Where you should stay depends on what you want from your trip. In the city centre, you’re close to the restaurants and the departures for the northern lights tours, while Kvaløya, Sommarøy and the Lyngen Alps give you darkness, silence and nature right outside the door. Here are my recommendations for six areas.

The Best Areas in Tromsø

• Tromsø city centre - best area for first-time visitors and northern lights tours
• Telegrafbukta - best area for seeing the northern lights on foot
• Tromsdalen - best area for Fjellheisen and views over the city
• Kvaløya - best area for the northern lights away from city lights
• Sommarøy - best area for the midnight sun and white beaches
• The Lyngen Alps - best area for mountains and ski touring

Below, I’ll take you through the areas one by one, with maps, practical facts and hotels in several price ranges, so you can find the base that suits your trip, whether you’re coming for the northern lights in February or the midnight sun in June.

1. Tromsø city centre - best area for first-time visitors and northern lights tours

• Distance from the centre: You’ll be staying right in the middle of the city, around Stortorget, the harbour and the pedestrianised Storgata.
• Transport: Everything in the centre is within walking distance, and from here the city buses run to the rest of Tromsøya and across the bridge to Tromsdalen.
• Time from Tromsø Airport: Around 10 to 15 minutes on the airport bus, which stops at several hotels in the centre.
• Price range: €€€ to €€€€. The three hotels below cost roughly £305 to £425 a night when I searched for a weekend in February.
• Safety: The centre is safe, in the evening too. The biggest danger in winter is icy pavements, so bring shoes with a good grip or a pair of ice cleats.

The centre is my top pick if it’s your first time in Tromsø and you’re mainly coming for the northern lights. Most northern lights tours, dog sledding trips and fjord cruises meet in the centre or by the harbour, so you can get back from a tour at two in the morning and be in bed ten minutes later.

The city sits on the island of Tromsøya, and the centre is compact. Along the harbour, you’ll find the hotels, the restaurants and most of the cafés, while the shops are on Stortorget and Storgata. Even though you’re staying in the middle of the city, you can see the northern lights from here when they’re strong, but the light from the streets makes them fainter than out on the islands.

See hotels in Tromsø city centre here.

If you want to be sure of getting away from the city lights, an organised tour is the easiest option. I’d look at a northern lights minibus tour with photos or a larger guided northern lights safari, where the guides drive to wherever the sky is clear. If you’d rather be out on the water, there’s also a northern lights cruise by electric boat from the harbour.

According to Visit Tromsø, you can see the northern lights from late August to early April, but you need darkness and a clear sky. February is a good compromise, because the nights are still long, while the days are light enough for dog sledding and fjord trips. Lots of people fly to Tromsø via Oslo, and if you’re changing planes there, you can read my guide to getting from Oslo Airport to the city centre.

The downside of the centre is the price. The hotels are expensive in the northern lights season, and the rooms are often small. In return, you save time and money on transport, and you’ve got restaurants and supermarkets just round the corner.

Places to Stay in Tromsø City Centre

The Dock 69 39 by Scandic - best luxury hotel by the harbour

The Dock 69 39 is on the waterfront in the northern part of the centre. It had the highest guest rating of the big hotels in my search, and guests praise the breakfast and the staff. On the other hand, the rooms aren’t big, and parking is expensive.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “The place is beautiful and clean, and the staff are very friendly and helpful.”

See photos and book The Dock 69 39 by Scandic here.

Scandic Ishavshotel - best mid-range hotel with views over the strait

Scandic Ishavshotel is on the quay right in the middle of the centre, and guests praise the location, the view and the breakfast. The decor is simpler than at The Dock, and several guests mention that the family rooms are small.

One guest highlights the location on Booking.com: “The location was excellent. The view was amazing.”

See photos and book Scandic Ishavshotel here.

Smarthotel Tromsø - cheapest pick in the middle of the city

Smarthotel is on Vestregata, a few minutes’ walk from Stortorget, and it was the cheapest of my three picks in the centre. It’s a simple hotel for those who use the room to sleep in between tours. The rooms are small, and guests mention that breakfast isn’t included, so check that when you book.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “Good location and nice staff who were helpful.”

See photos and book Smarthotel Tromsø here.

