Nordkapp, Norway is the northernmost part of Europe. As a matter of fact it’s deep in the Arctic circle, about 2,100 km from the North Pole. To celebrate this fact, there is a museum and a globe monument.
How to get to Nordkapp
The best way to get to Nordkapp is via Alta or Honningsvag. For this reason, I flew with Norwegian Airlines to Alta, took the bus to Honningsvag, then a return bus trip from Honningsvag to Nordkapp. It is possible to fly direct to Honningsvag, but after investigating online, I found there were much better value flights to Alta.
Bus from Alta to Honningsvag to Nordkapp
Before arriving in Alta, I went online and bought a 3 day unlimited bus travel, Arctic pass. I used this pass for my local bus from the airport in Alta and also for the long distance services to Honningsvag, Nordkapp as well as the entrance fee to Nordkapp. Finally, if you’re only going to Nordkapp on a return trip from Honningsvag then its slightly cheaper to get the ticket on the bus, than the arctic pass.
Things to do in Nordkapp
It’s very important to get a photo with the globe monument when in Nordkapp! This is the official symbol of the northernmost point of mainland Europe. Also at Nordkapp you’ll find a visitor center, museum, cafe, Thai temple, movie theater as well as the peace monument. Did you know the westernmost part of mainland Europe is Cabo da Roca which is west of Lisbon, Portugal.
Nordkapp Globe Monument
There are lots of tourists at the North Cape globe monument taking their photos. An interesting fact is that many of them are finishing long road or bike trips through Europe. For this reason, the Globe Monument is a symbol of the end of their journey. It’s the end of the journey because they cannot go any further north (by car or bike).
North Cape Peace Monument
The peace monument is actually 7 monuments which were made by 7 children from different parts of the world. It symbolizes cooperation, friendship, hope and joy across all boundaries.
Reindeer at Nordkapp Honningsvag
On the short journey to Honningsvag, keep your eyes open for reindeer. When I passed, I saw several grazing at the side of the road. If you’re lucky, the friendly bus driver will slow down so you can photograph them.
How to get from Nordkapp to Honningsvag
The journey from Nordkapp to Honningsvag is a 32 km bus ride south which is the return trip from Honningsvag. Check the Honningsvag to Nordkapp local bus timetable to organise your return trip. Throughout summer there are 6 buses a day but in winter there’s only 1 bus per day. If you take a return trip you get about 2 hours at the site which is more than enough time.
What a cool place — I didn’t even know this existed. I love the Globe at the top of globe. 🙂 But you don’t look as cold in that picture as I’d expected someone so close to the North Pole to look!
The sun setting on the horizon in your first photo is stunning! Interesting about the Thai temple – I never would’ve thought there would be one at the end of the earth!
I think the Thai temple is the most random thing this place will have. Do you know why there is one there? I had to re-read the sentence to see if it’s really Thai temple you’ve mentioned. Lol. The peace monument sounds interesting, I think the symbolic representation of it is what we need right now.
“I didn’t just appear in Nordkapp” – LOL! Love the sound of the peace monument; so unique and unlike anything I’ve heard or seen. When you say children from 7 parts of the world, do you happen to know if they were one from each continent (or as close as possible!)? That’d be super symbolic!
What a cool spot! We would love to visit the tippy top of Europe and have a photo there. We always travel with the kids and know how much they would enjoy this spot !
I got a good giggle out of this – It’s the end of the journey because they cannot go any further north (by car or bike). I had no idea about the Thai temple. Of course there is a Thai temple at the end of the world. Totally makes sense a Thai temple alongside the peace monument.
Somewhere that I have legitimately never heard of but it certainly sounds worth the trek which, by the way, you were very thorough on how to get there. It certainly is surprising that there is a Thai temple in such a northerly location, do you have any idea what the significance/historical reasons for this are? Seeing some wild reindeer must have been a really humbling sight
One of my cousin stays in Oslo and she has been inviting us for long enough. Hope we can visit Norway someday. Artic pass looks like a deal. Thai temple in Norway is interesting.
First of all, I actually opened Google Maps to understand where you went!!! That’s so far away on the northern most part of the earth! Wow!!! The monument is bang at the very end of land mass!!! Wow! That’s just awesome!!!