Gjesvær, the hidden gem of the North Cape

My favourite place in the summer season in the North Cape municipality is Gjesvaer — a hidden gem on the island of Magerøya. Besides being the best spot for seeing the midnight sun season, it is also a peaceful place ideal for nature lovers.

The fishing village is known for its beautiful Islands and crystal clear waters and there are many activities you can do to enjoy this beautiful piece of paradise.

Why should you visit Gjesvær?

Gjesvær is considered a hidden gem in the Arctic. The fishing village with 80 inhabitants gets outshined by a more popular place - the North Cape. Tourists go straight to see the 'globe' - representing the Northernmost point of continental Europe, and they forget to venture into the beautiful surroundings of Mageroya's Island.

Gjesvær is a very special place to me because I used to live there for 7 months.

Despite its remote location, I never got bored. There are many hikes that you can do in the summer, nature is wild and untouched, with spectacular views overlooking the sea. Is the only fishing village on the Island with a small grocery shop and even a café where the local community gets together.

Best time to visit Gjesvær

I recommend visiting Gjesvaer during the summer season, from mid-Mai until mid-September. If you want to go during the winter season, expect bad weather and many snowstorms. Often the roads are closed in the winter, due to the strong wind gusts and snow on the road.

ACTIVITIES IN GJESVæR

Paddleboarding & Kayaking

The fishing village is known for its beautiful Islands and crystal clear waters. While I was living in Gjesvær, I bought a paddleboard and explored the small islands.

Many tourists also rent out Kayaks or small boats to go fishing. Just be careful not to fall into the water, it can be pretty cold, 3 °C in the winter, and 9 °C during the summer.

Bird Safari Tour

You cannot come to Gjevaer and not do the bird safari tour! The two hours long boat tour leaves from Gjesvær to Gjesværstappan — a Nature Reserve where you can observe one of Norway’s largest bird colonies.

From mid-April until the end of August, this place is the nesting ground for many species of birds: more than 400.000 pairs of puffins that are easily recognisable by their colourful beak and nesting holes in the grassy hills.

You can also spot many eagles, mostly white-tailed eagles and some golden eagles, while they are hunting for their prey. It’s also possible to see many Guillemots, Razorbills, Cormorants, Arctic Skuas and gannets doing a plunge-dive to catch fish.

You don’t need to be a bird-fanatic to visit Gjesvaerstappan, this tour provides incredible views of the surrounding nature and sometimes we also see many grey seals swimming by the boat.

HIKING IN GJESVAER

There are plenty of hikes to do in Gjesvaer and the scenic view never disappoints!

Hike to Lysøynæringen Viewpoint

The trip starts 6 km before reaching the fishing village of Gjesvær. At the beginning of the trail, there is a small sign with a big red T, that marks the starting point.

The distance is about 4.4 km, and it takes 1.5 hours to reach the viewpoint. Click here, If you want to check the Norwegian hiking map. I like to call this hike, ‘‘the secret Lofoten of Magerøya’’, thanks to its dramatic landscape similar to the Lofoten Islands, just with no mass tourism. At the viewpoint's arrival, you can also find a visitor book hidden inside a mailbox, where you can sign up with your name and date, and leave your mark in Gjesvær.

Camp to Lilletuva Viewpoint with the midnight sun

Gjesvær area is the best place on the island to admire the midnight sun season and what better way to do it than from your camping tent! To reach the viewpoint — the hike starts just before the village of Gjesvær. You will find the beginning of the trail marked, next to a red house, before the little bridge that connects to the village of Gjesvaer. The trail is marked with the red T symbol written on a stone and a clear sign for Lilletuva's viewpoint. The hike takes one hour (one way), and once you reach the viewpoint, you can enjoy the magnificent views of Måsøy, Hjelmesøy, and the Nature Reserve of Gjesværstappan.

Midnight sun season

There is no secret that the population on Magerøya wakes up to life when the most breathtaking summer nights brighten up the island. In the North Cape municipality, the sun stays shining in the sky for over 1,800 hours without setting. Gjesvear is one of the best places on the island to see when this phenomenon occurs — the 14th of May (but is always good to check every year the exact date, because it changes) — you can see how the sun touches the sea, then it changes idea, and it comes back high in the sky. If you are lucky enough to have a clear day, you will experience this unique phenomenon and see the bright light of the sun changing into purple-red. The midnight sun season ends on the 29th of July on the Island of Magerøya.

August is when we get our sunsets back and it’s also the best time to take some scenic pictures of the fjords with the red sky!