2. Telegrafbukta - best area for seeing the northern lights on foot

• Distance from the centre: Around 3 km south of the centre, at the southern tip of Tromsøya.
• Transport: The city buses run along Tromsøya, and otherwise it’s about a 40-minute walk to the centre.
• Time from Tromsø Airport: Around 15 minutes by car or taxi.
• Price range: €€ to €€€€. The three places below cost roughly £150 to £570 a night when I searched for a weekend in February.
• Safety: A quiet residential area. By the water, it’s dark, windy and cold in winter, so bring extra layers and a head torch.

Telegrafbukta is the small beach and park at the southern tip of Tromsøya, and it’s one of the most popular spots in the city to stand and look for the northern lights when the sky is clear. Here, you’ve got your back to the city and you look out over the water towards the mountains on Kvaløya, so the light from the streets interferes far less than in the centre.

If you’re staying in the residential streets in the southern part of the island, you can walk down to the water in a few minutes whenever the aurora forecast looks promising. That makes the area ideal if you’d like to try your luck several evenings in a row without paying for a tour every time.

See hotels near Telegrafbukta here.

In summer, Telegrafbukta is one of the city’s favourite spots for barbecues and bonfires when the sun doesn’t set. The accommodation in the area is mostly apartments and rooms in private homes, but St Elisabeth Hotel & Spa on Mellomvegen is a proper hotel with a pool and a spa.

I’d choose the area for a couple or a small family who are staying a few days, would like to cook for themselves and don’t need to be in the middle of the city all the time. You get more space for your money than in the centre, and lots of the apartments have views over the water.

The downside is that you’ll need to take the bus or walk quite a way when you want to go out to eat, and several northern lights tours only pick up in the centre. So check the meeting point before you book a tour, and allow a little extra time in the morning and evening.

Places to Stay near Telegrafbukta

St Elisabeth Hotel & Spa - best luxury hotel with a pool and spa

St Elisabeth is on Mellomvegen between the centre and Telegrafbukta and has an indoor pool, a spa and a gym. It was the most expensive of my three picks in the area, but also the only one with a pool, which is lovely after a cold evening outside. Guests mention that parking is expensive and that some rooms are small.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “Everything was fantastic. The room was so comfortable.”

See photos and book St Elisabeth Hotel & Spa here.

Apartment with a view - North - best mid-range pick with a view

Apartment with a view is in a residential area on the western side of Tromsøya. It’s an apartment with a kitchen, free parking and one of the highest guest ratings in the guide. Guests praise the view and the short walk to the bus. The only downside several guests mention is a small shower cubicle.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “The location was good, because it was close to a bus stop, where we could catch the bus into town.”

See photos and book Apartment with a view - North here.

Koselig leilighet, nært sentrum - cheapest pick with your own kitchen

Koselig leilighet is an apartment with a kitchen and free parking in the neighbourhood between the centre and the southern part of the island, and it was the cheapest of the three places when I searched. The guest rating is lower than the others, and some guests mention that the entrance hadn’t been cleared of snow and that the cleaning could have been better.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “We had a fantastic stay in this apartment!”

See photos and book Koselig leilighet, nært sentrum here.

3. Tromsdalen - best area for Fjellheisen and views over the city

• Distance from the centre: Around 2 km. Tromsdalen is on the mainland, on the other side of the bridge from the centre.
• Transport: Bus 26 runs from Torgsenteret in the centre to Fjellheisen, and you can also walk across the bridge.
• Time from Tromsø Airport: Around 15 to 20 minutes by car or taxi.
• Price range: €€ to €€€. The three places below cost roughly £180 to £290 a night when I searched for a weekend in February.
• Safety: A quiet area. The roads up the mountainside are steep and slippery in winter, and it can be very windy on the bridge.

Tromsdalen is the district on the mainland opposite the centre, and it’s where you’ll find two of Tromsø’s best-known sights. At the end of the bridge stands the Arctic Cathedral, the white triangular church consecrated in 1965, and a little further up the mountainside is the start of the Fjellheisen cable car.

Fjellheisen takes around five minutes to reach the Storsteinen platform, 421 metres above sea level, where you’ve got a view over the whole city, the strait and the islands. The cable car runs until late in the evening, so you can go up and watch the northern lights over the city in winter or the midnight sun in summer.

See hotels in Tromsdalen here.

