Tromsø is my hometown, where I`ve lived most of my life. Knowing the city inside out and having worked in Tromso’s hotel business, I have an excellent knowledge of the best hotels in Tromso. With lots of friends and family visiting over the years who have stayed at many of the Tromsø hotels, I have a pretty good idea of my top picks for where to stay in Tromso.
Tromso is a relatively small city with 75,000 inhabitants above the Arctic Circle in Norway. It is the most prominent city in Northern Norway and the fifth-largest in Norway, with one of Norway’s biggest Universities (more than 17,000 students). This makes Tromsø a vibrant city with great nightlife and many cafes and restaurants.
During the past ten years or so, Tromso has become hugely popular as a tourist destination, as there is plenty to see and do in Tromso and its surroundings. In winter, people come to see the Northern Lights, the snow, and the whales. In summer, the Midnight Sun shines all night, and the unspoiled nature and wildlife is the main attraction. Tromso is one of the best places to go mountain hiking and fjord fishing. With direct flights from several European cities and many cities within Norway, it is easy to get to Tromso.
The increasing number of visitors has led to a boom in the number of hotels and accommodations in Tromso, and visitors now have lots of options when deciding where to stay in Tromso.
In this article, we will give you a list of what we consider to be the best places to stay in Tromso. Here, you will find the best Tromso hotels and accommodations (in our opinion).
What Is The Best Accommodation In Tromso?
For us, the perfect Tromso accommodation has big enough rooms to store all our luggage and still have some space to walk around. We are massive fans of big, comfortable beds so that we can sleep soundly at night. And, of course, free and fast wifi is a must-have! Luckily, most hotels in Tromso meet these demands and have a high standard.
Norway is relatively expensive when it comes to accommodation, and Tromso is sadly no exception. Here, we have collected what we think are the best Tromsø accommodations for any budget. So, this article is for you whether you are looking for a top-end boutique hotel, a unique experience in a wilderness cabin, or a self-serviced apartment to save some money.
While most visitors to Tromso stay in the downtown area, staying outside the city has become popular with visitors who wish to be closer to nature to go skiing, hiking, fishing, or Northern Lights hunting. We have, therefore, included accommodation options for the most popular areas outside of Tromso – Sommaroy Island, Senja Island, and the Lyngen Alps.
Why You Should Not Stay At Airbnb In Tromso
The number of Airbnb accommodations in Tromso has exploded over the last few years. Investors buy up entire apartment buildings just to rent them out to sky-high prices on Airbnb, which has led to a housing shortage in Tromso. Airbnb has become a big problem for people, especially students, who struggle to find a place to live. Therefore, I strongly discourage booking an Airbnb in Tromso.
Instead, you should book an apartment at an apartment hotel through, for instance, Booking.com.
Important: None of the hotels recommended here are paid placements or have sponsored our blog in any way. I have worked in the hotel business in Tromso, so I know most hotels in Tromso quite well. We have also had friends and visitors stay in many of these hotels and provide us with valuable feedback. If you book through any of our links, we make a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps keep our site running – so thank you in advance for your support! ♥
We hope you find this guide helpful in choosing the best place to stay in Tromso.
Where To Stay In Tromso – The 7 Best Places To Stay In Tromso
In this guide on where to stay in Tromsø (our hometown), we give you our favorite Tromso hotels.
Table of Contents:
7 areas to stay in Tromso & around, with our favorite hotels
We have divided Tromso and its surrounding areas into seven areas:
- Downtown Tromso (red on the map above) – The Best Tromso Hotels
- Tromso Island (brown)
- Tromdalen (yellow)
- Kvaloya Island (blue) – Best Accommodation In Tromso For Northern Lights
- Sommaroy Island (purple) – 1-hour drive from Tromso
- Lyngen Alps (black) – 1,5-hour drive from Tromso
- Senja Island (green) – 3-hour drive from Tromso
Most visitors stay in downtown Tromso (the red area on the map above). This is the main island of Tromso city (called Tromsøya or Tromso Island), where you find Tromso Airport and Tromso’s downtown with shops, restaurants, cafes, hotels, and museums. There are plenty of accommodation options on Tromso Island, most either by the harbor or on the streets close to Tromso’s main shopping street, Storgata.
Tromsoya Island is only 22.8-square-kilometer (8.8 sq mi), located between the mainland Tromsdalen (yellow area on the map above) and the big island Kvaloya (meaning Whale Island in English, blue area on the map above), where I live.
Bridges and tunnels connect Kvaloya Island, Tromso Island, and Tromsdalen; these three are considered Tromso City. It only takes about 15 minutes to drive from downtown Tromso to Kvaloya and 5 minutes from downtown to Tromsdalen.
It`s easy to get around Tromso by foot, bicycle, car, taxi, or bus. In downtown Tromso, everything is within walking distance. There are, however, no trains or underground in Tromso.
If you are planning on exploring the areas around Tromso, like Sommaroy Island (the purple area on the map above), Senja Island (the green area), and the Lyngen Alps (the black area), I recommend that you rent a car. Public transport is pretty limited once you get out of Tromso city.
Please continue reading to learn more about our favorite areas and hotels in Tromso. We hope you find this guide useful when planning your stay in Tromso. Have a fantastic visit to Tromso! ♥
1. Downtown Tromso
Harbor Area – Tromso’s Best Hotels
The hotels in the Tromso harbor area are the best in Tromso, in my opinion. They all have a fantastic sea view, including Tromso Harbor, Tromso Bridge, Tromsdalstinden Mountain, the cable car, and Tromso’s most famous landmark – The Arctic Cathedral.
Top End
Clarion Hotel The Edge
The Edge (a 4-star hotel) is the closest you get to a luxury hotel in Tromso, as there are no luxury 5-star hotels in the city. When you ask us locals, “What is Tromsø’s best hotel?” most will answer The Edge. It has a central location right by the sea, just a short walk from downtown Tromso’s only shopping mall, Nerstranda.
The Edge also has Tromsø’s only Skybar on the 11th floor with a spectacular panoramic view of Tromsø and the sea. The Skybar is very popular among the locals. We have dined several times at The Edge’s restaurant, The Social, and the food is excellent. We particularly like The Social Burger.
Just across the street from The Edge Hotel is the “Havneterminalen,” also known as “Prostneset” – the Port Of Tromsø. Here, you find shops, restaurants, Hertz and Europcar car rentals, and tourist information Visit Tromsø. The speed boats to Harstad, Finnsnes, and several other places in Northern Norway depart from here. Clarion Hotel The Edge is ranked no. 2 at TripAdvisor.
Click here for the latest prices and availability at The Edge Hotel
Scandic Ishavshotel
The 4-star Scandic Ishavshotel has a great location right on the pier, and the building looks like a big ship, meaning that the rooms have an excellent view of the sea. They renovated all the rooms a few years back, so it`s all fresh and modern.
Ishavshotel is famous for its amazing breakfast, which has won the “Best Breakfast in Norway” award several times. The Hurtigruten anchors up just outside the hotel, so this is a convenient place to stay if you plan on taking the Hurtigruten.
The open space between Scandic Ishavshotel and Radisson Blu Hotel is the pickup place for many sightseeing tours in Tromsø. So, Scandic Ishavhotell is a convenient place to stay if you plan on booking and going on a guided tour, like a dog sledding tour, northern light tour, fjord cruise, or reindeer tour. Scandic Ishavshotel is ranked no. 3 on TripAdvisor.
Click here for the latest prices and availability at the Scandic Ishavshotel
Mid-Range
Clarion Collection Hotel With
Hotel With, as it is known locally, is a 4-star hotel with a perfect location right by Tromso Harbour. You get a beautiful view of the sea, the Arctic Cathedral, the Tromso Bridge, Tromsdalstinden mountain, and Fjellheisen by staying here.
You are right in the middle of everything if you stay at Hotel With, close to all the city’s restaurants and shops.
