeporten (Church gate (Portal of the Church)) (A few steps from the E69), @[email protected]. From 1st June to 30th September. This cliff is a geological rarity, with a crack and through it, you can enjoy a beautiful view towards the North Cape, "Il Corno" and it is also possible to observe the midnight sun that shines between 00.00 and 02.00. Access is from the Kirkeporten campsite in Skarsvåg, which takes approximately 20 minutes. 

• Knivskjellodden (Path that can be taken from the E 69), ☎ 47 78477030, @[email protected]. from May to September. The resort is located at 71 11 08 and is the northernmost tourist route in Europe. The marked path that starts from the E 69, is about twenty km round trip and offers an excellent view of the North Cape promontory being located further north. A special certificate is issued at Nordkapp Camping. 

• 71.1694725.784351 Nordkapphallen. Adults: NOK 255, students: NOK 165, children: NOK 90, free admission for those arriving at the North Cape on foot or by bicycle (January 2015). 1 September-17 May: 11: 00-15: 00, 18 May-17 August 11: 00-01: 00, 18 August-31 August: 11: 00-22: 00. A large room carved into the plateau, from where you can enjoy a decent view. The Norwegian government considered the entrance ticket excessive and requested, in 2011, that the cost to access the area be reduced.

The structure includes:

1. Main entrance
2. Information Office
3. Lift
4. Restaurant and Kafé Kompasset for lunch with a la carte menu on the roof ofEurope or for a cup of tea with a slice of cake
5. North Cape Coffee Shop (Kaffebar) whose specialty is waffles (vafler) freshly prepared and ice cream, too, and they serve other delicacies
6. Souvenir shops of the Tax-free circuit with refund of taxes for non-resident tourists in Norway. Here it is possible to buy Norwegian trinkets and travel certificates to the North Cape, but it is also possible to buy and send a postcard whose stamp will be canceled with the stamp of Honningsvåg.
7. Permanent exhibits relating to the history of the Cape
8. Royal North Cape Club, where it is possible to obtain a diploma certifying the presence in the North Cape
9. Cinema room with a 270 ° screen that projects images on the nature of the Cape
10. Museum Thai, inaugurated in 1989 in memory of the visit of King Chulalongkorn in 1907
11. Gallery dug into the rock with three-dimensional reconstructions on the history of the North Cape
12. Chapel of St. John (St. Johannes kapell) inaugurated in 1990 is a small ecumenical chapel used for all Christian confessions
13. Grotten Bar, room created at the end of the long gallery where, on this side of a huge window, it is possible to admire the midnight sun comfortably seated. The large room holds about 350 seats, sells all kinds of alcohol and according to a tradition more than a century old, you have to toast with Champagne and Arctic caviar.
14. Suite 70 ° 10′21 ″
15. Post Office: also offers stamps for collectors and the Nordkapp postmark (9764)
16. Panoramic lounge and north exit 

On the promontory there are various monuments:

• 71.1707725.783812 The Globe. Iron sculpture erected in 1977 representing a globe, symbol of the North Cape. Although in one of the films projected inside the accommodation facility, a couple sitting on top of this monument is shown, it is good to keep in mind that this is prohibited. 
• 71.1693125.786543 Children of the Earth. Seven stone medallions, made in 1989, with drawings of children from seven different nations that symbolizes friendship and collaboration extended to the whole world. 

• Mother and child. A sculpture depicting a mother and her child; the mother holds the child close to her, who points with her left hand to the monument of the "Children of the Earth" in front of him. The sculpture was made by the artist Eva Rybakken. 
• Oscar stele. Commemorative stone erected in 1873 by King Oscar II of Norway in order to delimit, albeit symbolically, the border between Sweden is Norway. 
• Teaches. Indicates, by means of arrows, in which direction some cities in the world are and the distance in kilometers, including Athens 3,700, New York 6,110, London 2,550, Paris 2,770, Rome 3,340, Sydney 14,780, Vienna 2,600. The North Pole is 2,110 km away. 

Events and parties

• North Cape Theater, ☎ 47 97780656, @[email protected]. 14:00 and 19:00. Theatrical performance with young Norwegian artists on the history of the local population in the form of Norwegian satire and music. The show runs from 15 June to 15 August at the Perleporten Civic in Honningsvåg. 

• Nordkapphallen. Annual awarding of the appropriate "Son of the Earth" award, usually at the end of August. The award goes to a person or association that has made a significant contribution to improving the living conditions of children around the world. 
• Nordkapphallen. For a fee. From 21:00 onwards. Midnight buffet 

What to do

• Bird watching (Bird Safari AS), Nygårdsvn, 38 - Gjesvær (Nordkapp) (21 km from the intersection with the E69), ☎ 47 41613983, @[email protected]. 595 NOK. Excursion by boat between high cliffs to see and photograph seabirds among the largest in northern Europe, such as the puffin and mountain birds. From May to August. 
• Bird Cruise (Barents Cabin & Cruise), Walsøenes-vegen, 34 Gjesvær (Nordkapp) (21 km from the intersection with the E69), ☎ 47 48174156, @[email protected]. 475 NOK. From May 16th to August 31st. Two-hour boat trip to the Gjesværstappan nature reserve, among sea birds and seals 
• Tours and Safaris (Stappan Sjøprodukter), Kobbernesveien, 8 - Gjesvær (Nordkapp), ☎ 47 95037722, @[email protected]. from January to December. Organize boat trips for deep sea fishing, bird watching, midnight sun cruises and North Cape cruises. It allows overnight stays, refreshments and the purchase of fish products. 