The accommodation in Tromsdalen is a mix of small hotels, cabins and apartments, and the prices are lower than in the centre. Tromsø Lodge & Camping is by the river further into the valley, where it’s darker than in the city and you can head out onto the cross-country ski trails in winter.

I’d choose Tromsdalen if you’d like a bit more peace and nature than in the centre, but still want to be able to get into the city in a quarter of an hour. It’s also a good choice if you’ve hired a car, because it’s easier to park over here.

The downside is that there aren’t many restaurants in Tromsdalen itself, so most evenings you’ll end up heading into the centre to eat. Also check whether your northern lights tour picks up guests in Tromsdalen, or whether you’ll need to get to the meeting point in town yourself.

Places to Stay in Tromsdalen

Havblikk Boutique Hotel Tromsø - best boutique hotel close to Fjellheisen

Havblikk is a small boutique hotel in a residential area close to Fjellheisen and the Arctic Cathedral. The price was almost on a par with the cabins at Tromsø Lodge & Camping when I searched, but you get a hotel room with a bar and a terrace. Guests mention that parking costs extra and that some rooms are small.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “The location is good, and the staff are helpful and friendly.”

See photos and book Havblikk Boutique Hotel Tromsø here.

Tromsø Lodge & Camping - best pick with cabins and a sauna

Tromsø Lodge & Camping has cabins and rooms by the river in Tromsdalen, with a sauna, a café and ski trails right next door. It’s a good choice for families and friends who want a bit more nature. Some of the cabins have a shared kitchen and bathroom, so check the cabin before you book, and expect compact bedrooms.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “The lodge was very cosy and clean.”

See photos and book Tromsø Lodge & Camping here.

Fin leilighet i Tromsø - cheapest pick with a view

Fin leilighet is an apartment with free parking in Tomasjord, a little north of Tromsdalen, and it was the cheapest of my three picks. Guests praise the view and the cleanliness. The property doesn’t accept children, and the buses are infrequent, so it suits a couple with a hire car best.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “Everything was perfect!”

See photos and book Fin leilighet i Tromsø here.

4. Kvaløya - best area for the northern lights away from city lights

• Distance from the centre: Kvaløya lies just west of Tromsøya, and it’s about 25 minutes by car from the centre to Ersfjordbotn.
• Transport: You’ll need a car. Buses run to the largest villages, but not often, and many of the best spots are a long way from a bus stop.
• Time from Tromsø Airport: Around 20 to 30 minutes by car, depending on where on the island you’re staying.
• Price range: €€ to €€€€. The three places below cost roughly £200 to £1,725 a night when I searched for a weekend in February.
• Safety: The roads are narrow and often slippery. Only park in proper parking spots when you’re looking for the northern lights, and check Varsom for avalanche danger before you head into the mountains.

Kvaløya is the large island west of Tromsøya, and you drive over on the bridge from Tromsøya. After just a quarter of an hour, the city lights disappear, and you’re driving along fjords with steep, snow-covered mountains on both sides. This is where lots of the northern lights tours head on evenings with a clear sky.

If you’re staying on Kvaløya, you can step outside and watch the northern lights over the fjord without sitting on a bus for hours. Ersfjordbotn at the head of Ersfjorden and the area around Kaldfjorden are some of the most popular spots, and during the day the fjords are just as beautiful in the blue winter light.

See hotels on Kvaløya here.

The accommodation is mostly holiday homes, apartments and rooms with private hosts, often with a kitchen and free parking. That means you’ll need to do your shopping before you drive out, because the shops are few and far between. In summer, Kvaløya is a great place for hiking, and you can see the midnight sun from the mountains.

I’d choose Kvaløya for a trip of four or five nights where the northern lights are the main goal and you’ve hired a car. It’s also a good choice for families or friends who want to share a big house.

The downside is that you’re dependent on a car and the weather. In snow and storms, the drive takes longer, and you’ll have to keep an eye on the forecasts yourself. If you’d like to see the northern lights somewhere else in the North Atlantic, I’ve also written about where to stay in Iceland.

Places to Stay on Kvaløya

Kaldfjord Sea House - best luxury pick for large families

Kaldfjord Sea House is a large, modern house by Kaldfjorden with a sauna, a hot tub and its own beach, and it has one of the highest guest ratings in the whole guide. The price is for the whole house, so it only makes sense if you’re a larger group or family. Check-in isn’t until 6pm, and the house has strict quiet rules.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “Warm, clean and modern. It was perfect for our family of six.”