An extra plus at this hotel is that you get free coffee/tea and Norwegian waffles with sour cream, jam, and brown cheese (Espen`s favorite!) in the afternoon (from 15 to 18 o`clock) and a free meal in the evening (from 18 to 21 o`clock). This makes Hotel With a good value for your money. Clarion Collection Hotel has been ranked no. 1 on TripAdvisor for years due to its freebies like complimentary breakfast, coffee/ tea all day, afternoon waffles, and evening dinner. I recommend getting a room facing the harbor, as the fantastic sea view is worth it.
Click here for the latest prices and availability at the Clarion Collection Hotel With
Clarion Collection Hotel Aurora
Next door to Clarion Collection Hotel With, you will find its sister hotel, Clarion Collection Hotel Aurora (a 4-star hotel). It is a newer hotel than With, with an excellent location right by the sea and a great harbor view.
This hotel also has breakfast, free waffles in the afternoon, and an evening meal included in the price. As food is expensive in Tromso, staying at Hotel Aurora is a good deal. It is also one of the few downtown hotels with onsite parking.
The extra plus of this hotel is the rooftop jacuzzi and sauna! Here, you can relax in the evenings and watch the northern lights from the hot tub. An awesome experience if you ask me!
Click here for the latest prices and availability at the Clarion Collection Hotel Aurora
Around The Main Shopping Street Storgata – Budget Hotels With Central Location
The walking street Storgata runs right through the downtown of Tromso. The hotels in the streets around the main street, Storgata, are a bit cheaper than the ones by the harbor.
The hotels in this area don`t have the same spectacular views as the harbor hotels, but they are just as centrally located, and everything is still within easy walking distance.
Top End
Radisson Blu Hotel Tromso
Radisson Blu Hotel is a big, modern 4-star hotel with a great location in the middle of everything. The hotel’s gem is the rooftop sauna on the 10th floor (free for all guests) overlooking the harbor. It is fantastic to relax and heat up here after a night out hunting for northern lights in the cold. There is a gym on the 10th floor. I used to work here on weekends when I studied Computer Science at the University of Tromso, so I know this hotel very well. 🙂
The hotel has a booking desk for information and booking of tours like dog sledding, reindeer trips, and northern light trips. Radisson Blu and the open space outside the hotel entrance is the pick-up place for many guided tours in and around Tromso. Radisson Blu Hotel was completely renovated in 2016, and its 269 rooms are all fresh with a modern, Scandinavian interior design.
Radisson Blu is a popular conference hotel, often booked by the University of Tromso. It might get fully booked if they are the host of a big conference, so make sure to book this hotel early if you want to stay here.
This hotel owns and runs the popular pizza place Yonas Pizzeria (try their specialty Taco Pizza, my favorite!) and Norway’s most famous pub Rorbua. The popular Norwegian TV show “Du skal høre mye” was recorded at Rorbua Pub from 1987 until 2003. Rorbua has live music from Wednesday to Saturday. The pizza place and the pub are both located just next to the hotel.
Click here for the latest prices and availability at the Radisson Blu Hotel Tromso
Quality Hotel Saga
Known to us locals as the “Gold Hotel” due to its bright and shiny golden facade, the 4-star Quality Hotel Saga is one of the oldest hotels in Tromso. However, parts of the hotel are newly renovated, and that`s when they got their golden front.
The 103 rooms are spacious, but some bathrooms could need a facelift. All bathrooms do have heated floors, however, which is nice.
The hotel is pet-friendly, and you get free coffee and tea throughout your stay and free waffles in the afternoon (from 15:00). Some rooms face the harbor and have a beautiful sea- and mountain view.
Click here for the latest prices
Budget
Thon Hotel Tromsø & Thon Hotel Polar
The Thon Hotel Tromsø and Thon Hotel Polar are similar 3-star hotels located across the street from each other. They have a central location just 100 m from Tromso’s main shopping street, Storgata. They serve excellent breakfasts with many choices, and Nespresso coffee machines are in all rooms and the lounge area. All rooms have a private bathroom and TV with a chrome cast. The rooms at both hotels are between 15 and 20 sqm. Pets are allowed at Thon Hotel Polar but not at Thon Hotel Tromsø. Thon Hotel Polar seems slightly more expensive than Thoel Hotel Tromsø, but it varies throughout the year. Otherwise, they are basically the same.
Click here for the latest prices and availability on the Thon Hotel Tromso
Click here for the latest prices and availability on the Thon Hotel Polar
Enter City Apartment Hotel
The 4-star Enter City Hotel is an apartment hotel with excellent value for your money! It has a central location just 100 m from Tromso’s shopping street, Storgata.
The rooms are well-equipped apartments (16 – 28 sqm) with a small kitchen, which is convenient for making breakfast, lunch, or even dinner. That way, you can save some money by shopping at one of the nearby supermarkets and cooking your own food. You get tea and coffee for free at the hotel.
The price includes no breakfast since all rooms have a small kitchen, but you can buy breakfast at one of their sister hotels nearby. All rooms have a private bathroom with a heated floor.
The hotel has a laundry room (washing machines and dryers) that the guests can use for free. Very handy as dry cleaning is expensive, and there are no other options in town if you want to get your clothes washed. The Superior Twin Rooms (28 sqm) can house up to four people and have a dishwasher in the kitchen.
Click here for the latest prices
Comfort Hotel Xpress Tromso
Comfort Hotel Xpress is a budget 3-star hotel with an excellent and central location in Grønnegata, adjacent to the city’s shopping street, Storgata. It is probably the cheapest hotel in Tromso, with prices around US$ 70 for two adults if you book well ahead.
The hotel rooms are clean, modern, and cozy but a bit small (12 – 14 sqm). If you are out all day on tours and sightseeing, then the tiny rooms will not be a problem. All rooms have a private bathroom with a heated floor and a TV.
There is no daily housekeeping service. They clean the rooms every fourth day, but you can pay extra if you want it cleaned daily. The hotel has no restaurant, but it is very close to all of Tromso’s restaurants and cafes.
You can buy snacks and drinks from the lobby shop, which is open 24-7. Another highlight of this hotel is the washing room (with washers and dryers), where you can do your laundry (very convenient).
You can buy breakfast at the hotel (sandwiches, juice, tea, and coffee). Unfortunately, there is no kettle in the rooms, but hot water is available in the lobby free of charge all day and night.
Click here for the latest prices and availability on the Comfort Hotel Xpress Tromso
Vervet – Tromso’s Newest & Hippest Area
The newest and hippest area in downtown Tromso is Vervet. There used to be an old shipyard here, but over the last few years, this harbor area of town (next to the Tromso Bridge) has been completely renovated and constructed into a hip area of apartment buildings, restaurants, bars, and a bakery. Vervet is often compared to Oslo’s Aker Brygge.
Here, you find my favorite Tromso restaurant, Maskinverkstedet, and my favorite cafe in Tromso, Vervet Bakery. I l-o-v-e their cinnamon buns (a must-try!) and macarons.
Delicious macarons at Vervet Bakery
Vervet Bakery makes Tromso's best cinnamon buns
The views from Vervet are also spectacular and well worth a visit, even if you don’t plan on staying here.
At Vervet, you also find some of Tromso’s biggest tourist attractions, like Skansen Fort and the Polar Museum. And since it is just next to Tromso Bridge, you can easily walk over the bridge to the Arctic Cathedral and the Cable Car.
Scandic is building the biggest hotel in Northern Norway at Vervet – Scandic Vervet Tromsø Hotel. It will have 305 rooms and plans to open in 2025.
TA Apartments Vervet
Total Apartments (TA) rents out apartments at the brand-new apartment building at Vervet, both short-term and long-term. The apartments have a high standard, a fully equipped kitchen (including a dishwasher, oven, coffee machine, and fridge), a private bathroom (with a washing machine and dryer), a TV, and a seating area. All apartments have a balcony.
