Where to Stay Near North Cape in Norway (+ Honningsvåg)
Visiting Norway’s North Cape is a bucket list goal for many people. It is the northernmost part of Europe that you can reach by car and is a pretty significant moment for those who bike or motorcycle there (errr… or drive a car, like me).
When planning your trip to the North Cape, one thing to keep in mind is that it is best to book accommodation ahead of time, unless you plan to wild camp. In this guide, I share some ideas for where to stay near North Cape, including hotels in Honningsvåg and other places around the island of Magerøya.
Quick North Cape Travel Guide
If you’re traveling to the North Cape last minute, be sure you have hotels and tours booked ahead of time. Below are some of my top picks:
🇳🇴 Best tours and activities from Honningsvåg:
- North Cape and King Crab tour (top-rated tour in North Cape!)
- Puffin and bird safari in Gjesvær (a summer favorite)
🛌 Top hotels and lodging around the North Cape:
- Scandic Bryggen (where I have stayed on every trip)
- The View (has gorgeous fjord views!)
- Scandic Honningsvåg (another Scandic option near the harbor)
🍲 Popular places to eat in Honningsvåg: Corner Spiseri, Soi 9 (delicious Thai food), Arctic Sans, Honni Bakes (best pastries in town), NOR Cafe & Bistro
🚗 Planning to travel around Norway independently? Find and compare the cheapest rental car rates here!
Because there is nowhere to stay directly at the North Cape (the attraction), I will discuss the different areas/villages of Magerøya, including the pros and cons of each, and share some lodging options in all.
I have been to the North Cape three times and have stayed at a variety of places there! I have also (unsuccessfully) tried to wild camp there, and I share my experience briefly at the end of this guide so you have a heads up before deciding if it is for you or not.
Let me know if you have any questions! There is a map in the next section so you can get a glimpse of each accommodation’s location.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through the following:
Where to Stay Near North Cape & Honningsvåg Overview
The North Cape and Honningsvåg are located on Magerøya island, a somewhat large island that is home to the North Cape attraction, a few small villages, the city of Honningsvåg, a lot of reindeer and birds, and not much else.
For this guide, when I write ‘North Cape’, I am referring to the tourist attraction at the very end of the road (not the municipality). And for reference, Nordkapp means North Cape in Norwegian (you will see it across the guide a bit).
If you’re looking for North Cape accommodation, these are the places you will come across on Magerøya island:
- Honningsvåg: a small city where most of the restaurants, pubs, and shops are located; most popular place to stay and it has a port
- Kamøyvær: a village on the sea; very quiet
- Sarnes: at the start of Magerøya
- Gjesvær: the most remote area to stay and known for puffin bird cliffs (you will need a tour)
- Skarsvåg: the closest place to the North Cape; a cute little village by the sea
I will give an overview, including pros/cons of staying in each, later in the guide. Here is a map of the places I list in this guide, including a marker of where the North Cape is.
One thing to consider before you book your trip, or even read further into this guide, is that North Cape is a summer destination. It is open during the winter, but most tourists visit in the summer months.
Therefore, some of the places in this guide are NOT open year-round. You may not even be able to access the links until they plan their reopening dates for the summer season. If you want out-of-season accommodation, your best bet is to stay in Honningsvåg.
Pro Tip
If you are visiting during the summer months, I would definitely bring a sleeping mask (midnight sun is no joke!) and some earplugs. A lot of these hotels are repurposed buildings, and the walls are rather thin.
Another thing to consider is that if you’re visiting in winter, a driving convoy may be required to reach certain villages and the North Cape, depending on the weather conditions. You can learn more here.
How To Use This Map
You can use your fingers/mouse to zoom in and out. To get more info about a place, simply touch/click the icons. Want to save this map for later use? Click the ‘⭐’ by the map title and it will add it to your Google Maps account (Saved > Maps or ‘Your Places’).
Where to Stay in Honningsvåg
Distance to North Cape: 34km or 21mi (about 45 minutes in summer)
Honningsvåg is considered to be Norway’s northernmost city. And while technically it is, don’t get too excited. Honningsvåg only has around 2,245 people!
The benefit of staying in Honningsvåg is you have plenty of food options, a museum, the port for the coastal ships, and more. The downside of staying in Honningsvåg is that you still have a 45-minute drive to the North Cape. It is also not the best place to stay if you want something quiet and remote.
Here are my recommendations for where to stay in Honningsvåg:
Scandic Bryggen is my favorite hotel in Honningsvåg. I have stayed there multiple times and it is open year-round. There is on-site parking, and it is a quick walk to the pubs, restaurants, and the gorgeous harbor in Honningsvåg. Breakfast is included and there is a spacious reception area that you can hang out in. You can see my full review of Scandic Bryggen here.
Scandic Honningsvåg is another option in the city, but it is only open seasonally. It is located a short distance from the port. I haven’t personally stayed here, but it is pretty much your typical Scandic experience.
The View is a short distance (on a hill) from Honningsvåg. It is a good place to stay if you’re looking to be out of the center. It includes its own restaurant, fitness center, and a rooftop panoramic deck where you can take in the best views of Honningsvåg.
