The North Cape: exploring Scandinavia

Going to the limits of Scaninavia
Tuesday, August 18, 2015 to Thursday, August 27, 2015

Introduction: it is all about decisions

After arriving in Stockholm in mid August, it was clear that I have to be in Helsinki about a month later. The big question now was, what to do meanwhile and how to get there. There is a daily ferry from Stockholm to Helsinki, a very convenient and quick way. But since I consider my sabbatical an adventure, I chose a more advanced route. Driving from Stockholm to Helsinki via the Fjords and North Cape.

Stockholm: Venice of the North

Before finally deciding on my route, I first spent a week in beautiful Stockholm. In mid August, the weather was just perfect in Swedeninfo-icon and everybody was enjoying the warmth of the sunrays. I was staying at a private B&B in Satra, the southern suburbs of the city. Thanks to the lovely host-mother, I felt at home from the very first day. Using online community platforms, I was easily able to find places to go and meet likeminded people. Wether watching The 5th Element on a big public openair screen, dancing on a rooftop and in the forest or having a coffee together, I was having a great time with new friends. Until I decided to pack my bags and move on.

Fjords: land of the Vikings and Trolls

Until recently I never seriously considered visiting Norwayinfo-icon and the Fjords. But now that I have seen it for myself, I understand everybody who does. The mountains and valleys look quite similar to the Swiss Alps. There is just more untouched nature and less human traces. And of course the rivers and lakes directly stream into the sea. My chosen route turned out to be quite intense, but it passed by the most scenic spots: Stave Churches, Sognefjord and Trollstigen. I was curving up and down many valleys, drove long passages around the fjords and took several ferries. The roads seemed endless, yet I did not want them to end. This is where the saying holds true: the way is the goal!

Atlantic: where rocks rise out of the water

Like all the fresh water of the fjords, I also reached the Atlantic coast. The Norwegian coastline and cities are equally picturesque as the countryside. This is where the rigid rocks and the wild ocean collide and create its own spectacle. Luckily, the sea was quiet and the sky blue during my coastal journey to the North. Again, there were some of the most beautiful places on my way: Ålesund, Kristiansund (Atlantic road), Trondheim, Å (Lofoten), Tromsø. All these places are worth visiting and spending more time to explore. However, I had a different destination to reach.

North Cape: only the tip of the iceberg

It took me about a week to reach the most northern place in Europeinfo-icon. Each day I spent 6 to 8 hours in the car, each night I slept in a different town. Thanks to private B&B's I have met many friendly locals on the way. After this marvellous journey, reaching the North Cape was more like a duty than a real pleasure. For the first time in days it was raining and cloudy. At least I met some joyful reindeers on the road and on the way back I picked up my first hitchhikers. My last stop above the polar circle was in Karasjok, with some Sami people. Within two days I reached Helsinki, my final destination.

Summary: it was an adventure!

The trip was more than 5'000 km and took more than 80 hours of driving. My car and I have proved to be both in good condition and quite enduring. This journey to the North Cape was an impressive experience. I was enjoying every single moment, there is not a single negative event to remember. I might have missed some beautiful spots and might have been in a rush. But I would do it exactly the same agin!

Thanks to everybody who gave me travel tips and helped me find the best places!

My waypoints on this journey

Uppsala - a beautiful city with historic importance
a beautiful city with historic importance
Gamla Uppsala - former religious, economic and political center of Sweden with royal graves
former religious, economic and political center of Sweden with royal graves
Gudbrandsjuvet - the small waterfall with a mysterious legend on the road to Trollstigen
the small waterfall with a mysterious legend on the road to Trollstigen
Hamar - first stop in Norway, dining at the border of the country's largest lake
first stop in Norway, dining at the border of the country's largest lake
Stave Churches - visiting some of the oldest and best preserved Stave Churches in Norway
visiting some of the oldest and best preserved Stave Churches in Norway
Stryn - swimming in the ice cold water of the most iconic Fjords in Norway
swimming in the ice cold water of the most iconic Fjords in Norway
Sognefjord - driving through the world's longest tunnel to enjoy Norway's largest fjord
driving through the world's longest tunnel to enjoy Norway's largest fjord
Viksdalen - exploring the vast and picturesque nature around the Norwegian fjords
exploring the vast and picturesque nature around the Norwegian fjords
Trollstigen - overlooking and driving down the iconic serpentine mountain road
overlooking and driving down the iconic serpentine mountain road
Alesund - perfect place to have a break on the Hurtigrute towards the North Cape
perfect place to have a break on the Hurtigrute towards the North Cape
Atlantic Road -
driving along the quiet atlantic ocean over eight scenic bridges
Bremsnes Cave - hiking into Norway's largest cave along the majestic Atlantic Road
hiking into Norway's largest cave along the majestic Atlantic Road
Polar circle -
having a quick stop at the polar circle at latitude of 66 degrees north
Mo i Rana - a small farming and trading outpost near the Polar Circle since the iron age
a small farming and trading outpost near the Polar Circle since the iron age
Trondheim - hip and posh city with a fortress, gothic cathedral and music festival
hip and posh city with a fortress, gothic cathedral and music festival
Eggum -
smallest tourist attraction on the Lofoten, a German radar station from WW2
Lofoten - rushing through one of the most scenic archipelago in the world
rushing through one of the most scenic archipelago in the world
Svolvaer - climbing the steep mountain overlooking the city and some of the Lofoten
climbing the steep mountain overlooking the city and some of the Lofoten
Polar park - northernmost wildlife park in the world - one of the best in Europe
northernmost wildlife park in the world - one of the best in Europe
Riddu Riddu Festival - a festival in northern Norway to preserve and celebrate Sami culture
a festival in northern Norway to preserve and celebrate Sami culture
Tromsø - view over the third largest city in the arctic circle from Fjellheisen hill
view over the third largest city in the arctic circle from Fjellheisen hill
Alta Rock Carvings - discovering a large area with many beautiful rock art near the North Cape
discovering a large area with many beautiful rock art near the North Cape
North Cape - driving all the way to the northernmost place of Europe
driving all the way to the northernmost place of Europe
Sapmi Park - learning everything about the Sami people of northenr Scandinavia
learning everything about the Sami people of northenr Scandinavia
Karasjok - the perfect place to learn and experience the Sami culture in Norway
the perfect place to learn and experience the Sami culture in Norway
Santa Claus -
leaving the arctic circle again just to find Santa Claus and his Reindeers
Helsinki by night - eating bear while the others run
eating bear while the others run
Tampere - rushing through the charming post-industrial Manchester of Finland
rushing through the charming post-industrial Manchester of Finland