There is a rooftop terrace at the top of the building, with a garden. Private parking in the basement parking lot (perfect if you plan on renting a car). I love the modern interior design of the apartments and the fabulous sea-, city-, and mountain views. They have two types of apartments for rent:
TA Vervet Gjøa – Has a minimum length of stay of 2 nights. One-bedroom apartments (42 sqm, up to four people) and two-bedroom apartments (52 sqm, up to five people).
Click here for the latest prices and availability on TA Vervet Gjøa
TA Vervet Fram – Two-bedroom apartments (50 or 60 sqm, up to four people) and three-bedroom apartments (80 sqm, up to six people). Some of these apartments have a fantastic sea view and a fireplace. Fun fact: “Fram” is the name of the ship that the Norwegian explorers Fridtjof Nansen, Otto Sverdrup, Oscar Wisting, and Roald Amundsen used to explore the Arctic and Antarctica in 1893 – 1912. You can see the Fram ship at the Fram Museum in Oslo.
Click here for the latest prices and availability on TA Vervet Fram
2. Tromso Island
Enter St. Elisabeth Suites
This 4-star hotel is one of Tromso’s newest (opened at the end of 2022) and is located a 10-minute walk south of Tromso’s shopping and restaurant area. This is an apartment hotel, and the apartments are beautiful, with a fully-equipped kitchen with a dishwasher, dining area, TV, and a private bathroom with a heated floor. The hotel serves breakfast (cost extra) and has a fitness room and a terrace with a spectacular 360-degree view of Tromso. The hotel will open a spa (with a pool) at the end of 2023. There is a big private parking lot right outside the hotel. The stylish apartments are quite big (35 sqm) and can house up to four people. Some apartments have a fabulous sea view. There is a washing machine in some apartments as well.
Click here for the latest prices and availability on the Enter St Elisabeth Suites
Moxy Tromso
Tromso’s newest hotel star is Moxy Tromso (opened in April 2023), located close to Tromso airport. It is a 10-minute drive from downtown Tromso, within walking distance to Tromso’s biggest shopping mall, Jekta. Moxy Tromso is Marriott Bonvoy’s northernmost hotel.
The highlight of Moxy Tromso is its view! The reception, Sky bar, and restaurant are on the top floor with floor-to-ceiling windows and a spectacular view of the sea and mountains on Kvaloya Island. Checking in here gives you the best welcome to Tromso ever.
The 208 rooms are all 18 sqm, so they are not the biggest, but they are smartly furnished to maximize the space and have all the amenities needed. The rooms facing south have spectacular views of the sea and mountains. All rooms have air-con, a 55-inch TV, and a private bathroom with a heated floor. I love the modern, Scandinavian-style interior design. Pets are allowed, and the hotel has a fitness room and a big parking lot right outside (convenient if you plan on renting a car). The breakfast is served in the top-floor restaurant where you can eat and enjoy the fantastic sea- and mountain view. The rooms have blinds on the windows so you can get a good sleep during the summer (with the Midnight Sun), and are soundproof so you will not hear the planes taking off/ landing at the nearby airport.
Click here for the latest prices and availability on the Moxy Tromso
3. Tromsdalen (Mainland)
♦ Best Place to Stay On A Budget
Tromsdalen is on the mainland of Tromso and is only a 15-minute walk over the bridge from downtown Tromso. It is a nice and quiet residential area to stay in, with mainly private homes. The accommodations in Tromsdalen are generally cheaper than in downtown Tromsø and are a great place to stay for budget travelers.
Tromsdalen houses some of Tromso’s most famous landmarks – The Arctic Cathedral and the Cable Car up to Floya Mountain, a few restaurants (like Alegro Pizza), a shopping mall (Pyramiden), and Tromso Alpine Center.
Tromso Lodge & Camping
Tromso Camping is a good value for your money. Here, you can stay in cozy modern cottages, all with beds, a seating area, and a TV. The cabins have either shared or private bathrooms. They all have a small patio, and some have a kitchen. There is also a kitchen in the main building that everyone can use. Free parking and WIFI. You get access to a sauna and a bar, and a football field is right by the camping.
This place is beautifully located in Tromsdalen (mainland) by the Tromsdal River, a five-minute drive from downtown Tromso. From here, you can easily step out for a hike or walk in the beautiful nature or hike up to Floya or Tromsdalstinden mountain. Kroken Alpine Center is also close by.
There are no restaurants nearby, but the bus stop is a 10-minute walk away and there is a supermarket 20 minutes walk from Tromso Camping. It is close to the Arctic Cathedral. Tromso Camping is located in a quiet area, and it`s the perfect place to watch the Northern Lights.
Click here for the latest prices
Tromsø City Apartments
Located only a short walk from the Arctic Cathedral (less than 1 km), Tromsø City Apartments offers fresh and newly renovated one-bedroom apartments (can house up to three people). Each apartment has its own kitchen (with a dining area), a living room (with a sofa), a private bathroom, plus access to a patio and a lovely garden. You can go cross-country skiing in the tracks (“lysløypa”) close to the apartments. I love the fresh and modern design of the apartments; the large windows and the interior wood make it feel very homey and cabin-like. You can easily walk into downtown Tromso (a 20-minute walk) or take the bus (the bus stop is only a 5-minute walk away). Free parking.
Click here for the latest prices
Arctic Villa In Tromsø
Here, you can stay in one of Tromso’s oldest and most stunning villas. You have a fantastic view over the city and the fjord from the lovely garden and balcony of the house. You can choose between a big three-bedroom apartment (up to six people) and a smaller one-bedroom apartment. Each apartment has a kitchen, a private bathroom, and a living room (with a sofa). The cable car is just behind the house. Free parking. Barbecue facilities in the big garden that surrounds the house.
Click here for the latest prices
Aera Panorama Glass Lodge
Aera is probably the most unique place to stay in Tromso. Here, you get to stay in brand-new (opened in August 2023) and super cool cabins with a glass front (floor-to-ceiling windows on all walls and a glass roof!). The 360-degree view is spectacular, and I can imagine how awesome it must be to lay in bed watching the Northern Lights, sea, and mountains from the warm and cozy bed! It can hardly get any better! However, not all cabins have a 360-degree glass front, so be aware when you book. The cabins are 18 – 30 sqm in size (some with a separate bedroom) and have a well-equipped kitchen and a private bathroom. The cabins are a part of Skittenelv Camping and is the only accommodation in Tromso with a swimming pool (outdoor and only open in summer). Skittenelv Camping has a restaurant and bar and free parking. Breakfast is included. It takes about 30 minutes to drive from downtown Tromso to Aera Panorama Glass Lodge one way.
Click here for the latest prices and availability at the Aera Panorama Glass Lodge
4. Kvaloya (Whale Island)
♦ Best Accommodation In Tromso For Northern Lights
Kvaloya, where I`m from, is a big, beautiful island located next to Tromsoya (downtown Tromso). It is connected to Tromso Island by a bridge located next to the airport. It takes about 15 min to drive from downtown Tromso to Kvaloya, and you can easily get there by bus.
Kvaloya is the perfect place to enjoy nature and go hiking, skiing, fishing, Northern Lights watching, dog sledding, whale watching, kayaking, and snowshoeing.
Kvaloya has some of the best mountains in Tromso for hiking, climbing, and off-piste skiing and snowboarding, with the area Kattfjordeidet as my favorite and the place with the most spectacular mountains.
Kvaloya is also the best area to watch the Northern Lights, with Kattfjordeidet and Ersfjord being my favorite places, as there are few artificial lights there.
Yggdrasil Farmhotel Retreat & Spa
This beautiful accommodation is located on a farm on Bakkejord on Kvaloya, a one-hour drive from downtown Tromso. It is run by the super friendly couple Eivind and Maria and is surrounded by sea, fjord, and mountains. It is an excellent place for hiking, skiing, snowshoeing, and Northern Lights watching.