• 71.12225.711 Excursion to Knivsjellodden (Starting point: at the rest area 7 km south of the North Cape). The trail is marked with red T's. The distance is 8 km, the excursion takes about two and a half hours, each way. Since the weather is unstable in this high latitude, a message must always be left indicating the destination and the time of exit. For safety, bring a GPS and mark the parking lot to be able to find it more easily. It is the northernmost promontory of the North Cape cliff. 
• North Cape Adventures, Nordkappveien 27, Honningsvåg, ☎ 47 97772222, @[email protected]. Bird safaris, hiking tours, camps in remote areas, ski tours, rafting, water sports, deep sea fishing, kayaking and photographic safaris are organized throughout the year.

They are organized diving that should not be missed by fans of this sport. With the midnight sun, the underwater world is as spectacular as an Eldorado and diving with the Northern Lights gives strong emotions due to the colorful play of soft and diffused lights. The seabed, rich in algae and laminaria, is not monotonous and has cliffs, submerged fjords and skjærgård that is the barrier of islands and rocks formed in the last glaciation. In the eastern part you can meet the gigantic king crab originally from Kamchatka, an obligatory meeting for diving enthusiasts. There is no shortage of wrecks of numerous sunken ships, all to be explored but where it is absolutely forbidden to touch. 

Shopping

• Nordkapp Jul og Vinterhus, Skarsvåg, ☎ 47 78475289, fax: 47 78473648, @[email protected]. Christmas decorations, many hand painted, and the North Cape Santa Claus. 
• Nordkapp Sølvsmie, Ytre Nordmannset, N-9713 Russenes, ☎ 47 78463830, 47 78928006, @[email protected]. 08: 30-19: 00 in the period 01 / 06-25 / 08. Sami handcrafted jewelery in gold, silver and bronze. Sami knives and other souvenirs. 
• Nils M. Somby and Family, N-9763 Skarsvåg (on the road about 7 km from the North Cape), ☎ 47 87475285, 47 78475280. 09: 00-23: 00 in the period 01 / 04-31 / 10. Campo same with the sale of excellent handcrafted products including warm and colorful hats. 

How to have fun

Shows

• Panoramic film. Included in the admission ticket, it is possible to enter a cinema hall with 3 screens at 125 ° in which to observe how the lights and sounds of the spectacular nature of the North Cape change with the change of the four seasons. The film shown is available for purchase on DVD in the gift shop located upstairs. The shows start at specific times. 
• Cave of Lights. Included in the entrance ticket, you can access the most recent attraction which consists of maxi screens scattered almost everywhere to immerse yourself in sounds and lights typical of the four Norwegian seasons. The projections are performed in rotation without pause. Inside there are smaller screens that explain the phenomenon of the northern lights and the midnight sun. In an adjacent room there is also the history of the North Cape starting from 1533. 

Where to eat

Average prices

• Corner Café, ☎ 47 78476340, fax: 47 78476349, @[email protected]. 
• Aurora Borealis Bar. Here you can taste typical products of Finnmark accompanying them with traditional champagne. Delicious meats of king crab, reindeer, whale and other fish are also served. 

Where stay

Moderate prices

• Northcape Family Lodge, Børnesveien 10, 9763, Skarsvåg (8.1 miles from North Cape), ☎ 47 90 74 21 22, @[email protected]. cabin: 2000kr. 
• Nordkapp Vandrerhjem, Kobbhullveien 10, ☎ 47 918 24 156, @[email protected]. Dormitory: 330kr, double: 760kr. 
• Nordkapp Camping, Skipsfjorden (15 miles from North Cape), ☎ 47 78 47 33 77, @[email protected]. Tent: 150kr, double: 650kr, cabin: 595 / 635kr, sheets: 90kr. 
• Nordkapp Caravan & Camping, Skarsvåg (8.7 miles from North Cape), ☎ 47 45 22 19 42, @[email protected]. 

Average prices

• Nordkapp Arran Hotel, Kamøyvær, ☎ 47 75 40 20 85, @[email protected]. 
• Rica Hotel Honningsvåg, Nordkappgata 4, ☎ 47 78 47 72 20, fax: 47 78477221, @[email protected]. 
• Rica Hotel Nordkapp, Skipsfjorden, ☎ 47 78 47 72 60, @[email protected]. 

High prices

• Suite 71 ° 10′21 ″, ☎ 47 78476860, 47 78476861. The Suite is located in the Nordkapphallen and besides the overnight stay from May to September, it also organizes wedding ceremonies in the chapel and wedding lunch. 

Safety

• Police, ☎ 47 78472566. 
• Fire fighters, ☎ 47 78472122. 
• Emergency medical Service, ☎ 47 78472881. 
• Ambulance, ☎ 47 78472731. 
• Pharmacy. Mon-Fri 09: 00-16: 00, Sat 10: 00-13: 00. 

How to keep in touch

Post office

• Post Office. Mon-Fri 09: 00-16: 00. 

Around

Itineraries

It is possible to go back in the same way used to reach the North Cape; by road, by boat or by plane. If you have arrived by car it is possible to continue with the Hurtigruten boats if you need a little break from driving. This allows you to visit another peninsula or island without driving the long way around the fjords.

Useful information

• Since 1929 the North Cape has been a protected territory and the collection of the plants present is prohibited (the vegetation of the island is rather sparse). It is also regrettable, if not forbidden, to build piles of stones as they could damage the fragile vegetation.
• For a better understanding of the prices indicated, which are purely indicative, it is good to know that 1 € = 9.3 NOK (value as of 12/09/2017).

Related items

• Polar night
• Midnight Sun

Other projects

• Wikipedia contains an entry concerning North Cape
• Commons contains images or other files on North Cape