Day trips · Tromsø · Norway
4 best day trips from Tromsø
Where to go when you want a day away from Tromsø, and how long it really takes.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Henrik at English Wikipedia, CC BY 2.5
Quick answer
The classic day trip from Tromsø is Sommarøy (About 1 hour by car). The closest option is Ersfjordbotn and Kvaløya fjords, about 20 km away.
Key facts
- Day trips in this guide
- 4
- Closest
- Ersfjordbotn and Kvaløya fjords (20 km)
- Most popular
- Sommarøy
Day trips compared
| Destination | Distance | Travel time | How | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sommarøy | 60 km | About 1 hour by car | Car or guided tour; infrequent buses | Couples, Beach, Quiet stays |
| Ersfjordbotn and Kvaløya fjords | 20 km | About 30 minutes by car | Car, bus or guided fjord tour | Couples, Quiet stays, Families |
| Lyngen Alps | 75 km | About 1 hour 30 minutes–2 hours by car and ferry | Car with the Breivikeidet–Svensby ferry, or guided tour | Couples, Quiet stays, Families |
| Senja | 100 km | About 2–3 hours each way by car | Car with the Brensholmen–Botnhamn summer ferry, or guided tour | Couples, Quiet stays |
The day trips
60 km · About 1 hour by car
1.Sommarøy
A fishing village on a cluster of low islands with white sand beaches and turquoise water, reached by a scenic drive across Kvaløya past Kattfjord and Ersfjord. It is a popular summer beach trip and a dark-sky spot for the aurora in winter.
- Getting there
- Car or guided tour; infrequent buses
- Best for
- Couples, Beach, Quiet stays
20 km · About 30 minutes by car
2.Ersfjordbotn and Kvaløya fjords
The road across Kvaløya leads to Ersfjordbotn at the head of a narrow fjord walled by steep peaks, with a small beach and a wooden pier. Further on, Grøtfjord and Kaldfjord have white-sand beaches and hiking trails.
- Getting there
- Car, bus or guided fjord tour
- Best for
- Couples, Quiet stays, Families
75 km · About 1 hour 30 minutes–2 hours by car and ferry
3.Lyngen Alps
A chain of glaciated peaks rising up to about 1,800 metres straight from the fjords east of Tromsø, famous for ski touring in spring, hiking and fjord kayaking in summer, and dark-sky northern lights viewing in winter.
- Getting there
- Car with the Breivikeidet–Svensby ferry, or guided tour
- Best for
- Couples, Quiet stays, Families
100 km · About 2–3 hours each way by car
4.Senja
Norway's second-largest island has some of the most dramatic coastal scenery in the north: jagged peaks rising from the sea, fishing villages such as Mefjordvær and Husøy, and viewpoints such as Bergsbotn. It is a long day, best done in summer.
- Getting there
- Car with the Brensholmen–Botnhamn summer ferry, or guided tour
- Best for
- Couples, Quiet stays
Day-trip tips
- Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
- Buy tickets in the regional transport app before boarding; it is usually cheaper than paying on board.
- For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best day trip from Tromsø?
Sommarøy. A fishing village on a cluster of low islands with white sand beaches and turquoise water, reached by a scenic drive across Kvaløya past Kattfjord and Ersfjord.
+How long does it take to get from Tromsø to Sommarøy?
About 1 hour by car — Car or guided tour; infrequent buses, about 60 km.
+How long does it take to get from Tromsø to Ersfjordbotn and Kvaløya fjords?
About 30 minutes by car — Car, bus or guided fjord tour, about 20 km.