You can enjoy a real Norweigan outdoor jacuzzi, a sauna, go for a boat trip on the fjord with the owner Eivind, or rent skis here.
A delicious breakfast is included in the price, and you can have dinner (delicious home-cooked Norwegian dinner made by the owner Maria) here. There are free WIFI and parking on site.
You stay in cozy cabins, where some have a private bathroom and some shared bathroom. You can use the shared kitchen and lounge with a stunning view over the fjord. And if you like animals, you can help out feeding the farm’s chickens, say hello to the goats, sheep, and horses, or play with the dogs, cats, and rabbits.
This is pretty remote, so expect to have complete silence when you sleep and wake up. The only thing you can hear is the ocean and the animals on the farm.
Click here for the latest prices
Ersfjordbotn Brygge
Located in the beautiful fjord Ersfjord on Kvaloya (a 30 min drive from downtown Tromso), Ersfjordbotn Brygge is a great place to stay if you want to get out of town, see the Northern Lights, have some peace and quiet, and be in one with nature. It is right by the fjord with spectacular views of Ersfjord and its surrounding mountains.
All apartments have a private bathroom, a sitting and/or dining area, and a kitchen. The apartments are quite big (67 sqm), and have two bedrooms that can sleep up to five people. All apartments have a balcony with fantastic views over the fjord. There is free WI-FI in all units and free parking on site.
Ersfjordbotn Brygge offers a transport service to the airport, city center, and supermarket, or you can take the bus out here, but having a rental car is more convenient. You have to bring your own food, but the kitchen is well equipped, and on your way out to Ersfjord you pass the best supermarket in Tromso – Eide Handel where you will find all the food you need and did not know that you needed. 🙂 The supermarkets are, however, closed on Sundays in Norway.
Ersfjord is one of the most popular and beautiful fjords around Tromso and is a trendy area for Northern Lights photography. Ersfjord also has a famous and popular cafe, Bryggejentene, which is open every day except Sundays.
Ersfjord is also an excellent place for hiking, skiing, and snowshoeing, and you can hike several mountains like the Nattmålstiden/Klokka Ti mountain and Buren from here. Pets are allowed, and there is a washing room (with washing machines and dryers). They only accept at least 2-night bookings.
Click here for the latest prices
Vengsøy Rorbuer
Vengsøy Rorbuer is not on Kvaloya Island but on a small island outside of Kvaloya called Vengsoy Island, a short 30-min ferry trip from Belvik on Kvaloya Island. The ferry trip is stunning; you can see fjords and small islands.
The fishermen’s cabins (called rorbuer in Norwegian) at Vengsøy Rorbuer are beautifully located by the sea with a fantastic fjord and mountain view. The cabins have three bedrooms (can house up to six people), a fully-equipped kitchen, a private bathroom, and a patio right on the pier. It is the perfect place to watch the Northern Lights. You can rent a boat or have a dip in the hot tub. A grocery store is right across the road from the cabins, which is very convenient. Vengsøy Rorbu Hotel is owned and managed by the lovely Maria, the sweetest and most friendly host.
Click here for the latest prices
5. Sommaroy (Summer Island)
- A 1-hour drive from Tromso city
Outside of Kvaloya is a small island called Sommaroy (Summer Island). It is connected to Kvaloya by a bridge and is a 1-hour drive from downtown Tromso.
Sommaroy is a small fishing community with houses, cabins, a church, a school, a kindergarten, and a nice hotel – the Sommaroy Arctic Hotel.
Sommaroy is my favorite place to visit when I want to get out of the city and feel the sea air in my hair, especially during summertime, as it has some beautiful beaches and stunning sea views. Many people come to Sommaroy for a picnic or an overnight tent trip. From here, you can watch as The Midnight Sun hovers just above the waterline yet never quite sets into the ocean. It is the best place to see the Midnight Sun in Tromso, and we make sure to come here at least one time each summer.
There are also several outstanding hiking options in the area.
During the winter (September – April), Sommaroy Island is a great place to watch the northern lights as the light pollution is much less than in the city.
Stop at the excellent grocery shop & cafe Eide Handel on your way out to Sommaroy. Buy some of their delicious and famous sausages, “Eidepølsa” and have a barbecue on the beach at Sommaroy.
Sommaroy Arctic Hotel
Sommaroy Arctic Hotel is the perfect place to stay if you want to have a modern and comfortable stay with the service of a hotel while having peace and quiet, and being in one with nature. Sommaroy Arctic Hotel is located on the beautiful small island of Sommaroy just outside of Kvaloya (a 1-hour drive from downtown Tromso).
This hotel offers standard hotel rooms, apartments, and cabins (Rorbue) right by the sea and beach. The cabins have several bedrooms and can house a big family or group of friends.
Part of the hotel is newly refurbished and has excellent sea views. All rooms and apartments have a private bathroom.
The hotel has a restaurant where you can have delicious breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and you can enjoy a wood-fired sauna and an outdoor hot tub where you can enjoy the Northern Lights (if you are lucky) or the Midnight Sun.
You can book many activities at the hotel, like a fjord boat trip, whale safari, and kayak trip. The hotel is perfect as a base for outdoor activities like hiking, and you can hike both Ørnfløya and Hillesøy Mountain from here.
The hotel is popular for conferences and workshops, and I have stayed here several times when I worked at the University of Tromso.
Click here for the latest prices
6. The Lyngen Alps
- A 1,5-hour drive from Tromso city
Lyngen, with its peaky mountains that go straight down into the fjord, is a breathtaking area north of Tromso, about an hour and a half from downtown Tromso by car and ferry. Lyngen is excellent for hiking, ice climbing, glacier trekking, skiing, kayaking, fishing, and mountain or road biking.
We drive through the Lyngen Alps on our way to our family cabin in Kvaenangen, and I love this Arctic and alpine landscape.
To get to The Lyngen Alps, drive from Tromso to Breivikeidet (a 1-hour car ride). Take the ferry from Breivikeidet to Svendsby in Lyngen (the ferry trip takes 20 min). Taking the ferry is well worth the trip in itself as it is a beautiful ferry trip across a fjord with a fantastic view of the Lyngen Alps and its breathtaking mountain and fjord landscape.
From Svendsby, you can drive through Lyngen to Lyngseidet and take another ferry from Lyngseidet to Olderdalen. From Olderdalen, you can drive back to Tromso. The drive from Olderdalen back to Tromso City takes about 2,5 hours (without taking any ferry).
You can find the full driving route Tromso City – Breivikeidet – Lyngseidet – Olderdalen – Tromso City (about 5 hours in total), including the two ferries, here (Google Maps).
Aurora Fjord Cabins
Located just next to the famous Bivrost Spirits and Whisky Distillery, the Aurora Fjord Cabins are beautifully located at the seashore. The ten mini houses all have a spectacular view of the fjord and mountains. Here you really get to enjoy nature, go hiking, and skiing, or sit in the outdoor hot tub watching the Northern Lights or Midnight Sun. I love the floor-to-ceiling windows, and that all cabins have a fully equipped kitchen. The cabins are quite big (25 sqm), and have one bedroom, living room, private bathroom, and a kitchen.
Click here for the latest prices and availability on the Aurora Fjord Cabins
XLyngen
The red, cozy, and modern fishermen’s cabins (called rorbuer in Norwegian) at XLyngen are perfectly located right by the sea in Nord-Lenangen in the Lyngen Alps. Here, you stay in apartments with a fully-equipped private kitchen, free wifi, flat-screen TV, and a private bathroom. All cabins have excellent fjord views. A bonus is a sauna and hot tub on the pier, perfect for watching the Northern Lights or enjoying the Midnight Sun. You can also rent a boat here to go fishing or head out on the fjord for a boat trip. It is a great place to stay to hike the Lyngen Alps (like the popular Blue Ice Water or “Blåisvannet” in Norwegian).