There used to be a budget accommodation called Nordkapp Vanderhjem located just outside of Honningsvåg but it is showing as permanently closed now. I stayed there years ago and it was decent (small private/shared rooms with shared bathrooms).
I am not sure if it is showing as closed just because of the season, as it previously said this and reopened for the season. I’ll keep an eye out when summer rolls around to see if it reopens! If it does, it is a fantastic budget option, especially for those traveling by motorcycle and bicycle.
Where to Stay in Skarsvåg
Distance to North Cape: 15km or 9mi (about 20 minutes in summer)
Skarsvåg is the world’s northernmost fishing village and is the closest place you can stay to the North Cape. You’ll find a few options here and there is also a restaurant, cafe, and a few hikes in the area (including the famous trail to Kirkeporten).
Unlike Gjesvær, it is a short distance off the E69, the road that takes you from Honningsvåg to the North Cape.
Here are my recommendations for where to stay in Skarsvåg:
I have only stayed at Hytte Camp Nordkapp BaseCamp in Skarsvåg. The property is a typical cabin situation where you can affordably rent your own cabin, which has a bed, table, and NO running water. You also must clean up after yourself before leaving.
There are shared toilets and showers and a communal dining area available for guests. You must bring your own bedding or rent it from the reception area. You can also pitch a tent here for a small price. I enjoyed this property a lot and would happily stay there again.
Where to Stay in Gjesvær
Distance to North Cape: 40km or 25mi (about 45 minutes in summer)
Gjesvær is the most remote village on Magerøya and I think that is why I love it so much. Actually, no. It’s the puffins that call the cliffs off the village home (which I haven’t seen just yet as my tours have been canceled whenever I have booked them).
And the mind-blowing drive down to it. This village is so idyllic and off-the-path that it deserves a visit if you’re doing a Magerøya road trip.
There is a small Matkroken grocery store there and not too much else. You’ll find limited accommodation, which books up quickly. There is a convoy down here during the winter, so I only recommend visiting in summer (and during the bird season!) unless you have a reason to be down there in winter.
Here is my recommendation for where to stay in Gjesvær:
I have never stayed in Gjesvær because I can never find anything available there last minute and I never seem to plan the North Cape ahead of time. I hope to stay in the village on my next trip… and finally get to do the bird safari without it being canceled due to weather!
Where to Stay in Kamøyvær
Distance to North Cape: 27km or 17mi (about 35 minutes in summer)
Another village worth considering is Kamøyvær. It sits in between Honningsvåg and Skarsvåg and is a short drive off the E69. I have only driven around the village and not spent long there on any of my trips, but I can attest to it being quiet and a good place for those wanting to be outside of Honningsvåg.
Here are my recommendations for where to stay in Kamøyvær:
I haven’t stayed at either of these places, and honestly, Scandic Nordkapp isn’t in the village of Kamøyvær; it is off the E69. But it is pretty close to it so I decided to include it here. Arran Nordkapp is available year-round, whereas Scandic Nordkapp is only available during the short summer season.
Where to Stay in Sarnes
Distance to North Cape: 39km or 24mi (about 50 minutes in summer)
Sarnes is a small fishing village in the south of Magerøya. There is nothing to do here, per se, but it is a destination where a lot of tours depart from and it is really pretty.
It will be the furthest destination on this guide from the North Cape, but it is a good place to crash if you’re looking to get closer to the mainland. You’re only minutes away from Honningsvåg, anyway, so you can go there for food and a night out!
Here are my recommendations for where to stay in Sarnes:
I stayed in Sarnes at the Fishing Adventure House, and honestly, I don’t even know if it will be offered for accommodation in the future. It is a brand new house right at the small harbor there and it seems to house fishermen during certain times of the year.
It was so affordable when I rented it and had a kitchen, living room, a huge bathroom, and multiple bedrooms. It was newly renovated and had lovely views of Lille Altsula and Store Altsula, two islets with thousands of birds.
Nevertheless, the Sarnes Seaside Cabins are a great option, and they are part of the Destination 71N tourism company.
Wild Camping at the North Cape
Wild camping is permitted in Norway is most areas and Magerøya is no different. I have tried to wild camp there a few times but have never been successful, so I have booked places to stay last-minute (I’m a little bougie).
Here are a few things to consider before wild camping on Magerøya:
➡️ The weather sucks. You really only have 2-3 months in summer where you won’t have snow (or much of it) around. Early autumn can be snow-free but a lot of storms occur off Norway’s coast then, so that is something to consider.
➡️ There are no trees on Magerøya and the wind is incessant. If you’re looking to wild camp, you will have better luck once you get off the E69 plateau and down toward the villages a bit. The plateau is windy and there are few places to tuck a tent comfortably to shield from it.
➡️ The landscape is rocky in most areas. The Fv156 to Gjesvær comes to mind. You’ll notice streams and lakes along the way, but the rocks are jagged, and you won’t find a lot of good camping spots there. And where the landscape isn’t rocky, it can be quite boggy, even at the top of the plateau.
➡️ Reindeer rule during the summers here. Be mindful of them and do not drink from sources of water that are not flowing.
Do you have any questions about where to stay near North Cape or any of the hotels in Honningsvåg, Skarsvåg, and the rest of Magerøya? Let me know in the comments. Thanks!
