Alta and Lyngen
Alta and Lyngen: northern lights in Arctic Norway, and where to stay
On the Alta River, half an hour inland from Alta Airport, an igloo hotel is rebuilt from ice each winter. East of Tromsø, a drive and a short ferry away, the Lyngen Alps rise straight from the fjord. Both are quieter than Tromsø and darker at night. Here is where to stay in each, and how to plan the trip.
Picolo Editorial
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In short: Alta and Lyngen
Alta: a small town at the head of the Altafjord, with the Sorrisniva igloo hotel and lodges outside town. Best for a night on ice and quiet, dark skies.
Lyngen: the Lyngen Alps east of Tromsø, with cabins below the peaks and about 75 minutes by road from Tromsø Airport. Best for a quieter base than Tromsø.
From the UK: no direct flights to Alta, so fly via Oslo. For Lyngen, fly to Tromsø.
How long: at least three nights.
Our first choice: Sorrisniva Arctic Wilderness Lodge in Alta. Check availability and prices at Sorrisniva Arctic Wilderness Lodge
Alta or Lyngen?
Choose Alta for Sorrisniva, a night on ice and a small town with the Alta rock carvings and the Northern Lights Cathedral. Choose Lyngen if you fly to Tromsø and want mountains, fjords and darker skies within a couple of hours of the airport. Both lie under the band where the aurora appears most often. The difference is the base and the journey, not the sky.
The best hotels in Alta
Sorrisniva Arctic Wilderness Lodge
Rooms and suites with floor-to-ceiling windows on the Alta River, about 30 minutes from the airport, with a fine-dining restaurant. Rated 9.6 out of 10 across 68 reviews. See our full review of Sorrisniva
Check availability and prices at Sorrisniva Arctic Wilderness Lodge
Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel
Ice rooms at minus 4 to minus 7°C, rebuilt each winter beside the lodge, with breakfast, a morning sauna and the ice bar included. Rated 9.4 out of 10 across 78 reviews. Book one night as part of a longer stay.
Check availability and prices at Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel
Flatmoen Natur Lodge
Panoramic cabins with big windows and a hot tub on the outskirts of Alta, about 17 minutes from the airport and close to the rock carvings. Rated 9.8 out of 10 across 67 reviews.
Check availability and prices at Flatmoen Natur Lodge
Thon Hotel Alta
A town hotel near Alta Museum with free breakfast and a health club, practical for the first or last night. Rated 9.0 out of 10 across more than 1,000 reviews.
Flatmoen Natur Lodge on the outskirts of Alta, where guests watch the aurora from the hot tub
Where to stay in Lyngen
Svensby Tursenter
Cabins of about 25 to 55 m² in Svensby, in the Lyngen Alps by the ferry, with kitchens, balconies and a sauna. It is about 75 minutes by road from Tromsø Airport. Rated 9.4 out of 10 across 55 reviews. Choose it for a self-catering base among the peaks.
Svensby Tursenter in the Lyngen Alps
Getting there from the UK
There are no direct flights from the UK to Alta, so fly via Oslo and continue north. Sorrisniva runs minibus transfers from Alta Airport. For Lyngen, fly to Tromsø, which had direct flights from Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Bristol and Luton in winter 2025/26. From Tromsø, Svensby is about 75 minutes by road, including a short ferry.
When to go
The northern lights season in Alta runs from mid-September to the end of March, according to Sorrisniva. The Igloo Hotel is open in the winter months only, while the lodges stay open all year. In Lyngen, February and March bring more daylight for skiing and still dark nights. Check the forecast on Yr each afternoon, and plan at least three nights.
Our recommendation
Sorrisniva Arctic Wilderness Lodge: our pick in Alta
For a northern lights trip to Arctic Norway away from the crowds, we would book the Arctic Wilderness Lodge at Sorrisniva. It stands on the Alta River about 30 minutes from the airport, with tall windows facing the hills and the Igloo Hotel next door.
Our verdict
What Picolo would choose: two nights at Sorrisniva Arctic Wilderness Lodge and one night in the Igloo Hotel. If you fly to Tromsø instead, three nights at Svensby Tursenter in the Lyngen Alps.
Why: both bases are darker and quieter than Tromsø, and Sorrisniva adds a night on ice that you cannot get in the city.
The trade-off: Alta has no direct flights from the UK, and Lyngen needs a hire car. For the shortest trip, a hotel in Tromsø with a tour is easier.
Frequently asked questions
Is Alta good for the northern lights?
Yes. Alta lies well north of the Arctic Circle, under the band where the aurora appears most often, and the season runs from mid-September to the end of March. Stay outside town, at Sorrisniva or Flatmoen, for darker skies, and plan at least three nights to allow for cloud.
How do you get to Alta from the UK?
There are no direct flights from the UK, so fly via Oslo and continue north to Alta. From Alta Airport, Sorrisniva is about 30 minutes by road and runs minibus transfers you book in advance. Flatmoen Natur Lodge is about 17 minutes from the airport.
Where should you stay in Lyngen?
In the Lyngen Alps rather than Tromsø if you want darker skies and mountains. Svensby Tursenter has cabins with kitchens and a sauna by the ferry in Svensby, about 75 minutes by road from Tromsø Airport. A hire car is the easiest way to get there and to chase clear skies.
Alta or Tromsø for the northern lights?
Choose Tromsø for direct flights from the UK, restaurants and many organised tours. Choose Alta for a quieter trip, the Sorrisniva igloo hotel and lodges outside town with darker skies. Many travellers fly to Tromsø and add a few nights in Lyngen for the same reason.
When is the Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel open?
In the winter months, when the ice rooms are built, while the Arctic Wilderness Lodge stays open all year. Sorrisniva says the northern lights can be seen from mid-September to the end of March. A stay from January to March gives you both the ice rooms and dark nights.
Sources
The Igloo Hotel facts and the northern lights season come from Sorrisniva. The weather forecast is on Yr. Hotel facilities, room sizes, distances and guest ratings come from Hotels.com. The comparison of Alta and Lyngen and our picks are Picolo's own. Last checked: 2 November 2026.
Happy aurora hunting
Picolo Editorial