This place is referred to as the northernmost point in Europe and attracts hundreds of tourists every year. It’s known as North Cape - a rocky cliff located on Magerøya island in northern Norway. This article will tell you how to reach this place and what attractions you can find there.
North Cape may not be the most friendly place in the world, and it is a far cry from the easiest destination to reach. This is a raw area of steep cliffs with very little flora and a seemingly infinite seascape. It has also a characteristic steel globe art installation, which serves as a symbol of this majestic place. However, it’s the raw beauty and wilderness of North Cape which attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world every year. - You can commune with the pure nature of the north. Moreover, the sun remains above the horizon throughout almost the entire summer. Another thing that attracts people to visit is the opinion that they’re visiting the top of the world – claimed Marta, who went to North Cape for her vacation.
We need to clarify her latter statement. When visiting North Cape, you will see Knivskjelodden on your right, which is even further north. Moreover, there is another cliff, Kinnarodden, behind it. So, why is North Cape considered “the end of the world?” The reason behind this are probably its touristic advantages. Everybody who has visited North Cape agrees that the two previously mentioned destinations are not nearly as breathtaking. There is also no doubt that reaching North Cape is not an easy task.
Option one – by air
- If you decide to travel to North Cape via plane, you will land in Tromsø, where another plane will take you to Magerøya island from there. Further on, you need to catch a plane to Honningsvåg and then a bus to North Cape – said Marta. How much does this expedition cost? The price of a round-trip plane ticket is at least 754 PLN. Usually, the price is dependent on the date of ticket purchase. A one-way plane ticket from Tromsø costs at least 400 Norwegian krone (approximately 188 PLN*). The buses only run during the summer season, which is between the beginning of May and the end of August. A round-trip ticket costs 450 krone (approximately 211 PLN).
Option two – by land
For those who wish for a visit to North Cape to be a summary of a large journey, we suggest going there by car. Of course, this scenario requires much more time, as well as money. There are three ways of reaching North Cape by car – through the Baltic states (Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia) and Finland; through Sweden, which can be reached by ferry; and through Denmark and then across Norway. The latter route is considered the cheapest, as well as the fastest. Moreover, it guarantees a lot of sightseeing.
You can reach Norway by catching a ferry from Hirtshals in Denmark. If you decide on a cruise with the Color Line company, you will pay at least 650 Danish krone (approximately 372 PLN). After reaching Norway, you’re in for a few-day’s drive to reach North Cape. The good news is that you can save money on accommodations when you own a tent or a camper. In Norway, you’re allowed to camp anywhere as long as its at least 150 meters from the nearest building. Of course, you must keep your camping area tidy and leave it in the same condition as you found it.
Top of the world
North Cape is famous worldwide for its vantage point with the characteristic steel globe statue. Aesthetic experiences from looking at the local landscapes are incredible. However, they’re not the only reason to visit North Cape, or Magerøya Island. - There are many tourist attractions there and they are quite diversified when it comes to pricing. However, this doesn’t mean that those less expensive are less interesting – claimed Marta. She pointed out the fauna of Gjesværstappan, with its Atlantic puffins and Northern gannets. - The possibility of fishing for royal crabs sounds quite interesting as well. Quite a popular way to spend your time is to experience a mountain quad expedition. This excursion has its start in the center of Honningsvåg and is approximately one-and-a-half hours long – adds Marta. Another interesting thing is a bar which is made entirely out of ice. Needless to say, it is one of North Cape’s main attractions as well. You can find more of them at nordkapp.no.
We already mentioned that the price ranges are quite wide. You can participate in a bird safari for around 650 krone (approximately 305 PLN). The quad expedition costs around 895 krone (approximately 420 PLN) and you can enter the ice-bar for about 139 krone (approximately 65 PLN). Finally, there’s the entrance to the North Cape vantage point, which costs at least 260 krone (approximately 122 PLN).
When it comes to accommodations, there’s absolutely no problem with camping in the wild. However, those who wish to sleep in more comfortable conditions should browse Magerøya’s lodging list. You can access this at available at nordkapp.no. - The list is pretty expansive. There, not only can you hotels, guesthouses and youth hostels, but also camping fields or fishermen huts – emphasized Marta. What are the prices? For example, a place for one person in a dormitory of Vandrerhjem youth shelter can be booked for at least 330 krone (approximately 155 PLN). On the other hand, a double-room with a bathroom in North Cape Guesthouse is an expense of 700 krone (approximately 329 PLN). Both of these places are located in Honningsvåg.
As you can see, a journey to the top of the world is quite expensive. In order to reduce its costs, you can favorably exchange your currency before leaving. However, keep in mind that the Norwegian krone is not common in Poland. - You can easily buy more popular currencies. It seems like a good idea to exchange zlotys for dollars or euro and then exchange one of these currencies to krone in Norway – claims Marcin Lipka, Cinkciarz.pl analyst. To make your transaction more profitable, you should use an online currency exchange. - These types of transactions are safer because they don’t require cash. Moreover, the spreads that online currency exchange offices offer are more profitable than those offered by traditional currency exchange offices. Therefore, you can save more money – adds Lipka.
* All currency exchange rates as given by Cinkciarz.pl on 11.10.2016 r.