Where to Stay in Tromsø for the Northern Lights: The 10 Best Hotels
Are you wondering where to stay in Tromso for the Northern Lights? The city is one of the best places in the world to watch the aurora, and these are the 10 best hotels.
When we first visited Tromsø in winter, we were completely blown away by how magical it felt. The snow-covered streets, the cosy cafés, and of course, the chance to see the Northern Lights.
The northern lights were one of the reasons we decided to book a trip to Tromso in the first place – and the reason so many people come to the city. Spotting the aurora is truly a bucket list experience, and what better way to see it than from your hotel room?
Where you stay in Tromsø can make a huge difference to your experience and how you spot the lights. Many opt to be right in the city centre, which is more convenient in terms of transport and attractions, but harder to spot the aurora.
Alternatively, you could wake up in a remote glass igloo or a cosy fjordside cabin with nothing but starry skies and the aurora dancing above you. For us, this is our idea of heaven!
So, we decided to put together this guide and share the very best places to stay in Tromso if you want to spot the northern lights, from bucket list glass cabins to something a little more budget-friendly.
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In a hurry?
These are our favourite northern lights hotels in Tromso!
- SPLURGE: AERA GLASS CABINS
- HIGH END: AURORA BOREALIS OBSERVATORY
- MID-RANGE: TROMSO LODGE AND CAMPING
- AFFORDABLE LUXURY: SOMMAROY ARCTIC HOTEL
- BUDGET: NORWEGIAN WILD
What’s the Best Area to Stay in Tromso for the Northern Lights?
The short answer is: it depends on your travel style.
If you want convenience, Tromsø’s city centre could work.
Is it the best place to spot the Northern Lights? No.
But, almost every Northern Lights tour departs from here, and you’ll be able to get the cable car above Tromso to escape the city lights. Plus, you’ll be within walking distance of the harbour, restaurants, and bars.
If you’re hoping to maximise your chances of seeing the Northern Lights on your own, staying just outside Tromsø is the best option.
Fjordside hotels, cosy lodges, and even traditional cabins give you darker skies and more of that “in the wilderness” feel, but are often still only a short drive from the city.
But, for the ultimate experience, you can book unique accommodations like glass igloos, Arctic domes, or wilderness resorts.
These stays are designed with aurora watching in mind, so you’ll often get uninterrupted views and sometimes even aurora alarms that wake you up if the lights appear.
So, it all comes down to whether you’d rather be in the centre of town, near the fjords, or surrounded by nature.
The Best Hotels for the Northern Lights in Tromso
So, here are all of our favourite hotels and apartments for northern lights spotting in Tromso and the surrounding area.
Many of these will involve a drive from the city centre; however, all of them have the chance to give you an absolutely incredible aurora experience right from your accommodation.
And, with aurora hunting being one of the most magical things to do in Norway, we guarantee you’ll have an incredible time.
1. Aera Glass Cabins
If you’re looking for one of the most unique places to stay in Tromso for the Northern Lights, we highly recommend Aera Glass Cabins. These are the only glass igloos in the Tromso area and are just perfect for Northern Lights hunting.
You’ll be treated to stunning sea views overnight, and with a panoramic glass ceiling, you can literally watch the aurora dancing above you from your bed!
You’ll find a sauna, sun terrace, restaurant, and outdoor fireplace at the resort, and each cabin has its own private kitchenette and en-suite bathroom.
The cabins are located around a 40-minute drive from Tromso city centre, so you’re not too far from the city, and you can enjoy the best of both worlds – the peaceful remoteness of the cabins, and the bustling vibes of the city!
2. Tromso Lodge and Camping
Located just a short bus ride from downtown, Tromso Lodge and Camping is the closest northern lights hotel to Tromso itself.
You’ll find modern cottages and lodges that range from budget options with bunk beds to two-bedroom lodges with riverside views.
Each lodge has its own private kitchenette, seating area, and private bathroom. You’ll also find plenty of amenities on site, including a football field, BBQ facilities, bar, and sauna.
You’ll be close to hiking trails and remote enough to see the northern lights from your cabin; however, you’ll also be close to the city centre, so you can reach it within 5-10 minutes.
This truly is the perfect choice if you want to be close to the city and don’t want to hire a car.
