Hotels
Best hotels in Tromsø for the northern lights: 8 places to stay
From the glass dome on the roof of The Dock to glass cabins with the aurora right above the bed: these are the hotels in and around Tromsø we would book for a winter under the green lights.
The first northern lights often arrive when you least expect them. You are standing on the quay with a coffee, the town has turned blue in the twilight, and suddenly the sky above Tromsdalstinden begins to move, first as a faint grey veil, then green and alive. Tromsø sits right in the auroral oval, and from late September until well into March your chances of seeing the lights are good, as long as the sky is clear.
Where you stay shapes the trip. In the centre you have restaurants, bars and tour operators on your doorstep, and the coach that takes you aurora chasing picks you up around the corner. Outside town the darkness comes free, and the lights can dance above your cabin while you lie under the duvet. We have picked eight places to stay, from the design hotels on the harbour to glass cabins by the fjord.
The links to the hotels are partner links. If you book through them, Picolo may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. You choose your own dates and room on the hotel page.
How to choose a hotel in Tromsø
First decide whether you want town life or silence. If you stay in the centre, pick a hotel close to the harbour, where most northern lights tours start. If you want to see the aurora from where you sleep, head out of town, ideally to Kvaløya or on towards Lyngen, where there is little light pollution.
Harbour hotels: for restaurants, bars and guided aurora tours
Hotels outside town: for darkness, silence and the lights from your terrace
Glass cabins: for anyone who dreams of seeing the aurora without leaving the bed
Read our guide to the northern lights and experiences in Tromsø and our full Tromsø travel guide.
Hotels in Tromsø city centre
The Dock 69°39 by Scandic
Big windows, mountains across the sound and the aurora as a possible night-time visitor.
The Dock 69°39 by Scandic: a glass dome on the roof
The newest of Tromsø’s big hotels sits on the water, just a few minutes from the Polar Museum. The rooms have large windows facing the sound and the mountains, and there are two restaurants and two bars, so dinner is never far away after a long evening in the cold.
The most photographed spot is the rooftop terrace beneath the glass dome. You sit on reindeer skins with views over the town and harbour, and on a clear winter night it is not impossible to catch the aurora from here too.
Book your stay: See rooms at The Dock 69°39
Clarion Hotel The Edge
Northern lights above the facade. The hotel sits right by the water in the centre.
Clarion Hotel The Edge: right on the quay
The Edge stands down by the harbour, a short walk from the cathedral, the main shopping street and the boats. Guests rave about the breakfast, and the hotel has both a restaurant and a bar.
Its location makes it a practical base for aurora hunting. Many tours start in the centre, so you can wait in the warmth until the coach arrives.
Book your stay: See rooms at Clarion Hotel The Edge
Scandic Ishavshotel
Shaped like a ship and moored at the end of the quay.
Scandic Ishavshotel: a ship on the quay
The Ishavshotel is easy to spot, shaped like a ship moored at the end of the quay. From the sea-facing rooms you watch the boats come and go, with the Arctic Cathedral across the sound.
The cathedral and the centre are a few minutes’ walk away, and guests single out the breakfast. A good choice if you want the harbour and the town in one place.
Book your stay: See rooms at Scandic Ishavshotel
Home Hotel With
Old wharf buildings on the Tromsø harbour front.
Home Hotel With: wharf buildings on the harbour
Home Hotel With sits among the old wharf buildings by the harbour, one of the most atmospheric corners of town. Breakfast is included, and there is a restaurant and a gym.
Everything in the centre is within walking distance, and in the evening you can stroll along the water and look for lights in the sky between the rooftops.
Book your stay: See rooms at Home Hotel With
Thon Hotel Polar
The rooms have ice and sea as their theme.
Thon Hotel Polar: central and uncomplicated
Thon Hotel Polar is right in the centre, close to the cathedral and the main street. Breakfast is included, and the rooms feature polar ice on the wall behind the bed.
It suits travellers who would rather spend on experiences, from dog sledding and whale watching to a long aurora tour, and simply need a good bed in between.
Book your stay: See rooms at Thon Hotel Polar
Hotels outside Tromsø: darkness, silence and the aurora
If you want the northern lights right outside your door, leave the town behind. The less light around you, the better you will see them.
Yggdrasil Farmhotel
A terrace with fjord views, a short drive from Tromsø.
Yggdrasil Farmhotel: spa and yoga by the fjord
Yggdrasil Farmhotel Retreat, Spa & Yoga is on a farm near Bakkejord, out by the fjord. Here you swap the town lights for silence, a spa and yoga, and breakfast, wifi and parking are included.
It is a place to rest between aurora nights, and it works best if you hire a car to get around.
Book your stay: See rooms at Yggdrasil Farmhotel
AERA Aurora Glass Cabins
Glass walls facing the fjord and mountains. Every cabin has a kitchen and fireplace.
AERA Aurora Glass Cabins: the aurora from your bed
The cabins at AERA are near Simavik, with large glass walls facing the fjord and the mountains. Each one has a kitchen and a fireplace, and wifi and parking are free.
This is the place for the classic dream: lying under the duvet with the fire crackling while the northern lights move across the sky.
Book your stay: See rooms at AERA Aurora Glass Cabins
XLyngen
Red waterfront cabins in Lyngen, with the Lyngen Alps behind.
XLyngen: the Lyngen Alps and cabins by the water
XLyngen is in Lyngen, north-east of Tromsø, near Storgalten. The cabins have kitchens, and there is a restaurant on site.
The Lyngen Alps are famous for ski touring in spring, and in winter the dark landscape gives good conditions for the aurora. Pair a couple of nights in town with a few nights out here.
Book your stay: See rooms at XLyngen
When is the best time to see the northern lights in Tromsø?
The northern lights season in Tromsø runs from late September to late March. From late November to mid-January it is the polar night, when the sun stays below the horizon. Many travellers love autumn and early winter for the long dark evenings, while March brings more daylight and often more settled weather.
When should you book a hotel in Tromsø?
Tromsø is busy all winter, and the most central hotels fill up early around Christmas, New Year and the February half-term. Book several months ahead if your dates are fixed.
Stay in the centre for guided aurora tours
Stay outside town to watch the lights from your terrace
Combine two nights in town with two nights by the fjord
Frequently asked questions about hotels in Tromsø
Where should you stay in Tromsø to see the northern lights?
If you stay in the centre, the easiest option is a guided northern lights tour, as the town itself is quite bright. To see the aurora from where you sleep, choose a hotel or cabin outside town, for example on Kvaløya or in Lyngen, where it is darker and there is less light pollution.
When is the northern lights season in Tromsø?
The season runs from late September to late March. You need darkness and clear skies to see the lights, so it pays to stay several nights. The polar night, from late November to mid-January, gives you long evenings for aurora hunting.
How many nights do you need in Tromsø?
Three to four nights is a good starting point. The weather changes quickly in the north, and more nights mean more chances of clear skies. You will also have time for a day of dog sledding, whale watching or a trip out to Kvaløya.
Are there glass cabins near Tromsø?
Yes, there are several places with glass cabins around Tromsø, including AERA Aurora Glass Cabins. The cabins have large glass walls so you can watch the northern lights from bed. They are outside town, so a hire car is a good idea.
Do hotels in Tromsø get booked up at Christmas?
Christmas, New Year and the February half-term are the busiest times, and the central hotels fill up early. Book several months in advance. If you travel midweek or in March, you usually have more hotels to choose from.