See photos and book Kaldfjord Sea House here.

House of Ellie - best mid-range pick by Ersfjorden

House of Ellie is a bed and breakfast in Ersfjordbotn right by the water, with the mountains around the fjord as your view. Guests praise the view and the modern rooms. There’s no access to a kitchen, and some guests mention that quite a few tourists pass by, so privacy is limited.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “The view is absolutely amazing!”

See photos and book House of Ellie here.

Kvaløya Arctic Retreat - cheapest pick on Kvaløya

Kvaløya Arctic Retreat is a room with a private host on Kvaløya, and it was the cheapest of my three picks. Guests praise the peace and quiet and a quick-to-respond host. The facilities are simple, and you’ll need a car to get around.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “The place was cosy, clean, nice and quiet.”

See photos and book Kvaløya Arctic Retreat here.

5. Sommarøy - best area for the midnight sun and white beaches

• Distance from the centre: Sommarøy lies at the far western edge of Kvaløya, and the drive from Tromsø takes around an hour.
• Transport: In practice, you’ll need a car or an organised tour. The islands are connected to Kvaløya by a bridge.
• Time from Tromsø Airport: Around an hour by car.
• Price range: €€ to €€€. The three places below cost roughly £170 to £245 a night when I searched for a weekend in February.
• Safety: A small and peaceful fishing village. The weather changes quickly out by the sea, so check the forecast and the road conditions before you drive out.

Sommarøy is a small fishing village on a cluster of islands right out by the open sea, west of Kvaløya. The islands are known for white sandy beaches and turquoise water, and on a sunny day in June it looks more like the Caribbean than Northern Norway, even though the water is ice cold.

In summer, Sommarøy is one of the best places around Tromsø for the midnight sun, because you’ve got a clear view out over the sea to the north and west. According to Visit Tromsø, the midnight sun in Tromsø lasts from around 20 May to 22 July, so the whole of June is a safe bet.

See hotels on Sommarøy here.

In winter, it’s very dark out here, which makes Sommarøy an obvious place for the northern lights. The drive out takes you through fjords and valleys, and you pass several spots where you can pull over and look at the sky. Lots of northern lights tours take the same road on clear evenings.

I’d choose Sommarøy for one or two nights at the end of a trip to Tromsø, in both summer and winter. The village is small, so apart from the hotel restaurant there isn’t much choice in the evening.

The downside is the distance. It’s too far out to be a base for trips from Tromsø, and without a car you’re tied to the place. If the weather’s bad, you could end up seeing very little, so keep your plans a little flexible.

Places to Stay on Sommarøy

Sommarøy Arctic Hotel Tromsø - best hotel by the sea

Sommarøy Arctic Hotel is right on the water, with a restaurant, a bar and a sauna. It was the most expensive of my three picks out here, and guests praise the location and the breakfast. Some feel the rooms are basic for a four-star hotel, and several mention poor ventilation.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “The location was fantastic.”

See photos and book Sommarøy Arctic Hotel Tromsø here.

Ecolodge Båthuset 69Nord - best mid-range pick on the beach

Ecolodge Båthuset is a small guesthouse by the beach on Sommarøy with a shared kitchen and lounge. Guests praise the view, the beds and the host. It suits you if you’d rather stay somewhere simple and close to nature than in a hotel.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “Waking up to the view over the beach was all we needed to relax, and it was so soothing for the eyes.”

See photos and book Ecolodge Båthuset 69Nord here.

Eazy-Bed Norway’s Smallest Hotel - cheapest pick with a view from your bed

Eazy-Bed is a capsule hotel by the beach on Hillesøy, right next to Sommarøy, and it was the cheapest of the three places when I searched. Guests praise the beachside location and the view from the bed. The facilities are very basic, and there’s no shower, so it only suits a short stay.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “The moment you wake up and the first thing you see is an incredible view right from your bed … it can’t be described.”

See photos and book Eazy-Bed Norway’s Smallest Hotel here.

