17 Best Senja Norway things to do

The Senja region of Northern Norway is a gorgeous area.

Senja Island in Norway is Norway’s second biggest island and it’s an outdoor lovers’ paradise.

With stunning views everywhere you look, beautiful beaches (yes, even in the Arctic!), plenty of outdoor activities, such as beautiful hikes in Senja, opportunities to see the Northern Lights in Senja, and skiing too!

Senja is above the Arctic Circle, meaning you get midnight sun in summer and polar nights in winter in Senja.

During the polar night season, you get very short days where the sun doesn’t technically rise above the horizon but you’ll still get a few hours of civil twilight (like a sunset!) assuming it’s a nice day.

We visited Senja in winter (November) on our honeymoon after getting married in Tromsø and it was so beautiful. But it’s also one of the best places to visit in Norway in summer.

We were there before snow had fallen which meant we still got to explore without the need for snowshoes but we did get short hours of daylight!

Here’s why you should visit Senja Norway and a list of the best things to do in Senja once you’re there.

Best things to do in Senja Norway

These Senja things to do include outdoor adventures and scenic drives along the Senja national tourist route! It’s the perfect place for adventures in Norway!

1. Experience Polar night in Senja

Senja lies above the Arctic Circle which means that from late November to January the sun never rises above the horizon.

However, this doesn’t mean it’s completely dark in Senja all day; you do get a few hours of blue light which is beautiful especially if there’s snow!

It also means that it’s perfect for seeing the Northern Lights! We managed to see the Northern lights during our stay in Senja and it was magical to see the green colours dance overhead.

This Northern Lights tour in Senja is the best way to increase your chances of seeing the Northern Lights in Senja. They’ll drive you out to clear skies and provide warm winter clothing. It’s easily one of the best things to do in Senja in winter!

2. Witness the Midnight Sun

Another benefit about Senja’s northern location is that from late May to late July you get midnight sun!

Yes, that’s right, it’ll still be bright at midnight as the sun never sets below the horizon!

This means summer in Senja is perfect for getting outdoors and planning lots of fun adventures. It’s a great time to go hiking in Senja, hit the water on a kayak, or just stay up late to see all the sights.

3. Drive the Senja National Scenic Route

The Senja National Scenic Route is an absolutely beautiful drive.

You’ll experience dramatic, spiky Senja mountains that seem to come out of nowhere, beautiful white-sand beaches, and scenic stops to really soak up the views.

The scenic drive is 102 kilometers long and is on the north of the island. It runs from Botnham all the way to the west coast and Gryllefjord.

Some of the best places to stop are towards the east and include:

Bergsbotn viewing platform

Walk out onto the platform (if you dare!) and enjoy stunning views of the fjord and mountains all around. This view has got to be one of the best things to see in Norway!

We stopped here on our dive to our accommodation for the night (just under the snowy mountain in the photo!) and then came back in the evening to see the Northern Lights from here too.

Ersfjordstranda

At Ersfjordstranda there’s a beautiful beach flanked by mountains on either side. Plus, there’s a golden toilet!

Tungeneset Senja

The mountains here are incredible and look like towers emerging suddenly from the sea. At this viewpoint, there’s a wooden boardwalk that takes you out onto the rocks so you can really enjoy the views.

Mefjordvaer

In Mefjordvær, a historic fishing village, there’s another beautifully designed building that’s also a toilet. There’s a great hike here too which gives you a view down onto Mefjordvaer and there’s a super cute warming hut too!

4. Head over to Husøy

Husøy on Senja is a fishing village that lies at the end of a narrow and winding road. The drive out here is well worth it.

While there’s not much to do in Husøy itself, you can enjoy the charm of an active Northern Norway fishing village and the views that are reminiscent of Lofoten.

5. Have a beach day in Senja

The beaches in Senja are incredible. Before we travelled to Tromsø, Senja and Lofoten I had no idea that there were white-sand beaches in the Arctic.

Senja has so many beautiful beaches that it’d be hard to pick a favourite but some of the ones we most enjoyed were:

• Jekthavna: This Senja beach had the most beautiful clear waters!
• Stranda i Lauvika
• Ersfjord Beach

6. Experience Gryllefjord village

Gryllefjord village is situated between the fjord and the open ocean.

As with many villages in Northern Norway, Gryllefjord is a fishing village and this means the buildings are tightly packed in and they’re also colorful!

In the summer, you can take a ferry out to the whaling town of Andenes from Gryllefjord too.

7. Explore Ånderdalen National Park

Ånderdalen National Park was an area of Senja that was recommended to us by the owner of Skagi Senja Hotel (where we stayed).

I’m glad she suggested it as we almost didn’t head out this way!

