North Cape - getting there - northernmost point on the European continent

The nicest way to get to the North Cape is to travel all the way from the southern harbour of Bergen by the Costal Express known as "Hurtigruta".

Some even choose to arrive via one of the major airports in neighboring Finland. In Rovaniemi the Finnish Santa Claus resides, even in the summertime.

To Norway

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The main road access to Norway and North Cape from central Europe passes through Denmark and Sweden - or Finland. Cars and busses can also be ferried directly from Great Britain, Germany and Denmark. Those who prefer to come by rail can enter Norway at Halden, 120 km south east of Oslo and continue northwards to Fauske and Bod°. The northernmost railway station in Norway - Naryik - can only be reached by travelling the length of Sweden. The nearest railway station in Finland is at Rovaniemi.

By air, one can land virtually anywhere in Norway. Relative to its population, Norway has perhaps the most extensive airport network in the world. Oslo has two international airports, Fornebu and Gardermoen, but the other large cities also have international air connections several times a day. Troms°, the 1argest city in North Norway, has direct flights to international destinations from time to time.

Norway map

In Norway

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European Route 6 (E6) runs the whole length of Norway - via cities like Oslo, Lillehammer, Trondheim and Narvik - right up to Kirkenes on the border with Russia.

The impressive and varied natural landscape which Norway offers can also be enjoyed rough the railway train window along lines which run parallel with the E6 north to Fauske.

Bod° is the terminus for the Norwegian railway system but at this point, Hurtigruten (the coastal steamer express service) will pick up passengers. It has been called "the most beautiful voyage in the world" and is operated by ten ships which sail throughout the year along the Norwegian coastline between Bergen and Kirkenes.

While SAS and Braathens SAFE airline operate between the main airports and other larger airports, the short take-off and landing (STOL) facilities are operated mainly by Wider°es. Finnmark is fully integrated into tit scheduled Norwegian air network and has connections with the rest of the country via Troms° several times a day. Troms° is less than 2 hours direct flying from Oslo or Bergen.

Northern Norway map

In North Norway

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A car or bus trip northwards through North Norway passes through lush forests, deep valleys and narrow passes, across high mountain plateau right up to the Arctic nature of North Cape.

Travellers on the E79 from Sweden approach the E6 in Norway at Mo i Rana, just south of the Arctic Circle. Those coming from Finland can take the E78 to the E6 at Skibotn in Troms county - 495 front North Cape but they can also take the main highway via Kautokeino, or still further east via Karasjok. The roads in North Norway are good an distances are reduced with the help of mountain tunnels and ferries across the fjords.

Raid travellers must go on by car, bus, boat or aircraft north of Fauske, Bod° and Narvik, There are major airports at Bod°, Troms° and Alta and smaller landing facilities across the whole of North Norway. Sea travel is an indispensable means of transport for the coastal population. Hurtigruten (the coastal steamer express service) calls in daily at towns and villages along the coast but there are several local services which knit North Norway closely together.

Finnmark map

In Finnmark

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Finnmark - the largest county in Norway - is larger than Denmark. At Olderfjord, almost at the centre of Finnmark, North Cape visitors leave the E6 and then have some 110 km to cover before their destination. Finnmark has road links coming front Finland to Kautokeino, Karasjok, Utsjoki and Neiden at Kirkenes, while Russia's only road link direct to Norway runs across Storskog to Kirkenes.

The airports at Alta and Kirkenes can take large aircraft but the largest airport by far is Banak at I,akselv, 150 km from North Cape. Large charter aircraft like DC 1O's and A300's land and be handled here. SAS has daily scheduled flights to these airports while Wider°e services most of the smaller airports, including Hammerfest and Honningsvσg. In Finland, Finnair has scheduled daily services north to Rovaniemi and Ivalo.

Hurtigruten has 12 ports of call in Finnmark - including Honningsvσg, 33 km from North Cape - where both the northbound and southbound ships call in daily.

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