When you have ticked off Norway’s, and Europe’s, northernmost point, it’s only fair to do the same with Norway’s southernmost point 🙂 , and I finally did! With COVID restricting my travel plans this fall, I took the opportunity to do something I’ve always said I wanted to do, but just as often pushed further into the future. Had I known how much I would love it, I would have done it earlier, and in the summer, with better weather, when you are able to explore the trails and the rocky shoreline. People do come for bad weather as well, to experience the waves crashing onto land, which can be quite a dangerous adventure. For us the conditions started out well, but took a turn for the worse towards the end. In the wind and pouring rain I got a glimpse of what the surfs can be like. There’s no doubt the scenery was my absolute favourite highlight, but I also got to climb a lighthouse for the first time, not for lack of trying. Not very tall, but I was still delighted 🙂 One thing I didn’t get to do, was spend the night. They have an apartment for rent. It would have been so cool! And it is cheap considering what you’re getting. There’s a lot of other things to explore on site. Remnants from Second World War, from when the Germans occupied the area, tunnels, bunkers, cannon bases. The old coal-fired lighthouse. A compass rose, with teeny tiny frogs hopping around. They are so small hadn’t my friend pointed them out, I would have become a mass murderer… You’ll find museums and exhibitions in the different buildings, including Fjellhallen, which also houses a souvenir shop, several food serving options, and a movie theatre. To go inside places you have to be there during opening hours, when entrance fee applies.
So how do you get there? You have an old friend who offers to give you a ride 😀 It’s a 40 minute drive from Mandal. In high season there’s probably buses going, but otherwise you need a car. And while you’re on the road, make sure to swing by Under, Europe’s first underwater restaurant. If you wanna dine, you need to make reservations far in advance. Expensive, but what an experience! Doing that next time! In the meantime, have a look at Conde Nast Traveler’s coverage.
Website: lindesnesfyr.no
Under:
Lindesnes Lighthouse:
2518 km until North Cape 
Fjellhallen 
Fjellhallen exhibition 
Remnants from World War II 
Compass rose 
Old lighthouse 
Cannon postings from World War II
We were just there in July. I love that lighthouse. 💜
Ah, lucky you! Better weather, but probably a lot more people 🙂
Very few – we were lucky! 😉
Got the best of both worlds 😀
Always nice when the ocean is close by 🙂
It is the southern and northern parts of the mainland, right? Svalbard is high up on my bucket list 🙂
Hi Jesper! Very surprised you were able to comment. Recently people have experienced problems, and I haven’t had time to look into it. Yes, this is on the mainland, and seen with marketing/tourism glasses 😉 Check this out: https://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_over_norske_geografiske_ytterpunkter I wasn’t too impressed with Svalbard, but it could be I didn’t get the full Svalbard experience, and that I grew up in Northern Norway 🙂 Love ocean view!
In regards to comments, there is a way around it by commenting via WordPress.com 🙂
We had hoped to include parts of Central and Northern Norway during our road trip this summer, but it was sadly not possible to cross the border from Sweden. So we turned back south again in Jokkmokk. 🙂
I guess that it is better to dream of going to Svalbard instead of actually going. Because as with most of the Nordics, I guess that can get quite hard and expensive to explore it properly. 🙂
Ah, I thought that wouldn’t work either. Thanks! I know. We’re kind of stuck in our own country these days. From where did you drive? Jokkmokk, childhood memories 🙂 You should definitely visit Svalbard if you’re not used to seeing Arctic landscape every day 🙂 But visiting in the high season would guarantee all activities are on, but expensive, yes…
We started in Stockholm and drove along the coast up to Luleå before heading inland to Jokkmokk. From Jokkmokk we continued south all the way to Mora. We did a small detour along the Wilderness Road, almost taking us all the way to the Norwegian border, it was at points just a few kilometers away. Then from Mora back east to Stockholm. So it was not an extremly long road trip, but so many amazing places to see, especially with the mountains towards Norway. 🙂
Svalbard will stay on my list until I get there, that is for sure 🙂
During my childhood we “always” went camping along the Bottenvika coast 😀 Unfortunately haven’t been back since. Rumours said Swedes rented Finnish plated cars to cross the borders up here this summer 🙂 It’s sad I can’t travel like I usually do, but a good opportunity to explore my own country 😀 Saw that you have a guide on Åland. One of the few places we can go these days. Was considering it, but couldn’t initially find any info on corona/immigration restrictions – if I can enter Åland and if I can transfer at Helsinki airport, more or less as normal.
The Gulf of Bothnia is really nice 🙂
I have even heard the rumours that both Swedes and Norwegians cross the border at night when there are no guards.
It is a sad that the border crossings in the Nordics has taken such a hard hit with no real cooperation between the countries. I thought that it was quite funny that Norwegians were allowed to travel to Gotland at the time when Stockholm had many cases. Especially since many from Stockholm travel to Gotland and the Norwegians going there would then be more likely to meet people from Stockholm than anywhere else in Sweden 😛
In regards to Åland, if I have understood the rules correct (they change frequently for some reason), you would probably be allowed to go to Åland if you are allowed to enter Finland. But I’m more unsure if Norway would let you come back 😛
Well, let us hope that we can at least explore more of the Nordics next year and not only our own countries. I feel that I should see more of Norway as I have only been to Røros so far. 🙂
I know. When the rules and restrictions are put in to effect, you realise things don’t make sense. Åland is one of the few places I can travel to, and not have to go into quarantine when I get back. How funny, I am actually considering visiting Røros, as an alternative 🙂 Drop a link, if you have one. You might want to consider visiting Senja, where I grew up. Beautiful island. Called Norway in miniature.