At 71°10′21′′, North Cape is the northernmost point on the European mainland. On a journey along the coast of Norway, passing through rough waters or snow covered terrain, suddenly a mountain cliff comes into view, rising 1,000 feet above the Arctic Ocean. While travelers once had to climb up the cliff, now it is accessible by bus from Honningsvåg. Still, the feeling of walking up to the cliff is extraordinary, with an overwhelming feeling of being at the end of the world as we know it. This is the same feeling the first explorers must have had when they reached this majestic cliff in 1553, in search of the Northeast Passage. Two of the three British ships never returned home, while the third survived to name it the North Cape.

More than a hundred years later, Italian priest Francesco Negri arrived at the same place, on what is described as purely a tourist trip. But it wasn't until 1873, when King Oscar climbed these steep cliffs, that North Cape really became a tourist attraction, as the King's effort sparked great interest all over the world. Today the site features a museum and restaurant at the plateau, where you can learn about the early expeditions to North Cape and watch a panoramic film that takes you through four seasons, in a landscape full of contrasts, light and breathtaking scenery. The North Cape is a spectacular place for experiencing both the Northern Lights in the winter and the summer Midnight Sun. And it's almost mandatory to take pictures of the globe monument, which marks that you are standing at the northern tip of Europe.