Honningsvåg

Understand

thumb|Nordkapp in midnight sun.

is promoted as the northernmost point of mainland Europe, which is not exactly true. Nordkapp is on an island, Magerøya, and the neighbouring point is actually 1,457 m (4780 ft) further north (on the same island). Nordkapp is however the northernmost point in Europe reachable by the international road network. Islands farther north, such as Novaya Zemlya, are far from the mainland. The northernmost point on the actual mainland (islands like Magerøya not included) is some 65 km to the east from Nordkapp (some 300 km by road), 25 km from the nearest village, Mehamn.

The midnight sun may be enjoyed 14 May–29 July, unless the night is cloudy.

thumb|Nordkapp landscape Barents Sea

Nordkapp – The North Cape, the North Cape Horn – has always been a well-known and important point of orientation for all boats and ships navigating the area. The rock has had a great variety of names and it was only in the mid 16th century that it was given the present name.

In 1553 an English commander, Richard Chancellor passed Nordkapp and named the cliff Nordkapp, the North Cape. From that time, it has been called Nordkapp. At that time it wasn't exactly the centre of interest. But only 100 years later, the first "tourist" was reported to have climbed up to the plateau. He was an Italian priest named Francesco Negri. It took him more than two years to go from Italy on foot, by boat, on horseback, on sleighs and on skis. In 1664, finally having reached hi…

Get in

thumb|250px|Honningsvåg

In winter, the Nordkapp road is not open to ordinary traffic. Nordkapp is accessible only via a daily convoy headed by a snow plough. The day's convoy can be cancelled if there is severe weather. The visitor centre is open for approximately one and a half hours between the arrival of the convoy and its departure. Visitors have to return with the convoy.

Get around

In Honningsvåg city centre and in the North Cape area itself one can get around by foot. Practically all traffic from and to the North Cape goes through Honningsvåg, 34 km or half an hour to the south by car or bus. Travelers from Northern Europe usually arrive with their own cars or camper, and many travellers from countries further away buy a package which includes the transport to and from the North Cape.

If you've simply bought a flight ticket to Honningsvåg airport, or using public buses, the only way to get to the North Cape itself aside from hitchhiking or hiking (only for the most adventurous, and bring your own tent as there is no accommodation whatsoever on the cape itself) is taking a taxi, or the local bus 330 (www.177finnmark.no), which runs a few times per day in the summer and not at all in the winter.

Hurtigruten charters special buses going to North Cape. Tickets are bought onboard. The ship stays several hours in Honningsvåg so there is time for such a trip.

See

thumb|160px|Kirkeporten. thumb|Nordkapphallen

Sleep

thumb|Nordkapp camping at Honningsvåg thumb|Nordkapp is also the name of the municipality (Norwegian: kommune), Honningsvåg is its administrative centre

Go next

You can get out the same way you got in; by road, boat or plane. If you've arrived by car you can continue with the Hurtigruten ship if you want some break from the driving. This allows you to visit another peninsula or island without driving the long way around the fjords.