Nordkapp, or North Cape, is best known for its midnight sun, but sometimes nature surprises you in even more spectacular ways. When I visited in August after days of rain and heavy clouds, I was fortunate enough to witness the most incredible sunset I’ve ever seen—an entire sky glowing red above the Arctic Ocean.
Waiting Out the Rain
My arrival at Nordkapp was less than ideal. The first two days were dark, stormy, and cold. With only three nights planned, I worried the gloomy weather would ruin my time there. From our cabin window, a white reindeer grazing nearby became our main source of entertainment while we waited for the skies to clear. We did manage a short hike to Kirkeporten in drizzle and fog, but it wasn’t until the final day that the sun finally appeared. That morning, we joined a puffin safari at Gjesværstappan, and by evening, I headed to the North Cape Plateau with high hopes.
Exploring the North Cape Plateau
To reach the iconic globe monument, you need to purchase an entrance ticket, which also includes access to exhibitions, a panoramic film, and even a light installation. There’s also a restaurant where visitors can dine while admiring the Arctic horizon. The winds, however, were relentless. Flying a drone was out of the question, and even layered in thick, windproof clothing, I still shivered. Anyone visiting should be prepared with warm gear, a hat, and a solid hood to stand against the gusts.
The cliffs themselves are jaw-dropping—towering over 300 meters high, plunging straight into the ocean. On one side of the plateau, I found the “Children of the World” sculpture, a series of bronze disks created from drawings by children across seven countries. Nearby stands the moving “Mother and Child” statue, symbolizing unity and hope in such a remote and dramatic setting.
The Long Wait for the Sunset
In August, the sun dips late—around 11:20 p.m.—so there was plenty of time to wander the plateau in relative quiet. With fewer visitors than usual, the area felt almost deserted, which made the atmosphere even more special. After hours of braving the chill, I nearly gave up and returned to my cottage. That’s when the magic began.
The clouds gathered into a perfect canvas, and the entire sky erupted into shades of crimson and gold. It was so extraordinary that I couldn’t resist driving for hours along Nordkapp’s winding roads, chasing the fiery horizon. Every turn revealed new colors—deep purples, glowing oranges, and endless red streaks stretching above the ocean.
A Night to Remember
That final evening became the highlight of my three weeks in Norway. Alone on the road, surrounded by cliffs and endless sea, it felt as though the world had paused. I didn’t make it back to my cabin until 2 a.m., long after the sunset had faded, but the memory of that night remains vivid.
In the end, staying an extra night made all the difference. Norway has a way of surprising you when you least expect it, and this sunset at Nordkapp was a reminder of nature’s power to transform even the gloomiest trip into something unforgettable.
