Northern Lights Forecast for Honningsvåg

Northern Lights in Honningsvåg and the North Cape

Honningsvåg is a small fishing town on the island of Magerøya, at almost 71°N and about 33 km from the North Cape (Nordkapp). Most people come for the cape itself, but in winter the town is also a base for aurora trips on an open, bare island where very little blocks the sky. Hurtigruten ships call here every day, which is how many visitors arrive.

The snowplow convoy to the North Cape plateau

The North Cape plateau sits on top of a 307 m cliff with nothing but the Arctic Ocean to the north. Getting there in winter takes some planning. The last stretch of the E69, from the Skarsvåg junction up to the plateau, is only driven in convoy behind a snowplow at fixed times, and convoys are canceled when the weather is bad. Statens vegvesen publishes the times each winter. Some winters the schedule includes an evening convoy, which is how evening aurora trips reach the plateau.

The visitor center, Nordkapphallen, is open all year, but winter opening hours are short. Check both the convoy times and the opening hours before you go.

Away from the cape: Skarsvåg, Kamøyvær and Gjesvær

You don’t need to reach the cape to see the aurora. Honningsvåg is small, and a few kilometers out of town you are on dark, open ground. The fishing villages of Skarsvåg, Kamøyvær and Gjesvær can be reached by road all winter. Local guides run evening tours that combine the convoy to the plateau with stops elsewhere on the island, depending on where the clouds are.

Wind and snow showers on Magerøya

The weather is the main challenge here. Magerøya is fully exposed to the sea, and strong winds and snow showers are common in winter. Conditions can change within an hour, sometimes in your favor. Clear, calm nights are less frequent than further inland, so plan for several nights rather than one.

Through the North Cape Tunnel, or off the ship

Hurtigruten passengers can join a bus excursion to the North Cape during the stop in Honningsvåg. Honningsvåg Airport is 4 km from town, with Widerøe flights to Tromsø and other towns in Finnmark. By car, Alta is about three hours away, and the road reaches Magerøya through the 6.9 km North Cape Tunnel under the sea.