Ånderdalen National Park reminded me of Canada with its coastal pine forests and oceans and mountains.

It’s a small national park, but there are some great hikes here and it’s a popular place for dog sledding and skiing in the winter.

8. Search for sea eagles on Senja

Sea eagles are beautiful white-tailed eagles that are found in this part of Norway. You can sometimes see them just as you’re out and exploring Senja, but if you want to up your chances of witnessing this majestic bird then it’s better to book a tour.

By booking a tour you can head out on a boat to cliffs where sea eagles are known to live.

One of the best tour companies for this in Senja is GoSenja.

9. Hiking  in Senja

There are so many incredible hikes on Senja. Two of the most popular Senja hiking trails are Hesten and Senja Segla Mountain.

Senja Segla Mountain is the one you’ve likely seen photos of when researching for your trip to Senja as it’s something of a Senja must see.

It’s this massive columnar mountain that rises from what seems like nothing.

The Senja Hesten hike takes you to a view of Sengla which is super cool.

Both are very popular hikes so expect to see a lot of people if you’re hiking in summer.

Park at the Segla trail parking and then check out the route on AllTrails to navigate the trail.

AllTrails is my go-to hiking app for finding, planning, and navigating while I’m out on the trails. With offline maps on AllTrails+ you can be confident you’re still on the right track, even without mobile signal.

Other popular Senja hikes include:

• Husfjellet: beautiful with far fewer people than Hesten or Segla.
• Knuten Vantage Point, Medfjordvaer
• Sukkertoppen

The best way to discover more Senja hiking trails is to use AllTrails where you can see routes that others’ have completed as well as the trails that exist so you can make your own route. It’s what I used as a Senja hiking map!

10. Kayaking in Senja

With beautiful clear waters and long sunlight hours, Senja is a magical place to go kayaking.

You can book a kayaking tour through Senja Wild which does kayaking tours in the summer (May to September) as well as aurora kayaking tours in the winter months (November – April)

11. Sledding with Huskies on Senja

Senja Husky Adventure offer dog sledding tours which are so fun! Senja Husky Adventure do dog sledding in the winter and then offers activities where you can meet their husky throughout the summer.

12. Senja Skiing

If you’re into ski touring then you need to visit Senja in March and April. This is definitely one of the best Senja winter activities!

During these months, you’ve got a few hours of daylight back, the snow is deep enough and you might still get some powder top-ups during your stay too!

Ski touring Senja is a popular activity in the winter.

Book a cabin and enjoy a day of beautiful skiing before coming back to warm up by the fireplace.

13. Meet Arctic Wildlife

The Polar Park is the world’s most northerly zoo and is where you can see and learn about the ‘Scandinavian big four’: wolf, wolverine, bear, and lynx.

If you’re visiting Senja with kids then this activity should be top of your list!

14. See the Senja Northern Lights

Senja is a wonderful place to experience the northern lights. It’s dark and has incredible landscapes that just add to the impressive show that the Northern Lights put on.

One of the best views we got was from the Bergsbotn viewing platform. You’re flanked by mountains on either side from which the northern lights can dance between!

If you’ve never seen the Northern Lights before, then booking a Northern Lights tour to see the Senja aurora borealis is a good idea.

With a Northern Lights Tour from Senja you’ll have a guide read the charts for the Northern Lights, drive you out to some of the best places, and provide warm winter clothing, boots, and a campfire.

15. Snowshoeing in Senja

With the snow comes opportunities to go snowshoeing! Snowshoeing Senja is a great way to get out hiking when the snow falls.

I’d recommend taking a snowshoe tour in Senja as there’s a risk of avalanches in some areas and if you don’t have avalanche training it can be super risky!

16. Go Cycling in Senja

Senja is ideal for cycling and as you travel on two wheels you’ll be surrounded by beautiful views.

You can cycle the Senja Scenic Route which follows the shoreline although there are some super steep sections that’ll have you working for those views!

Most people take two days to complete the Senja scenic route by bike which allows you time to stop off and enjoy the views, Senja beaches, and cafes.

17. Hike Senja from North to South

If you’re a super keen hiker then you might want to tackle a thru-hike of Senja from north to south.

This hike takes you along a spine of mountains that go through the center of Senja. T

he mountains rise to over 1000m and most people spend 5 days hiking the route which would break down to 15-20km of hiking a day.

There are huts along the way and plenty of camping opportunities. In winter you can explore the area on cross-country skis if you’re an experienced skier.

How to get to Senja Norway

There is no Senja airport in the Senja region of Norway. The closest airport to Senja is in Bardufoss which is about one hour away from Senja Island.

You can also fly to Tromsø and travel by ferry and car to Senja which takes about 2 hours.

Skyscanner is what I use to find cheap flights.

