National park · Norway
Nordkapp
Go for the plateau and the globe, but treat the ticket as a weather gamble: Nordkapphallen entry is about 350 kr adults (2026 estimate, check), and the plateau itself is free to walk if you pay the parking fee. Add the 8 km one-way Knivskjellodden hike only in dry, settled weather; in winter the road is convoy-only, the centre opens only between the convoy's arrival and departure, and the convoy can be cancelled.Go for the plateau and the globe, but treat the ticket as a weather gamble: Nordkapphallen entry is about 350 kr adults (2026 estimate, check), and the plateau itself is free to walk if you pay the parking fee. Add the 5 mi one-way Knivskjellodden hike only in dry, settled weather; in winter the road is convoy-only, the centre opens only between the convoy's arrival and departure, and the convoy can be cancelled.
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
1 km²0 sq mi
approximate
Established
1978
Best months
Jun–Jul
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 7Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Nordic countries ↗Decide light or dark before anything else: summer trips (June–August) and aurora trips (September–March in the Arctic) need different countries, clothes and bases.
- Nordic countries ↗Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland and the Faroes sell stronger alcohol only in state shops with short hours; buy before evening and before Sundays and holidays.
- Norway ↗Norway is not in the EU but is in the Schengen area. Check the entry rules for your passport on official sources.
- Norway ↗Wine and spirits are sold only at the state Vinmonopolet shops; supermarkets sell beer, and not in the evenings or on Sundays.
- Norway ↗The right to roam (allemannsretten) lets you hike and camp on most uncultivated land, keeping a distance from homes and leaving no trace.
At a glance
- Country
- Norway
- Area
- 1 km²0 sq mi
- The protected plateau and visitor area is small; the surrounding Magerøya landscape and the Knivskjellodden trail are the wider setting (check).
- Established
- 1978
- Best months
- Jun–Jul
- Permits
- For some areas
Nordkapp is a 307 m cliff on Magerøya, promoted as the northernmost point of mainland Europe but actually on an island, and not even the island's northernmost point: Knivskjellodden, 1,457 m further north, is reachable on a marked 8 km trail. What you are buying is the plateau, the globe monument and Nordkapphallen, a visitor centre cut into the rock with a chapel, film and restaurant. Around 200,000 people come in the two to three summer months, mostly by coach and cruise, so timing matters more than anything else. The road from Honningsvåg is 34 km, about 30 minutes, through the undersea North Cape Tunnel, free since 2012.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1978.
Size and age
1 km²0 sq mi · national park since 1978
The protected plateau and visitor area is small; the surrounding Magerøya landscape and the Knivskjellodden trail are the wider setting (check).
Why go
- Stand on the plateau at the globe monument, the classic end-of-road marker for the E69.
- Walk to Knivskjellodden, the true northernmost point of the island, on a marked trail with almost no one on it.
- See the midnight sun from mid-May to late July if the sky is clear.
- Kirkeporten, a cliff with a hole through it, frames Nordkapp from a short walk off the E69.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarCaution
- AprCaution
- MayGo
- JunBest
- JulBest
- AugGo
- SepGo
- OctCaution
- NovAvoid
- DecAvoid
- JanNo real daylight; road open only by convoy
- FebConvoy access; visitor centre open briefly
- MarConvoy access; light returning
- AprRoad may still be convoy-only; check
- MayMidnight sun from 14 May; snow patches
- JunFull midnight sun; long days, cool
- JulMidnight sun to 29 Jul; busiest
- AugStill light; crowds thinning
- SepShorter days, fewer coaches
- OctRoad closes to ordinary traffic; convoy season starts
- NovDark; convoy access only
- DecPolar night; convoy access only
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seabirds including puffins at Gjesvær cliffsMay–Jul · Boat access only; nesting season. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no |
| Reindeer on MagerøyaAll year · Free-roaming; keep distance and do not block them. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Midnight sunMay–Jul · 14 May to 29 July, weather permitting. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no |
| Polar nightNov–Jan · Sun below the horizon; no real daylight in December and January. | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Honningsvåg
Drive the E69 through the North Cape Tunnel, 34 km; local bus 330 runs a few times a day in summer only (check schedules).Drive the E69 through the North Cape Tunnel, 21 mi; local bus 330 runs a few times a day in summer only (check schedules).
30 min
From Honningsvåg Airport, Valan (HVG)
Widerøe flights from Tromsø, then road transfer to the cape (check frequency).
30 min by road after the flight
From Lakselv Airport, Banak (LKL)
Widerøe flights from Tromsø; buses Lakselv to Honningsvåg (check schedules).
193 km by road120 mi by road
From Alta (ALF)
Bus Alta to Honningsvåg, or drive the E6 to Olderfjord then the E69 (check schedules).
232 km144 mi
From Hurtigruten or cruise
Ships call at Honningsvåg; charter buses to the cape may run while the ship waits (check with the operator).
