Ultimate Tromsø to North Cape Road Trip Itinerary (with photos)

North Cape is the northernmost point of continental Europe and is a place many visitors have on their bucket list. The best way to get there, in my opinion, is to do a self drive trip. Driving from Tromsø to North Cape will provide you with some of the best scenery and adventures arctic Norway has to offer.  

This will be a comprehensive guide, so feel free to use the table of contents to navigate to the sections that catches your interest.

Table of Contents

How to get to Tromsø

If you’re planning a road trip from Tromsø, Norway, then Tromsø Airport Langnes (TOS) would be the best airport to fly into. Tromsø can easily be reached by direct flights from Oslo, the capital of Norway. Also, Tromsø airport is an international airport with direct flights from cities like Frankfurt, Paris and Helsinki.

How to rent a car

Renting a car in Tromsø, Norway, is a straightforward process. There are several car rental companies available at Tromsø Airport Langnes, including Avis, Europcar, and Hertz, among others. You can also find car rental companies in the city center of Tromsø.

To rent a car, you need to be at least 21 years old and have a valid driver’s license. International visitors may also need an International Driving Permit (IDP), depending on their country of origin. Typically you need an IDP if you are from a non-EU/EAA country and if you driver license does not have a photo or is written in an alphabet other than the Latin alphabet. More details available at vegvesen.no.

It’s also important to note that driving in Norway is on the right side of the road.

What is the best time to drive to North Cape

This itinerary is aimed at a summer visit. For the majority, visiting North Cape in summer is the best option. It allows you to take in the barren, arctic landscape, the view of the Barents Sea and possibly do some exploring around Magerøya.

During summer the island is also home to about 6000 reindeer and you will likely get to see them up close. Summer is also the time to experience the Midnight Sun, which is one of the top attractions in Finnmark.

It is possible to visit North Cape in winter, but I would say that is for a handfull of more adventurous travelers. The road is open during winter, but the last section of road has to be driven in convoy at set times lead by a snow plow in front.

When can you see the midnight sun

The Midnight Sun is the period of arctic summer when the sun never sets below the horizon. In Tromsø you can see the midnight sun between 18th of May and 25th of July. The further north you travel the longer this period lasts. On North Cape you can see the midnight sun between 12th of May and 31st of July.

How long do you need to drive from Tromsø to North Cape

The drive from Tromsø to North Cape can be done in 9 hours if you do it non stop. I would however recommend you spend more time to get the true flavor of the arctic, and not miss out on the adventures along the way.

In this blog post I have put together an itinerary for those having one week at their disposal. If you have less time, pick the highlights you want to experience. If you have more time, I have added a few options and links to further reading material.

Tromsø to North Cape – Map and Locations

Below map shows the driving route for the Tromsø to North Cape itinerary covered in this blog post. The driving distance is 650 kilometers. A more detailed map with locations and recommended detours available in itinerary below.

Day 1: Arrival in Tromsø

Arrive in Tromsø on your first day. Check in to your hotel, do some sightseeing downtown Tromsø. You can do a guided tour if you want to learn more about the city.

If the weather is nice I’d recommend to ride up Fjellheisen cable car to take in the breathtaking view of Tromsø. Also make sure to stop by the modern looking Arctic Cathedral, a well known architecture in Tromsø.

Another super fun activity is to visit a husky kennel and meet the puppies. Summer is usually a time when the kennels have lots of husky puppies and you can cuddle with then and join them on a walk.

There will also be several tour companies offering boat trips, a good option if you want to see the fjords and maybe some wildlife if you are lucky.

If the weather is not cooperating visit the Polar museum. If it is raining, why not get even more wet by trying out the new trendy sauna in the city? Build up some sweat and jump straight into the arctic water to cool down. The one in Tromsø is called Pust (‘Breathe’) and must be booked in advance.

The city also offers the typical activities you’d expect to find in a larger city like cinema, indoor water park, bowling, climbing center and aquarium in addition to lots of cozy cafes and shopping.

Suggested accommodation

Tromsø is a popular town and I’d recommend securing a hotel room well in advance of your arrival. It is not uncommon for hotels to be fully booking during high season.

I’d recommend finding a hotel in the city center allowing you to stroll around town as well as to and from restaurants. Thon Hotel Tromsø is at good option in the mid-range price class. If you want to spoil yourself the best hotel in Tromsø is Clarion Hotel The Egde.