Tromsø to Senja

There are a couple of different routes for getting to Senja from Tromso. We drove from Tromsø to Brensholmen near Sommarøy and then took the Botnham – Brensholmen ferry to Senja.

In total this takes about two hours; one hour from Tromsø to Brensholmen and then about 45 minutes on the ferry with some time waiting in line to get it. This was in early November and it wasn’t busy on the morning ferry. However, in summer you may need to wait longer.

This was our preferred travel route as it puts you straight in some of the most scenic parts of Senja and is close to the scenic Senja driving route.

The Senja ferry now runs all year round, though the number of sailings is reduced in winter. You pay with Autopass and so if you’re renting a car for your trip to Norway then the fee will be charged directly to you.

You can see the Brensholmen – Botnham ferry timetable here.

Alternatively, you can drive from Tromso to Senja without getting the ferry. This is a longer route taking about 3 hours on the E8, E6 and 86.

You can also take the Hurtigruten car ferry from Tromso to Senja Island. Or take the Express Boat to Lysnes or Finnsnes.

I use comparison sites like DiscoverCars and RentalCars to book my car rentals as it’s easy to check prices and compare the best deals!

Bus to Senja

Taking the bus is also an option with buses running around Senja for getting around Senja Norway, as well as long-distance bus routes going between Tromsø and Narvik.

Where to stay in Senja Norway

When we were looking for Senja Norway accommodation in November, there weren’t a lot of options. This is most likely because it was the off-season and a lot of hotels in Senja were taking some time off.

If you’re visiting in winter there are still some great options and, if you’re visiting Senja in summer then you can also enjoy some Senja camping!

Camping in Senja Norway

If you’re looking to go camping in Senja while visiting the region you’re in luck!

Thanks to Norway’s right to roam (see below), you can camp anywhere you like (with a few rules). There are also plenty of campgrounds in Senja where you’ll have access to some facilities: water, toilets, and sometimes a shower or electricity.

A lot of the campsites in Senja are tricky to find online but you’ll find plenty as you travel around. Make sure you have cash with you to pay as many only accept cash (paid by placing it in an envelope at the gate), or by VIPPS (only available to those living in Norway).

Right to roam in Norway: Norway has the right to roam which means you can trek and camp in open country (anything not fenced or marked as private). This means you can hike and tent anywhere you like as long as you camp at least 150m away from the closest inhabited house or cabin and stay for no longer than two days. If you see a sign saying private or no camping then you cannot stay there.

Senja hotels

Senja is so beautiful that pretty much any hotel you book will have incredible views outside the window. Here are some of the best hotels in Senja, Norway for your stay.

Skagi Senja: This is where we stayed during our trip to Senja. The rooms were small but plenty big enough for the night with a private bathroom and budget-friendly. Breakfast is included and it was delicious!

Mefjord Brygge: Mefjord Brygge is surrounded by mountains in the picturesque fishing village of Mefjordvær on Senja Island. It offers boat rental and fjord safaris as well as a sauna and hot tub.

Hamn Senja, Norway: Hamn i Senja, Norway is perhaps the best-known hotel in Senja. It’s in a beautiful location right on the water. You can stay in a one-bedroom or get a 3-bedroom apartment at Hamn in Senja.

Aurora Borealis Observatory Senja: If you want to see the Senja Norway Northern Lights then booking a stay at the Senja aurora borealis observatory is a good place to start. The hotel is in a dark location and the staff all really understand the phenomenon of the northern lights in Senja!

Senja Airbnb

Next Stop: Horizon: This Airbnb is right on the cliff with the most incredible views of the ocean. It looks super cosy and on a clear night, you’ll be able to see the Northern Lights from the window!

Cabin by the Devil’s Teeth: Sleep to the sound of the sea, and wake up to the dramatic beauty that Senja has to offer.

FAQS about what to do in Senja Island Norway

Final thoughts on the best Senja activities

Senja is a beautiful place in Northern Norway that’s a little bit off the beaten path when it comes to places to visit in this area of the country. This Senja what to do guide has covered some of my favourite places when it comes to Senja what to see (like the National Tourism scenic route and the Northern Lights), as well as given you a guide to the Senja best places to visit.

Many people go to Tromso for the chance to view the Northern Lights or climb to the top of the Tromso sherpasteps, or head south towards the Lofoten Islands in Norway which are famed for beautiful hikes like Reinebringen and beautiful Lofoten beaches.

However, many people miss out on the beauty of Senja.

Another place worth visiting near Senja is Sommaroy where you’ll find popular hikes like Ornafloya and more beautiful beaches and easy walks. Or, check out these Tromso hiking trails too.

Last Updated on August 9, 2024 by Hannah