8 Best Sommarøy Norway things to do
Sommarøy Norway is a region of Tromsø that became quite well known a few years ago when they claimed that Sommarøy would be the first place to get rid of time.
While that turned out to be a publicity stunt, Sommarøy is somewhere where it feels as though time slows down a little and you can fully relax.
We visited Sommaroy after our wedding elopement in Tromso. It marked the start of our honeymoon as we took a road trip down the coast from Tromso to the Lofoten Islands.
We found so many beautiful things to do in Sommaroy and absolutely fell in love with this beautiful area of Northern Norway.
With beautiful white-sand Sommaroy beaches, tropical-looking waters, and hiking opportunities, Sommarøy is a great place to visit if you’re staying in Tromsø and is perfect as a weekend break from the city.
Best things to do in Sommarøy Norway
Whether you plan to visit Sommarøy just for the day or are planning a longer stay, here are some of the best things to do in Sommarøy that you should check out.
Hike Ornfløya in Sommarøy
The Ornfløya hike in Sommarøy is the area’s most popular hike and it’s easy to see why. It’s a relatively short hike (just a couple of km each way), doesn’t have any sections which are super steep, and has incredible views out over the islands and bridges.
We hiked Ornfløya on a cloudy day and even then the views were impressive!
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.
Go kayaking in Sommarøy
There are a couple of companies now offering kayaking in Sommarøy. There’s 69Nord and Sommarøy Adventure both offer kayak tours around the beautiful coastline of Sommarøy.
69Nord use Hobie kayaks which are a bit like a pedalo with sails! They look super fun to try out. They also have SUP (stand-up paddleboard) rentals.
Relax at the beach
Sommarø is famous for its beaches. Whether you’re visiting in summer or winter, you can still enjoy the beach, albeit a little differently.
Enjoy relaxing on the beach in summer and going for a refreshing dip in the ocean. In winter, head to the beach after dark to catch the Northern Lights in a stunning location, or make a campfire on the beach and huddle around while soaking up some peace and quiet.
One of the top picks for Sommaroy best beach is often chosen as Sandvika beach at Hillesøy. It’s definitely super pretty but as are pretty much all Sommaroy beaches.
Witness the Polar Night
Sommarøy gets Polar Night which is when the sun doesn’t rise above the horizon. It means your hours of daylight are super limited but you do get several hours of blue light which is super pretty in its own way.
Plus, the Northern Lights opportunities increase with more hours of darkness!
It wasn’t nearly as dark as I thought it might be during our Sommaroy Norway winter trip. In fact, I think. we got super lucky with the weather and were able to see cotton candy colored skies pretty much every day we were there.
Take a walk along the coast
We did a lovely walk along the coast starting from Steinsvika Archeological Site to Kvitnesvika and beyond.
View the Northern Lights
Many of the Northern Lights companies in Tromsø actually come out to the darker skies of Sommarøy on their tours.
So, if you’re hoping to see the Northern Lights in Norway, then booking a night at the Sommarøy Arctic Hotel and exploring at night may mean you’re in luck!
Find coral on Sommarøy
The beaches at Sommarøy have plenty of coral that’s been washed up. It’s small and white but the shapes are super cool and you’d never think you’d find coral like this in the Arctic!
Catch the ferry to Senja
From Sommarøy we headed towards Senja by taking the ferry from Brensholmen to Botnham. We left on the morning sailing which coincided with sunrise and it was a stunning journey!
If time allows you to visit Senja I’d highly recommend it. Read this post for a guide on all the best things to do in Senja, Norway!
Experience the midnight sun in Sommarøy
From mid-May to late July you can experience the midnight sun in Sommaroy Norway.
When it comes to what to do in Sommaroy in summer your options are pretty much endless and can take place at pretty much any time of the day It’s the perfect time to get outside and adventure whether on foot, by bike, or by kayak!
How to get to Sommarøy from Tromso
Sommarøy Islan Norway is just an hour away from the center of Tromsø and is situated on the island of Kvaløya. Along the way, you’ll pass some beautiful scenery and I’d recommend a slight detour to Ersfjordbotn and the Bryggejentene cafe and home goods shop.
There is also a bus to Sommarøy from Tromso which takes around 1.5 hours. It doesn’t leave very regularly but it’s a good option if you’re visiting Tromsø without a car.
You can get a ticket in advance to Sommaroy Island Norway and be sure to check the bus schedule using the Troms Billett App. One way costs about £3 (36 NOK).
Where to stay in Sommarøy, Norway
There’s only really one option for Sommarøy accommodation and that’s Sommarøy Arctic Hotel. The hotel has many different room styles from the more budget-friendly twin bedrooms with no sea view to suits on the ocean.
All guests have access to the sauna at Sommarøy and most rooms include breakfast. The breakfast alone is worth the price; a huge buffet breakfast with bacon, eggs, hams, fish, cereals, and more!
Another option slightly outside of Sommarøy is Buvik Sea Lodge. Rooms here are all 2-bedroom apartment style with balconies overlooking the ocean.
There’s also a sauna and hot tub that can be booked separately from the room where you get private use. We stayed here after our wedding in Tromsø and it was the perfect place for chilling out!
You can also go camping on Sommaroy Norway both in owned campgrounds and in open areas thanks to Norway’s right to roam!
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.
Final thoughts on the best things to do in Norway Sommaroy Island
Our Sommaroy winter trip was absolutely beautiful and we found so many fun things to do in Sommaroy that have us excited to go back one day. Whether you end up visiting this island for a Sommaroy summer trip, or also visit øommaroy in winter like us, I’m sure you’ll have so much fun exploring.
If you’re on vacation in Northern Norway and looking for more things to do, be sure to check out this guide to the best hikes near Tromso, as well as this guide to the Sherpa Steps trail in Tromso. I’ve also got a guide to the best Senja hikes (which is an area that isn’t too far from Sommaroy).
Last Updated on August 18, 2023 by Hannah
Hannah started That Adventurer after graduating back in 2013 and has documented all of her adventures since then. From backpacking South America to city breaks in Europe, a 3 month road trip across the USA in a self-converted van and 6 years living in Canada, you’ll find posts on all of this.
Hannah specialises in active travel and on That Adventurer you’ll find hiking, walking, biking, skiing and all sorts of active travel guides to allow you to see a destination in an adventurous way.
Now back in Europe, you’ll find new guides as Hannah and her husband spend the next year ‘digital nomading’ from Norway to Portugal, Switzerland to Scotland and places in between.