Click here for the latest prices
Koppangen Brygger
The new and modern Koppangen Brygger is located right by the fjord and seaside, a 20-minute drive from the Lyngseidet town center (with shops). Here, you get to stay in comfortable and modern rooms with amazing views of the fjord and mountains of the Lyngen Alps. It is the perfect place to view the Northern Lights as there is no light pollution here.
You can choose between apartments (2, 3, or 4 bedrooms) perfect for families or a group of friends or double rooms. Each room/ apartment has free WIFI, a private bathroom with a shower, a TV, and a patio to sit outside and enjoy the spectacular views. You get access to a fully equipped kitchen, including a dishwasher and a microwave. Koppangen Brygger also has a hot tub that you can use for free as much as you want, as well as barbecue facilities, meeting rooms, ski storage, and ski equipment hire. You get free parking.
You can hardly stay any closer to nature than at Koppangen Brygger. This is the perfect place to stay if you want to go fishing, skiing, mountain hiking, or biking.
Click here for the latest prices
Farmstay At Solheim Fritidsgård
If you love animals and nature and have always dreamt of staying at a farm, then Solheim Fritidsgård is the place to stay! It is located on Svendsby, close to where the ferry from Breivikeidet arrives and is beautifully located by the sea and in between mountains.
The units have a fully equipped kitchen, laundry facilities, dining area, and a terrace. The farm owners can organize a dog sledding or snowmobile trip for you. You can also say hi to the cow, take the dog for a walk, or try fresh cow milk.
Click here for the latest prices
7. Senja Island
- A 3-hour drive from Tromso city
Another popular area to visit and stay close to Tromso is Senja Island (a 3-hour drive from Tromso). Senja is a beautiful island with stunning nature, beaches, fjords, and mountains. It is the perfect place to see the Northern Lights and the Midnight Sun.
You can drive there either by the road inland or out to Sommaroy and take the ferry to Senja (Botnhamn) from Brensholmen. The ferry now runs the whole year round. You can find the driving route from Tromso Center to Senja Island here (Google Maps).
Hamn i Senja
The drive from downtown Tromso to the hotel Hamn i Senja takes about 3 hours and is breathtaking! You drive through a beautiful landscape of fjords, mountains, and islands.
Hamn i Senja is my favorite place to stay on Senja. The property is stunning, modern, and well-maintained. Here you can stay in apartments (two or three bedrooms) and rooms (double, twin or triple room), with great views over the sea and fjord. All rooms have a private bathroom.
You get free WIFI and free parking. They also have a great restaurant, bar, and a nice gift shop. This hotel is excellent for outdoor activities, like hiking, fishing, skiing, kayaking, and snowshoeing, and you can rent a bicycle at the hotel and explore Senja Island yourself. The hotel arranges many different tours for their guests.
Click here for the latest prices
Aurora Borealis Observatory
The Aurora Borealis Observatory is an accommodation in Silsand on Senja Island (a 10-minute drive from Finnsnes town). It is a fantastic place to see the Northern Lights as there is hardly any artificial lightning in the area. They have an impressive Instagram account with a huge amount of followers.
Here, you can go skiing (they have skis for rent), snowshoeing, or hiking in the summer, and enjoy the fantastic hot spring bath (while hopefully seeing the Northern Lights). All apartments have a kitchen, seating area, dining area, and a private bathroom. Some have a patio. You can choose between different-sized apartments/ cabins. The biggest villa has three bedrooms and can house up to six people.
Click here for the latest prices
Unique Places To Stay In Tromso
Tromso Ice Domes
Spending a night at the amazing Tromso Ice Domes Hotel will surely be a night to remember! This is probably the most unique Arctic accommodation ever! The entire hotel is made of ice, even the bar, hotel rooms, and restaurant. How cool is that?! 🙂
Included in this overnight stay is the transport from and back to Tromso (a 75 beautiful drive each way through a mountain and fjord landscape), a guide for your entire stay, a guided snowshoeing/ Northern Lights trip in the evening, dinner cooked on an open fire, a non-alcoholic drink in the super cool ice bar, breakfast the next morning, and all the warm clothes and equipment that will make this a comfortable and fun experience.
You will get picked up in downtown Tromso at 17:00/ 5 pm and will arrive at the Ice Domes Hotel at 18:30/ 6:30 pm where you will be greeted by your personal guide, who will help you through your entire stay. At night, you will be sleeping on a real, normal, and comfortable mattress (not of ice or snow) covered in reindeer skin. So warm and comfortable! So don´t worry, you will not freeze to death during the night! It is actually quite warm inside the ice rooms. You will head out on a nice evening snowshoe walk with a guide where you can see the Northern Lights (if the sky is clear).
The next morning, after a warm and comfortable night, you will be served a delicious breakfast at 09:00. You can then go for a snowshoe walk in the beautiful surroundings of the mountains, and join a dog sledding, snowmobile, or reindeer sledding/ feeding tour. You will be transferred back to downtown Tromso by bus and back in the city by 15:30/ 3:30 pm. This is a unique and memorable winter wonderland adventure that you will never forget!
Click here for information and the latest prices on an overnight stay at Tromso Ice Domes Hotel
Overnight Dogsledding Tour
I love dog sledding! The feeling of silently gliding through the stunning landscape of mountains and fjords that surround Tromso, pulled by huskies, is a fantastic experience! I highly recommend that you go on a dogsledding trip as it is great fun! You can, of course, do it as a day trip or an evening Northern Lights tour.
But you will have an even more adventurous wildlife experience if you do this 2-day overnight Aurora Camp, which includes dog sledding. Transportation, all food and drinks, and the overnight stay are included.
Overnight Fjord Kayaking Tour
A big part of Tromso is the sea and islands, as Tromso city consists of several big and small islands. To truly experience this city by the sea, you should head out to the fjords and experience the landscape and wildlife at sea.
Kayaking is a great way to experience Tromso’s fjord and island landscape and has become extremely popular among tourists and locals.
You can, of course, go on a Kayaking day trip, but it is even more fun and rewarding also to spend the night at a remote island. You can choose a two or three-day tour to experience the islands north of Tromso city, to the nature reserves island called Rebbenesøya.
You will sleep in a comfortable and warm Yurt (a portable, round tent covered with skins or felt) on a remote island with no roads. If you are lucky, you can even sleep under the Northern Lights. During the kayaking trip, you will see Arctic sea animals like white-tailed eagles, otters, seals – even dolphins pass the camp occasionally.
- 2 or 3 days Winter Kayaking Tour (September – April)
- 2 or 3 days Summer Kayaking Tour (May – August)
Although Tromso is a relatively small city, it has many accommodation options, everything from hotels and hostels to private homes, apartments, glass domes, ice domes, tents, and Norwegian rorbuer/ cabins.
People who visit Tromso also tend to want to see the surroundings of Tromso and get out into the arctic nature to see the Northern Lights or the Midnight Sun. It can be nice to spend a night or two in the remote parts of Tromso, like Kvaloya, Sommaroy, Senja, or Lyngen. I, therefore, think it`s best to rent a car, although there are bus and boat options as well.
There is plenty to see and do in Tromso City itself, so if you only have a couple of days or a weekend in Tromso, you should choose accommodation in the downtown of Tromso. You will have more than enough activities to choose from by staying in Tromso city itself.
Since it`s pretty cold in Tromso year-round, you should pack a little differently than on your usual city trip to a city in further south Europe.
Hopefully, you now know a little bit more about Tromso, its areas and surroundings, and what accommodations Tromso has to offer, and it has become easier for you to decide where to stay in Tromso. Good luck, and have a wonderful stay in the capital of Northern Norway, Tromso – The Paris Of The North and The Gateway To The Arctic! 🙂
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Have you been to Tromso, or are you planning a trip to Tromso? What is important to you when searching for Tromso accommodation? Do you prefer to stay in downtown Tromso, or stay outside the city? Please leave a comment in the comment area below! We`d love to hear from you! If you like this article and find it useful, please share it on social media. Thank you! 🙂
Hi Maria
It was a wonderful blog .. Every picture you have posted in your blog that Tells a story.