3. Hotel Hamn I Senja
Located on the island of Senja, about 3 hours by car from Tromso city centre, Hotel Hamn i Senja is one of the best places to stay in the Tromso region for spotting the Northern Lights.
There’s a lot of choice for accommodation here, from 3-bedroom family lodges to small double rooms within the hotel. Within each room, you’ll find a shower, a private bathroom, and some have a full kitchen.
There’s also a great communal area with a sauna, hot tub, BBQ facilities, and refreshments served at the snack bar. You can also order food in advance from the kitchen if you don’t fancy cooking.
Although this is a little far from Tromso to keep driving back and forth, there’s a lot to do in the area. You can go skiing, fishing, snowshoeing and book a range of guided tours, all from your accommodation.
All in all, this is a fantastic place to experience winter in Tromso!
4. Malangen Resort
This gorgeous resort with stunning fjord views is a wonderful place to go aurora hunting in Tromso. It’s located about a 60-minute drive south of the city and has a fantastic mix of cottages, hotel rooms, and apartments that sleep up to 6 people.
The cottages and apartments feature a full kitchen and living room, and many of the rooms have beautiful views over the fjords. Some of the bedrooms also have utterly stunning views out across the water.
The resort has a range of other facilities, including an outdoor hot tub and sauna, and a fantastic in-house restaurant that serves fresh fish and other regional dishes.
It’s much easier to get here with a hire car, but if you don’t fancy driving in Norway, you can also use their airport shuttle service.
5. Norwegian Wild
This is easily one of the best places to stay in Tromso for the Northern Lights.
At Norwegian Wild, you’ll find a range of accommodation options to suit all budgets here, from the more affordable huts with shared bathrooms, to aurora cabins with glass-pannelled windows.
Then, for families, you have the windmill, an incredibly unique accommodation which literally lets you stay in an old windmill.
The accommodation is located about 2 hours and 45 minutes from Tromso on the island of Senja, so it’s much easier to reach if you hire a car.
You’ll also find plenty to do on site, including ski-to-door access, an outdoor fireplace, and hot tub, and an outdoor play area for children. The restaurant on-site serves both lunch and dinner, and there’s also a bar where you can grab a drink in the evening.
Since you’re located right on the waterfront, the views are incredible, and you could even go for an icy dip if you’re feeling brave!
6. XLyngen
If you’re wondering where to stay in Tromso for the Northern Lights and are dreaming of a traditional fisherman’s cabin, we highly recommend XLyngen.
These iconic red cabins are surrounded by the Lyngen Alps, one of the most beautiful places to visit in Tromso in winter.
You’ll find either cottages or apartments, all with 3 bedrooms, in a simple yet comfortable design. Each has a full kitchen, living area, views out across the water, and some offer a private patio. You’ll also find a communal sauna and a hot tub.
The properties are located around a 2-hour drive from Tromso, but while you won’t be the closest to the city, you’ll be able to do plenty of activities from the properties.
There’s dog sledding and snowmobiling available, along with plenty of opportunities to spot the Northern Lights.
7. Yggdrasiltunet Gårdshotell
If you’re wondering where to stay in Tromso for the Northern Lights, you can’t get more unique than this hotel. It’s located an hour away from Tromso on Kvaløya island, and is actually a working farm that also doubles as accommodation.
You’ll find a range of rooms and suites, including more affordable rooms with shared bathrooms or deluxe rooms with sea views, and there’s a range of activities that you can do on site.
You can soak in the hot tub, relax in the sauna, or do some yoga on the panoramic terrace. There are horses, chickens, sheep and rabbits living on the farm, so you can also say hi to the animals!
Due to its remote location in the wilderness, Yggdrasiltunet Gårdshotell is one of the most beautiful places to spot the Northern Lights.
8. Sommaroy Arctic Hotel
Located in Sommaroy, this is one of the most popular hotels on the island.
Sommaroy Arctic Hotel is around an hour’s drive from Tromso city centre, and the drive is beautiful in itself as you’ll be travelling through the mountains and fjords of the region.
Once you arrive, you’ll be surrounded by Arctic beaches, remote fjords, and tiny villages with colourful houses dotted around the snowy landscape.
The hotel itself is modern and comfortable, with large rooms with flat-screen TVs and en-suite shower rooms.
