Capo Nord Calling: Three Italian journeys to the top of the world

Three journeys, one destination. Gianni Avvantaggiato, Gianluca Carletta and Fabrizio Sangiorgi share their experiences and tips for making the most of this epic adventure

By James Gill

The North Cape is a popular riding destination for any motorcyclist who’s up for a bit of a challenge. Located at the northernmost tip of Norway, on the island of Magerøya, its dreamy landscape of sharp cliffs and the dancing of the aurora borealis is at once beautiful and potentially treacherous if the weather turns.

But why do Italians in particular feel such a pull to the Arctic? The reasons are many, but the emotion is clear.

“Going to Nordkapp by bike is something undertaken by many but not by everyone,” said Gianni Avvantaggiato, a 68-year-old H.O.G.^® member from Bari. “For bikers, Nordkapp is like visiting the Pope in Rome for Catholics, or Mecca for Muslims. It’s a pilgrimage – for the mind, the body and the machine.”

For others, the decision came during the Covid-19 pandemic. “Seeing my Harley^® parked in the garage through lockdown gave me sadness and melancholy,” said Gianluca Carletta from San Cataldo in Sicily. “I started watching videos about Nordkapp and realised it’s not impossible. It’s just time and money.”

Fabrizio – known to his friends as “Beer” – had another reason. “Every six years,” he said, “my wife and I are pulled back to the north like magnets. I don’t know why. But this time, it was different. It was our first time doing it on a Harley.”

All three journeys were long and winding yet unforgettable. Here is the combined recommendations of the three intrepid Italians.

Route highlights

Øresund Bridge: from one world to another
After crossing Germany and Denmark, you come to one of the ride’s first jaw-dropping moments: the Øresund Bridge, which links Copenhagen to Malmö, Sweden.

Beer described it as “the crossing into another dimension. It’s not just a bridge – it’s a portal. You’re gliding into Scandinavia, and suddenly, everything feels different.” This is where the scenery starts to shift. The cities grow quieter. The light changes. The north begins to whisper.

Hoga Kusten: Sweden’s high coast magic
As the journey continues north through Sweden, the roads become quieter and more meditative. Somewhere above Stockholm, the landscape begins to stretch into vastness. All three riders made a stop near Kramfors in the Hoga Kusten region – a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its dramatic coastlines, rocky outcrops and pine-covered hills.

“It’s one of those places where you feel very small in the best possible way,” said Kate, Beer’s wife and co-pilot. “It was also the first time we splurged on one of the Scandinavian campsite cabins – worth every krone when the temperature dropped.”

Santa Claus Village, Rovaniemi: kitsch meets charm
You might not expect a biker pilgrimage to involve Santa Claus, but here we are. Rovaniemi, Finland – right on the Arctic Circle – is home to the bizarre and oddly wonderful Santa Claus Village.

“It’s kitschy, sure,” laughed Gianluca, “but it’s also a kind of landmark. You cross the Arctic Circle there. It marks a real moment in the journey.”

Beer agreed. “I’ve got photos of my Harley in front of Santa’s post office. That’s not something I ever thought I’d say. But it’s a fun stop, and a good place to catch your breath.”

The reindeer zone: dreamlike creatures on the move
As soon as you get past Rovaniemi, the forests begin to clear – and suddenly, they’re everywhere. Reindeer. “They’re like dreamlike creatures,” said Gianni. “They appear out of nowhere, then vanish, leaving just the sound of your engine and the breath in your helmet.”

All three accounts mentioned the need to stay alert. “We kept two fingers permanently on the brake,” said Beer. “They’re not exactly shy, and they don’t look before crossing.”

Still, seeing them wandering the road is part of the magic. You’re definitely not in southern Europe anymore.

The Arctic E6: riding the edge of the world
From Karigasniemi in Finland to Honningsvåg in Norway, the road becomes something else. The E6 skirts the Arctic Ocean, hugging cliffs, cutting through hills, and occasionally plunging into silence.

“The E6 is the most beautiful road I’ve ever ridden,” said Gianluca. “It’s cold. It’s windy. But every turn makes you want to stop and stare. It feels like you’re riding through a dream.”

Gianni called it “a path traced through thoughts and dreams that disappear into the immensity of the world.”