Looking forward to read your other wonderful travel experience.
Thanks
Ruma
Travel blogger from India
Hi Ruma Dey,
Awww, thank you soooo much! Really appreciate it! Thanks for commenting!
Happy travels and blogging! 🙂
-Maria-
Hello Maria,
Just found out your blog about Tromso. Enjoyed all those tips where to stay in Tromso.
Will be visiting Tromso in March 2019.
Now i have a clear idea where to stay.
Thank you so much.
Hi Franklin,
Thank you so much for your nice comment! Great to hear that you will be visiting Tromso in March! March is the perfect time to visit Tromso, the sun is back and warming, there is still Northern Lights, and the skiing conditions are great. March is actually my favorite month in Tromso.
Have a great trip to Tromso in March! Crossing my fingers that you will see the Northern Lights! 🙂
-Maria-
Hi Maria, this is my second message to you( first one was unanswered) . I shall be in tromso from 7th November to 14th November and have already booked an airbnb accommodation in the heart of tromso city. I want to travel to kvaloya, sommaroy and lyngen alps by bus as we will not be renting a car. Could you pls help me with the details of the available bus services and their links to book the ticket? Also would like to know if I would be able to do a round trip to these destinations from tromso in a same day or will I have to book an accommodation over there?
Please help me with these queries as am really confused. Thanks a lot in advance
Meenal
Hi Meenal,
Great to hear that you will be visiting Tromso at the beginning of November! Then the Northern Lights season has started, so there is a good chance you will get to see the Northern Lights. So sorry for my late replay, I got infected by a tropical virus in Bangkok in July, the Chikungunya, so I have been really sick. Will try to answer your questions as best I can. 🙂
1. Bus services and links to book the ticket in Troms District
You should download the free mobile app called “Troms Reise”. There you can easily find routes, bus stops and when the bus departs (also in real time, if the bus is delayed it will show up in the app).
You can also find routes on this webpage: https://www.tromskortet.no/?lang=en_GB (press the tab Travel Planner and you can search “From” and “To” a place)
As for booking bus tickets, there is a great free mobile app called “Troms Mobillett” (just search for it in App Store or Google Play) where you can buy tickets for all buses in the whole area of Troms District, as well as all ferries and speedboats (Hurtigbaat). A bus ticket for the city buses in Tromso only cost NOK 29,60 (adult) with this app, while a child is NOK 19. Buying tickets onboard the bus actually cost 50% more! You can also buy bus tickets on all kiosks in Tromso center.
2. Kvaloya
To get to Kvaloya you should take bus route no. 42. The bus 42 leaves from the bus stop S4 in the downtown of Tromso (the street Sjogata), every 20 minutes or so.
You can do a bus trip to Kvaloya as a day-trip. The round-trip bus 42 to Kvaloya takes about 1 hour from downtown Tromso (bus stop S4) to the end bus stop Eidkjosen on Kvaloya and back to downtown Tromso.
To check departure times for bus no. 42: In the Travel Planner, type “FROM: S4” and choose the first option “Sjøgata S4 (Tromsø)”, “TO: Eidkjosen” and choose the first option “Eidkjosen (Tromsø)”. Fill in the date you want to go, the approximate time, and press “Search”.
If you want to do some hiking on Kvaloya, I recommend that you take bus no. 42 to the bus stop “Storelv Snuplass” on Kvaloya and go hiking on Rodtind. It is a nice and easy hike with great views of the fjords around Tromso.
3. Sommaroy
Take bus no. 420 from the Bus Station, also called “Prostneset”, in the downtown of Tromso (right outside the Tourist Information).
In the Travel Planner, type in: “From: Prostneset” and choose the first option “Prostneset (Tromsø)”, “To: Sommaroy” and choose the first option “Sommarøy (Tromsø)”, enter a date and approximate time you want to go, and press Search.
The bus trip from downtown Tromso (the Bus Station Prostneset) to Sommaroy takes about 1,5 – 2 hours one way. So the bus round-trip to Sommaroy takes about four hours. If you take the bus no. 420 in the morning, it should be no problem visiting Sommaroy on a day-trip.
If you want to stay the night on Sommaroy, however, there is an excellent hotel on Sommaroy – The Sommaroy Arctic Hotel which I really recommend! We have stayed there several times and it has always been wonderful. They serve delicious breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Check the latest prices and book it HERE
4. Lyngen Alps
To find buses to Lyngen: In the Travel Planner, type: “FROM: Prostneset” and choose the first option “Prostneset (Tromsø)”, “TO: Lyngseidet” and choose the first option “Lyngseidet ferjekai (Lyngen)”. Fill in the date and approximately time, and press Search.
The bus route no. 150 goes directly from the Bus Station Prostneset to Lyngen, but it does not run that often each day so you will have to check the departure times. You can also take bus route no. 100, and change to bus route no. 460 at bus stop “Nordkjosbotn”. Just search in the Travel Planner and you will find the departure times.
The bus trip takes about 1,5 hours one way with the direct bus no. 150.
It is possible to do a day-trip to Lyngen on weekdays (Monday – Friday) if you take an early bus from Tromso. You can, for instance, take the 06:10 departure from “Prostneset (Tromsø)” (bus no. 100, change to bus no. 460 at Nordkjosbotn) on weekdays. There are no morning buses from Tromso to Lyngen Saturdays and Sundays, so on the weekends it is impossible to do Lyngen as a day-trip and you will have to book an accommodation in Lyngen.
But you have to check the Travel Planner what time the bus heads back from “Lyngseidet ferjekai” to “Prostneset (Tromsø)”. It looks like the last bus back from Lyngseidet (bus no. 150) leaves from “Lyngseidet ferjekai” at 15:45 on weekdays and Saturdays, while the last bus leaves at 19:15 on Sundays.
If you want to stay a night or more in Lyngen, there are some great places to stay:
If you want a guided tour in Lyngen, AscentDescent offers different tours. Lyngen is great for mountain hiking, ice climbing, glacier trekking, skiing, kayaking, fishing, and biking.
Have an awesome trip to Tromso in November! Crossing my fingers that you get to see the Northern Lights! 🙂
Kind regards,
Maria
Hi Maria, I spent a lot of time trying to figure out accommodation in Tromso, but with no luck. Your blog is really helpful. Thank you!
Thank you so much, Bharati! Glad to hear that our post could be of help to you when planning your Tromso trip.
Have a fantastic trip to Tromso!
-Maria-
Hi Maria
Thanks for such a excellent article. We are planning a trip to Tromso for northern light in March 2019. May we seek your kind advise the best base for northern lights please? We are keen to stay in the glass igloo you recommended in Lyngen North. This is a good area for northern light? Thanks in advance. We will be renting a car from Tromso airport.
Hi Ann,
Thank you so much! Great to hear that you are visiting Tromsø in March! March is a great month to visit Tromsø as the sun is back so you get warm light days. It is still dark during the evenings and nights so you get to see some excellent Northern Lights.
If the sky is clear (no clouds) and there are Northern Lights, you will be able to see it from basically anywhere in Tromsø and its surrounding area. But the Northern Lights is more intense and stronger if you get away from the city with the lights from houses, streetlamps and so.
Kvaloya and Lyngen are both great areas to stay in to see the Northern Lights better as it is completely dark with few artificial light sources. Lyngen North with its beautiful glass igloos is an excellent choice. Then you can lay in your warm comfortable bed all night long watching the Northern Lights dancing above your head. 🙂 Senja Island and Sommaroy Island are also good areas to stay in to see the Northern Lights.
Have a great trip to Tromso and Lyngen in March! Crossing my fingers that you will see plenty of Northern Lights!