Day 2: Lyngen Alps West

Start the day leaving Tromsø early. Drive south on E8, when you get to Fagernes after about 30 minutes make sure to turn left and continue on Fv91 towards the ferry at Breivikeidet. Catch the ferry to Svensby, and you have now arrived the Lyngen Alps less than 2 hours after leaving Tromsø.

You are now on the Lyngen Peninsula, on the west side of the Alps. If I was to only recommend one thing to experience in this area it is to hike to Blåvatnet (Blue Water). It is an easy hike, with a view that will blow you away.

Starting point for the hike is Sør-Lenangsbot, a 15 minute drive north from the ferry landing at Svensby. Estimate 2 hours hiking to the lake (about 4,5 km) and a bit less on the return.

If you still have some time after hiking to Blåvatnet I’d recommend driving all the way to the tip of the peninsula, the views are gorgeous.

Alternatively you can visit the worlds northernmost whisky distillery, the price winning Aurora Spirit. It is located about 11 km from Lyngseidet and they offer guided tours with complimentary tasting.

Suggested accommodation

Lyngseidet Gjestegård is conveniently located in the small village of Lyngseidet and is a good location for exploring the Lyngen Alps further.

Detailed map for Day 2

Day 3: Lyngen Alps East

From Lyngseidet you can catch the ferry to Olderdalen and save some kilometers on the road. However, if you are not in a hurry there are some great experiences awaiting those who want to spend more time in the Lyngen Alps. All the proposals below cannot be done in one day, so you will have to choose based on your preference.

Steindalen Glacier

In Steindalen there is a geological treat waiting for you, a glacier dating more than 8000 years back. The hike to Steindal glacier is an intermediate level hike just short of 500 meters elevation gain. It is 12,4 km in total and you should estimate 6 hours on the hike. Reaching the glacier is naturally the goal, but I was also amazed with the scenery, fauna and flora along the hike.

Signaldalen and Otertinden

Signaldalen is another detour you can make, take off from Hatteng which is close to the bottom of the Lyngen Fjord western arm, Storfjorden. This is a beautiful valley stretching towards the Swedish and Finnish boarder, offering many hiking and fishing opportunities.

Our purpose for the detour was to get a glimpse of Otertinden, a symbol of Troms and Northern Norway. This double peaked mountain is often referred to as Matterhorn of the Arctic.

Bollmannsveien

An alternative to hike Steindalen is Bollmannsveien/Russeveien. Offering excellent views of the Lyngen Alps and also representing a piece of war history makes Bollmannsveien a stop not to miss. The trail was built by prisoners of war and was part of the Lyngen line defensive positions.

To find the starting point of the hike you need to pay attention as it is not well marked. Half way between Hatteng and Skibotn you will see a war memory sign which will guide you to the starting point of the hike. The hike is about 9 km and you should estimate using 3 hours.

On the top you will find a reconstructed bunker, resembling the ones used during the war. Even if you do not make it all the way to the top, you will be rewarded with stunning views of the Lyngen Fjord and Alps.

Suggested accommodation

There are several unique accomodation opportunities in the Lyngenfjord area. The two I’d like to highlight are Manndalen Sjøbuer and Lyngen North.

Manndalen Sjøbuer is offering accommodation in traditional Norwegian ‘rorbuer’. If you prefer something even more spectacular, sleeping in glass igloos at Lyngen North might be the option for you. I recommend booking early as the igloos are quite popular.

Detailed map for Day 3

Day 4: Lyngenfjord Area

After passing the Lyngen AIps on your way north, you will enter the Lyngenfjord northern area. You are leaving the fjord landscape and are now driving along the coastline on E6.

Gorsabrua

Before you completely leave the the fjord area an adrenaline filled detour is taking a hike to Gorsabrua in Kåfjorddalen where you can bungee jump every Saturday during summer. If you are not fond of heights, like myself, it is still worthwhile hiking just for the scenery. You will also be able some experience the local mining history in Ankerlia.

Spåkenes

Driving north from Olderdalen along E6 you will have beautiful views of Lyngen Alps. Make sure to stop and take in the view and make lots of photos. If you want to have a fine dining experience you can stop at Restaurant Solvind. It is located at Lyngen North, that I previously recommended as an overnight stay. Make sure to check their opening hours up front.

