Chasing the midnight sun: Lofoten to Nordkapp

Route description

From Bodø, a car ferry crosses to the Lofoten Islands; book it in summer, when queues can be long. At Reine, red fishing cabins stand below sharp peaks, and many rorbuer, the traditional cabins, can be rented.

The E10 runs northeast through Lofoten over bridges and through tunnels, past beaches and fishing villages, to Svolvær, the main town of the islands. There is a seaside campsite near Svolvær, as well as a wild stopover spot where you should follow the right-to-roam rules and leave no trace.

From Lofoten, the E10, the E6 and finally the E8 continue north on the mainland to Tromsø, a university city with the Arctic Cathedral across the bridge. North of Tromsø the forests thin out into tundra, and the road runs along long fjords towards Finnmark.

The final stretch crosses to the island of Magerøya and climbs to Nordkapp, a cliff at 71°N, often called the northernmost point of Europe, with the midnight sun from mid-May to late July; the fishing town of Honningsvåg nearby is the place to stock up. Distances are long and fuel stations are far apart, and reindeer often stand on the road, so drive carefully. Late May to July is the best season for this trip.