The Magerøya tunnel: entering another dimension
Near the end of the E6, you hit the Nordkapp Tunnel; seven kilometres long, under the sea, connecting the mainland to Magerøya Island.

For Gianluca, this was a moment he won’t forget. “You ride through this long, dark tunnel – and when you emerge, it’s like coming into another dimension,” he said. “The light is different. The wind is colder. You know you’re close.”

There’s a real sense of entering sacred ground.

The Lofoten detour: for those with time to spare
Beer and Kate made one brilliant addition to their route: a loop through the Lofoten Islands on their way south. “The roads are amazing – curves and views and tunnels and sea,” said Beer. “Even in the rain, it was worth every drop.”

They stayed in a tiny port town called Svolvær, complete with a local pub and an unforgettable fish soup. “That soup saved my life,” Kate joked. “Also, I found a decent IPA on tap. That alone was a miracle.”

What to pack – from king crab to moka pots

Riding to Nordkapp is no Sunday spin. It’s a test of endurance, patience and practicality – but it’s also about joy and comfort along the way.

All three riders gave us their top packing tips.

1. Technical clothing is king.
“It’s not about layering sweaters,” says Gianni. “You need lightweight but warm gear. Also, proper rain protection and three pairs of gloves – for hot, wet and freezing.”

2. Cash is dead.
“Scandinavia is 99 per cent card,” said Beer. “Even the toilet at one petrol station only took tap-to-pay.”

3. Bring a moka. Seriously.
Nicolas, Gianni’s travel buddy, brought a camping stove and moka pot from Bari. “Italians can survive rain, reindeer and cold,” said Gianni. “But bad coffee? Never.”

4. Book ahead in summer.
“Some campsites do fill up,” said Kate. “We used Booking.com and had good luck. Also – those wooden cabins? A godsend.”

5. Respect the bike.
Beer’s new Harley FLHX weighed 100kg more than his previous motorcycle. He found out the hard way on a gravel road. “We fell over. No real harm done, but I learned fast: ride the bike you have, not the one you’re used to.”

When the light won’t go out

There’s one thing that’s impossible to understand until you’re there: the midnight sun. “The light never ends,” said Gianni. “You sleep badly, you eat at the wrong times, you lose all sense of schedule. But the sun keeps you going – it’s like a dream that refuses to fade.

“The light of the Arctic night streaming through the windows of the red cabins with grass-covered roofs, and the rainbow appearing after yet another day of rain. Just you and your motorcycle… You listen to its voice, the engine running smooth under the drumsticks of Tullio de Piscopo. A bowl of fish soup in a fishing village, a plate of reindeer meat the next day, and whale a little later – these are not just flavours, but experiences woven into moments of mental stillness, as if each bite carried the stories of these lands, stories that take root in your dreams.”

At Nordkapp, riders arrive at all hours of day or night. Gianluca got there at 6.30pm in the rain. Gianni made it at 10.30am in the morning, but waited until midnight for his moment under the famous globe. “It wasn’t just a photo,” he said. “It was the moment the journey became real. That I had done it.”

The way back

A little secret about Nordkapp trips: the return is often longer than the way there. Gianluca, for example, deliberately extended the journey home. “We didn’t want to go the fast way,” he said. “We went through Tromsø, Sweden, Finland, the Baltics, Poland, Germany, Austria, and back through Bolzano and Livorno.”

In total? 13,157km, 14 countries, 31 days. “The legendary Dyna® never gave up,” he said. “Not even in 600km of rain.”

Beer and Kate clocked up 9,750 km and only stopped when Kate sprained her ankle in Herzogenaurach. “Off the bike!” she adds.

Why Nordkapp matters

Every rider who reached Nordkapp agreed on one thing: it changes you. “It’s not the road. Not even the place,” said Gianluca. “It’s what you learn along the way.”

For Beer, it was a test of the new Harley. “She passed with flying colours,” he said. “And so did we.”

And for Gianni? “When I stood under the globe at 71°10’21, I realised I wasn’t chasing a destination. I was chasing a feeling. And I found it.”

So, if you’re thinking about it – do it. Pack the rain gear, pack the moka and take your patience. Bring the courage and ride north. It won’t be easy, but we promise, it will be unforgettable.