North Cape
At 71°10′21′′, North Cape is the northernmost point on the European mainland.
Imagine taking a journey north, passing through rough waters or snow covered terrain, when suddenly a mountain cliff comes into view, rising 307 meters above the Arctic Ocean. While travellers once had to climb up the cliff, now it is accessible by bus from Honningsvåg. Once you've experienced the North Cape, you will know why it is one of the absolute highlights on a trip to Norway.
Discovered in 1553
Still, the feeling of walking up to the cliff is extraordinary and gives you a feeling of being at the end of the world as you know it. This is the same feeling the first explorers must have had when they reached this majestic cliff in 1553, in search of the Northeast Passage. Two of the three British ships never returned home, while the third survived to name it the North Cape.
Tourist attraction sparked by the King
More than a hundred years later, Italian priest Francesco Negri arrived at the same place, on what is described as purely a tourist trip. But it wasn't until 1873, when King Oscar climbed these steep cliffs, that North Cape really became a tourist attraction, as the King's effort sparked great interest all over the world.
Looking up to the skies
Today there is a combined museum and restaurant at the plateau. There, you can learn more about the early expeditions to North Cape and watch a panoramic film that takes you through four seasons, in a landscape full of contrasts, light and breathtaking scenery. The North Cape is a spectacular place for experiencing both the Northern Lights in the winter and the summer Midnight Sun.
And don't forget – it's almost obligatory to take pictures of the globe monument, which marks that you are standing at the northern tip of Europe.