Several hours ashore
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| The plateau and globe | The flat clifftop with the globe monument and the cliff edge. | Walkable once parking is paid; no ticket needed for the plateau itself. |
| Nordkapphallen | Visitor centre cut into the rock: restaurant, chapel, film, displays, shop. | Ticket required; hours vary by season. |
| Knivskjellodden trail | Marked 8 km one-way route to the island's northernmost point.Marked 5 mi one-way route to the island's northernmost point. | Free; start at the lay-by about 7 km south of the cape.Free; start at the lay-by about 4.3 mi south of the cape. |
| Kirkeporten | Cliff with a natural hole, short walk from the E69, view back to Nordkapp. | Free; short walk. |
Sketch map
- 1Nordkapp plateau and globe · Viewpoint≈71.171, 25.784Map ↗
- 2Nordkapphallen · Headquarters≈71.171, 25.784Map ↗
- 3Knivskjellodden trailhead lay-by · Trail≈71.152, 25.720Map ↗
- 4Knivskjellodden · Summit≈71.185, 25.675Map ↗
- 5Kirkeporten · Viewpoint≈71.145, 25.750Map ↗
- 6Honningsvåg · Town≈70.982, 25.971Map ↗
- 7Skarsvåg · Village≈71.113, 25.830Map ↗
- 8Gjesvær · Village≈71.100, 25.370Map ↗
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nordkapphallen visitor centre entry | NOK 350 | adult | Students about 200 kr, children about 90 kr; 2026 estimate, check current rates. |
| Parking at the plateau | NOK 125–175 | vehicle | About 125 kr per car, 175 kr per camper, 50 kr per motorbike, plus about 17 kr per person; 2026 estimate, check the current tariff. Separate from Nordkapphallen entry. |
| Knivskjellodden trail | Free | person | Free; park at the lay-by about 7 km south of the cape. |
| North Cape Tunnel (E69) | Free | vehicle | Toll removed in 2012. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Nordkapphallen entry no permit
Winter convoy access permit or guide
Park rules
- Cliff edge
- Stay back from the plateau edge; gusts are strong and the drop is 307 m.
- Winter road
- From about October to April the E69 to the cape is convoy-only; you must return with the convoy.
- Camping on the cape
- No accommodation or camping on the plateau itself; sleep in Honningsvåg, Skarsvåg or the campsites.
- Parking
- Pay the vehicle and per-person parking fee; it does not cover Nordkapphallen entry.
- Driving the tunnel
- The North Cape Tunnel drops 212 m below sea level at up to 9% gradient; pick the right gear before the descent.
Where to stay
Near the park
Honningsvåg
Hotels, harbour and most services, 34 km from the cape.Hotels, harbour and most services, 21 mi from the cape.
Near the park
Skarsvåg
Village 14 km from the cape with camping and lodges.Village 8.7 mi from the cape with camping and lodges.
Near the park
Nordkapp Camping, Skipsfjorden
Tents, cabins and rooms about 24 km from the cape.Tents, cabins and rooms about 15 mi from the cape.
Near the park
Kamøyvær
Small harbour village about 27 km from the cape.Small harbour village about 17 mi from the cape.
Safety
Weather change on the Knivskjellodden trail high
Wind and cold on the plateau medium
Winter convoy cancellation medium
Tunnel gradient for cyclists medium
Accessibility
- Nordkapphallen, the restaurant and the plateau paths near the centre are step-free or have ramps.
- The Knivskjellodden trail is rough, wet and unmarked for wheeled access; not suitable for limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Take the bus or share a vehicle; parking is charged per vehicle plus per person.
- Stay on the marked trail to Knivskjellodden to avoid widening the path across wetland.
- Keep distance from reindeer and nesting birds; do not feed wildlife.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Nordkapp?
Nordkapphallen entry is about 350 kr for adults, 200 kr for students and 90 kr for children (2026 estimate, check current rates). The plateau and globe can be walked without a centre ticket, but you pay parking: about 125 kr per car, 175 kr per camper, 50 kr per motorbike, plus about 17 kr per person in the vehicle.
What are the best hikes in Nordkapp?
The main one is Knivskjellodden: 8 km each way, about 2.5 hours in each direction, marked with red T's, starting at the lay-by about 7 km south of the cape. It reaches the island's true northernmost point. Shorter options are the walk to Kirkeporten and the paths around the plateau itself.
When is the best time to visit Nordkapp?
June and July for the midnight sun, which runs 14 May to 29 July, and for the longest days. August and September are quieter with fewer coaches. From about October to April the road is convoy-only and December and January have no real daylight.
Can I visit Nordkapp in winter?
Yes, but only with the daily convoy led by a snow plough from roughly October to April. The visitor centre opens for about an hour and a half between the convoy's arrival and departure, and you must leave with it. Convoys can be cancelled in severe weather.
Is Nordkapp the northernmost point of Europe?
No. Nordkapp is on Magerøya island, and Knivskjellodden on the same island is 1,457 m further north. The northernmost point of the European mainland is Kinnarodden, about 65 km east, roughly 300 km by road. Nordkapp is the northernmost point reachable by the international road network.
Do I need a car to get to Nordkapp?
Not strictly. Local bus 330 runs a few times a day in summer from Honningsvåg, and Hurtigruten and cruise ships charter buses from the harbour. In winter, public buses do not run and the convoy is the only road access.
How long does it take to get from Honningsvåg to Nordkapp?
About 30 minutes by car for the 34 km, including the undersea North Cape Tunnel, which is free and drops 212 m below sea level.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go