If you’d prefer to stay self-catering or are travelling as a group, you can also find cottages that sleep up to 10 people and have a comfy living room and kitchen.
It’s a truly beautiful place, and the remoteness means you won’t get a lot of city light blocking out the auroras.
9. Aurora Fjord Cabins
A beautiful property located on the edge of the fjords, these cabins are absolutely gorgeous. Each has its own private kitchen and bathroom, and a cosy seating area overlooking the fjords. Some even have their own private hot tub.
Located in Lyngseidet, about a 2-hour drive from Tromso city centre, these cabins are perfect for those looking to get away from the bustle of city life.
The floor-length windows and ocean views are perfect for relaxing in the evening and spotting the auroras.
Although you’re pretty remote, there are some great activities the lodge can arrange for you, from snowmobiling tours to unique whisky experiences at one of the most northerly distilleries in the world.
If you’re looking for peace, relaxation, and stunning scenery, this is one of the best places to stay near Tromso for the Northern Lights.
10. The Aurora Borealis Observatory
The name says it all with this place! Located on Senja, around 2 and a half hours’ drive from Tromso, this is the perfect Norwegian hotel for watching the northern lights.
It’s situated about 10 minutes from the city of Finnsnes, so you’ll be within easy access of shops and restaurants, yet it’s remote enough that you’ll feel like you’re in the wilderness.
It’s great for ski-enthusiasts as there’s ski-to-door access and you can rent ski equipment from the property. There’s also a communal hot tub on site and a children’s playground.
The accommodation options range from a panoramic apartment with huge glass windows to a huge farmhouse that can sleep 8 people. They also have a glass aurora hut where you can sleep underneath the stars.
Almost all of the apartments have huge windows, which are perfect for spotting the aurora, and some of the larger ones have luxury features like free-standing bathtubs.
Can you see the Northern Lights from Tromsø city centre?
Yes, you can, but the city lights tend to drown out the auroras. For the best chances of spotting the northern lights, you’ll need to head to an area away from the city lights.
There are a few places in Tromso city itself, such as the Telegrafbukta beach in the south of the region. You can also take the Fjellheisen Cable Car up to the top of Mount Storsteinen, which is high enough to avoid the city glow.
Alternatively, for the absolute best chance of spotting the lights, we recommend heading on a Northern Lights tour. Tours are the best way to spot the aurora, and we’ve had the most incredible sighting we’ve ever seen on an aurora chase tour.
This is a popular tour in Tromso, though, so if you’re doing this, you’ll need to book well in advance.
❤️ This is the Northern Lights we recommend, and we had an amazing time!
When’s the best time to book hotels in Tromso?
Tromso in winter is busy, as the city is known for its winter activities. However, as a result, many hotels tend to sell out well in advance between November and February.
We recommend booking at least 3-6 months in advance to get the best chance of finding something that fits your budget and choice.
How many nights should you stay in Tromsø to see the Northern Lights?
They say that if you stay in Tromsø for 3 nights or more, you’ll be guaranteed to see the aurora because of the city’s location above the Arctic Circle. In reality, this greatly depends on the weather.
We spent 4 days in Tromso in winter and wouldn’t have seen the aurora at all if it hadn’t been for this tour, as it was just too cloudy over the city.
So, realistically, although the KP levels and aurora activity are there, you may need to travel outside of the city to actually see the aurora.
This is another reason we highly recommend booking a guided tour. The tours will travel in search of clear skies and give you the best chance of spotting the lights.
👉 Thinking of booking a tour? These are our favourite Northern Lights tours in Tromso.
Final Thoughts
Overall, if you want to spot the Northern Lights, staying in Tromso and the area around the city will give you some of the best chances in Norway and the world.
There are some truly stunning Northern Lights hotels around Tromso, which are remote enough that the lights are visible, but not too far from tours or activities in and around the city.
We absolutely loved our trip to this city. There are so many wonderful things to do in Tromso, and it’s one of the most incredible cities in the world. Seeing the aurora was just the cherry on top for us!
So, if you’re heading in search of the northern lights, we hope this guide has given you plenty of inspiration and incredible places to stay! Any questions? Head to our Facebook Group!
👉 Still planning your Tromso itinerary? Check out how we spent 3 days in Tromso.
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