-Maria-
Great post… tromso is my all time fav place
Thank you so much, Levia! Glad to hear that you like Tromso! I totally agree, of course. 🙂 Tromso is a fantastic place with so much to do both winter and summer.
Happy travels! 🙂
-Maria-
Maria, We plan to visit Bergen, Tromso and Oslo in January and are very interested in dog sledding. Do you think it best that we book a self-guided tour or would it be best and more economical to go on our own where make all of our own decisions? Thanks.
Hi Steven,
Yay! Great to hear that you are visiting Norway and Tromso in January! You should definitely book a dog sledding tour, it is great fun and you will love the cute, sweet, and furry huskies.
To do dog sledding you will have to book a guided tour. No husky owners/ camps will allow you to just rent their dogs and go by your self on your own into the wilderness. That would be too dangerous both for you and the dogs.
On the dog sledding tour, you will be handling and driving the dog sled yourself. You will be two people on each sled, one passenger that sits in the sled and one driver/ musher. Then you will switch (if you want) along the way. There will be a professional English speaking musher guide driving in front of you who looks after you and help you along the way if something happends (like if you fall off the sled). You get to borrow warm and comfortable winter boots and insulated suits.
I recommend that you do one of these two dog sledding tours listed below. One is during the day-time when there is a little bit of lightning (although there is no sun in Tromso in January as it is below the horizon) and the other one is in the evening where you will have the chance of seeing the spectacular Northern Lights:
– Day dog sledding tour 09:45 – 16:00 (6 hours, including transport from/ to your hotel and the husky camp, and warm lunch)
– Evening dog sledding tour 18:15 – 22:00 (4 hours, including transport from/ to your hotel and the husky camp, and warm dinner)
Have a fantastic trip to Norway and enjoy the dog sledding!
-Maria-
Hello Maria,
I am planning to visit Norway in start of February on my anniversary,reading you article has made me more excited.My objective to visit Norway is to see the northern lights, I am planning to visit on 1st Feb.I am planning to stay at Farmstay at Yggdrasiltunet Gårdshotell which is actual run by you.
Please let me know what adventure we can do staying there and can you arrange that for us.
Can we get a airport pickup and drop.
Wanted to talk to you in person so please reply back on my email.
Hi Ankit,
Awesome that you are going to Norway and Tromso in February! Sorry, the Yggdrasiltunet Gårdshotell is not owned and run by me, but another Maria. Maria is a quite popular and common name in Norway so you will find a lot of Marias there. 🙂
You should contact Yggdrasiltunet and ask about airport pick-up and tours. You can book your stay and contact them here (Booking.com).
Have a fantastic trip to Tromso in February! Crossing my fingers that you will see plenty of Northern Lights!
-Maria-
Hi Maria,
We are planning a visit to Tromso in last week of January 2020. Your blog was extremely helpful and gave us a good idea to book accommodation. Considering staying at the Clarion hotel in Tromso with one night at either the Ersfjordbotn Brygge or Camp North Tour. Especially interested in Northern lights and hoping for some good weather and clear skies.
Hi Abhijit,
Thank you so much! Awesome that you are visiting Tromso at the end of January! It is the perfect time to see the Northern Lights, the sun has just returned (21st of January) but it is still dark outside most of the day so great conditions for spotting the Aurora.
Clarion Hotel is a great choice, the hotel has an excellent location right in the middle of downtown and is a modern and comfortable hotel.
The Camp North Tour is a unique and amazing place to stay where you will be sleeping in warm and cozy luxury tents. You will have a fantastic opportunity to see the Northern Lights at the Camp North Tour as there are very little lights (houses, street lights and so) in the area so you can easily see the Aurora and it will appear stronger there than in Tromso city.
Ersfjordbotn Brygge is also a great place to stay, but a more common and normal kind of place as you will be staying in a modern apartment with a kitchen and bathroom. The view from Ersfjordbotn Brygge is, however, spectacular as you will be staying right by the fjord and sea.
Crossing my fingers that you will see plenty of Northern Lights!
-Maria-
Hi Maria,
I plan to travel to Tromso in early May.
Anything you would recommend ?
Thank you so much for sharing.
Hi Pim,
Awesome that you are going to Tromso this May!! I’m afraid that the Northern Lights season is over by then but Tromso is fantastic in May and you will have plenty to see and do.
May is springtime here in Tromso, and the sun is up almost all around the clock (although the Midnight Sun season officially starts on the 20th of May). The temperatures are mild and the snow is mostly melted in the city. The mountains are, however, still covered in white snow, making it a beautiful sight with the white in contrast to the green trees and grass in the lowland. It is my favorite time of the year in Tromso.
May is when nature and wild animals and birds awaken after the long and dark winter. It is the perfect time to head out to sea and join a boat tour or a kayaking tour.
May is also a great time to go hiking and here you will find my 7 favorite hikes in Tromso with amazing views.
Check out my list of recommended things to do in Tromso here – both the chapter “all year round” and “summer” will be suitable in May.
Have a fantastic trip to Tromso in May!
-Maria-
Hi Maria,
Thank you for such a helpful article!
My hubs and I be visiting Tromso end Feb 2020 and super duper hoping to catch the Lights! It’s my bucket list ???? Will be in Tromso only for 5 days and I am torn deciding between
A) staying downtown and book a chasing tour ( but a tour doesn’t guarantee the Lights, obviously) or
B) staying away from the city centre, rent a car and go chase the Lights ourselves with fingers crossed that we’d go to the right spots
What would you recommend?
Thanks!
Hi Randi,
Thank you so much! Awesome that you are visiting Tromso at the end of February!
If the weather is good, with a clear sky, you will have no problem going out on your own and try to find some Northern Lights. If the conditions are perfect (no clouds and strong solar wind), you can see the Northern Lights in downtown Tromso, even from your hotel window. You don’t have to head out of the city at all. 🙂
But if the weather is not that good, with clouds and if worst case there is rain or snow, joining a Northern Lights Tour is your best shot at seeing the Northern Lights. As you will then have a professional Northern Lights guide that will be able to interpret the weather forecast and Northern Lights forecast all over Northern Norway, Northern Finland, and Northern Sweden. The guide will then take you to the area with the best chances of seeing the Northern Lights. But, of course, there is no guarantee.
But since it is too early now to see what the weather will be like at the end of February, one option for you could be to book a Northern Lights Tour at Get Your Guide. For instance, this bus tour that we recommend. Get Your Guide has free cancellation up to 24 hours before the activity starts. That goes for all their activities. That way you can book the Northern Lights tour now, and wait and see until you get to Tromso (or a few days before) how the weather will be like. And if it looks like perfect conditions, you can just cancel the tour and try to find the Northern Lights on your own to save some money.
Have you thought about doing a special kind of Northern Lights Tour? Not a regular bus tour, but one where you get a special experience no matter if the Northern Lights show up or not? One option for you could be to book a “special” kind of Northern Lights Tour that will be a unique experience even if you don’t get to see the Northern Lights:
– Dog sledding tour
– Reindeer sledding tour
– Sailing/ boat tour
– Snowshoeing hiking tour
– Snowmobile tour
– Stay overnight at Tromso Ice Domes
You can read more about these tours and my recommended places for seeing the Northern Lights on your own here.
The best place to check the weather forecast for Norway is at Yr.no (or download their free app).
You can see what the weather is like in Tromso right now at this live camera.
Have a fantastic trip to Tromso in February! Crossing my fingers that you will see plenty of Northern Lights! We have plenty of snow here in Tromso at the moment. It has been snowing like crazy the whole of January and so sadly hardly any Northern Lights in January due to the clouds. I hope the weather will improve in February.
-Maria-
Hi, this blog was so helpful, I was so confused where to stay until this!
Can I ask, in your opinion, what is the likelihood of seeing the lights in December? I am planning to be there around 20th. I will do 3 or 4 nights, and maybe I could stay in the town area for 2 and then out on whale island for the other?
Many thanks
Rae
Hi Rae,
Thank you so much!