6. The Lyngen Alps - best area for mountains and ski touring

• Distance from the centre: Lyngseidet lies east of Tromsø, and the drive takes around 1.5 to 2 hours including the ferry.
• Transport: The quickest route is the ferry from Breivikeidet to Svensby, which according to Visit Tromsø takes around 20 minutes and sails all year round.
• Time from Tromsø Airport: Around 1.5 to 2 hours by car, depending on the ferry times.
• Price range: €€ to €€€. The three places below cost roughly £170 to £360 a night when I searched for a weekend in February.
• Safety: There’s avalanche danger in the mountains in winter. Check Varsom, and only go ski touring with a guide if you don’t have experience yourself.

The Lyngen Alps are a jagged mountain range on the peninsula east of Tromsø, with snow on the peaks for most of the year. According to Store norske leksikon, the range is almost 80 km long and has around 140 glaciers, and the highest mountain, Jiehkkevárri, reaches 1,834 metres.

In winter, people come from all over the world for ski touring, where you climb up the mountain and ski down to the fjord. There’s also dog sledding, snowmobiling and fjord trips, and because there’s hardly any light from towns, it’s one of the darkest places in the region for the northern lights.

See hotels in the Lyngen Alps here.

Lyngseidet is the main village in Lyngen, and from here the ferry continues across Lyngenfjorden to Olderdalen. Along the fjord north of the village towards Koppangen, there are several lodges and cabins. In summer, it’s one of the best areas for hiking in Northern Norway, and the midnight sun lights up the mountains all night.

I’d choose the Lyngen Alps for two or three nights if you want to ski or hike, and not just see the northern lights. It’s a good idea to combine a few nights here with a few nights in Tromsø city centre. If you’re heading further south in Norway, you can read where to stay in Oslo.

The downside is the distance and the fact that restaurants are few and far between. Choose a place with a kitchen or meals included, and remember that the ferries can’t be booked in advance, so arrive in good time.

Places to Stay in the Lyngen Alps

Lyngen Aurora Resort - best luxury pick with cabins by the fjord

Lyngen Aurora Resort has cabins at Koppangen, north of Lyngseidet, with views over the fjord and the mountains. It was the most expensive of my three picks in Lyngen, and guests praise the view and the warm cabins. However, several mention that communication from the property was limited and that it was hard to get information about parking and meals.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “The view and the landscape were incredible, and the cabin was warm.”

See photos and book Lyngen Aurora Resort here.

Magic Mountain Lodge - Lyngen - best mid-range pick for ski touring

Magic Mountain Lodge is in Lyngseidet, with views over the fjord, and has a restaurant, a bar, a sauna and a shared kitchen. It works well as a base for ski touring, and guests praise the staff and the view. Some feel, though, that the price is high for what you get.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “A great place with a view over the fjord.”

See photos and book Magic Mountain Lodge - Lyngen here.

Solbakken 27 Apartment - cheapest pick with your own kitchen

Solbakken 27 is an apartment with a kitchen and free parking in Lyngseidet, and it had one of the highest guest ratings in the guide when I searched. Guests praise the hosts, the space and the view. A few mention problems with the key box on arrival.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “The hosts were very friendly and accommodating.”

See photos and book Solbakken 27 Apartment here.

Where should you avoid staying in Tromsø?

I wouldn’t stay far out on Kvaløya, on Sommarøy or in the Lyngen Alps if you’ve only got a weekend and don’t want to hire a car. The distances are greater than they look on the map, and in winter it takes time to drive on the slippery roads.

Also avoid choosing a cheap place in the residential areas in the northern part of Tromsøya just because of the price. You might save £20 or £30 a night, but you’ll have to take the bus into town every time, and many northern lights tours only pick up in the centre. Always check on the map where the property is, and read more about the seasons at Visit Tromsø before you book.

If it’s your first time in Tromsø and you’ve got three or four nights, I’d stay in the centre and take one or two organised northern lights tours. If you’ve got a bit more time and a hire car, add a couple of nights on Kvaløya or in the Lyngen Alps, where you can see the northern lights from the door. In summer, Sommarøy is the best place for the midnight sun, and Tromsdalen is a good compromise if you’d like a bit of peace close to the city.

If you’d like to combine Tromsø with another Nordic destination, you can also read my guides to Reykjavik and the Faroe Islands.

The post Where to Stay in Tromsø? The 6 Best Areas & Places to Stay appeared first on Destination Well Known.