Beaches · Tromsø · Norway
The best beaches in and near Tromsø
Where to swim and spend a beach day, and when the water is warm.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Godot13, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
The best-known beach is Telegrafbukta (About 10 minutes by bus from the centre).
Key facts
- Beaches in this guide
- 3
- Warmest sea
- 11°C (52°F)
The beaches
About 10 minutes by bus from the centre · Midnight-sun evenings
1.Telegrafbukta
A small beach and park at the southern tip of Tromsøya, popular for summer evening barbecues and the Bukta festival.
About 45 minutes by car · Scenery and the midnight sun
2.Grøtfjord
A white-sand beach on Kvaløya backed by steep mountains, popular for summer swims, camping and the midnight sun.
About 1 hour by car · Beach walks and photography
3.Sommarøy
White sand and turquoise shallows on a cluster of low islands facing the open sea.
Sea temperature by month
| Month | Sea | Air high |
|---|---|---|
| January | 5°C (41°F) | -1°C (30°F) |
| February | 4°C (39°F) | -1°C (30°F) |
| March | 4°C (39°F) | 1°C (34°F) |
| April | 4°C (39°F) | 4°C (39°F) |
| May | 6°C (43°F) | 8°C (46°F) |
| June | 8°C (46°F) | 12°C (54°F) |
| July | 10°C (50°F) | 15°C (59°F) |
| August | 11°C (52°F) | 14°C (57°F) |
| September | 9°C (48°F) | 10°C (50°F) |
| October | 8°C (46°F) | 5°C (41°F) |
| November | 6°C (43°F) | 2°C (36°F) |
| December | 5°C (41°F) | 0°C (32°F) |
Staying near the beach
$$$ · Best for couples, quiet stays and beach
Sommarøy
Sommarøy, reached by bridge across Kvaløya, is a fishing community spread over low islands with white beaches and turquoise water facing the open sea. A hotel and holiday cabins make it a quiet base for the northern lights in winter and midnight-sun evenings in summer, though most visitors come as a day trip.
- Good
- Dark skies and open sea views; Beaches and island walks; Very peaceful
- Watch out
- About an hour from the city; Limited dining and services
- Nearby
- Hillesøy, Kvaløya
Getting to the beaches
- Bus — Local buses run from the centre to the airport, Tromsdalen and the Fjellheisen lower station, the university at Breivika and parts of Kvaløya.
- Car — Hire cars give access to Kvaløya, Sommarøy and the Lyngen Alps, but winter roads are snowy and icy, daylight is short and reindeer and moose may be on the road.
- Boat — Hurtigruten coastal ships call daily in both directions, and express boats and tour boats leave from the harbour in the centre.
Beach-weather months
Air temperatures rarely reach classic beach weather here: the warmest month, July, averages 15°C (59°F).
Beach safety
Tromsø is generally low-risk for visitors. The main hazards are winter conditions: icy pavements, extreme wind chill on tours, and snowy roads with reindeer and short daylight for drivers. Avalanche risk applies on mountain slopes in winter and spring, so hike or ski off-piste only with a guide, and never stop on the road to watch the aurora. Swim at lifeguarded beaches where possible and follow local flag warnings.
Questions travellers ask
+Does Tromsø have beaches?
Yes: Telegrafbukta, Grøtfjord and Sommarøy.
+What is the best beach near Tromsø?
Telegrafbukta: A small beach and park at the southern tip of Tromsøya, popular for summer evening barbecues and the Bukta festival.