December is a good month to seeing the Northern Lights, as the sun is under the horizon (from mid-November until mid-January), so it is dark both day and night. But you have to get lucky with the weather to see it. It also has to be solar winds (solar particles create the Northern Lights), and of course, it has to be a clear sky.
You can check the aurora forecast HERE (Norwegian Center For Space Weather) and the weather forecast HERE (Yr.no).
The 24th of December is Christmas Eve here in Norway, so shops close early that day. The shops, museums, many restaurants and cafes, and many tour operators are closed on the 25th of December, and many are also closed on the 26th.
It sounds like a great idea to spend some nights in the city and stay out on Kvaloya for one night.
Have a fantastic trip to Tromso in December! I hope you get to see plenty of Northern Lights!
-Maria-
Hi Maria,
Thanks a lot for taking the time to write down all this information, it is a great guide indeed!
I have just booked a trip for December 4th to Tromso and I am hoping we are lucky enough to get to see the northern light!!!
I am really interested in the Overnight Northern Lights Snowshoeing Tour. Based on your description it is exactly what I am looking for, however I don’t think its available anymore because when I click on the link below the description the tour isn’t there.
Do you know the name of the tour agency so I can contact them directly and ask if they are still offering that one or could you please recommend a similar one with the overnight stay at cabin.
Once again thanks a lot !
Hi Marlene,
Thank you so much! So happy to hear that you like our Tromso guide! 🙂
Awesome that you’re visiting Tromso at the beginning of December! Sadly, it seems like the tour company Polar Cabin has stopped doing it’s “Overnight Northern Lights Snowshoeing Tour”, at least for now. Hopefully, they will start doing this tour again when the pandemic is over and the tourists are back.
An alternative could be this snowshoeing evening hike where you stay at Tromso Ice Domes. On this tour, you go on an evening snowshoeing hike in the wonderful valley Tamokdalen where you (hopefully) get to see the Northern Lights. The valley Tamokdalen is located outside of Tromso city so you will have a much better chance of seeing the Northern Lights as there are no lights from buildings or streetlights. You spend the night in an ice dome on comfortable and warm reindeer skin. Breakfast and lunch are included. But it seems that they won’t build the snow hotel until the end of December, so it is sadly not open at the beginning of December when you are visiting Tromso.
The same tour company that did the overnight snowshoe trip does, however, have a snowshoe day trip if that is of your interest? You can find the snowshoeing day trip here.
Two other great snowshoeing day trips are:
– Snowshoeing excursion on Kvaloya Island from Tromso (I live on Kvaloya Island and often go snowshoe hiking in this area, it is a beautiful landscape and fantastic hiking area!)
– Arctic snowshoeing excursion in Tromso (this is run by Tromso Wilderness Center and here you also get to go snowshoeing on Kvaloya Island)
There is an overnight whale trip from Tromso where you get to sleep in a warm and comfortable cabin with a glass roof where you can see the Northern Lights while laying in your bed. You also go on a whale safari on this tour if that sounds interesting. You can find that .
Have a wonderful trip to Tromso in December! Crossing my fingers that you will have nice weather with a clear sky so that you get to see the Northern Lights! The Northern Lights are dancing outside my windows here in Tromso right no actually. 🙂 Such a spectacular sight!
All the best,
Maria
Dear Maria
Thank you for such a helpful article!
We are planning a trip to Tromso for northern light in March 2023.
I have few questions
1) can we do a whale watching tour in march and is there a possibility that we might see it
2) can we do a road trip from tromso to lofoten islands, are the roads entirely accessible in march.
Once again thanks a lot !
deepak
Hi Deepak!
Thank you so much! Great to hear that you are visiting Tromso in March!
1) Whale Watching in March
No, you will most likely not see whales in the fjords around Tromso in March. The main whale watching season in Tromso is November – February. You might get lucky, however, that there are a few whales left here in Tromso in March, but most of them will have left by then as the herring season is over (the whales mainly head to Tromso to eat herring).
I do recommend that you do a fjord trip in March (even though you will most likely not see whales). It is a fantastic way to see Tromso’s fjords and mountain landscapes! And you might get to see other animals like eagles, seals, otters, small pilot whales, and dolphins. I recommend this Wildlife Bird Fjord Cruise with Lunch and Drinks and this Fjord And Wildlife Cruise From Tromso (with a modern and comfortable electric ship).
2) Roadtrip Tromso – Lofoten in March
Yes, you can drive from Tromso to Lofoten in March. The roads are open and accessible. The drive Tromso – Loften takes about 6-7 hours. The rental cars have winter tires (with spikes), so it is no problem driving around Tromso and Lofoten in March.
But you should check the weather forecast before heading out on the road trip. The best place to check the weather forecast in Norway is at Yr.no (they also have a free app).
Have a fantastic trip to Tromso and Lofoten in March! Crossing my fingers that you will see lots of Northern Lights! The Northern Lights have been spectacular here in Tromso lately, dancing across the clear sky every night.
All the best,
Maria
hello,
great article. found all the information I was looking for a trip to Tromso in January 2024.
Are the details still relevant? mostly the transportation. we are still a bit confused if we should rent a car to Senja and Lyngen. How are the driving conditions?
Hi Vijay!
Thank you so much! Yes, the details are still relevant. I updated this article just a few weeks ago, so it is up to date.
If you want to head out of Tromso (to for instance Sommaroy, Senja and/ or Lyngen), you should definitely rent a car. There are hardly any public transport to Senja and Lyngen.
The driving conditions are usually good all winter in Tromso and the surrounding areas. They plow the main roads, so the roads are drivable even if it snows a lot. And the rental cars have winter tires, usually with spikes. So it should not be a problem driving in January. Us locals drive all winter, and there are people living in both Lyngen and Senja so it is not completely remote. But, of course, you can never predict the weather, so you should always check the weather forecast at Yr.no (there is a free app as well called YR which you should download), before heading out on a long drive.
Have a fantastic trip to Tromso in January! Crossing my fingers that you get to see lots of Northern Lights!
All the best,
Maria
Hi- Is there a way someone can help create a tour package for 3 (me my wife n son 12y) travel date wk4 Oct for 8 days. We can land in Tromso and need a guide with car who can drive us various places show us places including N. Lights and drop us back in Airport
Hi Sujit!
A great place to find lots of tours and activities in Tromso, including Northern Lights tours, is at Get Your Guide and Manawa.
Have a fantastic trip to Tromso in October! Crossing my fingers that you get to see the Northern Lights!
All the best,
Maria
Fabulous guide to Tromso.
I am in the early planning stages for Sep or Oct 2025. Great details and I think I need much more time in your part of the world. Coming from Sydney Beaches to your beautiful mountains. Would Mid Sept be ok to do hiking during the day (not too cold) and possibility of seeing Northern lights at night? (Also not too cold) Or should we plan October?
Thanks,
Kim
G’day mate!
Thank you so much! Awesome that you are coming up to the Arctic and Tromso all the way from Australia. It is a long way to travel, so yes, you need some time once you are up here. We studied in Brisbane so I know. 🙂 The jetlag can be tough too, with a time difference of 8 hours.
The Northern Lights season starts in late August. There are Northern Lights all year round, but you can’t see it from mid-April until late August as it does not get dark enough (due to the Midnight Sun). So yes, you should be able to see the Northern Lights in mid-September if the sky is clear.
It is also, as you say, not too cold in September (average temperature for Tromso in September is +8 C), and the autumn colors are beautiful. The trees are all yellow, orange, and red. September is my favorite month for Northern Lights and hiking. October can be quite cold (average temp +3 C), often with minus degrees at nights, and usually a lot of rain and sometimes even snow. So I recommend September over October if you want to go hiking.
Have a fantastic trip to Tromso next year! I hope to come back to Australia one day, loved it so much! Got to visit Brisbane, Gold Coast, and Sydney, which were amazing.
All the best,
Maria