Lyngen North is located at the half peninsula Spåkenes and this peninsula is also where you will find Spåkenes Kystfort, a costal fort from the war. Several bunkers and gun sites remain. It is an easy hike to reach the site. And did I mentioned the view towards the Lyngen Alps?

Storslett and Steinsvik beach

The road trip continues on to Storslett. This is where all the locals stop for a rest and something to eat at Bios cafe. Storslett is also the gateway to Reisa National Park. Writing about the national park requires a separate blog post to make it justice. If you want to learn more about it I propose stopping by Halti which is a local museum and a visitor center for the national park.

After 10 minutes passing Storslett I recommend you make a detour north on Fv355 to experience a true arctic beach. After just 15 minutes along Fv355 you will reach Steinsvik strand, a hidden pearl.

Kvænangsfjellet view point

Continuing north on E6 again you are reaching the end of the Lyngenfjord area. Make sure to make a stop on Kvænangsfjellet and take in the mountain scenery. To your left you will see Kvænangstindan and to your right Øksfjordjøkelen, which in Norway’s 9th largest glacier. Continue on to Alta.

Suggested accommodation

Thon Hotel Alta is conveniently located in the middle of downtown Alta and makes a good starting point for exploring Alta. If you wanted to stay in an igloo and Lyngen North was fully booked you have the chance again in Alta with Glød Aurora Canvas Domes.

Detailed map for Day 4

Day 5: Alta to North Cape

Wake up in Alta and spend the morning exploring the town. You must visit the Northern Lights Cathedral located in the middle of the city center, or at least take a stroll around it and capture some photos.

Visit Alta Museum to learn about the history and culture of the region. Alta Museum is a UNESCO World Heritage Site where you can experience rock carvings that are 2000 – 7000 years old. You can also learn about local history and culture of the indigenous Sami people of Norway.

If you want to get up close with a reindeer and learn about the sami culture, visit Sami Siida just outside the city center.

Sennalandet – Skaidi

Have lunch in Alta and continue on E6 north towards Skaidi. On this stretch you’ll cross Sennalandet, a barren and beautiful mountain area. Drive carefully as you are likely to come across reindeer calling this area home during summer. A perfect area for reindeer spotting. At Skaidi there is a gas station, toilets and a cafe.

Trolls of Trollholmsund

When you arrive Olderfjord after 20 minutes passing Skaidi you can choose to make a detour to experience the Trolls of Trollholmsund. This will add a couple of hours to your trip.

From Olderfjord to Honningsvåg you will be driving along Porsangerfjorden, views are amazing. There will likely be reindeer on the road so drive carefully.

North Cape

Arriving Honningsvåg I recommend checking into your hotel and having dinner. One of the favorite restaurants among the locals is Corner, where you can get deep fried cod tongues.

By this time you are probably eager to hit the road and get to your final destination, North Cape. The drive from Honningsvåg to North Cape is just 40 minutes. Watch the midnight sun over the famous globe on the North Cape cliff with the Barents Sea as backdrop.

Suggested accommodation

Scandic Bryggen is a well established hotel in the center of Honningsvåg with walking distance to restaurants.

Detailed map for Day 5

Day 6: Explore North Cape area

Waking up in Honningvåg after spending the late evening at North Cape the road trip is coming to an end. However, I’d recommend doing some exploring of the Magerøya island before you leave it. The charming fishing village Kamøyvær close to Honningsvåg is well worth a stop.

From Skarsvåg you can make a short hike to Kirkeporten and from Gjesvær you can make a boat trip to the bird mountain Gjesværstappan to get a glimpse of the local puffins. Not to mention reindeer sightseeing, about 6000 reindeer use the island as their summer feeding area.

If you want to read more about what to experience in the North Cape area check my blog post ‘Travel guide to North Cape’

Return to Alta for the night. The drive from Honningsvåg to Alta is 3 hours.

Suggested accommodation

If you feel like spoiling yourself, book a night as Sorrisniva Arctic Wilderness Lodge which is located idyllically along the Alta River outside the city center. If not, Thon Hotel Alta is still a good option.

Detailed map for Day 6

Day 7: End of the adventure and return flights home

Return car and catch your flight home from Alta Airport. You could drive back to Tromsø where you started, but it is a 6 hour drive from Alta if you go non stop. Flight from Alta is the better option. Alta Airport has several departures to Tromsø and Oslo daily.

Enjoy your arctic adventure